I'm considering purchasing an 08-09 Carrera S for a semi-daily driver. I've done some research here on the various mods available for the car but depending on vendor, they run the gamut price/performance-wise.

I'm not asking for a one-size-fits-all recommendation (ie, a single vendor package) but rather your choices if you were going for power upgrades only and had 10K to spend. I'm not looking to wring out my engine within an inch of it's life either, just good usable HP for around 10K. For the purposes of this exercise I'm not interested in labor, just parts cost.

Your feedback is much appreciated

EDIT: Not wanting to go the Turbo or SC route here.

 

10K will buy you a supercharger or turbocharger, if you are serious about horsepower that is the only way to go. You can spend that in ECU, headers, exhaust, and all the hundreds of bolt-ons out there and not yield any noticeable gains. I suggest TPC, yes I am biased.

 

yep, SC or turbo. talk to TPC.

 

I have thought about that but want to go the all motor route here. Maybe I don't need to drop the full 10K to get there but this time 'round I don't want to go turbo. If that were the case I'd just spring for an older turbo to start with

Honestly, I've never modded an all motor car so I figured this would be a great time to start...

 

Since you're discussing a car you haven't bought yet, the best way to spend 10k for horsepower is to look for one with the power kit from Porsche. X-51 is the designation I believe.

Another point. Keep the 10k in your purchase budget for another reason. Just the difference between an 08 and 09 buys more horsepower than the aftermarket will give you with anything short of a warranty-busting turbocharger.

Bottom line: find an '09 with the power kit from the factory.

Gary

 

How about a IPD Plenum?

 

I agree with Gary, spend that 10K in the 09' model. More horses, newer technology, and warranty, can't really beat that. Porsche engineers already extract as much as they possibly can with these motors, a bolt-on here and there will not yield much. Get an aftermarket exhaust, Porsche made these cars mute.

 

08 and 09 are 2 different cars. do alot of reasearch before you buy anything. the 09 is a whole new setup w/ more features and hp. you can add more hp to that motor for $2-3K

 

if you want factory maxed DFI motor - buy GTS car which has 408hp. it is a lot.

if you want to buy '09 DFI car which still has factory warranty - i do not think it is wise to alter powertrain in the way that will destroy this warranty as car price you will pay has this warranty coverage in it, so you will destroy some value. plus DFI engines are more difficult to tune.

if you buy '08 car with M97 or base '08 with M96 engine and car is off factory warranty and does not have CPO warranty so you are free to do anything you want with it at your own risk - go ahead with any mods. best bang per buck for stret car is EVO SC or TPC turbo, it is a very significant re-build. 'standard' kit of IPD plenum, 200 cell cats and softronic flash is another way - less dangerous but with less effect, you will gain some power but it will be mostly noticable on a track. so it depends.

if you do not like to work on cars yourself and do not consider yourself a mechanic and plan on using dealer for a lot of service work to perform i would stay away from severe mods. it is more effective to pay for a another newer car than to mod old one overall.

 

Spend the extra 10K on the 09 C2S. Better investment than upgrades to the 08 IMO and still under warranty.

 

Agreed with others. For $10k difference, consider the 09's. More HP and still under warranty with a more efficient DFI engine.

 

I'd take a good portion of that money and modify the nut holding the wheel, i.e. the driver. Once you've learned how to drive the car and what its capabilities are then do the mods you're considering. And BTW, more HP is not always the answer. There are other performance mods that could or should be done first such as brakes and suspension to name two.

 

Have you driven the car as is or are you just hung up on the #s?

 

Great responses guys, the 09 sounds like the way to go at this point. I have driven an 08 but not yet an 09.

So now I'm thinking 09 with an exhaust and when the money is right pick up some wheels and work on the suspension/braking a bit.

 

Great advice