Porsche 997: Horsepower Modifications

DIY Cost – $3,000-$10,000
Professional Cost – $5,000- $12,000
Skill Level – Easy, drill through your carbon fiber trunk lid, and mount accordingly.

There is no better modification for increasing horsepower than a big wing. The bigger the wing, the better, as air that is caught and channeled under it helps push down on the engine, creating an area of high pressure. This ram-air effect makes more horsepower on the principle of more air + more fuel = more power. It's not rocket science, or is it? Expected horsepower gains can be between 1.37 horsepower for a small spoiler (approx.), and in excess of 50-100 horsepower for a big double decker (exact).

DIY Cost – $5-$500
Professional Cost – $6-$10,000 (high quality)
Skill Level – Difficult, requires good hand-eye coordination and precision work. Ill-placed stickers have been known to cause crashes in the 997 community

Stickers are a double whammy, with the correct placement of stickers, it is possible to alter the aerodynamic properties of the body, with the high and low spots created by the sticker causing pressure differentials, and subsequent changes in traction. A well placed sticker can not only increase slickness and reduce drag in key areas, but they are known for increasing horsepower through the transitive property. By allowing passersby to know what modifications and add-ons your car has, their envy is converted and gathered into the horsepower-generating vortex and transported directly into the engine.

This is a lot of information to process, fortunately, most stickers are certified with the amount of horsepower imbued in them. In general, stickers are good for between 5-25 horsepower each. Ask your local vendor for recommendations for which sticker pack is right for your ride.

DIY Cost – $5,000-$10,000 (don't be a tightwad)
Professional Cost – $7,000-$12,000
Skill Level – Difficult, an improperly installed sub can cause an accident, be careful.

Subwoofers generate horsepower on the principal of air movement. As the subwoofer pulses, it moves the air around it, generating forward thrust. So a rear-facing sub will enhance froward thrust, while a forward facing sub will make your car reverse faster. With this in mind, sub placement is crucial, as a sideways facing, or angled sub most be matched by an opposing subwoofer, if not, the vehicle could be susceptible to rolling over. Obviously, the larger the sub, the more air you're displacing, so ask your local vendor what the rated horsepower of the sub you want is before installing. While "too much" is generally impossible, you wouldn't want to be the first to find out otherwise.

We recommend multiple subs at slight angles, surrounding a main rear-facing sub as pictured, for maximum available air displacement.

Expected horsepower gains can be between 75-1,000 horsepower, depending on the size of your subwoofers.