Cheap easy HP gains?

[shadowprincess25]

Usually installed some kind of awesome new intake on other cars helps it make a few more HP after all the more the engine can breath the better it can power my wheels.

So what are the cheap easy mods I can do to increase the HP or possibly increase my gas mileage.

[JFP in PA]

There aren't any.....................

[mountainman]

Cheap is relative, but Porsches are engineered to perform well and be reliable too, so any horsepower you add will not be cheap and it will only be a few here and a few there. I have found cold air intake and exhaust are the most for your money

[Eric G]

Desnorkle it (Use this link it works great and takes 10 minutes 10min. Boxster "de-snorkel" Hack! :: Car & Lifestyle Forum)

Change the exhaust.

You can do the Crios exhaust mod: DIY Exhaust Mod – Gain of 10+ HP!!!

Plus some other useful tips other members have posted that I saved.

Hacks - Boxster Tech

Greg's Boxster Hacks

Boxster S By-Pass Muffler Done!!!! - Pelican Parts Technical BBS

Make the Pedro Sport Exhaust

[shadowprincess25]

Desnorkle looks awesome. Why is it in there to begin with?

Also thanks for the links Eric.

[tonycarreon]

Originally Posted by shadowprincess25

Desnorkle looks awesome. Why is it in there to begin with?

reduce the noise coming from the engine. you won't get any (appreciable) hp gains. there's some debate (1 hp) but i didn't notice anything other than a deeper exhaust noise.

boxster de snork - YouTube

[JFP in PA]

"Res ipsa loquitur"; not one of the ideas mentioned will add power, they will simply make the car louder and your wallet easier to sit on, and in some cases will actually rob output.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.................

[shadowprincess25]

I do love a better sounding engine. I was also looking at the exhaust mod, but I might have a guy friend do that for me I don't feel comfortable drilling my exhaust. I'd love if it had more grunt. It does sound pretty good now so I guess I'll have to watch more youtube videos of Boxster exhausts.

[mikefocke]

Recall that you ears are only good for so many vibrations before you begin to ask people to repeat themselves. You get to choose what you spend those vibrations on and how long to extend your natural hearing.

Every time I pull up next to a car whose vibrations I can feel in mine with the windows closed I wonder at the choices people make. Same goes for loud motorcycles. Think those drivers will look cool with hearing aids?

And pollution controls are good for all of us, every time I hear of someone bypassing them, again I wonder. For a seldom used race car...sure. Can't be a fanatic or not have some fun. But for a car that is just going to the store? And I sure can't feel 6 HP difference in HP or whatever it is. Maybe its just the 'my pipe is bigger than yours' thing, da ya think?

[shadrach74]

Originally Posted by mikefocke

Recall that you ears are only good for so many vibrations before you begin to ask people to repeat themselves. You get to choose what you spend those vibrations on and how long to extend your natural hearing.

Every time I pull up next to a car whose vibrations I can feel in mine with the windows closed I wonder at the choices people make. Same goes for loud motorcycles. Think those drivers will look cool with hearing aids?

And pollution controls are good for all of us, every time I hear of someone bypassing them, again I wonder. For a seldom used race car...sure. Can't be a fanatic or not have some fun. But for a car that is just going to the store? And I sure can't feel 6 HP difference in HP or whatever it is. Maybe its just the 'my pipe is bigger than yours' thing, da ya think?

Mike, I don't think anyone was advocating running catless on the street. It was a technical discussion based on my perception that some folks believe that the back pressure from catalytic converters actually broadens the power band. A properly designed exhaust system without cats will always produce more power than one with cats.

As for the noise, I share your disdain for overly loud pipes regardless of the vehicle. My town is plagued with Harley D-Bag wannabes on bikes so loud they will startle other drivers. While I find these riders terribly annoying, in the case of motorcycles, a certain amount of noise increases the awareness of other driver's to a cyclist's presence. As someone whose been street riding for 20 years, I'd prefer some noise over over quiet when riding a bike in traffic.

[Eric G]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

"Res ipsa loquitur"; not one of the ideas mentioned will add power, they will simply make the car louder and your wallet easier to sit on, and in some cases will actually rob output.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.................

Truth is spoken here

...but in the same vein, when I was once asked "why do you speed between lights, you don't get through them any faster" I responded with "true, but it sure feels that way and that's all that matters".

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by JFP in PA

"Res ipsa loquitur"; not one of the ideas mentioned will add power, they will simply make the car louder and your wallet easier to sit on, and in some cases will actually rob output.

There is no such thing as a free lunch.................

Especially with a Tiptronic you need low rpm torque & for that there is no replacement for displacement which requires bigger pistons.

[Eric G]

Originally Posted by BYprodriver

This sir is pure Porsche Porn! Shame on you for posting this...not!

[AndyA6]

Do a little search here, there are a few topics discussing your question.
-snorkel
-UD pulley
-exhaust
-TB
-bypass pipes
-ECU tune
to name a few.

[Ghostrider 310]

Underpulley is the most noticeable mod IMO, I'd put headers second but they can make some head bolt problems when you install them.

[shadowprincess25]

Originally Posted by AndyA6

Do a little search here, there are a few topics discussing your question.
-snorkel
-UD pulley
-exhaust
-TB
-bypass pipes
-ECU tune
to name a few.

Problem was, I didn't know what to search for, but this list gives me a place to start.

[Ghostrider 310]

Originally Posted by shadowprincess25

Problem was, I didn't know what to search for, but this list gives me a place to start.

Was just looking in the garage there, I'm curious didn't you go Pcar shopping before you bought a 2011 Camaro or did you end up with it in another way? After that ride acceleration in the 986 is going to feel lessened, it's cool that you report the 03 Boxster feels better in a corner than a 2011 Camaro, not shocking mind you given the difference in platforms.

[shadowprincess25]

Originally Posted by Ghostrider 310

Was just looking in the garage there, I'm curious didn't you go Pcar shopping before you bought a 2011 Camaro or did you end up with it in another way? After that ride acceleration in the 986 is going to feel lessened, it's cool that you report the 03 Boxster feels better in a corner than a 2011 Camaro, not shocking mind you given the difference in platforms.

I owned a V6 Camaro. It was a great car, but my boxster is just a better sports car. Not to mention just the badge alone give me more street cred. I knew I wanted a Porsche Boxster it was just a matter of when I was gonna get it. I wanted a Lotus for the longest time but when I learned that they didn't have any creature comforts I said to hell with that, Boxster is faster, quieter, more comfortable and I have AC

I wanted something a bit, faster or at least better handling which is why I ended up trading for the Porsche.

On the terms of what kind of drivablity, well it's a daily and my only car so um it needs to be smooth. I guess mostly I was looking for cold air intake and simple exhaust mods. Those always make the car sound more awesome and are usually pretty cheap to do and require very little strength on my part.

[Bruce Wayne]

by the way SP25... lapis blue.. nice choice !

[j.fro]

"There aren't any..................... "
+1
Having done almost all the common mods, I concur. However, there are many expensive, difficult mods that can make the Boxster quite speedy!
A couple of questions to ask yourself before digging in:
1. How much street drivability are you willing to give up?
2. Are you going racing? (Are there any class restrictions?)
3. How long are you planning to keep the car?
4. How much resale value are you willing to lose?