Retro Fit X51 Power Kit

[YvesD]

Not you as well !

You echo my thoughts on the turbo exactly. C2S is so, so, so good that the turbo cannot impress more by way of its speed alone. So what is there left ? ( apart from the huge cost to upgrade ).

GT3, yes, definately an option, went down that route too.

Why are your OPC advising a factory fit on X51 ? seems a bit odd. There are a few jobs on the 911 which are engine out so its not exactly a big deal. No internals are messed with just ancilliary bolt on parts.

Intruiged.

Yves.

 

[graham m]

Umm yes - I think I know what you mean! My old 997S was absolutely brill and entertaining to drive. The Turbo is different - more refined off boost and better planted on the road. On boost things do happen ever so quickly though. I chased and caught an M3 across a local twisty road recently and ended up having to keep backing off as the 'overtake' would have seen me well into triple figures at an instance - common sense prevailed and I hung back despite his best efforts to pull away.
The car is a monster sledgehammer! The nutcracker of a 997S is more than capable. But whatever - I love the Turbo!
G

 

[Sunil]

Yves,

Yes, me as well. I'm so disappointed - grrrrrrrrr.

I'm sure that Porsche could have done a better job on the TT but just haven't. I don't know what's with the front end styling and those wheels but surely it could have been better. Where's the wow factor there?

I don't understand how the same people who came out with the 997S, also came out with the 997TT. There is no doubt that the car is an example of engineering excellence but, in all of that, they seem to have forgotten that 'feel' is an important part of a sports car. Anyway, I won't continue my rant - apologies.

My OPC has suggested that if an X51 is not implemented by the factory, the car will be considered as a modified car and this will potentially have an impact on resale value. Actually, as a matter of curiosity, what declaration is made to the insurer on this? If it's factory fitted is it not just a 'standard' option and therefore has no impact on insurance? As a retrofit, do the insurers see the X51 as a modification over standard?

Strangely enough, when I called about the insurance, the 997TT had a lower rating than the 997S - 85 v 89! Not sure what those numbers are but I'm sure the lower, the better.

Sunil

 

[Alex L]

ORIGINAL: Sunil
Actually, as a matter of curiosity, what declaration is made to the insurer on this? If it's factory fitted is it not just a 'standard' option and therefore has no impact on insurance? As a retrofit, do the insurers see the X51 as a modification over standard?

After ringing my Insurance Broker it turned out that retrofitting X51 made absolutely NO difference at all to my Chubb policy. Other policy holders I have heard of incurred about a £100 a year bump.

 

[graham m]

ORIGINAL: Sunil

Strangely enough, when I called about the insurance, the 997TT had a lower rating than the 997S - 85 v 89! Not sure what those numbers are but I'm sure the lower, the better.

Sunil

Wish my insurers had the same view - they wouldn't insure the Turbo.
Graham

 

[richardgilbert]

My Insurance company are not bothered about the powerkit, as it is a factory option and does not matter if it retro fitted. Same as the PSE did anybody inform their insurance company after getting that fitted? I cant wait to get the car back after the upgrade i have a great 5 hour drive home, just enough miles to run it in and then have some fun!!!!!

 

[Sunil]

ORIGINAL: graham m

ORIGINAL: Sunil

Strangely enough, when I called about the insurance, the 997TT had a lower rating than the 997S - 85 v 89! Not sure what those numbers are but I'm sure the lower, the better.

Wish my insurers had the same view - they wouldn't insure the Turbo.

This was with Directline.

 

[YvesD]

I have had to pay £130 extra on insurance with Direct Line for the power kit. Some of that was for the increased valuation on the car however.

Not really worth arguing about.

 

[Z80]

ORIGINAL: YvesD

I have had to pay £130 extra on insurance with Direct Line for the power kit. Some of that was for the increased valuation on the car however.

Not really worth arguing about.

Went with Porsche Insurance (Marsh) and they said the X51 on mine made no difference & I ran out of time to get many different competitive insurance quotes. They seemed about the same price as the other few though.

Greg

 

[YvesD]

Greg,

Yours was already part of the car so they had no excuse to increase the premium for that alone, its value/risk will have been accounted for in the overall cost though.

I nearly tried Porsche insurance myself last time round, will definately do so next year.

How are you getting on with the motor ?

Regards

Yves

 

[Z80]

ORIGINAL: YvesD

Greg,

Yours was already part of the car so they had no excuse to increase the premium for that alone.....

I nearly tried Porsche insurance myself... will definately do so next year.

How are you getting on with the motor ?

Regards

Yves

Thank you Yves. Impressions:-

Done 650 miles now. I find it very quick and the flexibility around 2K is extremely impressive. Problem is I can't remember the test drive in the stock 997S and therefore anything I say here is useless because I can't make a valid comparison. Can only rant about its niceness in a detached reference manner. Not gone above 4.5K revs yet as advised by the operating instructions.

With the chrono (sport) button 'on' the drive is a bit snatchy on & off the throttle around town. With the pasm button 'on' and driving over anything slightly bumpy my cheeks wobble.

Thought the tyre noise quite intrusive to start with but seem to have got used to that. Previous car was a Subaru Forester STi with Milltek sports exhaust but it was dreadfully loud.

Overall it's just superb. X51 or not it doesn't matter.

Greg

 

[YvesD]

Overall it's just superb. X51 or not it doesn't matter.

Greg

Thats all anyone needs to know about the C2S, superb straight out of the box.

You are in for a treat when the running in is done, the motor has a lovely top end with noise to match.

Yves

 

[YvesD]

The adventure begins.

Car is now in the hands of OPC Mid Sussex for its engine work, all being well I will be picking it up next saturday.

Cayenne loan car returned average 23.5mpg on the journey home so already breaking records !

Yves

 

[richardgilbert]

Please let me know your thoughts as my car is going to mid sussex in a couple of weeks!!

 

[YvesD]

Richard,

I am picking my car up tomorrow, really looking forward to it.

Sussex have been in touch all week keeping me up to date on progress and have been taking loads of photos to document the installation.

Meeting the main man who has done all the work for a full de-brief.

As a point of interest, the boys had the engine out and on the bench early afternoon monday, they only started it monday morning !

Yves

 

[YvesD]

Just got home from picking the car up.

First impressions begin with 'awesome' 'wow' 'hilariously fast' 'fabulous' etc. As reported elsewhere, the engine feels much fitter than the paper figures suggest and in fact when the revs climb past 3000rpm you get a very torquey shove just like a turbo car. How do they do it ?

Money very well spent I think.

Proper story for you all later.

Yves

 

[Z80]

ORIGINAL: YvesD

Just got home from picking the car up.

First impressions begin with 'awesome' 'wow' 'hilariously fast' 'fabulous' etc. As reported elsewhere, the engine feels much fitter than the paper figures suggest and in fact when the revs climb past 3000rpm you get a very torquey shove just like a turbo car. How do they do it ?

Money very well spent I think.

Proper story for you all later.

Yves

YvesD,

Well done!

Am hugely pleased you like the conversion. Very much looking forward to hearing your full views. Having said that, your impressions above are plenty ok.

Greg

 

[YvesD]

Hi Greg,

Have you got yours run in yet ?

I dont need to run my kit in as such so have already been round to 6000rpm or so.

It goes like stink !

Yves

 

[Z80]

YvesD,

Fantastic. So it goes well then.

Done 950 miles in mine now. Slow process.

Not taken it above 5.5 K yet but it is stonking.

Where have you noticed most difference in performance or is it acroos the whole band?

Greg

 

[YvesD]

Greg,

The difference is noticable everywhere and I'm not talking fine degrees, it really feels like a bigger engine with operatic lungs.

There is much more torque right off tickover which makes the car easier to launch, the feeling contines through low revs up untill 3000rpm or so where a turbocharging effect comes in and she really starts to motor. The PSE is now on full song and as we breach 5000rpm the car is showing a very clean pair of heals to the 'standard' motor.

Therafter she just piles on the power and revs in a manic surge.

Think 996 GT3 and you have a good idea, albeit with a lustier delivery low down.

Marvellous.

Yves