My point is I should be able to break the 400HP line. My car is an S, so it had 355 HP stock. I put 200 cell AWE CATs and depending on who you ask, they say this is the biggest difference maker in the exhaust by far and should add ~20HP, so ~375 HP. And, while I realize they aren't always additive, the one board sponsor says their flash adds 34HP (one flash only adds 10, which would be impossible to disprove b/c that's just variance and another adds 34?). If I thought I could get up to around 400HP, I would spend another $1K no problem. Anyway, I guess I was hoping someone here actually did the same type of mod and actually dyno'd it. For now, I think I'll just save any more performance mod money and trade up in a year or so. For those that think these companies aren't just out to sell stuff, then I don't know what to tell you. I have lifted weights and tried various nutritional supplements since I was 13 and I can tell you those performance products are a lot like these performance products, mostly hype. The things that really work well typically become widely known fast (e.g., creatine for nutrition) and racing CATs on the Porsches (and weight reduction you can't argue). All the other performance items, people argue over endlessly (plenums, CAIs, air filters, flashes).

 

Unless you go forced induction true significant butt dyno increases with the mods mentioned in this thread will be minimal at best and in many cases, perceived, IMO.

Walt

 

And the debate continues.

 

Everything about being a car enthusiast is illogical when you consider the true purpose of a car....transportation from point a to b and back. I stopped looking for what makes sense a long time ago.

We all want the best bang for our buck so in that regard, I always tell people to have a plan for your goal and that takes some research. Just slapping on mods can be wasteful....but unless you're a pro, it's all just wasteful fun.

As for me, I'm more into show than go. I buy a car with enough power to pass the slowpokes and only need one mod associated with speed...an exhaust. But only to make it sound better. All other mods I do are for handling and looks.
I don't care about sqeezing another 5-20 mph out of the engine. I'd buy a faster car before I did extensive engine work. Or swap out the entire engine if it was a weekend toy.

I checked out the 991 Carrera S couple days ago. I can't see needing more than its 400hp. If I buy one all it will get is new wheels and a drop...maybe new music and a bunch of carbon fiber in the inside.

But I don't knock guys for doing whatever they want to their car...and I don't ask for opinions of what I should do to mine.

 

Maybe it just come from years of owning NA BMW's, I was never able to justify the price per HP gain with a NA engine. When I purchased my 335i, I could for less than 2k bump the HP up 100. Much easier to justify modding a turbo IMHO. To each, their own.

 

With LWFW, cats, filters, and a tune my car pulls noticeably stronger in the midrange than it did stock with heavy Carrera Sport wheels. I drive a modded 650HP S600tt, and I can still tell the difference those mods made on my Carrera.

 

I recently made some mods to my 2005 C2S.
Fabspeed sport cats/xpipe + EVOms intake + Softronic.

I didn't put it on a dyno.
My measure will be enjoyment and lap times.

So far I'm very happy.
The sound is great. It wails above 5000 rpm.
I swear the butt dyno notices a change too.

I won't have it on the track until early May. I'll report back after that.

 

You can spend a lot of money on zero to minimal gains. If you need to make more power you're better off supercharging or simply buying the car you actually want up front. It will cost you less in the long run.

 

You forgot: Being chased by the Cali Cartel after ripping off a drop house!

 

And that concludes this thread . I supercharged my BMW; it was the only way to get significant gains. Unless you have factory turbo(s) installed, software won't do much an any car.

 

This is what I always thought....best bang for the buck was to supercharge.

 

Nah. Best bang for the buck is to buy the car with the power you really want right from the start.

Adding a turbo or super charger after the fact to a car not designed around it will be much more expensive in the long run and still be a car not quite set up right most of the time. Its an option really only if you are in need of keeping the chasis/body you have.

 

Yeah, the best bang for the buck is buying a car that already has one or two turbos. In most cases, you can spend a few $$ on software and get a significant power bump without compromising reliability.

 

I bought a '06 C4. Not cheap, but all that I could afford. A turbo was $50k more. After a couple of years of use, I spent a small fraction of the factory turbo cost and got a TPC turbo and a tweaked suspension. If I was going to trade in the car the turbo would have been a terrible investment. But I have no desire to sell the car. The changes have transformed the car and I'm all grins every time I drive it. No regrets. Just remember... if you're going to trade in your car for another new one in the short to medium term, don't bother with mods, you're throwing away most of the investment. If you're holding on to it long term, do what makes you happy. It my case, I thought the TPC turbo was the most practical approach to a faster car and have no regrets.

 

The only mod that made power on my S was the TPC turbo kit. MAde a crap load and it was fun as hell to drive!