Quote:
cibergypsy said:
I don't know what is involved in the F77 kit but I got the X51 as a retrofit on my car. With it came a new intake, new throttle body, new airbox with dual inlets, new cylinder heads, new exhaust manifolds (my car already had the PSE) and an ECU reprogram as well as a third, center mounted front radiator with all related hardware. It seems that, if any kit out there is not as thorough as this, maybe their manufacturer's claims aren't as reliable as Porsche's. Porsche sells ALL these parts as a kit to go from 355 to 381 hp and I would be sceptical about anyone claiming substantial gains without getting cylinder heads, throttle body and other key parts. I may be wrong but opted for the X51 as insurance that my car would have real gains and my warranty wouldn't be voided, as well as the fact that this is the way I wanted the car when I ordered it at the dealer. Apparently, Porsche didn't have any kits available around January/February of 2006 to install in cars ordered with the X51 from a dealer - as was my case - because they were being allocated to the 50 Club Coupe Carrera Ss that were being built at the time. I don't think this will add much to its resale value and this car for me is a keeper... therefore, price wasn't a consideration.
It's only 26 HP for how much money?
Plus the added weight of the new radiator and plumbing in front?
I am certain Porsche has many goals with X-51 - extracting the most HP is not the only one.
First they want to be certain they add a little power but not more than say a GT3 or Turbo or the next model - this means just a little tap into the power reserves, next they want to make it exclusive (read - high price), and finally they want to ensure that they do not hinder reliability in any way.
All this does not mean that the aftermarket can not match those HP gains easily (perhaps with some cost in reliability). Of course the aftermarket is not concerned about warranty issues/cost so they will forgo the extra radiator in most cases (not the good supercharger kits).
The most important factors in generating HP (using X-51 or anything for that matter) are the Intake, exhaust and computer mods to take advantage of the intake and exhaust. The more violent the explosion the better! There are many excellent choices out there to accomplish this (looks like F77 uses Tubi and ECU mods). Most of these will leave your warranty intact, cost less than 6K total and give you AT LEAST 26 HP.
If you really want to speed things up then, for almost half the price of X-51, you can supercharge your car. I have seen and heard a 997S with a supercharger and it is wicked!
If you just go with the intake/exhaust/chip upgrade then just keep your old parts and either sell them with the car or bolt them back on when you sell the car (and keep the aftermarket parts). In either case it will not hurt resale value (unless you foolishly discard the old parts when you do the upgrade). How could it?
Again, just because Porsche charges 18K for 26HP does not mean this is reasonable and no body else can do it for less. That logic is not based in fact.
I know there is at least one of you ready to denounce 'ALL THE CHEAP MUFFLERS' out there (without having tied them).
I also understand that if you add up the HP claims some make for these part upgrades one can get carried away with numbers like 50 -60 exta HP. I am not claiming that by any stretch. What I do suggest is that the combo of new mufflers, sport cat, a real header and ECU programing will generate at least 26+ HP (and lose around 30 lbs off the rear.)
OK, now you can send your hate mail for me suggesting the aftermarket.
Peace
If not where are you able to drive it to tell you are missing the speed of the TT? Sure we can go down the highway and hit 100+ mph but I would think to really tell the difference you would need to be on a track. On a track you could "air it out" and really see the difference.
