I never to seem to read info on this forum about after market enhancements like CAI, headers, exhaust, performance tuning, etc. I have a 2014 C2 and am wondering how much performance I can get out of it without trading it in for a C2S. Had corvettes and a couple of Cadillac CTSVs that I heavily modified and added substantial RWHP and performance.

 

Just a thought on a different approach - go to a few PCA DE events and get some seat time on track and good instruction. I bet you will find that you can get a lot more performance out of that car than you think.

It is easy, albeit not inexpensive, to buy horsepower, but more satisfying to really learn how to drive in my experience.

 

I agree about the track part. I generally would like to get more HP out of my C2S but the more times I go to the track the more I realize I can't handle what I have.

I disagree about the it is easy to buy HP part. I don't think there is any practical way to add noticible HP to a NA 911. IMHO the numbers quoted for HP gains from the exhaust and tuning companies are mostly smoke and mirrors.

I also think you could find many numerous threads about after market exhausts and some recent ones on tuning.

 

Hi James, I was being a bit tongue-in-cheek about easy, but was thinking more about buying a Turbo or other cars, like the GTR, with more horsepower, not just adding horsepower to a C2 or C2S. I agree that there is no easy bolt on to add significant power that I am aware of.

 

If you want more performance, trade in for a C2S or a 997 Turbo. Not much can be squeezed from the 3.4 in the C2.

Personally, I think the C2 is all anyone needs from a sports car, but some people are torque junkies.

 

Its true the C2 has plenty of performance.
Its about performance you can use in a turn as opposed being a straight line rocket, like a modded CTS-V or Vette.
The 991 is about fredom from chasing after the latest mods.
Its a car to just drive and enjoy.

 

I do not associate torque with a sportscar. With a muscle car yes. Sportscar no.

 

Just finished a track day at COTA with my stock 991c2s.
This is the only F1 track in the US and very fast. There was no car- Ferrari's, Modded Z06's, Spec track cars- that was faster than me on the straights. I gave it up in the esses and technical corners.
So it's not power but the driver that makes the difference

 

Don't driver skills play a bigger role in the corners? I am surprised that you were faster in the straights than the ferrari's that must have been fun.

 

a rwd car yes, if you're a GTR owner, just point and gas, the car will sort out everything out for you.

 

Car placement and driver skill rather than brand are what determines who is faster. Higher entry speeds to straightaways play a huge role in speed reached at the end- it takes a very large horsepower difference to make up for lower entry speeds. The 991 makes it all much easier than most other cars.

 

I think that we have not addressed the question. The answer is no, there is not much you can do to improve performance other than getting a Porsche with more HP built in. It will be a great car, but it will leave a big dent in the check book.


Like the OP, I have modified a domestic car and been rewarded, for not that much money, with significant performance enhancement, both in HP and my favorite - torque. I took an '06 Mustang and for 10K lowered it, put on racing suspension, changed the exhaust from the manifold on back, put on a cold air intake, a chip tune, stabilizers, new wheels and tires, much bigger breaks and, for the cherry on top (or on the bottom in this case) a 4:10 gear. I have torque to spare! And all done by the dealer with Ford parts and without violating the warrantee. I can clearly beat my 991C2S to 60 mph.


In many ways it is the perfect car for suburban NJ - I can beat most things to the next light or toll plaza! A turbo or GTR or new Vette would be better for my normal driving and my normal roads as they are torque monsters, give me great thrill at low speeds, and who cares about performance in curves - I can't go fast enough to make a difference.


As I have said, the 0-60 time of a C2S in NJ is measured not in seconds, but by how fast the 10 year old accord in front of you is going! My problem is that I love my Porsche.

 

Yes to corners question. Wasn't faster than Ferrari in straight but equal and could close gap with later braking at the end of the straight.
Improving my driving skills would make me faster more than adding any power to the car.

 

In terms of straight line performance, a GIAC tune, intake filter and exhaust will net you about 15-20 wheel horsepower/torque at peak numbers, with gains over 20 in the midrange. The gains are going to be similar on an S, but you are starting from a higher base figure. Feel free to send me a PM if I can answer any questions for you.

 

I may get crucified for this, or people could make fun of me as I have a C2S and have tried headers & exhaust on my car, but with a bit more perspective now (after a CR, GT3 and 2 C2S's) I am not so much worried about hp anymore. I had a base Cayman loaner a few weeks ago. Even though it was a bare bone Cayman with about the same sticker price as a C7 'vette I test drove around the same time, I enjoyed the 981 a lot (more). It is nothing really impressive from 0-60 or in a straight line in general, but you could feel the car, take turns, read the road and place the car much better than with anything else with a similar MSRP. This clearly opened my eyes on the fact that shear torque and hp are only a small fraction of what you enjoy in a sports car. If I had to do it all over again, I would still do the exhaust for the sound, but nothing for the hp. Unless you are working on improving lap times, paying for more hp in a C2 is not worth it. Work on your driving skills and drive the car like you stole it. All sports car reviews these days seem to measure how good a car is based on how cool it looks going sideways, going through a set of tires in a few laps. This is so wrong and stupid in so many ways. It is not quicker and not more fun than carrying momentum through the corners and drive your car in a smooth and effective manner. These reviews are probably made to impress people who will never buy one of these cars anyway or not drive them anywhere near their limit.
You will never change the nature and feel of a NA car by fitting stuff on the engine or through a tune. The driver comes first, then the suspension. And the standard suspension of a 991 is already pretty darn good..
Sorry about the long rant I just wanted to share my experience and $0.02.