Hondoo,
I live in a Boston suburb, but I have a ski/hike place in Woodstock, NH. The car is parked there and when most of the snow and grit are gone, I'll take it out.

TPC installed the turbo. I drove down to TPC in Jessup, MD and took a flight home. Weeks later I flew down and drove back. Cheap Southwest flights.

Bob

p.s still great skiing this year!

 

MarathonBob,
I was thinking of the same trip to Jessup but I don’t really want to add the 1000 miles to the car. I have a car trailer but that would kinda sucks too. Tom from TPC said Auto Associates in Canton, CT (400 miles) was the closest authorized installer. Hopefully someone here has some experience with them?

Were you able to find any comparisons before you decided to go with the TPC option or did you “Take a leap of faith” as 808c2s suggests?

 

Are dyno numbers not good enough? When I had the VF SC on my car (which btw is a lot less than 13k installed-especially used) I dyno'ed 430hp to the rear wheels and that was with very conservative tuning.

 

I'm reluctant to post on this thread, because I never installed a kit in my car, but went down this route, so I feel a little like a guy who's never had kids giving advice on parenting. But I learned a lot as I screwed around with the idea (pun intended).

When I first started researching this subject, I searched every forum I could on the 997 and more importantly earlier models that had an after market kit from either TPC or VF for complaints, dissatisfaction or problems. I say more importantly the older models, because some of these cars have been chugging along for a long time with the kits and I felt that time would likely flush out if there were any issues. I found absolutely no complaints, dissatisfaction or problems, despite that the local Porsche mechanics seem to all say that it's a big mistake. This was really important to me, because I believe that the percentage of the 997 owners that would install a kit and be on the forums would be very high, especially if they had something go wrong. These are enthusiast forums and perhaps the most enthusiastic enthusiasts on the forum are those that are track hounds and those who do major modifications. So the lack of people writing about problems on the forums made me believe that the concerns that the local Porsche mechanics were saying were based on superstition rather than experience (with maybe a sprinkling of ego).

I tried to install the roots style Eaton blower TPC supercharger on my 997 C4S Targa and unfortunately could not get it to fit. It seemed it was due to structural steel used in the engine bay of the Targa and the size of that supercharger. I really wanted that model because it had the big Eaton blower, which I have always thought was super cool. TPC discontinued that product a while back for the 997 and now has a turbo kit, that I've heard nothing but great things about from those that have the turbo kit. Throughout that process, despite the fact that I bought the kit (while never having been installed) from a third party, the guys at TPC were great and patient and very helpful. I mean really terrific and truly wanted to see me happy and successful with the install. TPC also tried to help me if I wanted to move into their turbo kit, which they had no obligation to do, because they want satisfied buyers.

I then looked really hard at the VF supercharger and test drive one and it does really transform the car. It is a really nice, clean and straight forward kit that has been installed on a lot 997's and other makes of cars. I believe the blower (like the roots style) is virtually bullet proof. Throughout my research and discussions on the VF supercharger, both VF and Vivid were super helpful and gained respect for them and their professionalism. Top notch people and product. I backed out due to the altitude in Denver and hearing that I couldn't get the boost unless I used a smaller pulley and VF recommended keeping the kit stock.

I subsequently added a IPD plenum, racing headers and 200 cell cats and love the way the car woke up. It's no where near what a kit will deliver, but it's so much better than stock. I'm thinking of a flash now, but have sport mode and am not sure if a flash will be that much better than sport mode or will diminish the incremental feel I get when I go into sport mode.

The only concerns that I think should be considered when deciding on whether to add a kit are ongoing maintenance and resale. Regarding ongoing maintenance, I had a least one local mechanic adamantly tell me he would not work on my car with the kit, to which I responded (in my head), blow me. Another said that if they have to touch the kit my service costs will be double, to which I responded (again in my head), eat me. But I recognized the possibility that I might get taken advantage of because the mechanic had to remove part of the kit. I also spoke to an owner who ended up selling his car with a kit and getting a 997 TT. He said the same thing as SecretAsianMan, that he always had concern about being in trouble if something went wrong.

Regarding resale the man who sold his 997 with a supercharger (It is silver and recently on eBay its super cool with the chrono set up to monitor air temp) said he was amazed at how long it took to find a buyer. A lot of guys wanted to pay him $10,000 less than stock because it had the kit and ultimately I believe he was able to sell it for what a stock car went for. It's crazy because these kits have no evidence of failure or problems, but like any modified car, buyers tend to be spooked if there are any mods. What ever happened to the best way to care for a 911 is to drive it like you stole it? It's such a stigma with buyers that guys will actually pay to remove the kit before selling the car because they feel their car will sell faster and they will get a positive incremental value for the kit sold separately.

This probably has nothing to do with reality in beautiful Saskatchewan, so skip if you like. One other really annoying thing about resale are the idiots at the California Air Research Board. They require all mods to be CARB certified to pass emissions. That's right your car may actually be well within emissions standards, but unless you have a sticker saying your mod is CARB certified, you may not be able to pass emissions. That's right the geniuses at the "Research" board have determined that a sticker is more important than actual emissions. Fortunately that does not seem to be too much of a problem in California as the emissions testing is done by hundreds of independent shops that probably won't hassle you on a sticker, but they have the right to. Unfortunately here in Colorado the emissions testing is done by one centralized company under contract with the state. While the CARB stickers aren't required here, I believe that CA is typically on the bleeding edge of stupidity and CO desperately strives to catch up. In CO, you would be able to get by because they have remote drive by emission testing units that actually take the emissions as you drive by on the highway. It's great technology, even if its a little invasive with the computer reading your plates. But if you buy a car in CO, the first time you have to take it the emissions location and they would see the modification.

If you have someone locally who can install the kit and work with you on repairs, it's a great choice. Reliable and fun.

 

Well said DoninDen! I'm kicking the idea around right now of the VF Supercharger. My problem is getting someone semi local to do the install as well any issues that may surface. I also did my homework and and spent days and hours on different forums as well as speaking to as many local mechanics as I could. Although many said bad idea, not one had any first hand knowledge of any major motor problems relating to any FI. it was all " I know a guy who know a guy" type of thing.
Good stuff thanks again.

 

CarNerd

I guess myshort answer is no. Everything is relative and a HP number alone will not take my wallet out. If my computer has 30% higher Mhz then the next guy does that mean I can go home from work 30% earlier? No, of course not. I jumped into this conversation initially because of the “he said/she said” direction it was going. I would like ALL the numbers not just the one that makes the product look better. TPC spent a lot of time, resources and track time to get this kit right and is probably the best one to buy “bang for the buck” but their motivation was in part competition and hence comparing to others.

Even our Porsche website shows all the numbers on every model, right on the front page. Dollars + HP = (0-60 or top speed)


.

 

Not sure how much you trust them but there are a few numbers on Vivid's site regarding the VF system. Those are numbers from their older 475 system too, not their current 510 one.

http://www.vividracing.com/catalog/v...8-p-75023.html

 

It sure would be great if he could find one of each to drive. I only drove in the VF and it was truly terrific. Felt so natural, the only way I can describe it that it was like someone stuck a couple more cylinders on the 911 engine, without changing the characteristics of the 911 engine. I felt no lag, its just as if the entire power band was shifted up.

 

Exactly why I like it. It has a very nice linear power delivery all the way up to redline w/o any hints of running out of steam like our stock ones after 6000 rpm. Your description of it feeling like you have a "V8" in there is right on the mark. Now, if you swap the stock dual flywheel with a LWFW and a sprung clutch disk, that sensation is amplified even more.

 

Hondoo, Marc Feinstein at GPS in Brighton Mass installed my TPC turbo

 

So much good stuff being said on here. We in Saskatchewan (bunch of hillbillies) dont have emissions tests. How long have they been doing it in other provinces/states.............were about 15 to 20 years behind everyone else hahaha.

 

Man, enjoy that!!!

 

I know it can be awesome. When I first got my car I found out Saskatchewan was the only province left where you can get as many 8 day permits as you'd like in a year. There was only 3-4 months left of good driving before the winter came so for $40 every 8 days I went and got a new permit. For 32 (closest number to a month) days I was able to plate my car for $160! Then again that shouldnt be a surprise, last counsil meeting they were voting to remove the law saying if you brought your horse to the bar or any licensed inn that they would be responsible to provide water for your horse hahaha. Im making us sound way worse than it is but its halarious i think!

 

I've had a number of faster cars and when I first bought the '06 C4 new I didn't think it was that fast. That was one of the reasons for the TPC upgrade. Most of the time I'm not focused on the absolutely fastest 0-60 time - I've tried to capture times but have never done so accurately. For sure, it's a helluva lot faster 0-60 than it was before. To me the greatest thrill is when I'm driving along at a normal speed, say 30-60 mph and I floor it. The acceleration through 100 and well beyond is mesmerizing. And the sound is intoxicating with the included exhaust.

 

Blown996

That's only 3 miles from Lexus of Watertown, nice. They are not an authorised TPC installer but were you happy with the installation? I am calling Porsche of Nashua, NH tomorrow to ask if they will work on the car after a TPC install. I assume is was about the same, $3k for the install?