Retro Fit X51 Power Kit
- Thread starter YvesD
- Start date
Yves
Inital views after 7 days and 820 miles in the beast
Lummy its fast - 3000 rpm - 5000rpm theres a real kick and its getting stronger as the miles go by. Its great in 3rd or 4th gear becasue the revs seem to match for extra noise from the sports exhaust which is lovelly. Seems to me once run in 3rd gear is all you 'll need for short straights
Observation from a kind gentleman behind me in a stock C2S on the Cotswold day was that "there's definately some extra mid range grunt with the powerkit" I am paraphrasing but he words were to that effect.
Even with restricted revs it more than makes my Boxster feel like an asthmatic ant.
She who must be obeyed's verdit was "definately the fastest car we've had and much faster than the boxster" - it definatle feels fast all the way through the gears and rev range
As to a comparison to drives I've had with stock C2S - whether the numbers tell any differnce or not it definatley feels much faster - definately worth the extra cash.
Guest
New member
After 1100 miles since 1st March I can endorse the views of others re: the X51.
Well worth the extra on new purchase (I dispensed with Sport Chrono in my spec and am now sure that was the right decision as it seems to be superfluous, for road driving at least).
The most noticeable difference compared to my previous C2S is the sheer flexibility of the engine and its ability to respond to different styles of driving. It is, as I used to say about my 993 (ah!) , like having two engines available in one (and without the need for a Sport Chrono button) - you cruise the motorway in 6th and a gentle depression of the throttle is enough to get you out of trouble or you can work the gearbox though, given its newness, I have not been at all aggressive in that department yet.
I may have changed my mind about the need to have the PSE "always on" as the pleasurable sound does seem to develop into something of a "drone" at constant speed. Having said that, I much prefer the sound when accelerating to that of the aftermarket exhaust that I had before - slip roads on to the motorway are a delight!
Also can't see how I did without the short shifter before which adds to the driving pleasure enormously ... another recommendation for those of you eager to spend money!
Well worth the extra on new purchase (I dispensed with Sport Chrono in my spec and am now sure that was the right decision as it seems to be superfluous, for road driving at least).
The most noticeable difference compared to my previous C2S is the sheer flexibility of the engine and its ability to respond to different styles of driving. It is, as I used to say about my 993 (ah!) , like having two engines available in one (and without the need for a Sport Chrono button) - you cruise the motorway in 6th and a gentle depression of the throttle is enough to get you out of trouble or you can work the gearbox though, given its newness, I have not been at all aggressive in that department yet.
I may have changed my mind about the need to have the PSE "always on" as the pleasurable sound does seem to develop into something of a "drone" at constant speed. Having said that, I much prefer the sound when accelerating to that of the aftermarket exhaust that I had before - slip roads on to the motorway are a delight!
Also can't see how I did without the short shifter before which adds to the driving pleasure enormously ... another recommendation for those of you eager to spend money!
YvesD
New member
ORIGINAL: okellyt
ORIGINAL: garyw
Worth noting that the short shift can make first and second very notchy when cold.
But worth it....[]
garyw
noticed that already - forget 1st unless completely stationary.
however once warmed up its great
Yes, it can be a little grumpy can't it, engine has so much low down torque though, who needs first gear ?
If you cant be bothered, buy an auto !
Yves
ORIGINAL: YvesD
ORIGINAL: okellyt
ORIGINAL: garyw
Worth noting that the short shift can make first and second very notchy when cold.
But worth it....[
garyw
noticed that already - forget 1st unless completely stationary.
however once warmed up its great
Yes, it can be a little grumpy can't it, engine has so much low down torque though, who needs first gear ?
If you cant be bothered, buy an auto !
Yves
Mannual evey time I am afraid?
Do like the short shift with the x51 - makes it a bit more of an animal[
]Firstly Hello, this is my first post on this forum having only discovered it last night.
Yves : Im intreagued to know just how much lower, "much lower" was. I realise you may have reasons not to post the price on here directly but could you indicate if it was lower than the factory new price. I have a 997S on order and am interested to know if it can be added at a later date without the apparent premium price lift to £10k.
New price is £8241, less the PSE (that you already had and that I am ordering) -£1160 = total cost of upgrading to X51 new is £7081
Is the price you paid lower than £7081? If so, it seems a compelling arguement NOT to add X51 at new and to use your route to adding it shorlty afterwards.
Regards
Adam
Yves : Im intreagued to know just how much lower, "much lower" was. I realise you may have reasons not to post the price on here directly but could you indicate if it was lower than the factory new price. I have a 997S on order and am interested to know if it can be added at a later date without the apparent premium price lift to £10k.
New price is £8241, less the PSE (that you already had and that I am ordering) -£1160 = total cost of upgrading to X51 new is £7081
Is the price you paid lower than £7081? If so, it seems a compelling arguement NOT to add X51 at new and to use your route to adding it shorlty afterwards.
Regards
Adam
YvesD
New member
Hi Adam, welcome to the forum.
Couple of things for you, firstly, I didnt have PSE already and I added the short shifter ( must have ) and a Porsche child seat into my deal which where all taken into account when the final price was negotiated.
Retro fitting was only a few hundred pounds more than factory fitted in the end.
I didnt specify it from new as I dont think it was available at the time or I wasnt completely aware that I could have it and the difference it actually makes.
Tick the box if you can, you wont regret it.
Another bit of advice I would give you when specifying your new car is that if you think you would like an option, have it. The extra cost is soon forgotten but the annoyance at not ending up with exactly what you wanted lasts a long time.
Yves
Couple of things for you, firstly, I didnt have PSE already and I added the short shifter ( must have ) and a Porsche child seat into my deal which where all taken into account when the final price was negotiated.
Retro fitting was only a few hundred pounds more than factory fitted in the end.
I didnt specify it from new as I dont think it was available at the time or I wasnt completely aware that I could have it and the difference it actually makes.
Tick the box if you can, you wont regret it.
Another bit of advice I would give you when specifying your new car is that if you think you would like an option, have it. The extra cost is soon forgotten but the annoyance at not ending up with exactly what you wanted lasts a long time.
Yves
Hi Adam2S
Welcome to the forum - or dark side as my wife calls it
I too "ummed and ahhed" over the x51 power kit and spent time swapping advice from people like Yves, the beast is now here and fabulous
I concur with Yves - if you can afford it go for the options you really want, inevitably they cost more aftrewards/or you end up regretting it and then not enjoying the car fully. This is the approach we ended up taking for our C2S (Ok initally I proposed £107k for a Turbo but the financial controller said "no")
I went for the X51 from new and have not regretted it. it feels so much faster than the stock C2S, whether it is or not is mute. How it feels to drive is everything. I also agree with Yves on the short shift - can be a pig in the cold until the oil is warm but then its as sweet a change as you could ask for and very short, so adding to the feeling of speed and progress.
There is a claimed added bonuse in that "allegedly" they dyno the 3.8 litre engines and pick top 10% output ones for the factory x51 upgrades. True or not - the paperwork will say "at least 381 bhp". Before anyone on the web site jumps on mean I have used the "allegedly phrase" I know someone at an OPC who did some digign for me, so take it with a pillar of salt.
Go for what you want - you won't regret it.
Welcome to the forum - or dark side as my wife calls it
I too "ummed and ahhed" over the x51 power kit and spent time swapping advice from people like Yves, the beast is now here and fabulous
I concur with Yves - if you can afford it go for the options you really want, inevitably they cost more aftrewards/or you end up regretting it and then not enjoying the car fully. This is the approach we ended up taking for our C2S (Ok initally I proposed £107k for a Turbo but the financial controller said "no")
I went for the X51 from new and have not regretted it. it feels so much faster than the stock C2S, whether it is or not is mute. How it feels to drive is everything. I also agree with Yves on the short shift - can be a pig in the cold until the oil is warm but then its as sweet a change as you could ask for and very short, so adding to the feeling of speed and progress.
There is a claimed added bonuse in that "allegedly" they dyno the 3.8 litre engines and pick top 10% output ones for the factory x51 upgrades. True or not - the paperwork will say "at least 381 bhp". Before anyone on the web site jumps on mean I have used the "allegedly phrase" I know someone at an OPC who did some digign for me, so take it with a pillar of salt.
Go for what you want - you won't regret it.
So far X51 is the one option I havnt given in to myself on, but Im still tempted.
The fact that the best engines are saved for factory X51 does make a lot of sense and is a good arguement for going for one from new, but my spec is already running to £77k+ and with X51 it would be £84k+, which I think is seriously into major hit time come resale. There must be an upper limit on the price anybody will pay for a used 2S.
That said my car has passed the spec final stage already so its almost certainly too late for now, but if I still love the car 12mths down the line I may spice things up with X51 then. It interesting to know that the £10k normally quoted for the upgrade isnt what you need to pay if you are willing to push for a deal.
The fact that the best engines are saved for factory X51 does make a lot of sense and is a good arguement for going for one from new, but my spec is already running to £77k+ and with X51 it would be £84k+, which I think is seriously into major hit time come resale. There must be an upper limit on the price anybody will pay for a used 2S.
That said my car has passed the spec final stage already so its almost certainly too late for now, but if I still love the car 12mths down the line I may spice things up with X51 then. It interesting to know that the £10k normally quoted for the upgrade isnt what you need to pay if you are willing to push for a deal.
dereksharpuk
New member
ORIGINAL: garyw
Worth noting that the short shift can make first and second very notchy when cold.
But worth it....[
garyw
My Sports shifter is fitted to a Cayman S and I do not find it notchy at all.
By the way, read the thread re Sports Exhaust on the Cayman site, it describes how the 997 system is controlled. Sadly, at times, certainly quieter than that installed in my son's 996 C4S.
Ronnie C
New member
ORIGINAL: dereksharpuk
ORIGINAL: garyw
Worth noting that the short shift can make first and second very notchy when cold.
But worth it....[
garyw
My Sports shifter is fitted to a Cayman S and I do not find it notchy at all.
I recommend the sports short shifter option. No notchiness on mine either. TBH, it should be fitted as standard across all 997.
Yes the money is on a lightly speccs C2S so once your voer a couple of extra's you into serious depreciation - they'll get you either way ("overspecced sir, they just won't hold their value" or " Underspeccs sir you should have added more extras"). You will be done on resale so ypou may as well go with what you always wanted and enjoy it until its worn out!
Mine wasn't far short of your porjected value on final cost cost, I just cut back on a couple of frivolous bits like uprated steering wheel for more power.
Look at it another way its very nearly as quick as the base 996 Turbo was and were talking the odd tenth of a second here, suddenly £80 - £85k is not so bad.......
Its just a few limbs or a partner sold to the slave trade............
Monty2
New member
I don't know all you boys with your X51 toys, have got me right jealous.
However although I can't run to X51 funds just yet am about to start on the path,
Stage 1, C2S is in Notts OPC for the PSE this thursday so for a while will have the ample S performance and £1395 gets me the X51 sound track - bargain I say.
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.
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Still jealous though !!!
Paul
ps still managed to fly the C2S flag when rapidly departing the ACE cafe at the Pistonheads Porsche gathering on the 10th March without putting it side ways like one of the 993 drivers (it did look cool though).
However although I can't run to X51 funds just yet am about to start on the path,
Stage 1, C2S is in Notts OPC for the PSE this thursday so for a while will have the ample S performance and £1395 gets me the X51 sound track - bargain I say.
.
.
.
Still jealous though !!!
Paul
ps still managed to fly the C2S flag when rapidly departing the ACE cafe at the Pistonheads Porsche gathering on the 10th March without putting it side ways like one of the 993 drivers (it did look cool though).
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