Best "bang for the buck"

[mikedivincent]

So, now that the gift season is here, what do we think the best performance modification is for the money? Chip, Exhaust, Headers, Intake,.......

I have a 2002 S, and I am not sure what to put on my list.

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by mikedivincent

So, now that the gift season is here, what do we think the best performance modification is for the money? Chip, Exhaust, Headers, Intake,.......

I have a 2002 S, and I am not sure what to put on my list.

Hi,

For me, the best Bang for the $$ I've spent on my '99 has been the addition of Front/Rear Strut Tower Braces.

Not too Sexy I admit, and it didn't make the Car even 0.00001 MPH Faster.

But, it Handles Better, Corners Faster, and has significantly reduced, if not eliminated, any Rattles or annoying Squeaks. All IMHO...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[blinkwatt]

Many may go against this one but my K & N air filter was only $35 and I love it. It helped the throttle response some and gave it a more aggresive sound. I read over some 0-60 results from someone who modded his Boxster and he ran more consistent times after he installed his K & N air filter. Not necessarily faster but more consistent.

[Onad]

Just curious:

Can you add the Front/Rear Strut Tower Braces without voiding your warranty, or does all this stuff give Porsche a reason to deny claims.

[Perfectlap]

If I were you I would put that cash on some premium tires. Nothing has MORE BANG FOR THE BUCK than that piece of rubber that contacts the street.
Hate to sound like a party pooper but the 2nd best bang for the buck is to take that money and sign up for something like the Evolution High Performance Driving school. They tour all the across the country reminding people that they are very far from exploiting the full capabilities of their sports cars. An entire afternoon of instruction for about $300. Improvement of driving capability: hard to calculate.

Evolution Performance Driving School

You have a 2002 S. That's a world class sports car, Automobile Magazine named the 2000 S the sports car of the year. There really is no such thing as bang for the buck when it comes to this car. SOme people have put in short shift kits and think its great bang for the buck, but that's more to do with driving style than any measured performance increases. Those guys in Stugart are pretty smart and at $60,000 for a fully loaded S they aren't exactly cutting corners.

I tinkered like mad on my last car because it was a japanese tin can made with cheap parts and labor. Now I have a car from a brand some people have always dreamed of owning. The only enhancements I make now are cosmetic although going with lighter wheels (10 pounds at each corner) can be considered a performance bonus,
oh and GT3 seats, expensive but oh so worth it.

here's a black set for $1400, somebody better jump on that soon.
http://www.911pcar.com/Porsche_Parts/porsche_parts_interiors_seats.htm

Originally Posted by Perfectlap

The only enhancements I make now are cosmetic although going with lighter wheels (10 pounds at each corner) can be considered a performance bonus,
oh and GT3 seats, expensive but oh so worth it.

Perfectlap, really, 10 pounds lighter per corner, that's a lot. How much do your wheels weight...about 13-14 pounds each??

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by Onad

Just curious:

Can you add the Front/Rear Strut Tower Braces without voiding your warranty, or does all this stuff give Porsche a reason to deny claims.

Hi,

The Braces should not void your warranty. At the very least, any items not related to the Struts would not, by Law, be void. Porsche cannot supercede the Federal Trade Commission. Hope this helps...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[MNBoxster]

@PerfectLap

Hi,

I agree with you 100% about the Driving Course and 100% about the Tires with one Caveat - for the Experienced Driver only.

Upgrading your Tires can cause some issues for new Performance Car Drivers. The better Tires will add more Grip, but will also tend to breakaway much more suddenly and with less warning.

To the Unexperienced Driver, this can artificially raise their Confidence Level in their skills which could possibly result in some bent sheetmetal or worse - bent people...

I strongly suspect that many Go-Fast upgrades are at the Root of many accidents simply because they raise the Car above the Driver's abilities. I've seen this time and again.

Today's Sports Cars and Performance Sedans, even those in the middle of the Line-Up, far surpass the performance of some of the Best Cars of even a few years ago and come dangerously close to exceeding the Skill Level of their average Owner, lending even more creedence to your suggestion of the Value in taking some Driving Courses...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99