Go Back   986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners > Porsche Boxster & Cayman Forums > Performance and Technical Chat

Post Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 03-17-2007, 08:01 AM   #1
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC area
Posts: 681
Thank you sir.


The problem w/ a dyno is I believe they measure WHP only. I didn't know what my WHP was so how could I compare to see it now?


Are there any dynos that measure hp somewhere else?
__________________
Miss my Boxster
Bavarian Motorist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 11:56 AM   #2
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 83
Bavarian, contrary to what some say here, I believe your claim.
I don't know about Powerchip or GIAC, but we had a chance to drive one of local owner's REVO'd 986. It was fairly impressive. I noticed some people bash on these chips without ever driving one. Forget opinions from "internet expert" and only listen to the opinions from owners.

Have you heard about "Sprint Booster"? (not for Boxster)
So many negative and nay sayers, but again nobody never had real experience on the product. I contacted one of the owners for test drive and now I can't imagine driving my Mercedes without it. I'm not saying all chips will be like that. Even REVO was not as good as Sprint Booster. You also have to listen to the negative report on GIAC from one of 996 owners(Renntech). Just don't fall into the non owner's guessing games.

Trust what you feel, and enjoy what you have.

Last edited by jinijazz; 03-17-2007 at 12:23 PM.
jinijazz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 02:19 PM   #3
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 3,033
Bav, I hope your car is faster and making a lot more hp/tq then it did. I'm not trying to rain on your parade (too much at least). I just put very little stock into people's butt dyno claims whoever that may be. Some people may have no problem basing their decisions off what others say, but me, I like hard factual data that's not biased.
__________________
'03 3.2L GuardsRed/Blk/Blk---6Spd
Options: Litronics, 18" Carrera lights, Bose sound, Painted to match roll bars.
http://i100.photobucket.com/albums/m...Mautocross.jpg
Adam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 04:15 PM   #4
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 220
How Can You Tell If It's Been Chipped

I bought a second hand 2000 986 and the guy I bought it from said that he thought the guy before him had it chipped but he wasn't sure. Is there any way to tell without pluging the ECU into a PC with the software. By that I mean do they put some sort of sticker somewhere?

Thanks

Last edited by aussieboxy; 03-17-2007 at 04:18 PM. Reason: Incorrect Spelling
aussieboxy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 07:51 PM   #5
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC area
Posts: 681
I understand the skepticism.



I have not gotten a chance to really try her today. I dug her out of snow (was a nightmare) but I was afraid of the roads being icy to take her to speed.




Still, feels like there is extra pulling power in 5th gear...shrug.
__________________
Miss my Boxster
Bavarian Motorist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 09:53 PM   #6
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Posts: 3,308
Quote:
Originally Posted by jinijazz
Bavarian, contrary to what some say here, I believe your claim.
I don't know about Powerchip or GIAC, but we had a chance to drive one of local owner's REVO'd 986. It was fairly impressive. I noticed some people bash on these chips without ever driving one. Forget opinions from "internet expert" and only listen to the opinions from owners.

Have you heard about "Sprint Booster"? (not for Boxster)
So many negative and nay sayers, but again nobody never had real experience on the product. I contacted one of the owners for test drive and now I can't imagine driving my Mercedes without it. I'm not saying all chips will be like that. Even REVO was not as good as Sprint Booster. You also have to listen to the negative report on GIAC from one of 996 owners(Renntech). Just don't fall into the non owner's guessing games.

Trust what you feel, and enjoy what you have.
Hi,

Haven't you started out claiming exactly what you're chiding other people for doing? Judging without actually driving the car? Just an observation...

I too drove a revo'd '04 'S', side-by-side with an '03 'S' that was stock save for being de-snork'd and didn't find the difference very remarkable at all. In fact, if anything, I'd say that any differences were confined to 4.2k RPM (torque) and 6.2k RPM (HP).

The reason I didn't find it remarkable is that at 4.2k RPM, the car is already 'On Cam' and pulling already, and 6.2k RPM is pretty much restricted to Short Bursts, Freeways, and the Track. I certainly didn't find it worth the $900+ investment. Nor did the '04 owner in the end, he said it condemned him to spending another $3k to maximize the investment he'd already made and at that, you're investing a significant % of the resale value, given how soft pre-owned Boxster prices are.

You may well have had a good experience chipping an MB, but that's so much Apples to Oranges as to be totally non-relevant.

Remember, it isn't how good the Aftermarket Chip is. It's about how much the OEM Software leaves on the Table for the Aftermarket Chip makers to capitalize on. Do you think it's possible that MB purposely gelds the Base Car to prop up the AMG variants, similar to what Porsche did with the Boxster/Cayman vs 911?

So far as the Boxster, the stock HP/Displacement ratio is one of the highest out there, that says to me that with stock Intake and Exhaust, Porsche didn't leave a whole lot on the table for Aftermarket tuners to cash-in on. There's just not that much you can do to an NA car for under $1k, and even then it's limited until you switch to FI.

Also, whether it's Renntech, 986forum, or Flat6.com, there simply aren't too many people raving about the HUGE gains from chipping alone - see: http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=8460&st=0&p=41660&#entry41660 or http://www.renntech.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=4870&st=0&p=24325&#entry24325 and you'll see that a lot of what I'm saying has been echo'd by others as well.

One other issue not really brought up is what chipping the car will do to any warranty, New or Certified Pre-Owned. Anyone entertaining a re-chip who may still be under warranty should read this first: http://treffen.pca.org/tech/tech_qa_question.asp?id={396E4407-264B-4199-9576-F50C64C97F2B}

I'm happy the owner is pleased, he can do as he likes with his car and money. My issue is with his unqualified "100%" recommendation to others to run out there are plop down $600 - I just don't think he's made his case...

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

Last edited by MNBoxster; 03-17-2007 at 11:29 PM.
MNBoxster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-17-2007, 11:27 PM   #7
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: CA, USA
Posts: 83
Quote:
Originally Posted by MNBoxster
Haven't you started out claiming exactly what you're chiding other people for doing? Judging without actually driving the car? Just an observation...
"I believe his claim based on my experience" is very different from "I claim x whithout driving his car" Just to clarify in case you are confused

Well, i did feel the difference and you didn't. It's all good.
Bav felt it and reported, happy ending no? I want to hear more details.
No need to force or over-worry about other members, since they are smarter than you think.

Nobody claims it was "investment", no argument needed.

Sprint Booster example I took is about people's reaction, was not chipping comparison. (FYI it has nothing to do with chip) So "apple to orange" comparison is your misintepretation.

No offense, but I'm more interested in Bav's experience than the redundant information that we saw every forum. Let him share his experience with us.
That's all.
jinijazz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-18-2007, 11:21 AM   #8
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC area
Posts: 681
I am gonna have a decision by Friday.


In fact, I think I'll take her out for a drive now.



I would only recommend the upgrade on the premise of there being a guarantee to return it.


And that there is...for ALL buyers. What's the big deal then?
__________________
Miss my Boxster
Bavarian Motorist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2007, 07:23 AM   #9
Registered User
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 89
I don't want to piss anyone off. Please take no offence as nothing I say below is directed at anyone personally.

I think aftermarket chips definitely changes the data map so that some values are different to factory settings. As to how much improvement this change offers, I think it's best to test it with things like the Apexi RSM or an accelerometer like the Tesla. I used to do back and back testing using those when I was tuning my MX6 turbo. It shows the difference before and after intake and exhaust mods very convincingly. The Boxster, being NA, would show less measurable benefits but should still be demonstratable nonetheless if the chip does what it claims. An Apexi RSM can be had for around $200AUD or a Tesla device for around $90AUD on Ebay. In many ways, these offer more real world measurements (0-100kph, 400m) than dynos.

I own both. And intend to do some testing myself when I start to play with the snorkel removal and header installation later on.

On the issue of chips, here are two articles on an interview with the director of Powerchip in Australia you may find an interesting read.

http://autospeed.drive.com.au/A_0402/page1.html
http://autospeed.drive.com.au/cms/A_0408/article.html
__________________
--1989 Mazda MX6 GT
--1997 Porsche Boxster
--2005 Lexus RX330
--2007 Maserati Quattroporte Sport GT
Jinster is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-19-2007, 04:26 PM   #10
Registered User
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: NYC area
Posts: 681
I read the whole interview.


Wow, that interviewer sure did ask him TOUGH questions. No mercy.




After driving my car today, I'm not sure what to think. I'm leaning towards asking for my $$ back because it just doesn't seem like a huge difference, if any.


Better throttle response I admit. Better in 3rd gear for sure (but for some reason, doesn't feel better in 1st or 2nd)



I'm leaning against it now...but I'll see.
__________________
Miss my Boxster
Bavarian Motorist is offline   Reply With Quote
Post Reply



Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On




All times are GMT -8. The time now is 02:59 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.6.0
Copyright 2025 Pelican Parts, LLC - Posts may be archived for display on the Pelican Parts Website -    DMCA Registered Agent Contact Page