Looking to get a 996TT. Debating on whether to spend the extra time/effort/$$ to look for one with Power Kit vs. one without the Power Kit. Give me your thoughts.

If you also have any other advice for a potential first-time Porsche owner, please express.

TIA.

 

I wanted an X50 for awhile, but found a "plain" Turbo with all the components found in an X50 plus more for cheaper. The X50 matters if you just want a nice safe "factory" car and 415hp isnt quite enough.

 

How much more power can be extracted from a "plain" Turbo with minor upgrades like ECU flash, full exhaust, etc.?

 

100HP shouldnt be a problem using a quality tune and exhaust and the other supporting mods like diverter valves.

 

Depends on the price differential. I'd say it would be worth extra $5k in my books. I certainly won't pay a penny more than $7K.

 

X-50 for a 996T nowadays max $2,500 dollars. If you plan to mod... buy a modded car as complete as you possibly can find it. Your check book will love you for it!! Mods will lose 80% of their cost from the moment you have them installed. It is the proverbial money down the drain.. but how nice it is :-)

 

i've had a stock x50 car and a mod'd car. i would pay btw $3-5k premium for an x50 car. all else being equal. as to power, it's fairly significant in terms of power delivery, but increased turbo lag in the x50.

 

depends...

if you are going to mod, how much power will you want?


6 years ago, i would say x50 asnuou get the k24 and bigger IC.

However, these days K24 are such old hat tech, that K16/18g will blow the k24 away in speed, lower lag and higher flow after a tune.

HRoussard is correct, look for a previusly WELL-MODDED car.

not one that had lots of short cuts taken...

3k max for the x50.

 

Thanks TTpopo .. That is exactely what I did. All my mods were on the car and basically I did not pay ONE penny extra - at least that is what I believe - for all the mods that were done, tastefully and professionally. In addition, I would look at a nice color combo ( interior / exterior) because that has actually additional value when compared against the "drab " typically-selected-for-leased-Porsches colors that you can find dime a dozen. Just check the pricing on cars.com etc.

 

Thanks to everyone who chipped in their $.02. I do plan to mod but am always weary of buying a pre-modded car; thoughts about sub-standard parts, paint jobs, install jobs, etc. along with issues relating to over-abuse of the car just makes me want to buy a bone-stock and do the modding myself. Of course, that will take time and $$$.

Any advice on top quality aftermarket brands, tuners, parts I should note when reviewing a modded car?

 

K16/18g?

Is that what a K16g is? What kind of power do these make?

 

I just bought a 2003 X50 and for no small reason the turbo's were removed for a set of Billet K16's. They make more power and at lower RPM's.

If it were me I would 100% buy on the options you want in a clean used car.

I would say I likely paid about 10g more for my car then I could have found a non moded example for but in the process I saved many many thousands more by not having to buy the mods at full price.

So lets just do some quick math...

Good real clean stock 2003 turbo is around 50g.

The Cross titanium exhaust that is on my car costs around 6 to 7g
The 1000hp axles are around 3g
The worked over turbos would cost around 2g more after you sell yours if you could
The tuning lets just say was cheap at 3g
The intercoolers 2g
Suspension mods ??
The wheels on my car I actually like around a 3g saving
The carbon airbox 1g
Fuel system mods 1g
Clutch 2g

Mods really add up fast when you pay to have them added and they are not worth much on a car for sale.


I say buy as many of the factory options you can find that you want and the additional mods within reason so as to not buy a car that has been used hard.

 

HI,That all depends,as you have been told..I have been in your shoes when I was looking to buy...I thought I wanted a X-50 more so because I said I would only chip and do an exhaust because it had the extra power pack..It made a huge difference with those two mods.Was happy,,for awhile..lol..
In my opinion in ran better then a standard turbo with those mods...
Then the disease kicked in,more power wanted...This site helps that disease along....LOL..
So,I started replacing and modifying those X-50 parts....So,bottom line..If you have the will power and can truely say that you are staying with the basic mods level,go X-50...If you think you will go higher up in mods,go standard...
Just my info here,,,Good Luck...And you will enjoy either..

 

I bought a used 2003 X50 because it also had the sports seats, aero kit, and PCCB on it. I don't plan to change turbos, but I did a Softronic flash with a exhaust system which made a world of difference power wise. On the used market I don't think the X50 carries much more value than a non X50 car. If you plan to change the turbos anyway there are better solutions than the X50.

 

when my insurance company paid me out on a not at fault accident last july, they paid me an additional $5k once the x50 option was added to their original estimate of my loss.

my car was a stock 02 x50 and was valued at nearly $47k by a major insurance carrier. i am told they don't "overpay". i was surprised to get that much.