best mod/ upgrade under $1500

[MIMA]

so hey I just got my first boxster ever ! 2003 2.7
!silver triptr. i love it !

its completely stock; so i was just wondering what do you guys think i should upgrade on 2003 boxster?
what are the best mods under $1500?

thank you in advance!


Mima

[Steve Tinker]

Driver training course - I was impressed by my ignorance & speed - lack of.....

[E Kaplan]

Congrats on your new car!
Increasing HP is very expensive. I got the most pleasure from upgrading my car radio to a pioneer which has XM, Aux jack for my ipod and USB hub. (about $700 with installation), added rear speakers (about $300 with installation), changing rear and side tailights to deamber (about $300 with installation) and tinting my windows (about $100). You still have $100 to purchase beers and sit back and enjoy your car.

[ekam]

Dunlop Z1 Star Spec...

[cvhs18472]

MO30 ROW Suspension and a DE

[Sputter]

Why do feel the need to "mod" it? You haven't owned it long enough to learn how to drive it lol.
Take a DE course.

Originally Posted by MIMA

so hey I just got my first boxster ever ! 2003 2.7
!silver triptr. i love it !

its completely stock; so i was just wondering what do you guys think i should upgrade on 2003 boxster?
what are the best mods under $1500?

thank you in advance!


Mima

[JFP in PA]

Originally Posted by MIMA

so hey I just got my first boxster ever ! 2003 2.7
!silver triptr. i love it !

its completely stock; so i was just wondering what do you guys think i should upgrade on 2003 boxster?
what are the best mods under $1500?

thank you in advance!


Mima

Swap out your oil cooler for the "S" unit............. parts about $200. Your engine (and oil) will love you for it..................

[renzop]

It depends on what you want to do with the car -

Performance - Short shift kit
Handling - front and rear sway bars
Looks - rear spoiler or lowering springs
Electronics - Aux input for an MP3 player or replace head unit with fancy GPS/Radio/CD like an Alpine
Maintenance - Why not spend the money on some preventive maintenance? Oil and filter change, brake fluid flush, coolant flush, AOS, MAF, AC service, suspension bushings, RMS, IMS

[crios]

I agree with these two, especially if you are a DIY guy.

Handling - front and rear sway bars
Looks - rear spoiler or lowering springs

It would actually be best if you could provide some pics of your car to give us some more ideas.

For a cheap mod, see my favorite one, easy on an 03.

DIY Exhaust Mod – Gain of 10+ HP!!!

[schnellman]

Driving a Porsche well takes training. Learn to drive your new car first. Only after you have owned a Porsche for awhile will you be able to decide what mods are best for you.

[kabel]

Originally Posted by Steve Tinker

Driver training course - I was impressed by my ignorance & speed - lack of.....

Ditto. Seek out your regional Porsche Club / Sports Car Club and enroll in a performance driving school event, either track or autocross related.

[pilyo bxster]

best mod I've done... you got to do it to believe it.

Lowers the car too.

[Perfectlap]

modify you car in this order.

Change oil! and air filter.
Treat your soft top with Raggtopp kit.


1. Upgrade wheels and Tires.
2. upgrade the center console with a painted version. Makes the interior look way way better.
3. Upgrade shift knob (if you can find a Tequipment on Ebay).
4. add side skirting (makes the car look lower without having to lower).
5. Upgrade to GT3 front bumper (not cheap)

Probably about $5K when you're done but it makes a $20K car look like a $60K car.

[MIMA]

thank you guys for all your input keep it coming!

i will post pictures of my 03 very soon

now i do not need driver training =) ive done racing school training here in mission in bc few years back on sc430 (3 weekends) and 7 week riding course on my R1.

so far i ve owned few 2 seaters :

my first one was fiero 86'(rebuilt it myself!) about 12 years ago!
second was miata 95'(greddy int.; autocross) then last was sc430- 01'(quite disappointing

this one is a keeper (my porsche) i was slowly preparing myself for something more exotic as you see =)

i was thinking of short shifter but i got auto ... tript.

wheels def must go in the near future. im hoping for flushed black rims with light lip. 17 or 18s.

what about carbon fiber parts? who makes the best (fitted)carbon fiber parts for boxster?
im looking into hood and definately replacing that stock tail in the rear with carbon one. any links or ideas on the carbon fiber parts would be greatly appreciated. ...whenever i try to search it gives me : bad host error im not sure why...

[TimAustinW]

Anyone know of a place to get painted rear diffusers for a good price?

[Stroked & Blown]

Originally Posted by TimAustinW

Anyone know of a place to get painted rear diffusers for a good price?

Every place I've looked for diffusers has been WAY overpriced for the painted ones.
After doing my bumperettes, I think I am going to go with the unpainted ones here:
http://app.vendio.com/storefront?view=ITEM_DETAIL&cid=10774043&lid=322598589&mode=1

....and hit up http://www.paintscratch.com again for paint. I've found adhesion promoter, flexible surface primer, and (better, IMHO) clearcoat at local parts stores, so no need to pay the premium & shipping.

[RandallNeighbour]

MIMA: before this thread gets too far off topic, let me say I think you should put that cash in the bank and wait a full year to do anything to your car.

It is highly likely that you will incur at least $500 worth of repairs in the coming months. Older boxsters need MAF's, O2 sensors, a control arm, an air/oil separator, a coolant overflow tank, a radiator fan, an instrument cluster, the AC head unit, and on and on the list goes.

Unless you have meticulous records from the PO showing all this and more being replaced, it's not a wise move to bolt on shiny bits to the car when important mechanical items will be needed in the near future with regular use of the car.

[wdwainwright]

Proceed cautiously with lowering. You can run out of adjustment in your alignment and of course, keep hitting the plastic up front on every bump and driveway.

04 Boxster S 550 Spyder

[Oaktown 986]

Originally Posted by RandallNeighbour

MIMA: before this thread gets too far off topic, let me say I think you should put that cash in the bank and wait a full year to do anything to your car.

It is highly likely that you will incur at least $500 worth of repairs in the coming months. Older boxsters need MAF's, O2 sensors, a control arm, an air/oil separator, a coolant overflow tank, a radiator fan, an instrument cluster, the AC head unit, and on and on the list goes.

Unless you have meticulous records from the PO showing all this and more being replaced, it's not a wise move to bolt on shiny bits to the car when important mechanical items will be needed in the near future with regular use of the car.

I agree: I'd also like to add that as your aging components start failing.. which will happen sooner than later, you can replace them with well-matched performance parts. But the overall performance of the 986, even early non S models, is very spot-on from the factory.

Jon

[mikes_box]

i've been very lucky modding my second boxster... for $1500 i have bought hardtop, litronics, dansk muffler, painted bumperetts, 3 spoke steering wheel... just a matter of searching