Best Mod - Bang For The Buck

[Kianfar]

Hello,

Hope all is well. Got a 2002 Porsche Boxster S 6SPD, and looking to see what everyone thinks is the best bang for the buck mod is. Can be anything, cosmetics, performance, suspension etc... What are people's first mods?

[pothole]

Under drive pulley or tearing some weight out for performance.

ROW M030 is probably best value chassis upgrade.

Fixed bucket seats make a huge difference to the driving experience, too.

[Sumflow]

Originally Posted by pothole

Under drive pulley or tearing some weight out.

I might go with that ROW M030, but can you comment on the under drive pulley?

Originally Posted by violametallic-S-

something fast, easy and cheapest mod of all, BMC air filter. sounds great and adds a little.

Does this effect the factory tuned intake?
How can a small company like that do the research necessary to get the sonics right?
Seems to me anything that you do to change the Porsche Dna detracts from it.

Originally Posted by cvhs18472

Driving lessons

High performance (racing) driving lessons will always get faster lap times.

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

I added a decal to the spoiler

What is the deal here, are Boxsters so rare in your area that you have to rub there noses in it after you pass them. If they don't know it's a Porsche let them try to catch up and get a closer look. All you have to do is lose them to get it to stick in there minds.

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

My best mod was adding my California Blonde.

California Blonde, yeah I can go for that. Nothing like California girls.

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

this is easy.... IMS upgrade.

I did that but it was not cheap!

7-LN IMS installed with new clutch and upgraded RMS.
#2 on my list would be PORSCHE decals for the door. Great mod for $80.

Is that so you can find you car in the parking lot?

Why do you have to brag when you have the best?

#4 18" Carrera wheels and good rubber RE-11 B'stones. big ticket item granted.

What is this about the super low rims?

Race cars do not use them (formula one, Nascar and LeMans). Seems to me less cushioning for road ride, and you get to chip curbs at your own expense. Parked they look like they have flat tires. Are they functional at all?

[Perfectlap]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

I did that but it was not cheap!

I actually think the IMS upgrade is a bargain price considering the eningeering and thought that came entirely from the aftermarket, no assistance whatsoever from Porsche for a critical engine element.
Whatever 986 or 996, actually any upgradeable m96 engined car I would consider buying, I'd add $1800 right on top of the purchase price for the IMS upgrade.
Like immediately doing doing the timing belt for a high mileage used car. Chances are you wont' have a problem if you don't upgrade, but $1800 is not that high a price and it's a functional expense in that you still get a new clutch out of it which will last you 100k miles or more.

[Kenny Boxster]

Originally Posted by Sumflow

[
What is the deal here, are Boxsters so rare in your area that you have to rub there noses in it after you pass them. If they don't know it's a Porsche let them try to catch up and get a closer look. All you have to do is lose them to get it to stick in there minds./SIZE]

Not at all; quite the contrary. The back of my boxster is barren and thought a decal reminiscent of the 1980s porsches suits it rather nicely. Funnily enough, it never is exposed as I rarely drive faster than 75mph. Boxster is not really a car to rub in when it comes to performance by serious car enthusiasts ... Often touted as a hairdresser's car. All look, no power :ah: but a very fun ride with one of a kind personality, especially with the top down!

[violametallic-S-]

something fast, easy and cheapest mod of all, BMC air filter. sounds great and adds a little

[WhipE350]

What type of mod you looking for?...performance, appearance, sound, comfort?

I've done a ton to my car..and well want to do a ton more. A lot of mine were preventative maintenance on of parts that didn't need it but I wanted to. However for me in the 4 categories above I liked the following. I don't race or track.

Performance - Surprisingly it was the least likely thing I would have planned to do...replaced control arms and drop links, I honestly thought it would be a big waste of money but I simply cannot drive the car enough now, the handling is amazing. I also liked the switch to 18'' wheels from 17s.

Appearance - This is a tough one, I'd probably say putting 2006 wheels with spacers on my 2000. Though painted bumperettes, new tail lights, restoring the seats, and of course making the paint like new didn't hurt . Oh and the P O R S C H E on trunk.

Sound - desnorkled, though I would like a cool exhaust.

Comfort - replacing the too smooth shiny steering wheel with a new one, much safer. I'm still looking for a good buy on some 997/987 sport seats, I've been in them for hours in a Cayman and the difference to mine is night and day...the question is do i want to spend the money.

[Kenny Boxster]

Adding a Porsche crest 3D badge to the steering wheel. Makes it look 100x better than the non colored embossed 2d logo!

Replacing yellow side indicators with clear/ clear corners with headlights/ black or darkened amber turn indicators.

Also taking out front spare wheel and tool set/replacing with fix a flat bottle. 30 Pound weight reduction and free if you don't put in fix a flat!

[Idaho Red Rocket 3]

My best mod was adding my California Blonde.

[jakobv84]

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

Replacing yellow side indicators with clear/ clear corners with headlights/ black or darkened amber turn indicators.

I've thought about doing this to my '03. Not feeling the yellow side indicators... any tips on DIY and/or where you bought the clear ones?

[Kenny Boxster]

Originally Posted by Idaho Red Rocket 3

My best mod was adding my California Blonde.

That's the most expensive mod in this whole thread.

Originally Posted by jakobv84

I've thought about doing this to my '03. Not feeling the yellow side indicators... any tips on DIY and/or where you bought the clear ones?

I bought mine from Pelican; You can buy them from ebay or suncoast aswell. They were $60 for a pair for me. Just search side indicator and buy the clear ones.

Ah yes, and here are pictures to the post I posted earlier.
I think I forgot to mention I added a decal to the spoiler; keep in mind to have an assistant handy, as mine is rather lopsided!

[jsceash]

Originally Posted by jakobv84

I've thought about doing this to my '03. Not feeling the yellow side indicators... any tips on DIY and/or where you bought the clear ones?

Bought mine at dealer $35.00 each 99663104401, 99663104301

[Sweezy804]

Originally Posted by Kenny Boxster

Adding a Porsche crest 3D badge to the steering wheel. Makes it look 100x better than the non colored embossed 2d logo!

Replacing yellow side indicators with clear/ clear corners with headlights/ black or darkened amber turn indicators.

Also taking out front spare wheel and tool set/replacing with fix a flat bottle. 30 Pound weight reduction and free if you don't put in fix a flat!

Where did u find the steering wheel logo?

[Kianfar]

List looks good so far, keep it coming. Sound is good, extra HP (who couldn't use more), handling if there is a way to improve it. This car drives so nasty, I thought this was the end all, but I guess it can get better. Cosmetics are cool too. I'm talking cheap stuff, that give the most value. That's what i'm looking for. This would be my first mod on the 986. Also something realistic, I don't want to drop a lot of $$$ into the car, and end up being into the car as a price of a 987 S. Gotta be realistic.

[thstone]

Sticky tires (Kumho Ectsa XS, Hankook R-S3, or similar) + underdrive pulley.

[pothole]

Originally Posted by thstone

Sticky tires (Kumho Ectsa XS, Hankook R-S3, or similar) + underdrive pulley.

Hmm, not sure about sticky tyres.

On track, you don't really want sticky tyres with stock suspension. On the road, I often feel like I want less grip, especially on the rear, not more - to encourage the car to move around a bit more under power, make it more interactive without having to be really brutal with the inputs.

[cvhs18472]

Driving lessons

[Johnny Danger]

A black leather jumpsuit with some facial spritzer .

[Allen K. Littlefield]

Originally Posted by Johnny Danger

A black leather jumpsuit with some facial spritzer .

Also get yourself a Dan Gerous black vinyl sticker for the middle of your wind stop.

Mr. Gerous is that famous French driver with the Yallar monster that terrorizes the mean streets of MA during good weather. The sticker comes with a subscription to his fan club and guarantees at least a 10hp increase when installed. However you may be required to comb through your feces to find suspected trace elements and report back to "Johnny" headquarters in order to receive bulletins on workouts and newsletters. All in all a inexpensive mod that will gain you neighborhood status and all the little kids will marvel when you motor by.

AKL

[Johnny Danger]

Originally Posted by Allen K. Littlefield

Also get yourself a Dan Gerous black vinyl sticker for the middle of your wind stop.

Mr. Gerous is that famous French driver with the Yallar monster that terrorizes the mean streets of MA during good weather. The sticker comes with a subscription to his fan club and guarantees at least a 10hp increase when installed. However you may be required to comb through your feces to find suspected trace elements and report back to "Johnny" headquarters in order to receive bulletins on workouts and newsletters. All in all a inexpensive mod that will gain you neighborhood status and all the little kids will marvel when you motor by.

AKL

That's it . Between yesterday's attack and this one, I'm calling the Abuse Hot-line ! Anyone have the number ?