Performance upgrades for boxster s - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Howdy, I'm always interested in going faster....I was thinking of upgrading my 2000 Boxster S. Any comments/thoughts on the following? aFe Super Stock Air Intake Type SS Porsche Boxster 2.7L/3.2L 00-04 Borla Catback Exhaust Porsche Boxster S 00-04 Thanks, Anthony

Both are a waste of money.

Those two items will buy you more sound and a little bit of horsepower. Not a good value for money.

Thanks...other recommendations for more H/P?

the car already has a cold air intake and doesn't work well with oiled filters (the reusable types like k&n, afe, etc.) so not much to do on the intake side that isn't relatively intrusive. if you are handy search 987 airbox on this forum (we swap our airbox with one from a later generation boxster). exhaust is difficult also. the most gains can be found in header design (vs just catback) but changing headers is difficult with the catalytic converters - replace oem headers with aftermarket catless headers and you have to deal with check engine lights (cels) emmissions issues, etc. if you do go that route, there is some inexpensive stuff out there (chinese knock-offs of the high end guys like borla) that you can get for 1/10th the cost. also search this forum for ways to deal with the cel issues. the best bang for buck is an underdrive pulley (udp). it's a smaller diameter drive pulley that puts less parasitic load on the engine and is good for 5 hp or so. note there are different sizes - go for the smallest (4" if possible). tarett is a good source and a good seller. i think pelican parts (owner of this forum) also sells them.

There are seldom substitutes for displacement. Torque is what gets you there faster. What is your budget? How much per HP gained are you willing to spend? Are you after track performance? Bragging rights? Noise? Are you willing to swap engines? To a non-Porsche engine? Willing to spend for the brake and suspension improvements to make 400HP safe? You can get there, it will just cost double or triple what you paid for your car. The options you have are listed here . Lastly, what is the point of more HP in a car which will, in stock form, well exceed any legal limits. The Porsche line is about balanced performance, not drag strip numbers. I owned a 201HP Boxster 2.5 and a 254HP Boxster 3.2. The first was more fun. The second a better car but it was things other than the engine that made it better. Cooling, brakes, suspension, tires, transmission, etc.

I saw the udp mod...which seemed relatively high value, for the work required. In answer to other posted questions: not track, street. Not looking to drag, but add a bit more speed and power for more personal enjoyment. Doing nothing is also an option...I have a Subaru wrx that is highly adaptable to more performance and leaving boxster as is is fine. Not interested in spending money without true gain...car is just fine as it is.

$200 for 5 hp is one of the best values out there in porsche land. if you want cheap performance go the hp/weight route - "simplify and add lightness". 10 lbs is about equal to 1 hp. pull your air conditioning and roof motors - 5 free hp. starts getting expensive with lightweight wheels and carbon seats, however.

De-snorkel?

Thanks all, I'll do udp and leave it at that. Anthony

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Did you do the IDP plenum? Is it worthwhile and did you find any other mods that were good? (Yes, I know this thread is old....)

Define your objective. Without it, it is tough to describe the way there. Track (class), autocross, noise, bragging item, etc. And read this first.... https://sites.google.com/site/mikefocke2/itisn%27tfastenough It is amazing that after 10 plus years there aren't many changes I'd make to it.