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What was your best upgrade and what your biggest waste of money on your car?
I thought I start this thread because everybody has a different perspective on these things and it would be good to hear from other people about their good, bad and the ugly decisions in regards of upgrades/investments on their cars. So I start:
My best investments were:
- New Carbon Fiber PDK shift ****: Combined with a new set of black carpets, it gave my beige interior the necessary contrast to get rid of the beige flooding of the interior (see below)
- Turbonite Porsche hood emblem: I think it just looks great
- Clear blinkers: Great match with the Turbonite badge and the blue color of my car.
- Porsche PSE: Is a must and best money spent on my car.
Waste of money:
- Sport gas cap: It looks great but why do you need it? Nobody but you for few minutes per 2-3 month will ever see it and in my opinion it is $200 down the toilet.
- New Oil Cap with 2 O rings: Others say it is great for your car and you will feel it, I didn't feel anything lol
-Mr12Volt Apple CarPlay retrofit (though this would probably be my favorite mod)
-FVD tune
-Numeric shifter
-Dynaudio tweeters
-X73
-GT4 diffuser
-GTS tail lights
-Heated steering wheel
There's plenty more that I'm very happy with - the only mod I could live without is the Numeric shifter cables. The Numeric shifter alone feels great and the cables introduce a bit of transmission noise into the cabin.
-Mr12Volt Apple CarPlay retrofit (though this would probably be my favorite mod)
-FVD tune
-Numeric shifter
-Dynaudio tweeters
-X73
-GT4 diffuser
-GTS tail lights
-Heated steering wheel
There's plenty more that I'm very happy with - the only mod I could live without is the Numeric shifter cables. The Numeric shifter alone feels great and the cables introduce a bit of transmission noise into the cabin.
Nice!
My car came from factory with the X73, otherwise I would have gotten it, is a must!!
Best: Either the Soul 200 cell headers or the Inozetek wrap(s). Looking at all the rubber marks on the wrap from track days, I'm super happy to have paint protection that also gives me cool color options. I'm very PRO-wrap now days.
Worst: "Carbon fiber" hood from DarwinPro. Non-functional. Just big holes that flow dirt and water into my frunk area lol. I've bought all the OEM bits to make the car functional - naca ducts and such, but the hood isn't designed to flow air downward at all. Looked cool, price was good, serves no purpose.
Best upgrade was switching the center and dash trim to brushed aluminum. With the top open, the original shined in my eyes constantly and the new brushed aluminum is also real metal trim.
Biggest waste of money was replacing a perfectly good SportDesign steering wheel with 718 wheel... but I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
- Clear side markers
- Colored wheel center caps
- Front end PPF + full vehicle ceramic coating (not really a mod)
That really is it. Recently been looking at some new wheels though. I think it goes without saying, but over-maintaining the car has been the best thing I've done.
p.s @john981 - the turbonite badge looks really good on yours. I have considered it but never pulled the trigger. Also have dark blue metallic just like you with clear side markers.
Best: Aerosport front end and rear diffuser with third radiator. Also custom leather interior (seats, door pulls, arm rests, center arm rest) , GTS tail lights, OEM reverse camera, auto dimming mirror, light design package, Alcantara shift boot, aluminum pedals, white seatbelts, white gauge faces.
Best/Worst: PCM4.0 retrofit. I love the look and functionality (car play is awesome), but having Bose made the sound a compromise that Im not in love with. Now Im going down another expensive mod to upgrade the sound when an Erisin would have been sufficient and cost $6k less 😂
Worst: Matrix style headlights, only because one showed up damaged and Im waiting for the replacement.
overall Im happy with the money Ive spend on mods.
x73 and a new steering wheel next, because why not? At this point I could have ordered a brand new GTS and spent less 🤣😂
Best: Can't really decide between...
Carnewal Exhaust
X73 Suspension
718 Multifunction Steering Wheel
CHSTEK 7862 Andriod head unit
OEM Black Leather interior trim
OEM extended height center console cover/armrest. It was too expensive, but I hate the stock armrest. I have short arms and it was very uncomfortable for interstate cruising.
Worst: I guess I might say the OEM rear trunk liner, only because it has warped over time.
I've done so many mods to my car. Not because I needed to in most cases, but I just enjoy tinkering. Overall, I do not regret any, but here's some notable mentions..
Best cheap upgrades:
• Reverse camera retrofit to the stock PCM. Works as it should and looks completely factory.
• Emergency hood release relocation. Only cost a few bucks for a bicycle cable and crimp, but can now keep my hood locked during storage without having to jump it from the fuse box.
• Motorsport Hardware stud kit. Makes wheel install easier as well as experimenting with spacer sizes. To my surprise, they seem pretty rust resistant (so far)
• Window Tint. Provides privacy, rejects heat, and protects the interior from UV rays. It makes the car look better as well, in my opinion.
Best expensive upgrades:
• Equal length headers. Changed the sound characteristic of the car to sound smoother and higher pitched.
• GT4RS intake. Didn't plan on this one but was able to get the parts used for a great price. Power gains are negligible, but the sound takes the experience to another level.
• 718 Steering Wheel. While I liked the Sport Design wheel, I didn't like the glare. I also changed the silver interior trim to carbon to match the new wheel. Much cleaner look.
Worst upgrades:
• IPD Plenum. While it looks nice (and never see), it's not really worth the price. You'd need a tune to get the most out of it, therefore spending even more.
• Cargraphic Exhaust tips. Expensive for what it is. Quality seemed suspect as the pipe was cut unevenly.. I had high expectations from this brand.
Best upgrade was switching the center and dash trim to brushed aluminum. With the top open, the original shined in my eyes constantly and the new brushed aluminum is also real metal trim.
Biggest waste of money was replacing a perfectly good SportDesign steering wheel with 718 wheel... but I'd do it again in a heartbeat!
Functionally it's hard to argue that one steering wheel is better than another, but since I started with the crappy button-based MF wheel, it was more than worthwhile to switch to the newer wheel with both MF controls and paddles. My only regret, and it's not a big one, is not going straight to the GT paddles.
Mr12Volt is a big win, certainly.
And yes, the brushed aluminum is so much nicer than the cheesy shiny plastic that it's a no-brainer at (almost) any price. Especially if you've already ponied up for the full leather interior.
A lesser but real look-and-feel upgrade for PDK cars is retrofitting the PDK shifter with the leather gaiter from the 6-speed cars.
Also for PDK cars, if you don't have a T-Design or similar Sport button memory, that should be high on the list of desirable upgrades.
Grill guards are another no-brainer, considering how much money they can save you from rock damage to the A/C condensers.
The new design Steering Wheel to me is the best "feel good" mod inside the car. It's modern-looking and jibes well to the modern interior of the 981. It gives me smile every time.
I did all of my upgrades DIY and most of them several years ago when many of them are a fraction of the current prices. My favorites are not in any particular order:
*Cobb stage 2 tune with PDK flash (with V202 pre neutered tunes)
*aFe catted headers (Black Friday sale)long tube equal length
*PSE with console button
*Soul -X tips
*aFe dry filters
*FF1 engine mount insert
*DIY grilles front&sides
*clear markers
*GTS taillights ($350 on marketplace)
*Extended height console ($400 open box sale)
*CSF Aluminum center radiator
*Maxspeed back up camera
*Brushed Aluminum interior trim (reduced glare)
*Sports Chrono Clock (looks like it belongs)
*PIWIS2 ( used to activate: GT3 steering, PTV, actual coolant temp, SC timing function and more .)
*GT4RS shifter ****&boot $400 on eBay
*smoker package for convenient 12V socket (inexpensive but labor intensive)
*Musicar Dynaudio tweeters (big improvement to Bose tweeters)
*DIY quick removable carpet over engine panel for easy access to engine
*Door sound proofing for improved Bose sound.
*718 rear brace ($75 marketplace)
*Repairing the tachometer needle that would not illuminate I added 2 LEDs by disassembly the cluster, now I can illuminate it in daylight ($20 fix) but labor intensive
*AWE wind didduser-now enjoy driving with windows down
Wasted $$$ on Rennspec Audison mid and woofer door speakers (Bose amp does not have enough power to properly drive them) marginal improvement
Jim
For my Porsche...
Best cosmetic upgrade, the all black trunk trim piece...once you see the shiny silver one on a car with all black everything you can't unsee it. Love how it looks now.
Best performance upgrade, took out lame auto dimming mirror and replaced with regular manual flip keeps me from getting blinded by high beams or SUV/Truck headlights
Worst Upgrade - Nothing bad yet
For other cars....
Best cosmetic Armrest removal on my BMW 1M Coupe. Finally got it to stop rattling and squeaking. Also was heavy so saved a lot of weight too.
Best performance upgrade... put 18" wheels on the BMW 1M instead of the 20" wheels...wow, handling, ride comfort, performance all improved.
Worst Upgrade...previous owner put a partial clear bra on hood. Made waxing a pain, always had a line of wax stuck and you could notice it in bright light.
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What was your best upgrade and what your biggest waste of money on your car?
