"your talking about a 2.7L 217 hp versus a 2003 3.2L 258 hp which the same exact 3.2L in 2005 puts out 280 hp."
My point is that it is very expensive to get extra hp out of our cars with bolt-ons. I am quite aware of the hp of all of the base as well as the S-series boxsters. I picked up 12-14% increase in hp in my 2.7L, many have found similar increases in their S-series engines with bolt-ons.
On a good day, I can put out almost 250 hp to the crank (210 hp to the wheels 15% drivetrail loss is 247 hp to the crank). I have also lightened my car so that it weighs several hundred lbs less than the S-series Boxsters. My car was 2775 lbs stock and I have lightened it to around 2650 lbs, so my little 2.7L is lots of fun to drive, even though it may be an apple, or is it an orange.....
Ed
