X51 Power Kit & Sports Shifter on a C2 997S

Z80 · Jul 7, 2006

Hi,

Specifying my C2 997S & am considering the X51 power kit option & Short throw shifter.

Please, can anyone tell me if the X51 power kit makes the cabin noisy. As I understand things, one can select the sports exhaust for extra sporty noise. However if this is left switched off, does the kit make the cabin noisier than with it not fitted. Done some netting & there seems to be mixed views about this.

The Sports shifter seems a good option. The OPC warned me about cold gear selection, but again searching the internet, not many people seem to have suffered this.

Any advice greatly appreciated. I'm hugely looking forward to being back in the Porsche fraternity after 2 years gap after selling my 996 C2.

Thanks

Delbox · Jul 7, 2006

Go for the sports exhaust; it's noise is intoxicating! I'd forget the X51; too much dosh for too little increase in performance - and you won't get any return at trade-in time. Short shift? Go for that too!

Del

Z80 · Jul 8, 2006

Delbox,

Thanks for the info.

Hmmm.

sidicks · Jul 8, 2006

ORIGINAL: Delbox

Go for the sports exhaust; it's noise is intoxicating! I'd forget the X51; too much dosh for too little increase in performance - and you won't get any return at trade-in time. Short shift? Go for that too

Del - Spot on !!

Z80 - why not go for the 4S.....................................!!

Sidicks

Delbox · Jul 8, 2006

Could have a C4s for less than a C2S with the X-pack; no increase in engine output but the wide-body and greater 'surefootedness' (!) is worth the price increase.

sidicks · Jul 8, 2006

Del - what a good idea...!!

There is a test of the C2S with Powerkit in this month's EVO magazine - they seem to think it's expensive for what you get.................

Sidicks

Z80 · Jul 8, 2006

Sidicks, Delbox,

Reason for C2S is I had a C2 Coupe 996 before & kind of liked that one.

I will evolve to a 4wd later but presently there's a production slot for a C2S 997 & i'm fine about that. With the X51 on board, less transmission loss for 2WD the thing will be a flyer.

sidicks · Jul 8, 2006

ORIGINAL: Z80

Sidicks, Delbox,

Reason for C2S is I had a C2 Coupe 996 before & kind of liked that one.

I will evolve to a 4wd later but presently there's a production slot for a C2S 997 & i'm fine about that. With the X51 on board, less transmission loss for 2WD the thing will be a flyer.

Just having a laugh with you mate - us 4S drivers like to stick together, and in any case we don't want too many of them on the road, it might threaten our residuals !!

I assume you've ruled out the GT3, as I would have thought that would have been a better bet for pure pace, and similar money ?

Sidicks

Z80 · Jul 8, 2006

ORIGINAL: sidicks

Just having a laugh with you mate - us 4S drivers like to stick together, and in any case we don't want too many of them on the road, it might threaten our residuals !!

I assume you've ruled out the GT3, as I would have thought that would have been a better bet for pure pace, and similar money ?

Sidicks

Good point but the GT3 is just a bit too raw.

I don't think the 4S's width will fit in my puny garage actually - so there's another reason. How much extra width is the 4S over a 2S?

Andyg400 · Jul 8, 2006

Example of a car ... I would have never picked this, but having seen it and if a Salesman had been next too me .. oh dear I might have signed

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/Andyuk911/Goodwood%202006/CIMG2355.jpg
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h169/Andyuk911/Goodwood%202006/CIMG2357.jpg

Ronnie C · Jul 9, 2006

ORIGINAL: Z80

Good point but the GT3 is just a bit too raw.

I don't think the 4S's width will fit in my puny garage actually - so there's another reason. How much extra width is the 4S over a 2S?

C4 versions are 4.4cm wider at the rear than the respective C2 versions.

More noticeable on darker colours I think.

If you want to consider X51, also check out how this will increase / affect your insurance premium.

I got the sports shifter and its great.

simonm · Jul 9, 2006

The powerkit may up the power of an S but a 4S may allow more of the grunt to be used, for entertainment value only, see: http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25850-1658421,00.html especially the bit about "the car is very stable, even in quite extreme conditions" or another of Andrew's articles: http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,25669-1490001,00.html where "less is more".

I would be wary of selecting the powerkit without first trying one. As well as seeing for yourself if the extra power is worth the dosh, the noise levels can be assessed. I read that the differences amount to the Sports Exhaust being included (you spend more, but save a little!) and changes to smooth the flow across the head. If the final drive isn't altered then the likelihood is that the noise, for the same gear and speed, would be about the same. There may be some situations where a higher gear could be selected so the engine may actually be quieter. Hence it's best to try one. I suspect that more would be sold if there was an opportunity to easily try one before coming to a successful conclusion.

I also read the EVO article on the powerkit in this months copy - it was my first read of the magazine and its quite entertaining stuff about the Carrera GT!

If you are worried about the width, do the mirror's stick out further than the wider 4S body - since they won't fold electrically this may be more of a limit when using a narrow garage?

If you have been quoted a build slot, if it's August or later, does it reflect a higher price? e.g. 2% + 985 for the now standard VTS for the 2007MY. When everyone else is reducing their prices the OPC gets to put theirs up? I don't know if the VTS is a must have for bringing the insurance down, but I now get 'less' and pay 'more' LOL. Expected build date for mine (my first Porsche) is August (been counting the days since the beginning of May, and the OPC brought it forward by a month).

oliver · Jul 9, 2006

Surely the 'best buy' would be a 997 GT3?

997s (whether C2 or C4s) are mass volume products and heavily loaded examples are going to suffer when it comes to residuals.

The new GT3 will be built in far smaller numbers, will have a terrific engine and chassis and, supposedly, will be brilliant on both road and track. This is going to be THE 911 to own.

sidicks · Jul 9, 2006

ORIGINAL: oliver

997s (whether C2 or C4s) are mass volume products and heavily loaded examples are going to suffer when it comes to residuals.
The new GT3 will be built in far smaller numbers, will have a terrific engine and chassis and, supposedly, will be brilliant on both road and track. This is going to be THE 911 to own.

Do you know the numbers of cars planned for 2006/7?

I'm pretty sure that the C2S is the biggest seller - will the volume of C4s be much more than GT3s? Whilst I don't doubt that the GT3 will hold its value well, particularly in the short term, on a longer term basis I'm not sure that it will have residuals that are too much better than the C4S, particularly when you consider that it's purely a 2-seater, which reduces its appeal on the second hand market.

Sidicks

Julio Geordio · Jul 9, 2006

She's quite tidy - and the car's all right too.

Z80 · Jul 11, 2006

Thanks everyone.

Now decided against the X51 power kit. The spec below has been decided...

997S C2 Arctic Silver
Manual box
Sports Chrono Plus
Thicker rim, smaller dia steering wheel
Sports Shifter
Sports Seats
Standard 19" wheels & coloured centres
Standard PASM

Above I consider represents value for money options (ok, maybe not the coloured wheel centres but heck) & is fine and dandy for my first ever new 911.

Alex L · Jul 11, 2006

PSE should be right at the TOP of your list in my opinion. I recently had it retro-fitted to my car and it cost me nearly £1600 to do so.

Please believe me; you will want this option at a later date, so factory fitting it will save you like £600 labor!

Without the Sports Exhaust the car only sounds good over 5500rpm when the resonator kicks in, and then you only have like a couple of seconds before you have to change up and lose the sound. PSE gets round this by sounding great all the time (especially if you disable the cut-out valve), so you won't be endangering your license by going to high revs all the time.

This is THE best option for a 997 as far as I am concerned, and I have most of the options you can get on a Carrera (other than X51 and PCCB).

-Alex

nsm3 · Jul 11, 2006

ORIGINAL: Alex L

PSE should be right at the TOP of your list in my opinion. I recently had it retro-fitted to my car and it cost me nearly £1600 to do so.

Please believe me; you will want this option at a later date, so factory fitting it will save you like £600 labor!

Without the Sports Exhaust the car only sounds good over 5500rpm when the resonator kicks in, and then you only have like a couple of seconds before you have to change up and lose the sound. PSE gets round this by sounding great all the time (especially if you disable the cut-out valve), so you won't be endangering your license by going to high revs all the time.

This is THE best option for a 997 as far as I am concerned, and I have most of the options you can get on a Carrera (other than X51 and PCCB).

-Alex

Totally agreed!

Z80 · Jul 12, 2006

Alex L, nsm3,

I'm sure you're right about the PSE, however the spec is decided. Retrospective upgrade later perhaps.

What does the resonator do? I recall the brochure saying it modulates air intake to the inlet manifold or something.

Thanks.

Alex L · Jul 13, 2006

Quote:

The new, individual-control Helmholtz resonator accommodated in the air filter housing is a typical feature of the acoustic refinement that has gone into the new power unit of the Carrera S. This acoustic damper offering approximately 0.3 litres of additional resonance volume is integrated in the intake system between the hot-film air mass meter and the throttle butterfly. The Helmholtz resonator is activated when accelerating between 5000 and 6000 rpm, reducing oscillations of the intake noise under such conditions within the 260 Hertz frequency range. Porsche has already registered this new system for a patent, the new 3.8-litre power unit benefitting as a result of this technology from a deep, throaty sound under all engine loads and at all speeds, without any aggressive peaks.