Sorry for the newbie question but what exactly is a X50. What does it have different from a 996TT?

thanks

 

Difference is, larger Turbos (K24), programming, Intercoolers, and stronger gearbox.

 

For $17,000.....

 

what did it reflect in terms of horsepower and torque?

 

power 335.6 kw / 450 bhp @ 6000 rpm
hp per litre 125.0 bhp per litre
bhp/weight 290.32 bhp per weight
torque 619.61 nm / 457 ft lbs @ 3500-4400 rpm

 

Stronger gearbox?? please elaborate!, cheers.

 

it really doesnt have a stronger gearbox, I have rebuilt mine twice. so dont hold your breath on that one.
and if you are planning to mod your car, buy the stock TT and mod it as you will change anything that the X-50 package brings to the table.

 

One note on driver's experience -- X50 also brings a lot more turbo lag unless you modify. Before I upgraded the software, My brothers 97 tt would pull away from me easily from 60mph to 100mph. Now, I never see his tailights.

 

An X50 with a flash keeps up with a 997tt? How is it from lower speeds?

 

X50 cars are basically Turbos S cars with optional carbon brakes. They came with many of the goodies off the GT2 minus tranny cooler and RWD of course. While Porsche touted a "stronger tranny" the topic has been the subject of much debate.

An X50 with exhaust, flash, diverter valves and upgraded wastegates is rated at or near 600HP.

If you want maximum bang for your mod dollar and:
500HP start with a normal turbo and do the above minus wastegates.
600 HP start with an X50 and do the above.

650+ HP you can start with any 996 and do the mods.

From my understanding the 997TT engine is very similar to the 996TT but with variable vane turbos which reduce lag a bit. BTW 997TTs are being pumped up to 600 HP and above as well.

To answer your question, any 996TT can hang with the 997TT with minor mods, but the the 997 can be modded as well. On the extreme end of modification, both cars are very similar.

 

Sorry, I should have used the model numbers. My brother is driving a 1997 993tt. Before that software upgrade to my X50, and I did the cheap upgrade, turbo lag was bad enough that his car would leap ahead because his K16's had much less lag. With the new software the K24's spool up much quicker and my car is noticably faster when we stage the same rolling start in 3rd gear at 60mph.

 

Your turbo S should smoke the 993 TT. Not even close.

 

Gotcha. I had parsed in that extra "9", perhaps with a little wishful thinking.

 

I was surprised too. Different gearing and different turbos give the 993 an edge when doing a rolling start at 60mph. Even before the flash, the Turbo S would start to pull past at around 100 or so. The lag on the X50 stock was serious. No contest now.

 

His 993 is all stock?

I'm trying to decide which is harder to believe... a stock 993tt pulling on a 996 x50, or a (near) 11 year old Porsche unmolested all these years!