So I had posted this on the 997 turbo forum because that is the car I wanted, but decided that it'll be best for me to focus on a 996 ($50-$55k range).

At the moment, I have a Stage 1 2012 Mazdaspeed 3 and 1997 Blue/White Viper (440rwhp/470rwtq). I have been looking/deciding on a bunch of different things to do with my car setup and I've been contemplating the following setup options

Tial 770 S4 Avant: $20-$25K
Eurocharged E55: $20-$25K
NA/NB Miata: $5-$10K
996 Porsche Turbo: $55K

What I am looking for: 2 fun cars that I will enjoy driving and not have the concern I have with the Viper.

Setups I've thrown together:

1. Tial 770 S4 Avant + Eurocharged E55 + $5-$15K
The S4 setup gets me 500-700awhp depending upon tune for 91, 93, 103. The E55 gives you easy 500+rwtq to the wheels and would be a nice "cruiser" type car. But worried it'd be too boring to drive.

2. Tial 770 S4 Avant + NA/NB Miata + $20 - $30K
As noted above, the S4 gets me 500-700awhp. The Miata would be something I can work on (e.g. build a motor in my spare time) and plan to turbo. It is also very cheap to maintain. I've owned a NB Miata before and loved it. Building it to 250-300rwhp would be a blast.

3. Mazdaspeed3 + 996 Porsche Turbo - $15K
As noted above, my original goal was to sell the Viper and use the money to find a clean 997 turbo but seeing all the ones I want go for $80K, the 996 is going to be the more reasonable purchase. I'm thinking that I can use whatever I get from my Viper and then covering any extra (at most $15K) to get a clean, maintained, already modded 996.

Setup 3 is obviously the polar opposite of setup 1 and 2 where I get 2 cars AND money but is it worth it? I'm thinking I can get a clean 996 with a high power setup (reasonable?) and be in the 600+awhp which is more than the Tial 770 S4 and at 500lbs lighter than the S4. I actually drove the Tial 770 S4 today and although it continued to pull like a freight train through the RPM range, I just wasn't "impressed" with 530awhp. That is the highest HP car I've driven to date, but it just didn't feel like "a lot" Would the 996 fall into the same scenario and if it were you, which setup would you go with (or recommend a new one!). It has to have at least a fun hatchback in the setup

 

LSx swap a Miata, pocket a bunch of cash?

The 996 can make good power for sure but around 600ft/lbs of torque the rods become a weak point and the transmission may not be too happy depending upon drive style. Neither of those upgrades are cheap but if you don't go that high the car is plenty quick, handles well, pretty reliable, and looks awesome. Food for thought!

 

Go drive one to see if you like it. A car with just a tune, clutch, and exhaust will get you 500 hp and will be reliable. You can also get a pretty nice car for around 45k if you look around.

 

Probably looking for one with the whole "package" to push 600-700HP to wheels on pump gas if that is possible without motor work.

1. What turbo setup would make that type of power or close to it on 91 pump (likely will run meth)
2. What clutch/brake setup would be ideal for that power range?

Again, I would think a car with that work already done may fall into the $50-$55k range.

 

Only you are going to be able to piece this together what is best. These routes aren't even close to being the same and are going to feel like it. The 996 will weight A LOT less than either the S4 or E55 and as a result will not need as much power to feel as fast.

If you are looking at an already modified car, just make sure that you see receipts for one of the top notch tuners (GMG, EvoMS, Markski Tuning, BBi, Agency Power, AMS, etc) and you should have decent piece of mind on the mods. You will definitely get the best bang for your buck on an already modded car. Markski has a customer on K16 billets that did a 5.87 60-130 with minimal mods. Good luck doing that in heavier cars reliably https://markskituning.com/product/k16911gt-billets/

If you go to 700hp with similar tq, don't be surprised when your motor blows. Rebuilds seem to start at about 15k for the Metzger. The 996 turbo is a great car, but it is the start of the pay to play range for awesome cars. There aren't many shortcuts to huge power with these cars.

 

With that solid budget and the fact that you are willing to buy an already modded car you shouldn't have too many issues finding a car with the power you are after. You are actually in a great position because many folks would rather try and find a stock or very close to stock car, this should work to your advantage.

Since you definitely want a modded car I would stick to searching for one that is close to what you are looking for and you will be paying way less for the mods than finding a stock car and building from there. I like Audis as well but I wouldn't trade my 996TT for one....ever

 

i put him on sean's at srm 1000hp 996tt. that should hold him for a bit!

 

Yup, that should do it...lol!

 

Yeah and a well built motor that is too!

 

I've received a few PMs with leads/pitching their cars. Just for any future reader, I am not ready to buy unless it is the PERFECT car that I'm looking for. I rather sell my Viper first and actually drive a 996 turbo first. Especially after driving a 530awhp S4 which I thought I would have been impressed with.

I am interested to see this 1,000hp car though so we will see.

With that said, can we keep to the thread? Still trying to find what are the perfect combos that have worked thus far to put someone in the 700awhp range. As people have mentioned, looks like motor work needs to be done to safely hold that power.

 

Bump back to the top. I've been keeping an eye out on what cars are going for and looks like I'll be able to get a strong 996 within my budget.

For that money you think I'll be able to find one with already some motor work done?

 

I bought a clean stock 996 Turbo a year ago, you should buy one already well modded. You can find a nice well modded 600hp 996 for $50k-$60k, should be an enjoyable fast for a while, until you run into faster folks,

 

I have one of these lightly modded cars with tune, exhaust, fresh clutch and it still runs and drives like stock, only better, esp. since I run it exclusively on 100 octane. But if you're a huge power junkie, 500hp ain't what it used to be, and to be a real playa you'll need to be in the 600s. I'm a backroad canyon carver, and my car's tuned for strong mid-range which allows me to really squirt out of the corners.

Hardhitter, I'm in the City, but frequent the Skyline and Alice's often, so if you're interested in going for a spin in my 50K mile tuned '02, shoot me a PM.

You don't necessarily want one that has actually had actual motor work done...ideally you could find one that has bigger turbos, intercoolers, exhaust, and a few other bolt-ons. Me, personally, I wanted to start with a stock car and that's what I did.

 

I really appreciate your offer. I shot you a PM with my number. If schedule allows it, it'd be great to meet up to check out your car live and you can give me a ride.

As you eluded to, I think it depends on how the power is delivered. I'll always remember the "fastest" feeling car I owned was a 2000 Stage 3 S4. Although on paper, it put down 370awhp/430-440awtq, it still felt quick as hell because of the powerband.

Last week, I test drove a 2001 Tial 770 S4 which puts down 530awhp on pump gas and I went into it excited to see what 500+ hp feels like and to be honest, I wasn't impressed. That said, it is either due to the power delivery or I am used to power now a days (my Viper puts down 440/470).

Everyone always speaks about Porsche about being about the driving experience. Regardless of power, I'm hoping I'll be able to experience that once I'm ready to test drive some 996 turbos.

 

+1 I have a stage 3 b5s4 with loba 530 hybrid k04 turbo's . I also picked up a stock 996 turbo.(fast feeling wise, totally uninspiring compared to the stage 3 b5s4). Lasted 30 minutes of driving time before I started messing with it. Eg Exhaust (kline with hjs 100 cell cats) and a stage 1 then stage 2 cobb tune. Cobb stage 2 probably has similar peak torque and peak power numbers, to the b5s4 with Loba 530's, but doesn't have the same power band as the loba's (eg for traffic light to traffic light driving the 996 feels slower as you don't get the same instaboosting low down spool at 2000 rpms of the loba 530's which does makes the car feel faster


However, as a total package, no comparison to the 996 tt which is on a diiferent level to drive, but having to spend a lot of coin to get closer to the power band of the s4 down low in the rpm range whilst having the top end sorted to my liking (extent limited by pushing the stock rods and not opening up the motor) as the b5 s4 k04 framed loba's run out of a bit of puff when in 4th gear and above)