To mod or not to mod...

I�m the proud owner of a 02 C4 Cab now for 9 months. I�ve enjoyed the car greatly, but after some time with the car, I now have a �wish� list. Specifically, I feel the car is a little high in the front and has a little too much body roll. Also, I wish I had a little more umph (power) � it�s not bad now and still fun, but you now how it goes� The obvious choices are: 1) do nothing, enjoy the car, 2) try to mod the current car to make it better, 3) upgrade to something that already fulfills the �wish�s. The car is under CPO warranty until mid 08 and I would not consider anything that would void the warranty. Also, I bought the car right (mid 60�s � 4K miles) so I would not consider going more than 15-20K higher at this point in time. For choice #1 � it�s cheap and easy. For #3, I think my only current options are a 04 or later turbo (must have a cab) or a 997 S cab. Both of these are probably at least another 30K or more investment at the current time. I could wait until these cars move down the depreciation curve a bit � probably 2 years or so. Of course, my car will be moving down the curve with them. Now for #2. To upgrade the suspension, it looks like ROW M030 or X74 are my best bets. I worry about the potential harshness and everyday street drivability of the X74. Any feedback? Probably looking at 1.5 to 3K investment. The only choice I see for power is X51 � prices seem to have come down to where you could do it for < 10k installed. Any outlook for continued price improvement here? What happens to the CPO warranty if you add the power kit � I know there is a 2 year warranty on the upgrade, but I�m not sure what happens to the underlying warranty that was on the engine before. Any thoughts?

#2: either would be fine as along as you do not want to corner balance the car or adjust. I have the PSS9 and adjust the settings for track vs everyday. Perfect for me. X51<10K where?

X51 for $10k installed? Run, don't walk to get it. It's worth it although the difference is subtle.

$10K for a 'subtle difference'.........what a rip. Bottom line......you have a great car and have the 3.6 (not 3.4 and 2002 is a good car).......it's just that the 996 engine was not really made with alot of potential lft on the work bench.....shoot, spend $10K on the Turbo engine and you add 150 h. Like I say, you have a great car.........if you want to fine-tune height (and rake) then you ideally need an adjustable option.....ie. springs alone are a crap shoot. Adjustable anti-sways would help your body-role issue. None of these things have any affect on warranty (though I've personally never been pre-occupied with that limitation.......having most achievable fun when exiting the garage tops the list). On the Turbo cab option......signif different car.....recomend some long test drives. Good luck to ya.........enjoy your car!

OK, it's not so subtle but I don;t want him to expect a night and day difference like a Supercharger would offer. Suspension should be first for these cars and really does transform them.

Thanks for the replies. Just to clarify - I don't intend to track the car (yet ) I just want to kick the handling up a notch (or two). Although I've never driven a car with the power kit, I understand that it is mainly top end and probably more HP than advertised, but little torque increase. I've seen the basic kit (parts) for 6.5K and I think there is another 1K in seals an other stuff. Can be installed for probably 3K. OK, so I fudged by $500... Yeah, I know it's a great car and like I said, I do enjoy it. I'm just looking for frosting on the cake.

I agree that it is probably more than advertised but the GT3 guys will never admit it

Get suspension first. As far as your concerns with ride then the M030 is your best bet as the ride is just a tad stiffer than stock. The problem is that they don't lower the car that low. I changed from after market springs to M030 because the ride is 1/2 inch higher. I was getting tired of watching for every dip and driveway. As far as the ride between lowering springs and M030 they are close to the same. I think the springs were about 10% stiffer. I can't comment on the X74, but can tell you this that I track the car and the M030 is soft for the track, but handle well enough. I usually go to 2-3 events a year so the compromise of the M030 is fine as everyday comfort is great and I drive it on the street 99% of the time. IMO go for the M030 since you don't track the car. If you like it lower then the 1/2 inch the M030 does then get some aftermarket springs like H&R and some new Bilstein shocks. I also would buy some M030 sway bars as you could buy them cheap from Sunset Porsche. I think they said they were about $250 a set. As far as the X51 package it may not be worth the money, but from what I'm told that they do increase the HP by something like 35-40 HP. Its more than advertised and you can't go wrong with factory HP. I also talked to tuners and many have said there is little to be gained from exhaust and reprograming. Save you $$$ get suspension and go drive at some Driver ed events and you'll appreciate your car more then adding a few HP.

Agreed, until you tyrack your car at least once, you'll never understand just how good these cars are out of the box. (DE's are very safe BTW)

If you are not tracking the car, I suspect you would want more bottom end versus top end. You will not get that with exhaust or the X51 package or Turbos. The only way to substantially increase the bottom end is to supercharge the hell out of the car. Theres is not a stock 996 or 997 turbo, GT2 or GT3 that will keep up with you up to 120 mph. I personnaly don't care what happens after much higher speed than that since you average daily druve would not include those speed.

I think you will enjoy the car more if you did the upgraded suspension, its a huge difference. More HP doesn't always add more fun to the car, IMHO.

Now you guys are going to get me in trouble... tell me about tracking the car. Where do these events take place? What special equipment is required (rollcage, etc)? Who / what do you race against? <If you are not tracking the car, I suspect you would want more bottom end versus top end> I would love more bottom end, but given the nature of the beast, I had already written that off. The power kit would be my last item given its cost vs. benefit, but seems the only factory solution.

<I think you will enjoy the car more if you did the upgraded suspension, its a huge difference> Which setup do you have that is the huge difference?

Ive just installed the H&R coils over the weekend and it feels amazingly stiffer around corners already. Planning to have the GT3 sways in anytime soon. Where are you located, if you are around the Washington DC area, I can give you a ride so you can see for yourself.

Depends where are you at. Either way get in touch with the Porsche Club, NASA, SCCA as they have Driver Ed events. You don't need any equipment for DE other than a good helmet. Its not racing against anyone, and you will have an instructor in the car teaching you. You drive as fast as your able to and faster drivers will wait for a straight to pass you. There is realatively no risk and its just for fun. Its more about learning the limits of your car in a safe controlled enviroment.

but seems the only factory solution Don't just limit yourself to factory upgraades. I know many Porsche owners think there there is something mysterious and complex about their car and that any diviation from what Porsche says cannot be done. These engine are no more complex than any other combustion engine.

I'll take you up on that offer.. I'm in the tysons fair oaks area..

Redduck, PM me with your number and we can set up a time for that.

You may want to check out the porsche driving experience, you use their cars, really gets you hooked!

Could I tag along too? Redduck -- I really want to hear the GHL exhaust you just installed. I'm in McLean/Tysons. Thanks.

Ahhhh sure but the GHL isn't on yet.. Still hashing out the rattling / clanking issues b4 I install the GHL.. We can all meet up somewhere this week.. Also i'm still having trouble trying to upload the wav file of the stock exhaust

MOD the car, you will love it.

The GT2 will smoke the 996 Sc. As to the 996 Turbo I really can�t tell. Have you ever tested one side by side, with your car? J.Seven

Don't bet on it. I beat it all the way to 100 at least once a week.

<Don't just limit yourself to factory upgraades. I know many Porsche owners think there there is something mysterious and complex about their car and that any diviation from what Porsche says cannot be done. > It's not so much that I worship at the Porsche alter, it is that my car has a CPO warranty until July 08. If something crops up in the engine between now and then (heaven forbid), I'm leary of doing non-factory mods. If the car was out of warranty, I would have a different attitude. I bet your SC car is a blast though...

redduck, vove... Are you guys members of the local PCA chapter? You coming to Summit in March or any DE's this season? -KJ

kjin, No i'm currently not a member anymore, Never renewed it after I sold the 99 996. Can you tell us a little more about it. I would love to do some DE's.. Haven't been to summit since I did track days on my bike.. I hear its re-paved now..