Ok so what's the best way to increase power for money?

[jakell2010]

Is it spending $20k on a 3.4 install, that's a new one from sun coast ,,,you can take slightly cheaper routes but it's still a $14k proposition,

Super charger,,,I've seen a Dino that said the super charger only added 7 HP .

Or should I sell it for $10 and put in $29 and get a 3.4 cayman s

[MileHighBoxster]

It depends on what you want. In my opinion, they don't need anything at all. You can add $24,000 in upgrades and you can't drive faster than I can with a stock S. If you want to race it, strip it to the bare metal and you'll feel like you picked up 50 horsepower. Otherwise, I would buy the oldest, best condition used Box and put in the engine of choice. Then you'll have the same in it that a guy driving a low-mileage, mint condition 2002/2003 or 04 S. Always - your desires, your choice.

[DenverSteve]

Sell the Boxster and buy a used, air-cooled, turbo Carrera. You'll have less invested if you need the speed or something else.

[nefarious986]

+1 to what MileHighBoxster said ..

Driver skill counts for ALOT in these cars. I could throw in a 3.4 engine with coilovers and still do full seconds slower than what a PCA instructor can milk out of a stock S .. but I'm only at best mediocre .. maybe you're already a superb driver.

[ekam]

Buy a faster car. Ask me how I know!

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

Sell the Boxster and buy a used, air-cooled, turbo Carrera. You'll have less invested if you need the speed or something else.

Do you have a handle on the 993 TT market? I don't think so. Even a high mileage >50 and <100K miles) 993 Turbo is high $40's. Turbos with <20K miles are north of mid $70's. A well maintained, documented Turbo with mid mileage (40-50,000 miles) will be low to mid $60's.

[Flavor 987S]

Improve the nut behind the steering wheel:

[fivepointnine]

if you want a fast car in a drag race get a C6 vette.......if you want a car that actually handles worth a damn and wont get destroyed from a stop light get a "s"

I mean 0-60 in the mid 5's and the 1/4 mile under 14 seconds is nothing to be ashamed of! you can hang with E46 M3's and other fast cars (probably not beat them but at least not get smoked)

cost effective power upgrades are headers/mid pipes/muffler/desnorkel and a tune, that is normally good for about 20hp or more

[stephen wilson]

I have debated the same issue. The problem with swapping in an engine, is the rest of the car is still older and half worn out. If I wanted a rolling restoration, I'd get a vintage car. For a similar price, you could have a nearly new car. I could only see a swap if it's significantly better than a newer S, like a breathed-on 3.8 or something. It's not about bragging rights, or lap times, I just like the feel of hard acceleration. Any of you who ride a sport-bike probably know what I'm talking about.

[JAAY]

Read my mod list :dance:

[DenverSteve]

Originally Posted by Flavor 987S

Do you have a handle on the 993 TT market? I don't think so. Even a high mileage >50 and <100K miles) 993 Turbo is high $40's. Turbos with <20K miles are north of mid $70's. A well maintained, documented Turbo with mid mileage (40-50,000 miles) will be low to mid $60's.

I didn't mention a 993 TT (I said an air-cooled turbo) but - here's a 930 (I don't need to quantify what's available)......1982 Porsche 911 Turbo - $38500 (Denver) 1982 911 Turbo Coupe. Guards Red, Black Leather, 40k miles.

Cheaper than buying a 986 in good condition and changing out the engine to a 3.6. So yeah, I guess since I have been Porsching quite a few years, with a past 911SC, two Boxsters (currently the one in my Avatar) and also currently a Carrera 4S - over the past 20 years, I keep a pretty good handle on what's available. Any other questions?

[blue2000s]

Originally Posted by jakell2010

Is it spending $20k on a 3.4 install, that's a new one from sun coast ,,,you can take slightly cheaper routes but it's still a $14k proposition,

Super charger,,,I've seen a Dino that said the super charger only added 7 HP .

Or should I sell it for $10 and put in $29 and get a 3.4 cayman s

What are your goals? Speed costs money, how fast do you want to spend?

[jakell2010]

I've spoken to a few shops and it looks like the swap of choice is the 3.4 which can run $20k plus,, that said because of size and wirieing,and DME ( most importantly),,,personally I'd rather spend $30k on an 06 caymans and get the factory 3.4,,, sorry just weighing my options,,,,,I know one thing ,,a custom ,,meaning. An engine swapped car has a very small resale market,,,my relatively stock 99 may bring 9-10k,, and the $20 I would've put into the 3.4 would get me to the cayman s

Just thinking out loud

By the way my car has gt3 nose, side skirts, turbo twists, m030 suspension,,,I just love mid engine cars, absolutely nothing against the 911, but I am a working guy, and can only dream of gt2 or gt3, TT, but 4-6 y/o cayman is within reach, or even a 996

[Flavor 987S]

Originally Posted by DenverSteve

I didn't mention a 993 TT (I said an air-cooled turbo) but - here's a 930 (I don't need to quantify what's available)......1982 Porsche 911 Turbo - $38500 (Denver) 1982 911 Turbo Coupe. Guards Red, Black Leather, 40k miles.

Cheaper than buying a 986 in good condition and changing out the engine to a 3.6. So yeah, I guess since I have been Porsching quite a few years, with a past 911SC, two Boxsters (currently the one in my Avatar) and also currently a Carrera 4S - over the past 20 years, I keep a pretty good handle on what's available. Any other questions?

Buying a quality 930 Turbo, doing proper maintenance, and keeping it on the road will NEVER be cheaper than a 986. And learning to properly drive the 930, with a single turbo lag and no AWD like the 993 will be a challenge. But the 930/993 will hold its value significantly better than any 986. So, maybe the net-net ownership experience could be similar.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by jakell2010

Is it spending $20k on a 3.4 install, that's a new one from sun coast ,,,you can take slightly cheaper routes but it's still a $14k proposition,

Super charger,,,I've seen a Dino that said the super charger only added 7 HP .

Or should I sell it for $10 and put in $29 and get a 3.4 cayman s

How about a rebuilt & upgraded 2001 3.6 for $14,K build pic thread here: http://forums.rennlist.com/rennforums/boxster-and-boxster-s-986-forum/649043-3-6-rebuild-underway.html

[jakell2010]

All the info I've gotten from local area folks is that the 986 DMU IS BEST MATCHED WITH THE 3.4 anything else and it gets REALLLY EXPENSIVE, not that 14-20k isn't a lot of coin

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by jakell2010

All the info I've gotten from local area folks is that the 986 DMU IS BEST MATCHED WITH THE 3.4 anything else and it gets REALLLY EXPENSIVE, not that 14-20k isn't a lot of coin

More correctly stated it is much simpler/better to keep the original DME & install a engine that is compatible with it. Any 1997-2001 engine is you just have to install a 1999 996 throttle body to work with the throttle cable. Pelican Parts has a good article on engine swaps here:

Pelican Technical Article: Boxster Engine Conversion Project - 986 Boxster (1997-04) - 987 Boxster (2005-08)

[jacabean]

forget engine swaps , waste of money . i drive my boxster for fun handling. i drive my evo X if i want to go fast.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by jacabean

forget engine swaps , waste of money . i drive my boxster for fun handling. i drive my evo X if i want to go fast.

So are you saying we can drive your evo?

[jbs986]

Originally Posted by jacabean

forget engine swaps , waste of money . i drive my boxster for fun handling. i drive my evo X if i want to go fast.

+ 1, I bought mine for the handling, the best and cheapest mods is, replacing the under- pulley cost is about $179.00 and is good for 7HP at the rear wheels, if you do a search on this forum and read what Jake Raby says about performance mods, he will tell you that they are a wast of money accept for the under-pulley.

Good luck to you.