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.

[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:

[JTP]

Originally Posted by 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:

The OP says he's a golfer, that might explain it.

[Ciao]

You won't get much HP increase with exhaust and IPD/TB total cost estimated $2,000+ maybe 20 - 25 HP

[husker boxster]

Holy resurrection, Batman!

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by Ciao

You won't get much HP increase with exhaust and IPD/TB total cost estimated $2,000+ maybe 20 - 25 HP

There is no replacement for Displacement!


Thanks for searching!

[Benitom]

Get a newer Boxster

[PaulE]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

There is no replacement for Displacement!


Thanks for searching!

Cubic dollars can sometimes replace more displacement! Of course cubic dollars plus more displacement is always the best!

[flmont]

So That's a No on running different cams..?

[ike84]

Originally Posted by flmont

So That's a No on running different cams..?

Wait, are you being serious?

Sent from my POCOPHONE F1 using Tapatalk

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by PaulE

Cubic dollars can sometimes replace more displacement! Of course cubic dollars plus more displacement is always the best!

Yeah I just realized this thread was started a couple month's after I got home from Jake Raby's 1st M96 engine rebuild class where I learned the best way to add displacement resulting in greater torque throughout the rev range!_HDR1613347734.jpg[/img]