Best bang for the buck?

[FL-01.986]

Afternoon everybody.
Have an '01 986, upgr whl-18"/tires-Kuhmo Ecsta 235f, 265r (Verrry sticky!), K&N air.
Now that I've got the extra rubber under the car, I'd like to be able to keep up with the other higher HP/torque cars on the track in the straights. The twisty stuff is a blast, I can run a lot of the faster cars down, but as soon as we begin the straights, they begin to leave ...

Q: What's the best (low$) performance improvement?

I'd like to do something with the exhaust, but high$, and don't know if this is the best perf-gain.
I'd also like to keep the integrity of the engine intact.

All ideas would be appreciated ...

btw, great site Pelican Parts!

[turboflyer]

Always a compromise as you know. You can go with some headers and sport cats and and an ECU flash. Out side of that you will have to delve into the dark and expensive innards of the engine. There is just no cheap real power especially if dependability and longevity are of concern. I have heard it is just cheaper in the long run to get a different car. If it is truly only power that holds you back then race type driving school is of little concern. For most it is worth more than they can spend on the car to make it go fast. My 01S is faster than me in the mountains for sure. Not really a straight line neck snapper for sure. Even the little Subi WRX STI can kick its butt. But hey who looks better waiting at the light or parked, yep that be me.

[JMatta]

The Boxster is a momentum car...keep the speed up in the corners and the straights take care of themselves. You either bought the wrong car if you long for straight speed or you need to call Mr. Raby and get a 3.6 transplant.

[mikefocke]

There aren't any really low $ additional power fixes.

And any you do do is starting a slippery slope that can cost far more than the car is worth and if done wrong or in the wrong order can screw up driveability.

Having said that..try this for options

Keep in mind the restrictions on the class you are running in.

[FL-01.986]

Thanks Turbo, JM & Mike for the feedback.

When I first got the car, I didn't realize the potential it had. The car potential still is (at least) 60% above my potential, but I'm trying to close in on it quickly. Handling is supernatural - especially since it has such grip now.

Don't get me wrong, I realize what this car is & why, it's just frustrating to see higher torque cars get away again & again after I've chased them down. Although the fun greatly outweighs the frustration.

Mike, great link & good insight. My next questions were going to be how to drop weight. I looked seriously through the car yesterday, & couldn't find a lot of weight, other than the spare & seats.

Does anybody know how much the stock '01 (electric recline only) seats weigh? Say, versus a sport seat?

[mikefocke]

You need to go talk to the guys on the racing forums. And find a tighter track with shorter straights.

[racer]

No matter how much HP you have, someone else will always have more. At the track, SEAT time is the best way to spend your money. Muffler/headers will drop weight, but could cause frequent CEL issues. I quite enjoyed my 2.7 Boxster, even with only 217 hp and since it was without the trunk designation, many folks figured it must have been an "S" since I "caught" them. Sure... but it wasn't

A lot of the HP guys can be fooled by timing.. drop back before a corner and get a good run up on them.. before their boost kicks in hover on their bumper and they should let you by. After the next corner they won't see you again. When I had my (stock) 914, I used that trick alot.. plus I made sure I was seen in their mirrors before I caught them. It usually worked.

[SandyI]

Originally Posted by FL-01.986

My next questions were going to be how to drop weight. I looked seriously through the car yesterday, & couldn't find a lot of weight, other than the spare & seats.

Well, somewhere between your car and a stripped Spec Boxster, there are hundreds of pounds to be lost.

Seats are a great starting point. Replacing the drivers seat with a race seat. How about removing the passenger seat altogether? Air conditioning unit? You've already switched out the stock air bag steering wheel for a race wheel, but what about the passenger side dash air bags? Stereo, stereo speakers, antenna? Carpeting? Sound deadening? The full dash w/gauges replaced by a single digital race gauge? Glove box door? Center console? I mean, it all depends on how hardcore you want to get and what creature comforts you can live without.