Caught the power bug .. pretty bad

[nefarious986]

Corvette is off my radar because as capable as a z06 is. They are a dime a dozen.

Cayman is out because one of the main reason I love the Boxster is that it is a convertible. If I wanted a hard top, there's so much more choices.

I hear what you guys are saying about the Viper. Its a Dodge go cart. LOLs.

Its not all about straight line performance for me. I just hate that smug grin those kids in the Evo get when they 'powned' a Porsche and there's no turn in sight for me to show them why I love this car.

I do love the Boxster. This is actually my SECOND Boxster. My last Boxster's warranteed expired, so I had a choice to trade at the time. I thought long and hard and test drove a couple cars, including S2K, STi, SLK. I made the choice to get a Boxster again. The best CPO one I could afford, and thats exactly what I got.

I just really wish this car had a little bit more balls sometimes. I talked to a couple Porsche mechanics and all they really can recommend is exhaust / chip. The 3.4 swap is looking very attractive right now, especially since I know that if I can fit a charger on there, it would pull 370hp to the wheel (tcp stats). Thats all anyone really need in a street car.

Anything over 400 hp rwd on the street to me is just unecessary, any anything over 500 is getting dangerous. Trust me. I know this. I am a reformed street racer too. I used to have a 450hp 3000GT VR4 and although I lost about 20% to the AWD system, and the thing weighed almost 4000lbs, it was a damn fast car.

I guess the choice really is, do I love the 986 enough to drop 30k worth of mod in to it ? It would have to be a car I want to drive for maybe the next 5 - 10 years, or even keep forever, because I know I m never going to get even 1/3 of what I paid out of the car when its time to sell.

I do really really like this car .. but when do you know its love ? LOL.

Sorry for the long posts guys. I havent slept all night.

[nefarious986]

If I kept the 986, and dropped $ into it to get it where I think it needs to be, the mods would be:

- GT3 brakes $4k on ebay
- 3.4L engine with similar blower setup to TCP $10k for engine swap + ?? for supercharger
- PS9 or Motons $2.5k
- Sway + struts $1k
- New clutch / Short thow / Misc stuff $2k
- Some new rubbers $1.5k

That would eat up 30k instantly but then I think I would really have a 'nefarious' 986. LOL.

I do need more $ .. anyone need a DBA ? =D

[Blkboxster]

yep i got the power bug too. got myself a 335i, and cant wait to chip it

[TMM986]

Sounds like a better option might be to trade the Boxster toward a used 996 Turbo and if you're still worried about power they can be modded to over 700HP.

The all-wheel drive on the Turbo will allow for better launches and less wheel spin. In addition to the Boxster I have a 996 C4S which is very quick indeed but no plans for forced induction on either one.

The 3.4 and supercharger route sounds like a ticking time bomb especially if you're pushing it hard. To get it right lots of internal and ECU mods for the engine have to be made to compensate for the forced induction. Definitely not a bolt-on DIY job.

Go for the Turbo if you really need the excess speed. ;-)

[BoxsterLewis]

Why not supercharge or turbo your car as it is, or nitrous for when you get another young kid. I myself raced an STi and beat it but he missed 3rd, he might have walked me.

[fragdude]

I love it when I, or someone else, wins a drag because the other guy misses a gear!
My friend was driving his x5 4.4 (not a hugely fast car, but for an suv its quick on its feet) and some guy next to him in an rx8 (manual, so it was the sport version) wanted to get infront of him at the light. My friend slammed on the gas when the light turned green and he was neck and neck with the rx8 until around 40-60 (its a big range but I honestly don't remember) and then the rx8 just kinda disapears behinds us...

How awesome is that for you sports car mojo when you tell your friends, "yeah, I was beaten by a huge suv today..."

[wild1poet2]

I'd get a brand new warrantied base C6 Vette. Pay $30 and get the upshift chip disabled. 400+ bhp at $45K

The Z06 Vette's aren't a dime a dozen. Not around here. People confuse them with the base Vette. Ditto for the ZR1 vette.

If you know how to ride a motorcycle you could get a Hayabusa and smoke everything in sight. Lambo's, Ferrari's, Acari's, Vipers

[23109VC]

sorry, but you're in the wrong car if you're worried about who can beat you at the light. I am on this forum SHOPPING and researching boxsters - I don't have one, but my dad does. I'm 36, and while i still love cars, I'm not into drag racing at every light. I love the boxster for how it sounds, handles, looks, but NOT because I think it will smoke people light to light. HOnestly, drag racing is really really stupid.

there is always someone faster. if you get caught up in that nonsense, you will always be looking for something faster. You'll get your motor swap, or your viper, and then when you get bored of smoking all the EVOs you go to a real drag track, and some guy in a v8 muscle car with wheelie bars and a true drag car will rape the $hit out of your "super fast" car and you'll be right back at square one.

there is always somone faster, someone smarter, someone with more money...the key is to be happy with what you've got.

if you really want to drag race - then get the Z06, and throw some bolt ons. there was a youtube video out there title was somethign like "EC hamptons" there was some club called EC- all these ferraris and lambos and one guy has a bolt on modded C5 Z06..yeah the old one, and he kicked all their a$$e$. do you think the guy in the Lambo really cares that he got beaten slightly by a $30k hunk of crap? No. because he's in alambo. he probably has some hottie in the passenger seat, and a few more bimbos back as his bachelor pad naked in teh pool..... ha ha point being - you have a Porsche. I'm shopping for one, and I'd be happy JUST TO GET your car and enjoy it.

don't sweat it that some other car can beat you. as soon as you get the viper, some guy in a modded 997 turbo will yank your headlights out and you'll be looking to sell/upgrade.. it's a never ending saga.

not to mention $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. i hpoe you are rich.

if you want a uniqe car, and you want something FAST - why not get a slightly used 996 or 997 turbo, and then have it modded. you'll have a VERY upscale wicked looking car - and those things can FLY. you won't be THE fastest caront he raod, but it will be a rare day when something with a license plate on it can keep up with you. i hope you he the $$ for that 'cause it won't be cheap.

for just having a great time driving a car - a boxster is hard to beat. it sounds exotic, it handles like it's on rails, it looks upscale and classy - and it is NOT super expensive. but it is NOT a dragster.

[Ike]

Hey Nefarious,

It has been a day since you were smoked, has the big head wrested control from the little head?

Topless is right, there is always someone faster. Even The Stig would have been beat if Lewis Hamilton had a dry, oilfree track. Remember why you bought a Boxster? It wasn't because it could beat any Ricer or p.o.s. Detroit Iron.

If you have to have the POWER, cheap......try out a dry nitrous system. This thread will burn with the idea.

Once you have saved some more budget money, collected some nasty pinks, and toasted your engine. Try this:

Hasta,
Ike

2003 S....3.6L X51 - RUF Intake and Exhaust, GT3 ECU = 365+HP, Bilstein PSS9s, M030 sways, Strut Tower, Paget Blues, & Michelin PS 2s..... Blow 'em all away at the next apex!

[stateofidleness]

Originally Posted by Ike

2003 S....3.6L X51 - RUF Intake and Exhaust, GT3 ECU = 365+HP, Bilstein PSS9s, M030 sways, Strut Tower, Paget Blues, & Michelin PS 2s..... Blow 'em all away at the next apex!

any chance of posting that pic in a higher res? i love collecting boxster wallpapers and i think this would make a great one!

also, you aren't gonna beat a Z06 in priceerformance...

i'm looking at vettes as we speak and you can get well over 500+ hp almost stock! this will probably be my next car (hopefully summer)

and i still love my box!

[FTD]

The first couple of weeks after I bought my 2.7 I wished I had bought the S. I had a high performance motorcycle and I kept trying to drive the Box like the bike. [That thing redlined at 10.5!] After a few years I now think, "Damn, I never get to play out all the gears". So, more horsies would still be a low gear experience and the rest is lost except for special, infrequent occassions. I am happy with the car as it is, and it is so much FUN, a straight line high HP vehicle wouldn't do much for my happy barometer.

I have a friend that bought the '08 Z06 and he drives like he is on the track. I wouldn't want to be a passenger - not even with a helmet. So he gets as much enjoyment out of the car as he wants - on the street. The reckless driving tickets are expensive and the dangers are imminent. That's a VERY expensive hobby.

[angman]

I picked up a 335 as well and althought the 300 HP and torque is incredicble it still doesn't leave a grin on my face as much as the boxster does with the top down.

Originally Posted by Blkboxster

yep i got the power bug too. got myself a 335i, and cant wait to chip it

[angman]

Oh I also want to chime in that the Box is not meant for winning those stoplight battles. The box is a greta handling sports car that is just plain enjoyable to drive. Even if you did the engine swap etc what happens if you run up against and EVO or STI that has also had mods done to it?

I also agree that the Cayman is out if you like the convertible. The Turbos and C4S's are great cars but I also don't like the inferior rear engine. The back end just feels way to heavy when you throw the car around.

If money is a factor and you just want to be competetive for the time being I say save your money for the upgraded engine swap. It seems like a waste to do the swap when there is nothing wrong at the moment. Throw in a dry NOS system, have fun at the lights (if you must) and wait until the engine is toast before you do the swap. You will still be driving the car you love, and the laughing gas will keep you a tad happier and some money in the bank for when/ if you really do need a new engine. If the engine doesn't go then you're even happier and your car will still be great in the twisties.

[wild1poet2]

I wish they gave us the option of ordering it with the 3.8L engine from the factory. WTF it's a natural.

oh and a dual clutch gearbox plz


LOL

[renzop]

For 35K get a new EvoX. Better for the types of folks who like to street race. If you want to drive fast, do us all a favor and go to a track or get another brand of car.

[Lil bastard]

As someone already said... "don't be that guy"...

[nefarious986]

wow .. funny how your mind set changes after less than 1 year ..

I have realized that with as little hp as the Boxster have, its already a better car than i'll ever be a driver.

Plus I haven't been feeling the power bug much lately, as work & life keeps me pretty busy.

Who knows, maybe a few months / year from now, when this economy starts to swing up again, the power bug will bite once more and I'll switch over to an '09 310hp box with PDK or maybe even a used Lambo if certain projects treats me right.

For now, the box = car happiness.