Caught the power bug .. pretty bad
 

Yesterday while driving, I was challenged by an STI and I took that challenge. He beat me easily from the launch. From a roll I had a better race, but he still walked. During our 2nd run an RS4 joined in and smoked us both. LOLs.

Now I am stuck in a pretty bad place with few options ( budget ~ 45k ):

1. Sell the Boxster and get a replacement either Viper or Carrera

1a. Carrera S:

I love the way I can throw the Boxster around, and with two seats, to me, its a true sport car. The Carrera has 4 seats, no side vent, and is a rear engine setup which to me is inferior to our mid engine setup ( correct me if I am wrong please ) !

Price for a Carrera ~$30k + $10k for super charger kit would give me a 434 crank hp and 370 ish to the wheel. That's all I would ever really need for a street car.

So this option, +2 for power, -1 for looks, -1 for sportiness, -1 for handling vs a Boxster.

1b. Viper (SRT10):

Definitely this car is hot, its like a go cart and looks the part. Problem is spending $45k for a Dodge.

This option I would give +2 for power, +1 for looks, +0 for sportiness, -2 for handling vs a Boxster.

1c. Get a 06 987 S

I can get this car CPO for $41k right now. It makes 280hp stock, and can be swapped with the 3.8L 997 engine or supercharged later on for hopefully $10-$15k which would put it over budget, so for now, we'll only consider the 280hp. The 280hp should satisfy my craving for HP for a bit but not too long. Still wont hold off those v4 turbo cars.

So this option gets +1 for power, -1 for looks (because I do like the 986 look better), +0 for sportiness, and +1 for handling vs a 986 and +1 for warranty.

2. Swap a 3.4L into the Boxster.

Cheapest and most direct route the HP I think but most shops do not want to perform this swap. I don't know why. I talked to two local Porsche shop and both almost immediately quoted reliability issues and warned against swapping to 3.4L motors.

Also, spending 50% of the KBB of a car to swap in a used motor when nothing is wrong (mechanically ) with original motor makes no sense.

So this option gets +1 for power, -2 for bad financial planning.

Although going this route, I might have enough maybe a year down the line to get the 3.4L supercharged also, that would get me the HP I want but push real close to the 45k limit that if anything went wrong reliability wise, I'll be modding my bicycle.

I do realize that there's space limitation for the engine, but if I supercharge the 3.4L, I would want lose the rear trunk for extra space + maybe air / water cooling. I m sure someone can build this setup custom.

So this option gets a +2 for power, -3 for stupid financial planning. LOLs.

When I add up the #, the best thing to do seem to be the 987 option. Yes, it would be the smartest thing to do financially since I can make more back selling an 06 987 than I could selling a modded 986. BUT somehow my heart isn't really into it. Spending another 20g for a newer car that I don't like as much look wise because it has 35 more hp and a longer warranty doesn't make too much sense either. Especially since my car is still covered somewhat as a Porsche CPO car.

*sigh* .. I've been up all night and all I can come up with is I need more $$. LOL.

Is any of my + - numbers wrong? What do you guys think ? Would appreciate opinions / feed back.

I have a friend in the auto industry, he has driven the Viper and I recommend you do the same before you buy one. It's fast, but he said it's a vibrating, unrefined enginemobile, you might not like it, then again you might love it. Why is the Cayman S off your radar? You said you like the mid engine feel of the boxster and want a fster whip, I'll bet you can steal one of those in the current economy as opposed to better years.

If you do a lot of straight line racing, you bought the wrong car. The Boxster was not made to go fast in a straight line, but it can outrun most cars on anything twisty. Unless you do a $10k 3.4 swap the Boxster will not make you competitive with the cars you mention in a straight line. But if you love your current Boxster this is the way to go, and the way I would do it.

A 987 may not get you the HP your after, but would give the same/better handling as your 986. I think my first choice in your situation would be a 996/997, there fast and will handle similarly to the Boxster.
Then the Viper. I would have a problem spending $45k on a Dodge too. But I will admit, I have always liked the way the Viper looked. Plus, you rarely see them anymore which in my opinion makes one 10x better than a vette. :cheers:

I would have to agree with Rick and the others ... Stick with a Porsche for the refined reide quality and handling. These cars just won't win on the drag strip BUT take them onto a tight, twisty road and you will certainly have an advantage.

As far as the upgrades go: I would move into a 997, 996, or Cayman S (probably in that order). With the 911 the handling is different but you might have the increased HP you are looking for. The Cayman might be a good middle road with the upgraded power while still retaining the mid-engine layout we enjoy so much right now.

Best of luck with your decision! :cheers:

'06 Z06 and stomp all. You'll have 440whp out of the box. btw, they're ~50k now.

A non-porsche solution for a lot less$
 

If it's the stop light grand prix you're looking at, consider the 2002-2004 Z06 Vette. Not especially pretty--neither is an STI--but it deliverers the goods--0-60 in 4.5 seconds, 1/4 mile in 12.0 and they handle very well.

Price range is in the $22-30K range for a decent car, you may be able to get one with a warranty.

If I was looking for a car to do strictly DE's and an occasional auto-x; this would be the car I'd be looking at: Capable, reasonably reliable, relatively inexpensive spare parts, lots of places to get work done and big on the fun side. If you need more HP there are plenty of aftermarket accessories to get it close to 500

I've had lots of friends over the years that have had Chevy and Dodge muscle cars and even they admit that "God help you if you ever have to stop or turn".

IMO..unrefined and under engineered, when compared to anything European.

One friend with a Corvette told me that although he loved the car,"it road like a buckboard and shook itself apart".

Like they say....no substitute.

Cheers

-1 on the Viper. I got some seat time in one a few years back, and while it is was a monster to drive down the autobahn, I think it would make an atrocious DD. It is very loud and the ride is very harsh. After about an hour of driving it, I was quite fatigued. My boss’ C6 Z51 feels like a Lincoln by comparison.

You may want to reconsider the Viper. I went for a cruise with a buddy of mine last Sunday. We spent the day cruising around in the country, and while the Viper is extremely fast and very sharp looking, he was pretty miserable since the engine generates SO much heat that he was frying in the cockpit. He had the AC on full blast the whole time ( it was about 80 degrees out ) and was covered in sweat every time we stopped.

Give RUF a call :

http://www.rufautocentre.com/

Nick

I wouldn't bother racing anyone off the line... what you were describing reminds me of that scene with Vin Diesel & Paul Walker in their Supra racing the Ferrari from that movie called... oh ... Fast & Furious??? :rolleyes:

If you're into doing that type of stuff why don't you buy an Evo or STI? They make 400hp+ easy on some simple bolt-ons.

Don't be that guy... :barf:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKOjCIy6F4c

Sage advice from a reformed street racer: It doesn't really matter what you get. Someone somewhere will always be a little faster, have a little more HP, be a little quicker out of the hole, have a little better top end. It never ends.

Youtube always disturbs me when I read the comments people write – like the latest post for this link, the guy ends his anti-American rant with “bleed America bleed.”

Corvette is off my radar because as capable as a z06 is. They are a dime a dozen.

Cayman is out because one of the main reason I love the Boxster is that it is a convertible. If I wanted a hard top, there's so much more choices.

I hear what you guys are saying about the Viper. Its a Dodge go cart. LOLs.

Its not all about straight line performance for me. I just hate that smug grin those kids in the Evo get when they 'powned' a Porsche and there's no turn in sight for me to show them why I love this car.

I do love the Boxster. This is actually my SECOND Boxster. My last Boxster's warranteed expired, so I had a choice to trade at the time. I thought long and hard and test drove a couple cars, including S2K, STi, SLK. I made the choice to get a Boxster again. The best CPO one I could afford, and thats exactly what I got.

I just really wish this car had a little bit more balls sometimes. I talked to a couple Porsche mechanics and all they really can recommend is exhaust / chip. The 3.4 swap is looking very attractive right now, especially since I know that if I can fit a charger on there, it would pull 370hp to the wheel (tcp stats). Thats all anyone really need in a street car.

Anything over 400 hp rwd on the street to me is just unecessary, any anything over 500 is getting dangerous. Trust me. I know this. I am a reformed street racer too. I used to have a 450hp 3000GT VR4 and although I lost about 20% to the AWD system, and the thing weighed almost 4000lbs, it was a damn fast car.

I guess the choice really is, do I love the 986 enough to drop 30k worth of mod in to it ? It would have to be a car I want to drive for maybe the next 5 - 10 years, or even keep forever, because I know I m never going to get even 1/3 of what I paid out of the car when its time to sell.

I do really really like this car .. but when do you know its love ? LOL.

Sorry for the long posts guys. I havent slept all night.

If I kept the 986, and dropped $ into it to get it where I think it needs to be, the mods would be:

- GT3 brakes $4k on ebay
- 3.4L engine with similar blower setup to TCP $10k for engine swap + ?? for supercharger
- PS9 or Motons $2.5k
- Sway + struts $1k
- New clutch / Short thow / Misc stuff $2k
- Some new rubbers $1.5k

That would eat up 30k instantly but then I think I would really have a 'nefarious' 986. LOL.

I do need more $ .. anyone need a DBA ? =D

yep i got the power bug too. got myself a 335i, and cant wait to chip it :cheers:

Sounds like a better option might be to trade the Boxster toward a used 996 Turbo and if you're still worried about power they can be modded to over 700HP.

The all-wheel drive on the Turbo will allow for better launches and less wheel spin. In addition to the Boxster I have a 996 C4S which is very quick indeed but no plans for forced induction on either one.

The 3.4 and supercharger route sounds like a ticking time bomb especially if you're pushing it hard. To get it right lots of internal and ECU mods for the engine have to be made to compensate for the forced induction. Definitely not a bolt-on DIY job.

Go for the Turbo if you really need the excess speed. ;-)

Why not supercharge or turbo your car as it is, or nitrous for when you get another young kid. I myself raced an STi and beat it but he missed 3rd, he might have walked me.

Light this Fire
 

Hey Nefarious,

It has been a day since you were smoked, has the big head wrested control from the little head? :matchup:

Topless is right, there is always someone faster. Even The Stig would have been beat if Lewis Hamilton had a dry, oilfree track. Remember why you bought a Boxster? It wasn't because it could beat any Ricer or p.o.s. Detroit Iron.

If you have to have the POWER, cheap......try out a dry nitrous system. This thread will burn with the idea. :rolleyes:

Once you have saved some more budget money, collected some nasty pinks, and toasted your engine. Try this:

Hasta,
Ike

2003 S....3.6L X51 - RUF Intake and Exhaust, GT3 ECU = 365+HP, Bilstein PSS9s, M030 sways, Strut Tower, Paget Blues, & Michelin PS 2s..... Blow 'em all away at the next apex!

I love it when I, or someone else, wins a drag because the other guy misses a gear!
My friend was driving his x5 4.4 (not a hugely fast car, but for an suv its quick on its feet) and some guy next to him in an rx8 (manual, so it was the sport version) wanted to get infront of him at the light. My friend slammed on the gas when the light turned green and he was neck and neck with the rx8 until around 40-60 (its a big range but I honestly don't remember) and then the rx8 just kinda disapears behinds us...

How awesome is that for you sports car mojo when you tell your friends, "yeah, I was beaten by a huge suv today..."

I'd get a brand new warrantied base C6 Vette. Pay $30 and get the upshift chip disabled. 400+ bhp at $45K

The Z06 Vette's aren't a dime a dozen. Not around here. People confuse them with the base Vette. Ditto for the ZR1 vette.

If you know how to ride a motorcycle you could get a Hayabusa and smoke everything in sight. Lambo's, Ferrari's, Acari's, Vipers

sorry, but you're in the wrong car if you're worried about who can beat you at the light. I am on this forum SHOPPING and researching boxsters - I don't have one, but my dad does. I'm 36, and while i still love cars, I'm not into drag racing at every light. I love the boxster for how it sounds, handles, looks, but NOT because I think it will smoke people light to light. HOnestly, drag racing is really really stupid.

there is always someone faster. if you get caught up in that nonsense, you will always be looking for something faster. You'll get your motor swap, or your viper, and then when you get bored of smoking all the EVOs you go to a real drag track, and some guy in a v8 muscle car with wheelie bars and a true drag car will rape the $hit out of your "super fast" car and you'll be right back at square one.

there is always somone faster, someone smarter, someone with more money...the key is to be happy with what you've got. :)

if you really want to drag race - then get the Z06, and throw some bolt ons. there was a youtube video out there title was somethign like "EC hamptons" there was some club called EC- all these ferraris and lambos and one guy has a bolt on modded C5 Z06..yeah the old one, and he kicked all their a$$e$. do you think the guy in the Lambo really cares that he got beaten slightly by a $30k hunk of crap? No. because he's in alambo. he probably has some hottie in the passenger seat, and a few more bimbos back as his bachelor pad naked in teh pool..... :) ha ha point being - you have a Porsche. I'm shopping for one, and I'd be happy JUST TO GET your car and enjoy it.

don't sweat it that some other car can beat you. as soon as you get the viper, some guy in a modded 997 turbo will yank your headlights out and you'll be looking to sell/upgrade.. it's a never ending saga.

not to mention $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$. i hpoe you are rich.

if you want a uniqe car, and you want something FAST - why not get a slightly used 996 or 997 turbo, and then have it modded. you'll have a VERY upscale wicked looking car - and those things can FLY. you won't be THE fastest caront he raod, but it will be a rare day when something with a license plate on it can keep up with you. i hope you he the $$ for that 'cause it won't be cheap.

for just having a great time driving a car - a boxster is hard to beat. it sounds exotic, it handles like it's on rails, it looks upscale and classy - and it is NOT super expensive. but it is NOT a dragster.

I picked up a 335 as well and althought the 300 HP and torque is incredicble it still doesn't leave a grin on my face as much as the boxster does with the top down.

Hey Ike,

Looking at your mod list, look like the little head gave a spanking to the big head. LOLs. I m jealous. How much did it cost you to get your 3.8L swap from RUF ? ( I asked you this already in another thread, so if you already answered, sorry for the repeat question ). :cheers:

Anyways

I wish I can get a 996 TT Cab and just be done with it. Last night they were going for 70-80k even on Ebay. Although 80K got you the X50 version with 450hp. STILL, wayyy out of my range.

I hear you guys loud and clear though. Perhaps my plan of making the 450hp Boxster is like trying to fit a square peg in a hole. It might work, for a while, but its not meant for that and will eventually be a money pit.

I think I'm pretty much done with the idea of trying to put $30k and a glob of power into the Boxster. I'll modify it look wise with custom body kit and such, but no power mods.

I'll start saving those pennies for another year or two and maybe I'll get the first year 988 or the 996 Turbo when they drop a little lower in price. LOLs.

Mean while, some driver improvement class would be a good investment.

Wow, I think the big head just won. LOLs.

Thanks guy.

PS. I do have my M1 and I've been looking for a Ducati 748 749 too. Like I said, I need more $. Anyone need a DBA ? LOL.

Oh I also want to chime in that the Box is not meant for winning those stoplight battles. The box is a greta handling sports car that is just plain enjoyable to drive. Even if you did the engine swap etc what happens if you run up against and EVO or STI that has also had mods done to it?

I also agree that the Cayman is out if you like the convertible. The Turbos and C4S's are great cars but I also don't like the inferior rear engine. The back end just feels way to heavy when you throw the car around.

If money is a factor and you just want to be competetive for the time being I say save your money for the upgraded engine swap. It seems like a waste to do the swap when there is nothing wrong at the moment. Throw in a dry NOS system, have fun at the lights (if you must) and wait until the engine is toast before you do the swap. You will still be driving the car you love, and the laughing gas will keep you a tad happier and some money in the bank for when/ if you really do need a new engine. If the engine doesn't go then you're even happier and your car will still be great in the twisties.

I wish they gave us the option of ordering it with the 3.8L engine from the factory. WTF it's a natural.

oh and a dual clutch gearbox plz


LOL

Street racin' fools - get an Evo X
 

For 35K get a new EvoX. Better for the types of folks who like to street race. If you want to drive fast, do us all a favor and go to a track or get another brand of car.

before buying my boxster I drove the new EVO X. I hated it. It was NO FUN. it wasn't even THAT fast in my opinion. it sounded bad, it wasn't that nice inside - it was a slightly nice econobox with some power. i test drove an RX8 later the same day and it was twice as much fun to drive as the EVO despite bein far slower.

the Boxster is about as much FUN as you can have in a car - top down it is hard to beat for pure fun.

there is always someone faster. I see guys pass me in EVos, STi, you name it - I wouldn't trade cars with them - no way.

Keep your boxster and enjoy it. for the money - there is not much out there that even comes CLOSE in terms of fun factor / bang for the buck.

if you don't want and don't care about top down driving - you could find some nice couples or hard top sports cars that will outrun the box - but if you want a roadster - not much out there that is as cool, as classy, or as FUN as our cars!

I rarely race anyone unless I'm in my 550i, and then I can't wait to show them all 360 horses at my disposal. Mostly it's at a light when I'm in the far left lane and they want to overtake me to get on the freeway from the center or far right lane... common in Houston. I don't care what they're driving if they try this when I'm in the Bimmer... well, within reason anyway. I rarely see anyone driving a car that is faster than 5 seconds zero to sixty in my "economically challenged" part of town.

In the Boxster I smile and wave as they pass me. I'm not screwing up my tranny or burning out my clutch for some idiot-stranger.

Nick is right... I met a guy at the last DE who brought his Viper with him instead of his 944 and he was sweating to the oldies in that car and it was FREEZING outside. Temps never got above 40 degrees that day and he jumped out of that car as fast as he could after each session. It's like a sauna in there if you push the car at all.

It's best to own one car that smokes off the line and one that smokes others on the twisties if you have the cash and garage space. I'm fortunate enough to have both right now.

Remember in Swingers when the chick asks John Favro "what kind of car do you drive?", and when he responds, "a Cavalier", she ignores him and continues to ignore him even when he tries to qualify it with, "it's red. A red Cavalier..." Same scenario:

"What kind of car do you drive?"

"A Subaru"

Ignored.

"It's an STI. A WRX STI..."

Ignored.

I assure you "A Porsche" response will not get you ignored.

An STI is fast but it is still a Subaru. Hell an Omni GLH Turbo was fast. Doesn't mean I want to drive one. Wait, maybe I do...

Drag race? Drag race? The last time I dragged raced, I blew away two mid 70's Monte Carlo's... and I did it with a Ford Van.

But then, the two guys weren't willing to run the Red light like I was : )

Its not the car, it's the driver.

OK, someone tell me what's wrong with this post.

"Its not the car, it's the driver" You said it.

If you're going to street race, please stay out of my community. Adults that want to go fast equip and drive their cars on race tracks, not public streets.

My eighteen year old is a night owl and I trust his driving; it's the traffic around him that keeps me awake at night.

If you "need" to go fast, get yourself an old domestic of some type and throw a big block crate motor in it...have a blast! I'll be out on the twisties...

Could one of the better Cobra Kit Cars with a 427 side oiler be the answer to your needs. Good looking, seriously FAST, no top, and moderate handling( not great but not a killer). You could then set up the gearing and trans to whatever it is you really want. Good Luck in your choice. Ed

http://usera.ImageCave.com/Lilbastard/microdik.gif

As someone already said... "don't be that guy"...

:cheers:

wow .. funny how your mind set changes after less than 1 year ..

I have realized that with as little hp as the Boxster have, its already a better car than i'll ever be a driver.

Plus I haven't been feeling the power bug much lately, as work & life keeps me pretty busy.

Who knows, maybe a few months / year from now, when this economy starts to swing up again, the power bug will bite once more and I'll switch over to an '09 310hp box with PDK or maybe even a used Lambo if certain projects treats me right.

For now, the box = car happiness.

any chance of posting that pic in a higher res? i love collecting boxster wallpapers and i think this would make a great one!

also, you aren't gonna beat a Z06 in price:performance...

i'm looking at vettes as we speak and you can get well over 500+ hp almost stock! this will probably be my next car (hopefully summer)

and i still love my box!

The first couple of weeks after I bought my 2.7 I wished I had bought the S. I had a high performance motorcycle and I kept trying to drive the Box like the bike. [That thing redlined at 10.5!] After a few years I now think, "Damn, I never get to play out all the gears". So, more horsies would still be a low gear experience and the rest is lost except for special, infrequent occassions. I am happy with the car as it is, and it is so much FUN, a straight line high HP vehicle wouldn't do much for my happy barometer.

I have a friend that bought the '08 Z06 and he drives like he is on the track. I wouldn't want to be a passenger - not even with a helmet. So he gets as much enjoyment out of the car as he wants - on the street. The reckless driving tickets are expensive and the dangers are imminent. That's a VERY expensive hobby.

Here's a Corvette for you...smokin' deal, as well.

One word for you...
 

Mustang! For 45K get a Shelby 500. +1 looks -2 Handling +4 Power. The 2009 Mustang is not as unrefined as older ones. Also this is a much more appropriate car for your street-racer tendencies. The stop light grand is the only race where all particpants are losers. Take it to the drag strip or earn my disdain.