looking for more Horsepower

[Uptopar1952]

Just got my 99 Boxster and am already looking for more horsepower. Looking for ideas, but don't want to spend over a grand. Thinking about new exhaust, but worry if there is a real boost in hp and if change would make car too loud. I'm also thinking air intake change, but don't really know what really works. Please let me know any suggestions. Thanks Up to Par. Yah I'm a golfer.

[Steve Tinker]

The biggest bang for your bucks is the Flat 6 underdrive pulley - check out their website at the top of the page.
Maybe + 5-6 HP gain, but the torque improvement at normal driving revs is an even bigger ++.
Leaves questionable exhaust systems for dead.....

[mikefocke]

Here

But the short answer is there is no quick cheap single thing that will significantly change the performance. There are lots of little things, each having some effect and cumulatively, 6-8 of them can start to really change things...including the thickness of your wallet.

But most butt-o-meters can't really tell the addition of 6-8 HP and some of the mods that claim that negatively effect driveability.

On the other hand, you can get well over 400 HP but it will cost you a couple of times what you spent on the car.

[MikenOH]

A very slippery slope as others have mentioned.

Significant HP and torque increases can come at a steep price; from what I've read, headers/catback systems and a new flash for the computer might get you 20+HP at a price of $4-5K, if you don't do the work yourself. To me that's a lot of $ for what you get.

If you want to pick around the edges of this, the UD pulley, lower restriction airfilter and the dream 1 accumulator might get you an additional 10HPfor under $1k--if you believe the marketing. Pedro also sells the techno torque device that reportedly bumps torque in a certain rev range for not a lot of $.

[ekam]

Since you have a 99 you can get a set of headers with no cats from Fabspeed for $1.1k. Ideally you want to get the catback as well since it'll remove any restriction in the exhaust.

http://www.fabspeed.com/Boxster.html

Underdrive pulley is also an affordable and effective mod.

It is a slippery slope with power. Might as well learn how to drive it properly and spend the money on stickier tires.

[JFP in PA]

Speed cost money; how fast do you want to go?

[JettaGLi16v]

An old, but always true, adage...
(speed = $$$)

For $1k, your options are somewhat limited.
Always keep your eyes open for used items.
But, If I had $1k to improve a '99 box, I would:
Chinese headers - $120
Chip/ECU upgrade - $400
Intake kit - $300
and then go out and do a few autocrosses.

Beware, you may be disappointed with the butt-dyno improvement with these mods,
It will not be a HUGE bump, but a little one.
(P-cars are not where you want to be for cheap performance...)

The biggest improvement you can likely make to the car,
is learning how to drive it better.
AutoX, AutoX, AutoX...
Then buy some tires.

-Brad

[Topless]

Add HP or performance? There is a difference. A bunch of lap dogs got together and calculated the relative performance gains on a local 90 second race track. It looked something like this:

Add quality chip/headers/exhaust, $1800 cost, 20 hp gain, shave 3/10ths/lap.

Add 3.4L motor (100hp), $10k cost, shave 2 seconds/lap.

Remove 400 lbs, $0, shave 4 seconds/lap.

Add comp tires and weekend performance driving school, $1000 cost, shave 10 seconds per lap.

Choose wisely.

[MikenOH]

Originally Posted by Topless

Add HP or performance? There is a difference. A bunch of lap dogs got together and calculated the relative performance gains on a local 90 second race track. It looked something like this:

Add quality chip/headers/exhaust, $1800 cost, 20 hp gain, shave 3/10ths/lap.

Add 3.4L motor (100hp), $10k cost, shave 2 seconds/lap.

Remove 400 lbs, $0, shave 4 seconds/lap.

Add comp tires and weekend performance driving school, $1000 cost, shave 10 seconds per lap.

Choose wisely.

Good points, topless

In street driving, I don't know if you'd notice an extra 10-20 HP very often but a bump in torque--say 10-15/ft/lb would be noticeable in the 2.5L and appreciated.

At an Autox or DE, the extra HP might be helpful getting your speed up just a bit, but better brakes, stickier tires and more practice will get you around the course faster for a lot less money.

[tamarsha]

For me the best bang for the buck has been the crios exhaust mod and FVD software flash. The exhaust mod was easy and free! No HP gain but sounded better. The FVD software my only add a few extra HP but it will make you car drive completely different. More power in the mid range and a lot better throttle response.

[RandallNeighbour]

Have you been to the track with your local PCA for a high speed driver's education course yet?

You may not want more HP if you do this. It's a great cure for horsepoweritis, or at least it was for me.

To get enough HP to really make our model years feel fast, it's gonna cost ten grand or more. I am saving that money for a newer and much faster Cayman S instead of modding my 97. The 2010's have a new motor in them that doesn't have an IMS and may be the most bullet proof motor Porsche has made to date... that's the motor I want in my next pre-owned Porsche, and it will have gobs of HP compared to my 2.5.

[Bobiam]

Lots of good advice here. I enjoyed reading it. A Boxster can gobble up a grand PDQ. As you get used to it, especially if you take it on the track, you'll find that there is lots of stuff that you "need". Suspension parts are all expensive. A set of halfway decent performance tires are a grand or more and the rears only last 12-15,000 miles with cautious driving.

Welcome to the fold. My advice is to do a lot of reasearch and thinking before parting with your $s for a few HP.

[RandallNeighbour]

Just realized something. A thread just like this is started every single month... all new owners of the older base models want more HP.

We should get BruceLee to make a sticky thread that's got all the HP mods on it so we can point people to it instead of rehashing it all the time.

[Jake Raby]

Over time I have tested most every exhaust system on most every size engine. I have yet to be impressed, either on the dyno or on the street.

I have seen a 3K exhaust system cost an engine 20HP, or a set of cheap headers add 2HP to another. I have yet to see the gains that make the drone at cruise speeds or the cost worth it.

This year ALL of my updated engines were fitted with OE mufflers, I carried out the development for my engine program and apply what works.

If you like sound, go for it. If you want less weight, go for it.. If you want HP, reconsider.

[JAAY]

I have a great setup I feel with some influence from Jake. I am running turbowerx headers with fabspeed bypass pipes and a S muffler. The car makes great power, I do have a cel BUT the one thing I do not have is any drone what so ever at any speed,rpm,top up or down, etc. The car is loud as hell too.

[mikefocke]

Mike has taken notes of many such discussions and written an article "So it isn't fast enough" on his web site. It isn't interactive like the forum but it does get updated with any new thing that gets to his attention that seems to matter. It's kind of like his "What can you do if your engine is blown" article. Intended as a decent place to start people reading and then they can come back with questions.

So provide people the links and you won't have to endlessly repeat the same stuff

Mike has no commercial affiliation.

https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/mikesporscheboxsterwebpages

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

Over time I have tested most every exhaust system on most every size engine. I have yet to be impressed, either on the dyno or on the street.

I have seen a 3K exhaust system cost an engine 20HP, or a set of cheap headers add 2HP to another. I have yet to see the gains that make the drone at cruise speeds or the cost worth it.

This year ALL of my updated engines were fitted with OE mufflers, I carried out the development for my engine program and apply what works.

If you like sound, go for it. If you want less weight, go for it.. If you want HP, reconsider.

Jake is correct . Its all about the sound and the benefit of weight reduction when it comes to an aftermarket cat back exhaust. Under the best of circumstances, one might see a slight bump in hp. However, claims of a 10-20 hp increase on the part of some manufactures is extremely unrealistic .

[2K3_Boxster_S]

Yes, here's an idea sell the car. and buy a 911 or some other car doesn't matter. Your wasting your time. Your not gonna get any worthwhile gains.

Spent a year and a lot of money trying, my car is currently being put back to stock and being sold.

[RandallNeighbour]

Originally Posted by 2K3_Boxster_S

Yes, here's an idea sell the car. and buy a 911 or some other car doesn't matter. Your wasting your time. Your not gonna get any worthwhile gains.

Spent a year and a lot of money trying, my car is currently being put back to stock and being sold.

Setting all cynicism aside, there's a lot of truth to this statement. The boxster's just not a straight line or off the line kind of car... it was meant to take curves better than any other Porsche built at the time and they achieved it beautifully.

I've more than one friend who sold their Carrerra S4's to buy boxsters for the handling, even though they weren't nearly as quick.

[Steve Tinker]

I don't think we are going to get a reply from the OP - every month these questions come up again and again with no response to our input.
I think we are waisting out time & I will ignore them in future.... :troll: