I am asking because I am trying to determine how much importance I should place on this package being part of the vehicle I find. As quite a few of you know at this point, I am hunting for a TT and from the feedback I've got, X50 seems to be the way to go, but at what cost? Obviously it would be a perfect world if I could find a clean car with all the options I am looking for within my price/mileage tolerance levels but I don't want to be passing up good deals just because this particular option pack isn't included. However, if its a matter of paying a few grand more for the car now to get the X50, saving significantly more than that if I chose to get those opions or equivalent added to a non X50 car it could be worth holding out.

Thoughts?

Thanks guys!

Justin

It would probably be less expensive to get a K16 car and do a K16/16G swap and flash. If the price difference for the Turbo S is more than the cost of the turbo swap and flash, I'd go for the non Turbo S.

my 2 cents

Thank you for your input. Can anyone expand upon this with some real world experience? Turbo S is probably not going to be an option for me as the TTs I am looking at are in the 40-45k range. 2001-2003 seem to be the model years where clean/low mileage vehicles are available in that price range. Thanks a lot!

Justin

Check out this thread:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...6g-turbos.html

EPL has a 16g kit listed for $4000 on their website (includes ECU flash) (http://www.eplabs.net)

Thanks Chad, I actually came across that thread the other day but didn't red it in entirety. My question is answered, I wont stress it as a must have, but bonus.

Justin

Consider that an X50 can be made into a 24/18g using stock turbos and make another 100HP. Decisions, decisions...

Trying to make this hard on me huh Ari? I see how it is!: )

Bingo.

The K24 turbos on the X50 are a higher platform to start from, but not something than cannot be achieved aftermarket. If you were not going to mod the car, for religious reasons lets say, then yes, the X50 is a pretty big plus.

But with any car, a flash and exhaust are almost 'must dos'...technically a non-X50 is 'down' one turbo swap, and (if we must be correct) a pair of intercoolers.

If you've decided "I'll be doing a turbo upgrade even if I get an X50" then it is a no brainer- the X50 has almost no value to you- maybe $2k.

My 2 cents

Thats the answer I was looking for: ) Thanks again.

Pretty well put. Although the K24 cores are good for at least 700 HP with $1200 and some 18g impellers.

I'm not making this easy. But I will say that brand new K24/18s can be had in the $3500 range.

I'd pay an extra 3-5K for an X50 with sport seats. I think it's a good investment. But then I own one so you can see my philosophy

If it makes you feel any better I paid 85K for 02 X50, Sport seats with 9K miles 3 1/2 years ago and that was a great deal at the time. I am not sour in the least. I got what I wanted, when I wanted it.

I sometimes think about who it was that leased a $150K car (and probably paid over market) to get the first of the X50 cars and only put 9K miles on it. The tires were proof that it was not driven too hard.

I will never be without a Porsche again.

They going to bury you in it huh? Like this guy: )

How different are the intercoolers and is the fuel system the same - injectors and fuel pump? Other than possibly the seats any other interior differences? Clutch the same?

There is no difference with the seats- the X50 option is unrelated to seats or exhaust tips (or muffler for that matter)

Fuel system is the same. PROGRAMMING is different between X50 and non-x50 ( but any TT needs a flash anyway)

The intercoolers are different- the X50 and GT2 intercoolers have a bit more surface area on the cooling surfaces, so more efficient. There is scant information on quantifying how much any given intercooler will perform..it seems the proof is in the pudding, lots of "I got X Y or Z and they are great" but not much in the way of specs or performance curves. I digress.

The "X50" is a SINGLE OPTION CHOICE, not a package. You could have ordered just about anything and added an "X50" option code on top- visually there is NOTHING that will tell you it is an X50 car- no exterior, no interior, no seats, no exhaust tips, no badge, nada

A

i would buy a 996 turbo and just get it upgraded with the exhaust, ecu flash, and turbo upgrade. far better value than going with the X50 package.

Thanks ard - a very big help! I hear you on the intercoolers, testing them is NOT straightforward and it's NOT just a flow thing either. Some of the testing I've found at Autospeed has proven of interest. They act like heat capacitors, thermal mass and length of time on boost are big factors. Water spray intrigues me and I used to ALWAYS use water\alcohol hand sprayed between pulls when dynoing to ensure the intercooler temps stayed down.

dk996tt - some of the X50 equipped cars are actually pretty reasonable. If they are priced close it seems like the X50 is worthwhile.