Personally, I've never understood the powerkit option, when for about the same money you can get a whole lot more power with new headers, cats, exhaust, and a supercharger. Except for the warranty thing of course!

Mine drives like it's OEM. The parts and installation are first rate. And the power is linear and impressive. Just my $.02. And, of course, while I don't get the power kit option, I understand completely the GT3 and 997 Turbo . . .

 

For me it was about a balance of treating myself with a luxurious interior and a little more power - all from Porsche.

Being a new owner, I was not even considering engine or body mods at the time of purchase (that's why I'm here - to learn something hopefully). While the price was steep for the X51, it was comforting to know that I could have the extra power and not deal with the myriad of issues of mods and potential warranty violations (this is my first $100k+ car, so I was conservative in my thinking).

For fun I optioned up a GT3 to the level that I have my X51 and well, since some of the options aren't available on the website I have to guesstimate, but a comparable optioned GT3 is roughly $18,000 more - and gives 30 more hp in addition to the X51 (X51 stated 381hp - GT3 stated 411hp) - which is about the $16,000 X51 package which gives about 26 more hp....

Of course, a year from now I could be ordering a turbo!! HA!! I'm nuts.

 

The X51 is worth every penny. I've owned and own 996 GT3 and X51; and 997 X51 and GT3. The X51 delivers the power differently than the GT3, and is great for street driving, better torque, practicality and rear seats. The purists don't care about the street and demand the GT3.

These cars are all carefully segmented, and if you are a performance junkie wanting the comfort of warranty, or scared of aftermarket resellers who are long on claims and short on proof; need rear seats, don't like turbo lag, etc; then the X51 fits the bill, very nicely.

It all depends on your particular compromise!

 

Oh, and my 997 GT3 cost exactly $20 K more than my X51.

 

very well said. my own compromise took me to a 997tt, as 126k bought me as much performance (excluding cgt) as porsche offers, with awd. but i understand your point, and it is well made.

 

CNC you summed it up nicely - segmented styles and compromises - all to perfectly fit budgets and desires.... Being new to Porsches, I didn't know that the GT3 didn't have any rear seats. That alone to me takes it into a different class of vehicle altogether with a different driving expectation.

No comparison then - no way would I have gone to the GT3 unless I was looking to go to the track all summer....

T

 

Agreed. X51 is certainly a nice option - particularly if you value a warranty! Spend enough time on here though, and somehow warranties just become a fading memory . . .

 

I have personally never driven a 997 with a powerkit, although i did have a lot of seat time in a 996 40th anniv. model and I can tell you that it was very "alive". The C4S is such a luxury car that if you are looking at a GT3 but want a more relaxed car that is more torque driven, the S model would be the way to go. As for resale value.... you wont get it back.

 

Mexico.... I believe you.... I'm still waiting for someone to respond to my posts about "Extended Warranties" - HA!!!

 

come to think of it, i have no problem with the option itself but the way they do it. bottomline, the S should come from factory with the power kit, period. how much will cost Porsche to build it with the car? probably not much. u'd expect the the facelift car later the year will have close performance as the current S with power kit.

it is not Porsche can't do it. it is that they're holding back so much. that's lame imo. if u compare the header design on both S & S with power kit u'll know what i mean. that's just where u can easily see without taking things apart. we're not talking about entry-level Japanese cars that change face every year to attract buyers. Porsche certainly doesn't need that. i wish Porsche make less variant of 911s & less expensive options also extend the product cycle. in the long run that will only help our cars to stay strong in the used car market. too bad that's not gonna happen anymore.