AMG ETR

Alexander: I am going on the dynos of our chipped cars (with exhaust) that I have seen with my own eyes which are 468rwhp (my car), 468rwhp (another car) and 470rwhp (another car). As for losing your warranty, that is not entirely true. Porsche can not void your warranty for simply having a chip installed in your car, however, if somthing goes wrong and they can PROVE THE CHIP DID IT then they may choose to not cover the repair. I

FBfish: You are correct HP does come from tuning, but larger turbos flow more air and do FEEL like they have more tq. I am just saying this from my person experience of driving cars with different size turbos, this may not necessarily be fact!
Evan

aj02996tt

Fbf- If you go for an X50 or Turbo S, you won't be disappointed. I owned an '02 non-X50 Turbo, and now own an '05 Turbo S. The standard Turbo is a great car, but the X50/Turbo S have some important differences, especially if you decide to do any aftermarket tuning. There are a couple of tuners who warranty their work in writing- I'd avoid all others.

Having owned both, I can tell you firsthand that the Turbo S is notably faster than the Turbo (which is already too fast for most folks)- I brought mine back to the dealer the day I bought it because I thought I had a broken wastegate due to the sick acceleration. A couple guys posted dyno results of their Turbo S- one guy got 481hp, the other 502. GT2s and Turbos are underrated too- Standard Turbo is probably around 430hp and GT2 500-525.

X50 adds GT2/GT3 oil pump, larger intercoolers from GT2 (12% more efficient, but standard Turbo intercoolers were temp tested by me and quite good as well), Turbos from GT2 (K24), strengthened transmission. ECU mapping is nearly identical to GT2- difference is 0.1-0.2 bar less boost. Turbo S is X50 + PCCB.

IMHO, your biggest decision should be 996TT/X50/S/GT2 versus 997TT. The base 997TT will probably be pretty similar to the X50 but with accurate power claims and maybe 3.8 liter displacement, and God only knows what 997TT X50/GT2 will bring to the table. If you like the look of the 996, there is plenty of reliable stuff out there to make it faster than you can handle, but if you think you'll be bummed over a new improved model in the near-term, wait for a 997TT. I bought the Turbo S because it was exactly what I wanted, I love the 996 better than 997 styling, and with fewer than 100 made for the US for '05, there is at least some exclusive nature to the beast.

Good luck!

Duane in Miami

I can vouch that a Stage 2 TT will not beat an X50. They are neck and neck with a slight edge going to the X50. Now a 700hp yellow beast is anothet story.

ColorChange

Duane: I'm surprised. Who's stage 2? I have heard that GIAC stage II's walk X50's. Obciosly my stage 4 for $15k list will kill it, but I thought a stage II won that battle?

Duane in Miami

This is going back quite some time, but most people feel the X50 is understated. I raced a couple and it was neck and neck.

Duane in Miami

I raced and upsolute car and a Giac car.

1AS

Anybody know the total number of X50"s sold? AS

aj02996tt

From '02 on? I think I read somewhere around 300 for the US.

Rams86

I purchased a Silver '03 X50 with 8,200 miles in February for $114k. (X50, PCCB, Navigation, Sport Shifter, Various interior trim options) I love absolutely the vehicle, and the power upgrade over my '03 C4S is startling. I'm very happy with the purchase but feel I may have overpaid. I have no interest in "chipping" the vehicle but am intrigued with modifying the exhast. Are the claims by companies such as Fabspeed accurate when they claim +55 hp with just an exhaust upgrade? I'm not interested in something ridiculously loud. What would be the best option here? Brad Seattle, WA

fbfisher

I heard from a Porsche tech that the 997 GT3 will go with the wet sump engine of the 997S. Likley that the 997TT will do the same? Bad news I guess for the racers. Since my car won't see the track I'm not certain that it will make a big difference to me, (RMS issues remain though ) but I do like the idea of the dry sump and other engine features of the current tt/GT2 block.

997TT will be beautiful, but is out of my financial capability, a well equipped X50 sounds just right.

aj02996tt

That info has been covered before and appears to be incorrect. Why would Porsche decrease the value-added features of their cars while the competiton (read Ferrari, Viper, Z06) are increasing theirs? There was enough of an uproar with the Boxster/996 motors. Then again, Porsche HAS tried without much luck to turbo the M96, and if they have it figured out, it will be good for our resale values. . .but will be the end of Porsche buying for many of us.

JP Schnitzer

Ram 86, The Fabspeed quiet is awesome...Sounds so much better than stock...A real Porsche sound...with all the burbles and gurgles at low speed, and at WOT it rocks. It is not too loud, just right IMO. As for the HP claim, I don't know...it does add some power, but I feel that I would probably buy it even if it didn't add any power.

AMG ETR

Not necessarily I lost by the front wheel to a GIAC level 4 with my leve 2
Evan

Dock

Are you saying 481 and 502 hp to the wheels for the Turbo S?

Most Stock non-X50 dynos I've seen are in the 370 RWHP range.

I've driven an X-50 Turbo, and my SOTP meter tells me the GIAC Stage 2 Turbo is faster... across the board.

ColorChange

Evan, you don't think there might have been some driver issues there?