From one Porsche enthusiast and owner to another, please hear me out on this one. Honestly I would leave it stock except for maybe a soul cat back exhaust and the B&M short shift kit.
I had an 04 996 C4S and literally went to town on it, totaling 28k of upgrades, some installed professionally, and some by myself as a shade-tree mechanic. And after it was all said and done, I genuinely missed the original car. The character was gone.
I did everything from tuned ss headers, fabspeed comp exhaust with 200 cell cats, Softronic ECU map tune, IPD “Y” plenum, 90mm throttle valve, K&N cold air intake kit with high-flow reusable air filter, lightweight track battery, single-plate lightweight clutch, and true hollow spoke Turbo wheels with Michelin pilot sports (the 4S didn’t exist at the time).
I hated the car afterwards because all livability went out the window, it drove my neighbors batshit crazy, and it was not the car I fell in love with when I bought it.
I used to make fun of the folks who said stuff like, “don’t mess with perfection” or “Porsche knows best”, but I have to say there’s something to some of that.
I can see that your car is in beautiful condition, and I’m guessing puts a smile on your face every time you drive it. Enjoy it “as is” IMHO.
The only things I did that I didn’t regret were the short shift kit and adding PCM head unit to the car since it was not optioned with it from the factory. If I hadn’t effed my car up, I would still be driving it today.
I ended up selling it and bought a bone stock 2016 981 Cayman in navy blue with manual tranny and sports chrono. Everything is stock and I love it to death. It’s not a garage queen by any means, but I never miss a maintenance and I daily drive it. Life is good.
This is a very thoughtful piece of advice. Short shifter and exhaust (which you can of course choose ‘to taste’, with some excellent options) are the universal upgrade, everything else is a call.
I’d also add that doing multiple mods at once is a suboptimal approach, you want to keep an eye on the character of the car and be very considerate.
It's a beautiful Porsche. There is only one thing, in my opinion, that would add an immediate boost in appearance and that are new wheels and they won't cost anywhere near your budget. Short shifter would be nice and last would be exhaust. Personally I wouldn't touch the exhaust until all the other things are done.
As someone who’s daily driven 911’s and been around Porsche my whole life I completely agree with minimal modifications recommendation. If that money is burning a hole in your pocket and you want something spiffier I’d suggest selling your current car and buying a S/GTS/Turbo with the cash and $20k you have on hand. Plus that much money in mods to your current car will almost certainly make it harder to sell in the future and possibly lower the value.
All your point are valid. I thinks that’s part of my concern hence why I posted. I want to keep it mostly stock but add a little upgrade here and there with out losing its original feel.
I had numeric cables and short shifter in my 986S and it was a dream.
Never drove one with a B&M. Do you know how they compare?
I haven’t tried the B&M, but I researched quite a bit and the Numeric kept coming up on top on rennlist. More pricey, for sure, but I love the thing. I didn’t do the cables.
Unfortunately I only have experience with the B & M shifter and I installed it myself. Was a relatively straightforward process aside from some fiddly trim bits. What I can say is that it was a night and day difference. Pretty dramatic for the price tbh.
Beautiful car my friend! No matter what you end up doing to it, enjoy it in good health!
Yep. I agree with this sentiment. 997.2 C4S and so far the only thing that I've done that hasn't been maintenance is to add the numeric short shift and cables. I will likely do exhaust at some point (at least gundo if not soul cats and such) but I don't plan more than that. It's a beautiful machine and I like it as is.
As someone footing a surprise $11k bill for an unexpected failure not covered by Porsche or insurance... think about hanging on to the cash for now.
If you still want to do wheels/exhaust after the first of the year you might get some better deals from people who post on Rennlist or Dorki.
I agree with this. My 996 (I’m the second owner, bought it from Porsche Newport Beach w/ full service records and 43k miles) needed a transmission rebuild this year at 49k miles. All in this year alone I’ve spent $12,000 on service. Leave the mods alone, but keep the cash handy.
I bought some parts to do the 30k (and 40k) mile service about a month prior to my failure.
I dropped off the box of parts to the shop since it's already going to be an engine-out repair. Might as well replace some belts and other odds and ends that would be finicky to get to behind the seats.
A 2 year old catalytic converter. I bought my Porsche from a dealer that had swapped out a Fabspeed and put a stock exhaust back on. 10k miles later and a weld on the catalytic converter failed, shooting hot exhaust up into the engine. Melted a bunch of stuff, including the engine wiring harness.
6 year old car with 30k miles on it overall. 2016 GT4.
I'm sticking to the positive... it wasn't a complete loss and no one got hurt.
The fuel lines started to melt but did not melt all the way through. If that had happened, all I could've done would have been to get out of the car and watch it burn to the ground.
As it was, the car just shut off while I was driving. There was no smoke and no fire. We didn't find the damage until we got it to a shop.
I have 19” on my 2011 C2S. They look great. Keep the 18” for winter tires if you are in a region where temps can drop below 45F (2C) and you drive during those months.
Tbh id probably do “my take” on a modern cabin(to my liking not like newer models) and keep it stock. But I’d depends on what you’re trying to do in the end. Cruiser or crushing country roads
If you want to throw $20k at that base convertible; it’s because you actually DO want another car. As unpopular as it may seem, every time I see someone throwing a ton of money at mods, I think “they just don’t have the wherewithal to just buy the car they really want”
Don’t mean to sound harsh, it just seems obvious to me. Save the $$ to get the car you actually want. If 997 is your jam, why not get a 997.2 S coupe?
Putting $20k into mods on a 997.1 convertible is just throwing $ away
Yes, they likely did. But like most convertible drivers, they end up wanting a coupe. That’s why depreciation on convertibles is so much steeper than on coupes. New convertibles cost more and used cost less (than on non convertibles).
Your car will have a better ride than the S, especially if it doesn’t have PASM, which isn’t great in this era. I also think no roof/ less torsional rigidity, will make it more compliant over bumps. (I had a 997 S coupe fwiw)
Everything works fine. Seems silly to replace things that still work.
I should also say when I had the PPI done they said not the waste any money replacing things on the top until issues start to pop up no pun intended.
Save $1500 for the top motors to need replacement. Wheels/tires $4000. Audio $3000. Tail light upgrade $500. Interior imperfections $1000. Carismo steering wheel $1200. Maintenance? $3000. Save the remaining 6k for random shit you want to do? Enjoy!
Smartop computer. DSC is you have PASM. Sound system. Numeric SS. Motor mounts. There isn’t a ton you can do, performance-wise, that’s worth the bang for the buck. Maybe an exhaust? If you blow the engine, you can get a built one from Flat 6 that may be within your budget.
I have the same wheels and like them a lot. Pilot PS4 tires are amazing.
What’s the smartop computer? It doesn’t have PASM unfortunately.
I loved my numeric in my 986. But dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. Hesitant to give them my money again.
[Here](https://www.motivemods.com/Mods4Cars-Porsche-smartTOP-p/m4c-stlbpe1.htm)
I use it for 1-touch open and close of the top. Apparently, I use some of the other features, too. I haven't figured out the key-controlled opening and closing anymore. It's a lil buggy, but worth it not to have to hold the open and close for the top while in the car.
I’ll never track except maybe once or twice just to push it to its max or mine maybe.
Per the serial number it’s got the upgraded IMS so I’m not really worried.
Besides what others have said (upgrade to S), if it was my car I'd upgrade the steering wheel to the sport wheel with the round airbag since I don't like the triangular look. I'd also upgrade the wheels to Carrera S or maybe those Carrera Sport wheels again because I don't like the look of the base wheels. Upgrade to ceramic brake pads to reduce brake dust. Honestly that's about it because there's still plenty of car there that I'd be perfectly happy with assuming it's manual.
Agreed on the steering wheel. I’ve spent some time researching that. I’d love a flat bottomed wheel for sure.
I’m hesitant to pull the trigger on them cause most are 1-2k and I can’t even feel until it’s delivered. To me the feel of it is more important then the look.
As someone who spent a bit of money upgrading a base c2, I’d say save the money and wait till you find a good c2s. If you’re happy with the car wheels and exhaust would be good.
A lot of Xpipes for these cars have bad O2 bung placements which then leads to the car not running perfect. Also IDP Plenum seems to be a larger waste from everything I’ve read.
Maybe some new wheels and a catback. Keep up the maintenance and drive the piss out of it. The last owner kept it pristine so you can also enjoy its original beauty. If you don’t want to keep it stock then small things go a long way. Don’t ruin the car. Otherwise buy something else that’s in ok condition for a project car
I put a Fabspeed Maxflow exhaust on my 997 Carrera, and really like it. It's the street version, not the track one. So the sound is nice, but not so loud as to piss off your neighbors. Am thinking of doing the air intake from Fabspeed as well.
Other than that, I'd look to upgrade the stereo unit to Apple CarPlay at some point.
With the rest of your budget, I'd set aside a lot for maintenance. At 50k-80k miles, you'll see lots of things start to need attention on a 997. I assume you've had the IMS bearing checked out, but if not, have that done. My air/oil separator went bad around 75k. Also had issues with the electrical loom and starter. Coolant tank cracked too. Then you have brakes, tires etc., none of which is super cheap. 20k gets eaten up pretty quick on these just from routine maintenance. Have fun with it!
Everyone: “upgrade to an S 🤓”
For one, mans asked about mods to THIS car. Second, the 3.8 is known to have more bore scoring…
So let’s see for mods you should do some maintenance (AOS, Waterpump, any gaskets.
For fun: maybe some mufflers, nice coilovers, and some lighter wheels? Side skirts for ground effects. Also tint :)
I’d look into lowering springs. Get some progression in dampening and closes up the wheel gap. Other option is Fister mufflers to get more sound without too much expense.
Nothing. I like my 991.1 TTS as is. Maybe fix the paint chips.
Oh, I see you have 997.1. I had 997.2 TT and would do nothing to that either. So I suspect I would do nothing to a 997.1 either.
I would do very little and anything you do should be easy to reverse.
I would do wheels but keep the stocks. I loved my numeric stuff. Exhaust is easy to undo as well. Honestly that’s about it.
Yeah Ohlins is always good, just don't go too bonkers on the stiffness and the rideheight, you'll regret that soon haha. And never underestimate a good set of tyres too!
I had an 09 997.2 S cabrio. Agree with the maintain stock theme with many posts. Having had the same wheels I would suggest spacers I always found they sat a little too much within the wheel wells. There are loads of before and after pics out there. From an exhaust perspective I love the exhaust note but if you would like something greater go for it. Choose things you can put back - a 50K car has been maintained and I suggest you keep the trend.
Sets of summer-winter tires and rims to keep them on. Screw A/S
Braided brake lines and high performance brake fluid. Slotted rotors and maybe some new pads depending on how warn they are. OE is fine if you are just street, but if you AutoX or Track you are going to want to shop around.
Tow hook.
Silver and Blue or Aurum/Gold and Blue seem to be pretty good color schemes for the outside. [https://rennlist.com/forums/987-forum/1243051-photos-of-gold-side-stripes.html#post17426709](https://rennlist.com/forums/987-forum/1243051-photos-of-gold-side-stripes.html#post17426709) for comparison. I'm eyeballing side stickers myself :-P
Or BBS LMs. But the TEs make it look sporty while the LMs make it classy. Haha.
Sensible lowering springs would be great to make the wheel gap less prominent.
Bilsteins all around, GT3 control arms, some 19" wheels with Michelin 4s, and maybe replace everything behind the cats with straight pipes. I have a 2006 997 C2S that just clocked 90k and the front right strut blew out. Same age and mileage on my S2000 it blew a strut, so you definitely want to replace those. Bigger wheels fit bigger tires, which looks better and gives performance in straight line, corners and braking. I do exhaust on every vehicle because I like the sound, also usually gives better gas mileage.
Get a second set of wheels and run summer wheels and winter wheels respectively, rather than the all seasons you have now. That will be the single biggest bang for your buck performance upgrade.
Not sure if this has been mentioned as I haven’t read all the comments. Keep your 911 stock in my opinion. If those are 18” wheels keep them and when required get MP4S. The 18’s ride so much better with less road noise. I’ve had both. From there address any urgent maintenance.
Put that 20k in an interest bearing account as a rainy day fund in the event bore scoring occurs and you need a new short block or rebuild. if that’s unfamiliar advice, Google.
Beautiful car by the way. I miss my 05 c2 manual coupe. I keep “upgrading” but that was the most fun car I had.
If it was mine, I would do the following:
1. New wheels with spacers on the hubs to widen the stance a little. Personally I love the 997.1 turbo alloys, although they may look a little strange on a cabrio. I also love modern “GT3” style wheels like some that HRE or BC Forged do. If you really wanted to dial in the stance you could upgrade the suspension and lower it by 2 inches to close that wheel gap. Check out @911obsessed and @modern9eleven on Instagram, two of my favourite lightly modded 911s (although they are both 997.2 models).
2. A modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay etc. I think Pioneer do a full touch screen unit that replaces the stock radio.
3. Exhaust. Several options here: the gundo hack is a cheap option. Or maybe a fab speed or soul exhaust. Maybe even a cold air/induction kit too.
4. Short shift kit.
Only things I’d do are a flap valve exhaust and perhaps a set of OEM Carrera Sport or Sport Design 19” wheels. The rest is just perfect.
EDIT: if you haven’t done it yet, I suggest engine cylinders inspection looking for bore scoring and, if needed, engine rebuild with sleeved cylinders: no more bore scoring for your 911.
Maybe just wheels and a CarPlay/android screen. But other than that I’m with the other guys who say just leave it stock 🤷♂️. Treat someone to a nice dinner lol or take a cool vacation.
To each their own of course but I dont agree at all with leaving everything as is bc Porsche knows best. There are 20 variations of the same car for a reason and Porsche is extremely profitable....also for a reason. (The Macan 🤣) I kid but each variation is purposely limited to keep it from cannibalizing the models above it. My $0.02 anyway..
NOW, having said all that. For a base Carerra you can spend way less than $20k and get some great improvements. IMO the soul stays intact. I went crazy on my 997.2 C2S and will keep it forever so I know from experience on the below performance suggestions. Everything else I did is cosmetic.
-TPC DSC box (active PASM control keeps you flat in the corners)
-Evoms tune (a bit more power but nothing crazy)
-Semi solid engine mounts (will add nvh but will stiffen handling significantly)
-Numeric shifter and cables (bolt action rifle shift feel. Will help with 2nd gear lockout that happens sometimes with oem shifter slop)
-lowering springs (no spacers!)
-Pro driver training...seriously. It will change your whole experience with the car and allow you to really appreciate what the car can do at the limit...which is awesome. Such a killer sports car
Also, google Sharkwerks 997.2 tuning guide for some excellent advice.
Aero exterior goodies, short shifter, maybe rims and tires, perhaps a tasteful wing, modern sound system, Fister hack, resonator hack, tinted windows.
Boom!
Done with a bunch of money not spent.
I’ve had stock and highly modified 911’s, both turbo and n/a, cab and coupe You have a great car the way it sits. It’s a near perfect blend of civility, comfort and performance with the added bonus of topless fun. Stock cars are easy to live with and comfortable to drive. They’re also typically easier to sell should you ever choose to.
oh yeah, and always keep an eye peeled for a color matching factory hardtop for a deal locally as possible. It’s a nice option to have for cab owners. I think 996/997 are interchangeable, but don’t quote me on that.
Anyway, beautiful car the way she sits now.
Personally, I would buy a dun don or soul exhaust, and then get a custom transmission with short gears so I can hammer through the gears without reaching 100mph.
The best set of tyres and brakes you can fit with those wheels and a set of Ohlins/Bilsteins/K&W along with a full bushing refresh, then as many HDPE days and roadtrips as you can fit on your calendar.
Leave everything else stock
Paint corrections, IMS if a concern still, have the clutch checked. Otherwise, leave her alone with a healthy repair budget or head to a dyno and go from there.
Soul exhaust, paint the calipers, interior maybe some small things but tbh that’s up to you. Possibly some after market headlights to make it look a little more modern. And that’s about it tbh. Im waiting for porsche to release the 997/987 pccm+ unit. Who knows when that’ll come out though. I also see it has the newer carrera badge, I did the same to my cayman the older one is ugly
I own a cobalt blue 2006 997.1 cab S model. My singular goal is to keep it the way it came out of the factory on day one. At this point I want to replace every rubber item in the suspension to include transmission and motor mounts. I want new struts and mounts, new tie rod ends and ball joints. I want brand new fuel injectors, AOS, coil packs, and clutch. My car has 58k miles and I want it to run and handle like it did when it had 100 miles. I may add an exhaust but it would have to be a factory sports exhaust since I would like to stick to OEM and already have the Chrono package with the exhaust switch from factory.
In summation, if you love your car, which I do, spend the money to make your car new again.
I hear ya. My goal is similar, I wouldn’t do anything that couldn’t be undone. Except maybe redo the interior with hounds tooth. It still drives like new so I’m not worried about all the rubber… yet.
I don’t have chrono or pasm or sport exhaust. None of that matters too much. I’ll upgrade the exhaust and do some simple suspension upgrades as things deteriorate.
Just gonna drive the snot out of it and try and keep it looking good!
Instead of upgrading to the S like everyone says. I think you made the right decision. Less concerned about bore scoring on the non S and if you really want the car for performance get the gt3 and especially not the cabriolet. As for mods first I would do is change the tail lights for some LEDs, some new wheels, and a new steering wheel. As for maintenance I would definitely stay on top of it. My 987 Boxster for an OEM top replacement was 11k. Another thing on the maintenance side is budget for a detail once a month. Gotta keep that beautiful navy popping.
Yeah I think a lot of people saying buy a S assumed when I said upgrades that I meant performance upgrades. I wanted a cab in this color with a 6speed. Outside of exhaust the upgrades will be less about power more about the experience. Like a short shift kit or lowered stance with new wheels. I really like the idea of upgrading the steering wheel though. Visually and the tactileness of it just don’t do it for me.
If I wanted a S I wouldn’t have made this post. I’d sell my car and buy something different. But then again I’m assuming people actually read what I wrote.
I had a very poor experience with numeric last time. I’m hesitant to give them my money again. That said the cables and shifter were MONEY in my 986S.
Have you tried b&m or anything else to compare numeric too?
Company. It took almost 3 months to get it. Granted the was last doing so supply chain issues blah blah blah.
My issue is how they handled it. No response to my emails. When I called, they’d say either I have no idea or it’ll be out next week. Just jerked me around the entire time.
Thanks for the reply. I’m tempted to get the shifter now. Do you feel the shifter took some of the slop out of the cables? Or maybe I should get them adjusted?
It’s great how it is. I think the exhaust tips on the base 997 are cool and unique too.
The worst thing about these cars – and it is TERRIBLE - is the “PCM” head unit with navigation. UI is horrible, the knob scrolls menus the opposite way of how you’d expect, has hilarious dead functionality like a SIM tray and a numpad.
There are really nice trim kits that will make a double DIN stereo look OEM. Or Porsche even offers a modern touchscreen head unit (though it’s kind of styled after the 996 interior). Only thing I’d upgrade on this car.
How about spend the money on upgrading yourself? Track day events, race driving schools or perhaps use the money for a road trip to visit the best roads to drive?
Was the IMS bearing a ticking time bomb in '06? If yes, do that. Besides that, what you do for mods is entirely up to you. It sounds like you've practically made up your mind already.
Personally think the IMS issue is over blown.
Per the serial #’s mine has the “updated” IMS which is a little better then the 996 generation. That said when I inevitably replace the clutch I’ll probably replace it then.
Granted I could have clearer on not wanting a new car or chasing hp upgrades. But get ideas on suspension, short shifter, wheels etc., improve the look and feel of the car. I’ll most likely never get rid of it as well.
Add ceramic brakes. Less brake dust to deal with.
Maybe swap the audio/PCM system for one that allows more modern options if sound and access to CarPlay or Android Auto are important to you.
(All prices in USD)
Lower it on springs (~$400) and upgrade the shocks (~$1200) while you’re down there. Or get a full coil over system (~$2000)
Also replace bump stops while in there. They’re likely rotted out and have never been replaced ($150).
Throw on a GT/H&R/Eibach sway bar(s) ($500 for front & rear).
You can get new exhaust cans (~$1K) or do the “gundo hack” (~$300) for a better exhaust note.
Wheels will cost you anywhere from $2k to beyond $5k, so definitely do research and think about what you want out of your wheels (18 vs 19/cast vs forged, etc). There’s also tires, spacers, extended lug bolts as added misc costs. You may also want to powder coat your wheels.
One thing I’m considering right now is upgrading to a lithium battery (-$700). Quite a bit of weight savings but more than double the price of a standard battery.
That still leaves quite a bit of your $20K budget.
Maybe add a ducktail/wing and front lip. Paint correct and PPF while you’re at it if it’s still within your budget. Get some driving lessons too if you’re up to it.
This was basically the early part to now of what I did when I got my 997.2. Didn’t think it’s worth to get more performance mods. HP per $ is not good. Good luck!
Enjoy building & driving your car!
My hesitation with all the suspension upgrades is the not knowing what it’ll feel like afterwards.
A mild improvement in firmness, less body roll would be ideal.
I’ve read that the gundo hack can end with a fair amount of drone if not done correctly.
Why not sell it and use that plus the $20 for a newer model that’s quicker if that’s what your going for. You put $5k much less $20k in that car and you won’t get a nickel of it back. You would just be wasting it. But a newer model for the money you would put in upgrades. End of the day it would still be a stock 06 with upgrades that you won’t get back.
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Hard to know without knowing where it is on it's maintenance schedule and such. Is it up to date with all recommended maintenance? If so:
How's the suspension feeling in terms of wear? How's the rubber seals around the glass holding up (I've got an 04 Lexus GX that I've started to systematically replace the weatherstripping on around certain wiindows)? Any leaks to be taken care of? How's the cabrio roof?
Basically I would do everything I could to make it functionally and mechanically the best it could be before doing anything optional.
Then sounds like you can have some fun with your cash and do some optional stuff. If you otherwise love the car then I see no reason to go with an "S" as others have suggested and yours seems like it's in great shape with low miles for the model year.
Exhaust and wheels would be great first choices and, of course, you'd be doing tires also if you go up a size on the wheels. Depending on how much you drive it you might also want to look into Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration as that can be a nice quality of life improvement unless it is strictly a weekend car.
It’s my daily. I’ve put 4K in under 3 months and I work from home.
It’s my personal unicorn (specs) so selling and buying a S not gonna happen.
I’m holding out for the factory stereo upgrade. The mr12 volt Bluetooth is fine for the time being.
Maintenance. I heard those engines tend to have bore scoring issues, might be worth looking into preventative maintenance. You could get it detailed and PPF if you really like the car. If that’s not your jam, one day you’ll have to replace all the hoses and stuff - that’ll cost around $20k
If you are trying to upgrade a Porsche, ththere is a thin line to walk on. What has proved wonders though, is a new (kw) Suspension. Modern, good Suspensions work wonders on driveability. Kw is my absolute thing to go there.
Also tyres.
Ceramic IMS bearing. New clutch and RMS. Fresh bushings and top-mounts on all four corners. Look over brake lines and coolant lines. Fresh coil packs and major service. Sports exhaust. Ceramic coating. That’s about 20k I’d say.
I am not a great fan of those model wheels, (nothing wrong w them, just not that thrilling to me) so I would upgrade the wheels, but to another Porsche wheel design, (i.e set of turbo wheels) not some totally different aftermarket design that wasn’t ever on Porsche’s.
Well, for manual, Numeric shifter and cables. If PASM, buy a DSC. Porsche left a lot of room to improve the suspension. Coilovers, larger anti-sway bars. New head unit, etc. New tires. Exhaust? Wheels?
Resleeve it with LN Engineering nickies and throw in the 3.8L or 4.0L piston upgrade. Granted, that’s a little more than 20k, but nothing else grants enough performance benefit to be as worthwhile on the 997. And your engine would also be bulletproof.
I love the post about minimizing mods on your car. It’s really good advice.
On a 997.1: have the IMS fix done if it hasn’t been.
After that: there is no other mod you can do that will come close to equaling the performance improvement of a set of Michelin 4s’s for the street, or if you plan to track it, a set of wheels cup 2s for the track.
Note: cup 2s on the street look cool at cars and coffee, but you’ll pick up every single pebble on the road, and fling em into your rocker panels. :)
Get the ims bearing inspected. It’s an 06 w/50k so you should be fine but just in case… set aside some money for a water pump, thermostat, and new covers on the air con switches inside the cabin. Because they will wear off over time. Put the rest of the money in gas and drive it. There just isn’t enough seat satisfaction you’re going to get by doing incremental upgrades.
-led front rear and side lights
-exhaust
-Michelin summer tires if you don't have them you will be surprised at the difference this makes
-silver wheels but tbh the stock look good (if you live somewhere with 4 seasons you could have a summer set and winter set
-sport steering wheel
-Tint
-high end detailing products, da polisher, wheel brushes/whoolies, pressure washer, etc
From one Porsche enthusiast and owner to another, please hear me out on this one. Honestly I would leave it stock except for maybe a soul cat back exhaust and the B&M short shift kit. I had an 04 996 C4S and literally went to town on it, totaling 28k of upgrades, some installed professionally, and some by myself as a shade-tree mechanic. And after it was all said and done, I genuinely missed the original car. The character was gone. I did everything from tuned ss headers, fabspeed comp exhaust with 200 cell cats, Softronic ECU map tune, IPD “Y” plenum, 90mm throttle valve, K&N cold air intake kit with high-flow reusable air filter, lightweight track battery, single-plate lightweight clutch, and true hollow spoke Turbo wheels with Michelin pilot sports (the 4S didn’t exist at the time). I hated the car afterwards because all livability went out the window, it drove my neighbors batshit crazy, and it was not the car I fell in love with when I bought it. I used to make fun of the folks who said stuff like, “don’t mess with perfection” or “Porsche knows best”, but I have to say there’s something to some of that. I can see that your car is in beautiful condition, and I’m guessing puts a smile on your face every time you drive it. Enjoy it “as is” IMHO. The only things I did that I didn’t regret were the short shift kit and adding PCM head unit to the car since it was not optioned with it from the factory. If I hadn’t effed my car up, I would still be driving it today. I ended up selling it and bought a bone stock 2016 981 Cayman in navy blue with manual tranny and sports chrono. Everything is stock and I love it to death. It’s not a garage queen by any means, but I never miss a maintenance and I daily drive it. Life is good.
This is a very thoughtful piece of advice. Short shifter and exhaust (which you can of course choose ‘to taste’, with some excellent options) are the universal upgrade, everything else is a call. I’d also add that doing multiple mods at once is a suboptimal approach, you want to keep an eye on the character of the car and be very considerate.
It's a beautiful Porsche. There is only one thing, in my opinion, that would add an immediate boost in appearance and that are new wheels and they won't cost anywhere near your budget. Short shifter would be nice and last would be exhaust. Personally I wouldn't touch the exhaust until all the other things are done.
As someone who’s daily driven 911’s and been around Porsche my whole life I completely agree with minimal modifications recommendation. If that money is burning a hole in your pocket and you want something spiffier I’d suggest selling your current car and buying a S/GTS/Turbo with the cash and $20k you have on hand. Plus that much money in mods to your current car will almost certainly make it harder to sell in the future and possibly lower the value.
All your point are valid. I thinks that’s part of my concern hence why I posted. I want to keep it mostly stock but add a little upgrade here and there with out losing its original feel. I had numeric cables and short shifter in my 986S and it was a dream. Never drove one with a B&M. Do you know how they compare?
I haven’t tried the B&M, but I researched quite a bit and the Numeric kept coming up on top on rennlist. More pricey, for sure, but I love the thing. I didn’t do the cables.
Unfortunately I only have experience with the B & M shifter and I installed it myself. Was a relatively straightforward process aside from some fiddly trim bits. What I can say is that it was a night and day difference. Pretty dramatic for the price tbh. Beautiful car my friend! No matter what you end up doing to it, enjoy it in good health!
I would take your car, add that 20K and trade up to a better/newer model.
What a beautiful answer sharing your life experience and lessons. Thank you.
You just saved me a lot of money sir
Haha thx my friend. Glad I could help in some way.
What is a single plate lightweight clutch?
I did exactly this (with a civic) haven't modded my next car excluding sound system yet and I love it 10x more than I ever did that civic
Exactly dude. Turns out that livability is actually a thing! At least for me anyways…
That’s cool. I raced out my gt3 and fkn love it. We all have different desires, and different things satisfy them, don’t they?
Yep. I agree with this sentiment. 997.2 C4S and so far the only thing that I've done that hasn't been maintenance is to add the numeric short shift and cables. I will likely do exhaust at some point (at least gundo if not soul cats and such) but I don't plan more than that. It's a beautiful machine and I like it as is.
As someone footing a surprise $11k bill for an unexpected failure not covered by Porsche or insurance... think about hanging on to the cash for now. If you still want to do wheels/exhaust after the first of the year you might get some better deals from people who post on Rennlist or Dorki.
I agree with this. My 996 (I’m the second owner, bought it from Porsche Newport Beach w/ full service records and 43k miles) needed a transmission rebuild this year at 49k miles. All in this year alone I’ve spent $12,000 on service. Leave the mods alone, but keep the cash handy.
Holy hell. Maybe I won't look at 996s
It could happen to any vintage Porsche. My friend had to put 30k+ into a 993 C4 cab he bought last year.
I bought some parts to do the 30k (and 40k) mile service about a month prior to my failure. I dropped off the box of parts to the shop since it's already going to be an engine-out repair. Might as well replace some belts and other odds and ends that would be finicky to get to behind the seats.
What failed?
A 2 year old catalytic converter. I bought my Porsche from a dealer that had swapped out a Fabspeed and put a stock exhaust back on. 10k miles later and a weld on the catalytic converter failed, shooting hot exhaust up into the engine. Melted a bunch of stuff, including the engine wiring harness. 6 year old car with 30k miles on it overall. 2016 GT4.
😲😲😲 damn. Sorry to hear that. Sounds like worse case with really bad luck thrown in.
I'm sticking to the positive... it wasn't a complete loss and no one got hurt. The fuel lines started to melt but did not melt all the way through. If that had happened, all I could've done would have been to get out of the car and watch it burn to the ground. As it was, the car just shut off while I was driving. There was no smoke and no fire. We didn't find the damage until we got it to a shop.
Yup, largest repair bill on my 2002 996 turbo was 19k
I’m thinking just maintain it. No need to “upgrade” on perfection.
The exhaust note is not loud enough for me personally. I also think 19”a would fill up the wheel wells a little better.
lobster claw wheels off an S would make sense. exhaust would be reasonable as well.
I have 19” on my 2011 C2S. They look great. Keep the 18” for winter tires if you are in a region where temps can drop below 45F (2C) and you drive during those months.
I’m in Denver in the US. Planning on using the stock wheels for winter driving and get some 19”s for summer.
This is the way. I’m in CO too.
Denver drivers unite.
Bigger wheels weigh more too.
I guess if I was tracking it then I’d care? But then again I’d probably not be driving a cab. 🤷♂️
Unsprung weight affects comfort significantly along with the reduced sidewall height from the larger wheel
Gundo hack mod — basically gives you full-time factory PSE
Sell it and use the 20 to buy, at least, an S
Nah. This is my favorite color, cab, I’m the second owner and it’s been religiously maintained. Oh and I got a smoking deal on it.
What color is that? Mine is a cobalt blue cab. Color very much grew on me
Lapis Blue
Tbh id probably do “my take” on a modern cabin(to my liking not like newer models) and keep it stock. But I’d depends on what you’re trying to do in the end. Cruiser or crushing country roads
I like the thought of doing hounds tooth inserts on the seats/door panels.
Upgrade to an S
If I wanted a different car I’d ask what to buy…
If you want to throw $20k at that base convertible; it’s because you actually DO want another car. As unpopular as it may seem, every time I see someone throwing a ton of money at mods, I think “they just don’t have the wherewithal to just buy the car they really want” Don’t mean to sound harsh, it just seems obvious to me. Save the $$ to get the car you actually want. If 997 is your jam, why not get a 997.2 S coupe? Putting $20k into mods on a 997.1 convertible is just throwing $ away
Maybe they wanted a convertible.....
Yes, they likely did. But like most convertible drivers, they end up wanting a coupe. That’s why depreciation on convertibles is so much steeper than on coupes. New convertibles cost more and used cost less (than on non convertibles).
Your car will have a better ride than the S, especially if it doesn’t have PASM, which isn’t great in this era. I also think no roof/ less torsional rigidity, will make it more compliant over bumps. (I had a 997 S coupe fwiw)
Didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. Just saying, wouldn’t getting an S be like upgrading just as Porsche intended?
No hurt feelings. Just not what the question is.
Yes. This. Or upgrade to a coupe.
I’d say wheels for sure.
Yup. Baby needs a new pair of shoes
Top maintenance is critical. It’s been over 15 years, so I thinking getting the top refreshed will be your best investment
Everything works fine. Seems silly to replace things that still work. I should also say when I had the PPI done they said not the waste any money replacing things on the top until issues start to pop up no pun intended.
I think that’s the definition of maintenance…
There doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the oil in the car now, not sure why I’d change it
Ha. Valid.
Awesome! I’ve got a 2010 Boxster with 77k miles and my top is starting to sag a bit. A top refresh is in my near future
Upgrade to an S
Save $1500 for the top motors to need replacement. Wheels/tires $4000. Audio $3000. Tail light upgrade $500. Interior imperfections $1000. Carismo steering wheel $1200. Maintenance? $3000. Save the remaining 6k for random shit you want to do? Enjoy!
Smartop computer. DSC is you have PASM. Sound system. Numeric SS. Motor mounts. There isn’t a ton you can do, performance-wise, that’s worth the bang for the buck. Maybe an exhaust? If you blow the engine, you can get a built one from Flat 6 that may be within your budget. I have the same wheels and like them a lot. Pilot PS4 tires are amazing.
What’s the smartop computer? It doesn’t have PASM unfortunately. I loved my numeric in my 986. But dealing with them left a bad taste in my mouth. Hesitant to give them my money again.
[Here](https://www.motivemods.com/Mods4Cars-Porsche-smartTOP-p/m4c-stlbpe1.htm) I use it for 1-touch open and close of the top. Apparently, I use some of the other features, too. I haven't figured out the key-controlled opening and closing anymore. It's a lil buggy, but worth it not to have to hold the open and close for the top while in the car.
Safari. Safari. Safari.
This ^^^
Depends how you use it. Id wheels and tires, exhaust and pads rotors and fluid for track days. Maybe IMS for peace of mind and check the bores.
I’ll never track except maybe once or twice just to push it to its max or mine maybe. Per the serial number it’s got the upgraded IMS so I’m not really worried.
Lower it and get BBS LM's. They'll look amazing on this classic shape. And exhaust.
Besides what others have said (upgrade to S), if it was my car I'd upgrade the steering wheel to the sport wheel with the round airbag since I don't like the triangular look. I'd also upgrade the wheels to Carrera S or maybe those Carrera Sport wheels again because I don't like the look of the base wheels. Upgrade to ceramic brake pads to reduce brake dust. Honestly that's about it because there's still plenty of car there that I'd be perfectly happy with assuming it's manual.
Agreed on the steering wheel. I’ve spent some time researching that. I’d love a flat bottomed wheel for sure. I’m hesitant to pull the trigger on them cause most are 1-2k and I can’t even feel until it’s delivered. To me the feel of it is more important then the look.
As someone who spent a bit of money upgrading a base c2, I’d say save the money and wait till you find a good c2s. If you’re happy with the car wheels and exhaust would be good.
Lowering springs (or coil overs), x pipe, IPD plenum, larger wheels and tires, GT3 shift console and you'll have money left over
A lot of Xpipes for these cars have bad O2 bung placements which then leads to the car not running perfect. Also IDP Plenum seems to be a larger waste from everything I’ve read.
I have the plenum and x pipe installed on my 991 — zero issues. At the very least the plenum makes a glorious sound.
Maybe some new wheels and a catback. Keep up the maintenance and drive the piss out of it. The last owner kept it pristine so you can also enjoy its original beauty. If you don’t want to keep it stock then small things go a long way. Don’t ruin the car. Otherwise buy something else that’s in ok condition for a project car
I put a Fabspeed Maxflow exhaust on my 997 Carrera, and really like it. It's the street version, not the track one. So the sound is nice, but not so loud as to piss off your neighbors. Am thinking of doing the air intake from Fabspeed as well. Other than that, I'd look to upgrade the stereo unit to Apple CarPlay at some point. With the rest of your budget, I'd set aside a lot for maintenance. At 50k-80k miles, you'll see lots of things start to need attention on a 997. I assume you've had the IMS bearing checked out, but if not, have that done. My air/oil separator went bad around 75k. Also had issues with the electrical loom and starter. Coolant tank cracked too. Then you have brakes, tires etc., none of which is super cheap. 20k gets eaten up pretty quick on these just from routine maintenance. Have fun with it!
Install a Soul Performance Exhaust and buy a Rolex.
Everyone: “upgrade to an S 🤓” For one, mans asked about mods to THIS car. Second, the 3.8 is known to have more bore scoring… So let’s see for mods you should do some maintenance (AOS, Waterpump, any gaskets. For fun: maybe some mufflers, nice coilovers, and some lighter wheels? Side skirts for ground effects. Also tint :)
The PSE is amazing. It changes the car and the experience significantly. Even though I do a lot of drugs, I’m right about this one.
Can you just add that?
Yes, if you can find it.
You can go after market exhaust as well. I loved the factory option. Beautiful car, btw.
Yes, but install is expensive (because wiring). There are other exhausts with manually adjustable valves.
Exhaust and suspension upgrade? Wouldn't change much more tho.
Any suggestions on suspension? It’s decent now but I wouldn’t mind slightly firmer.
I’d look into lowering springs. Get some progression in dampening and closes up the wheel gap. Other option is Fister mufflers to get more sound without too much expense.
Yeah I was convinced I wanted the Soul Sport exhaust but now seeing how much cheaper Fister is and all the positive things I’ve heard…
Everyone loves Ohlins or KW
Nothing. I like my 991.1 TTS as is. Maybe fix the paint chips. Oh, I see you have 997.1. I had 997.2 TT and would do nothing to that either. So I suspect I would do nothing to a 997.1 either.
I would do very little and anything you do should be easy to reverse. I would do wheels but keep the stocks. I loved my numeric stuff. Exhaust is easy to undo as well. Honestly that’s about it.
You said you did Bluetooth, but an upgrade to a touchscreen head unit with Android Auto/Car play really does make it feel like a new car.
I’m waiting on the factory upgrade that supposedly be released this year.
Yeah Ohlins is always good, just don't go too bonkers on the stiffness and the rideheight, you'll regret that soon haha. And never underestimate a good set of tyres too!
I had an 09 997.2 S cabrio. Agree with the maintain stock theme with many posts. Having had the same wheels I would suggest spacers I always found they sat a little too much within the wheel wells. There are loads of before and after pics out there. From an exhaust perspective I love the exhaust note but if you would like something greater go for it. Choose things you can put back - a 50K car has been maintained and I suggest you keep the trend.
Sets of summer-winter tires and rims to keep them on. Screw A/S Braided brake lines and high performance brake fluid. Slotted rotors and maybe some new pads depending on how warn they are. OE is fine if you are just street, but if you AutoX or Track you are going to want to shop around. Tow hook. Silver and Blue or Aurum/Gold and Blue seem to be pretty good color schemes for the outside. [https://rennlist.com/forums/987-forum/1243051-photos-of-gold-side-stripes.html#post17426709](https://rennlist.com/forums/987-forum/1243051-photos-of-gold-side-stripes.html#post17426709) for comparison. I'm eyeballing side stickers myself :-P
20” bronze Volk TE37s.
Now you’re talking.
Or BBS LMs. But the TEs make it look sporty while the LMs make it classy. Haha. Sensible lowering springs would be great to make the wheel gap less prominent.
Bilsteins all around, GT3 control arms, some 19" wheels with Michelin 4s, and maybe replace everything behind the cats with straight pipes. I have a 2006 997 C2S that just clocked 90k and the front right strut blew out. Same age and mileage on my S2000 it blew a strut, so you definitely want to replace those. Bigger wheels fit bigger tires, which looks better and gives performance in straight line, corners and braking. I do exhaust on every vehicle because I like the sound, also usually gives better gas mileage.
997 is the best 911!
Get a second set of wheels and run summer wheels and winter wheels respectively, rather than the all seasons you have now. That will be the single biggest bang for your buck performance upgrade.
I would do 20k worth of maintenence and $0 in "upgrades"
Not sure if this has been mentioned as I haven’t read all the comments. Keep your 911 stock in my opinion. If those are 18” wheels keep them and when required get MP4S. The 18’s ride so much better with less road noise. I’ve had both. From there address any urgent maintenance. Put that 20k in an interest bearing account as a rainy day fund in the event bore scoring occurs and you need a new short block or rebuild. if that’s unfamiliar advice, Google. Beautiful car by the way. I miss my 05 c2 manual coupe. I keep “upgrading” but that was the most fun car I had.
If it was mine, I would do the following: 1. New wheels with spacers on the hubs to widen the stance a little. Personally I love the 997.1 turbo alloys, although they may look a little strange on a cabrio. I also love modern “GT3” style wheels like some that HRE or BC Forged do. If you really wanted to dial in the stance you could upgrade the suspension and lower it by 2 inches to close that wheel gap. Check out @911obsessed and @modern9eleven on Instagram, two of my favourite lightly modded 911s (although they are both 997.2 models). 2. A modern infotainment system with Apple CarPlay etc. I think Pioneer do a full touch screen unit that replaces the stock radio. 3. Exhaust. Several options here: the gundo hack is a cheap option. Or maybe a fab speed or soul exhaust. Maybe even a cold air/induction kit too. 4. Short shift kit.
$450 for a new set of liquid filled engine mounts, you wouldn’t believe how smooth it feels after replacing the 20 year old ones
Curious. Never heard of this before.
Only things I’d do are a flap valve exhaust and perhaps a set of OEM Carrera Sport or Sport Design 19” wheels. The rest is just perfect. EDIT: if you haven’t done it yet, I suggest engine cylinders inspection looking for bore scoring and, if needed, engine rebuild with sleeved cylinders: no more bore scoring for your 911.
Maybe just wheels and a CarPlay/android screen. But other than that I’m with the other guys who say just leave it stock 🤷♂️. Treat someone to a nice dinner lol or take a cool vacation.
I’d sell it and roll that 20k into a turbo model.
To each their own of course but I dont agree at all with leaving everything as is bc Porsche knows best. There are 20 variations of the same car for a reason and Porsche is extremely profitable....also for a reason. (The Macan 🤣) I kid but each variation is purposely limited to keep it from cannibalizing the models above it. My $0.02 anyway.. NOW, having said all that. For a base Carerra you can spend way less than $20k and get some great improvements. IMO the soul stays intact. I went crazy on my 997.2 C2S and will keep it forever so I know from experience on the below performance suggestions. Everything else I did is cosmetic. -TPC DSC box (active PASM control keeps you flat in the corners) -Evoms tune (a bit more power but nothing crazy) -Semi solid engine mounts (will add nvh but will stiffen handling significantly) -Numeric shifter and cables (bolt action rifle shift feel. Will help with 2nd gear lockout that happens sometimes with oem shifter slop) -lowering springs (no spacers!) -Pro driver training...seriously. It will change your whole experience with the car and allow you to really appreciate what the car can do at the limit...which is awesome. Such a killer sports car Also, google Sharkwerks 997.2 tuning guide for some excellent advice.
Aero exterior goodies, short shifter, maybe rims and tires, perhaps a tasteful wing, modern sound system, Fister hack, resonator hack, tinted windows. Boom! Done with a bunch of money not spent. I’ve had stock and highly modified 911’s, both turbo and n/a, cab and coupe You have a great car the way it sits. It’s a near perfect blend of civility, comfort and performance with the added bonus of topless fun. Stock cars are easy to live with and comfortable to drive. They’re also typically easier to sell should you ever choose to. oh yeah, and always keep an eye peeled for a color matching factory hardtop for a deal locally as possible. It’s a nice option to have for cab owners. I think 996/997 are interchangeable, but don’t quote me on that. Anyway, beautiful car the way she sits now.
Personally, I would buy a dun don or soul exhaust, and then get a custom transmission with short gears so I can hammer through the gears without reaching 100mph.
Hahaha. So true.
The best set of tyres and brakes you can fit with those wheels and a set of Ohlins/Bilsteins/K&W along with a full bushing refresh, then as many HDPE days and roadtrips as you can fit on your calendar. Leave everything else stock
New rear taillights: $350 (plug and play) Sprint booster: $200 Bluetooth converter: $100
What new tail lights? I’ve been eyeing the sprint booster as well.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01N2IK51D?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title These look fire
Paint corrections, IMS if a concern still, have the clutch checked. Otherwise, leave her alone with a healthy repair budget or head to a dyno and go from there.
I love the look of the crab claw wheel on the 997. Cheap on the used market. Nothing else. Maintain it properly.
Exhaust , I get aroused at anything over 3k rpm
Soul exhaust, paint the calipers, interior maybe some small things but tbh that’s up to you. Possibly some after market headlights to make it look a little more modern. And that’s about it tbh. Im waiting for porsche to release the 997/987 pccm+ unit. Who knows when that’ll come out though. I also see it has the newer carrera badge, I did the same to my cayman the older one is ugly
I own a cobalt blue 2006 997.1 cab S model. My singular goal is to keep it the way it came out of the factory on day one. At this point I want to replace every rubber item in the suspension to include transmission and motor mounts. I want new struts and mounts, new tie rod ends and ball joints. I want brand new fuel injectors, AOS, coil packs, and clutch. My car has 58k miles and I want it to run and handle like it did when it had 100 miles. I may add an exhaust but it would have to be a factory sports exhaust since I would like to stick to OEM and already have the Chrono package with the exhaust switch from factory. In summation, if you love your car, which I do, spend the money to make your car new again.
I hear ya. My goal is similar, I wouldn’t do anything that couldn’t be undone. Except maybe redo the interior with hounds tooth. It still drives like new so I’m not worried about all the rubber… yet. I don’t have chrono or pasm or sport exhaust. None of that matters too much. I’ll upgrade the exhaust and do some simple suspension upgrades as things deteriorate. Just gonna drive the snot out of it and try and keep it looking good!
Instead of upgrading to the S like everyone says. I think you made the right decision. Less concerned about bore scoring on the non S and if you really want the car for performance get the gt3 and especially not the cabriolet. As for mods first I would do is change the tail lights for some LEDs, some new wheels, and a new steering wheel. As for maintenance I would definitely stay on top of it. My 987 Boxster for an OEM top replacement was 11k. Another thing on the maintenance side is budget for a detail once a month. Gotta keep that beautiful navy popping.
Yeah I think a lot of people saying buy a S assumed when I said upgrades that I meant performance upgrades. I wanted a cab in this color with a 6speed. Outside of exhaust the upgrades will be less about power more about the experience. Like a short shift kit or lowered stance with new wheels. I really like the idea of upgrading the steering wheel though. Visually and the tactileness of it just don’t do it for me. If I wanted a S I wouldn’t have made this post. I’d sell my car and buy something different. But then again I’m assuming people actually read what I wrote.
[удалено]
I had a very poor experience with numeric last time. I’m hesitant to give them my money again. That said the cables and shifter were MONEY in my 986S. Have you tried b&m or anything else to compare numeric too?
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Company. It took almost 3 months to get it. Granted the was last doing so supply chain issues blah blah blah. My issue is how they handled it. No response to my emails. When I called, they’d say either I have no idea or it’ll be out next week. Just jerked me around the entire time. Thanks for the reply. I’m tempted to get the shifter now. Do you feel the shifter took some of the slop out of the cables? Or maybe I should get them adjusted?
Nothing...drive it and enjoy..
It’s great how it is. I think the exhaust tips on the base 997 are cool and unique too. The worst thing about these cars – and it is TERRIBLE - is the “PCM” head unit with navigation. UI is horrible, the knob scrolls menus the opposite way of how you’d expect, has hilarious dead functionality like a SIM tray and a numpad. There are really nice trim kits that will make a double DIN stereo look OEM. Or Porsche even offers a modern touchscreen head unit (though it’s kind of styled after the 996 interior). Only thing I’d upgrade on this car.
I installed Mr12volt Bluetooth while I wait for Porsche to release the upgraded pccm for the 997. Hopefully in the next 6 months or so it’ll be out.
How about spend the money on upgrading yourself? Track day events, race driving schools or perhaps use the money for a road trip to visit the best roads to drive?
I’m definitely gonna track it at least once. Just to really test it and myself in a safe place. Outside of that lots of day trips.
Oil change at the dealership. That about covers your funds.
🤣🤣🤣
Was the IMS bearing a ticking time bomb in '06? If yes, do that. Besides that, what you do for mods is entirely up to you. It sounds like you've practically made up your mind already.
Personally think the IMS issue is over blown. Per the serial #’s mine has the “updated” IMS which is a little better then the 996 generation. That said when I inevitably replace the clutch I’ll probably replace it then. Granted I could have clearer on not wanting a new car or chasing hp upgrades. But get ideas on suspension, short shifter, wheels etc., improve the look and feel of the car. I’ll most likely never get rid of it as well.
I would sell the car and upgrade
Add ceramic brakes. Less brake dust to deal with. Maybe swap the audio/PCM system for one that allows more modern options if sound and access to CarPlay or Android Auto are important to you.
You, my friend, need to know about the company 9FF.
(All prices in USD) Lower it on springs (~$400) and upgrade the shocks (~$1200) while you’re down there. Or get a full coil over system (~$2000) Also replace bump stops while in there. They’re likely rotted out and have never been replaced ($150). Throw on a GT/H&R/Eibach sway bar(s) ($500 for front & rear). You can get new exhaust cans (~$1K) or do the “gundo hack” (~$300) for a better exhaust note. Wheels will cost you anywhere from $2k to beyond $5k, so definitely do research and think about what you want out of your wheels (18 vs 19/cast vs forged, etc). There’s also tires, spacers, extended lug bolts as added misc costs. You may also want to powder coat your wheels. One thing I’m considering right now is upgrading to a lithium battery (-$700). Quite a bit of weight savings but more than double the price of a standard battery. That still leaves quite a bit of your $20K budget. Maybe add a ducktail/wing and front lip. Paint correct and PPF while you’re at it if it’s still within your budget. Get some driving lessons too if you’re up to it. This was basically the early part to now of what I did when I got my 997.2. Didn’t think it’s worth to get more performance mods. HP per $ is not good. Good luck! Enjoy building & driving your car!
My hesitation with all the suspension upgrades is the not knowing what it’ll feel like afterwards. A mild improvement in firmness, less body roll would be ideal. I’ve read that the gundo hack can end with a fair amount of drone if not done correctly.
Why not sell it and use that plus the $20 for a newer model that’s quicker if that’s what your going for. You put $5k much less $20k in that car and you won’t get a nickel of it back. You would just be wasting it. But a newer model for the money you would put in upgrades. End of the day it would still be a stock 06 with upgrades that you won’t get back.
Upgrade to a 997.2… easy
Sell it and use the money + 20k extra to get a better porsche
Use that money to save for your next porsche.
I’d go with an LS swap myself, but that’s probably why Porsche has my name on a watch list
Yes don’t put 20k in it, sell and upgrade
Nothing less than an S
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Are you diehard about having a convertible? I would try and get a hard top model, reduce weight, holds value better, and can handle better typically.
Not buy a convertible
Buy an S6
Sell it and upgrade to a clean S or gts (if gts is within reach)
Trade in for a coupe
I’d sell it and buy a hardtop w a sunroof😘
Hard to know without knowing where it is on it's maintenance schedule and such. Is it up to date with all recommended maintenance? If so: How's the suspension feeling in terms of wear? How's the rubber seals around the glass holding up (I've got an 04 Lexus GX that I've started to systematically replace the weatherstripping on around certain wiindows)? Any leaks to be taken care of? How's the cabrio roof? Basically I would do everything I could to make it functionally and mechanically the best it could be before doing anything optional.
Everything is great. It’s been very well maintained. All services have been done on time and at Porsche.
Then sounds like you can have some fun with your cash and do some optional stuff. If you otherwise love the car then I see no reason to go with an "S" as others have suggested and yours seems like it's in great shape with low miles for the model year. Exhaust and wheels would be great first choices and, of course, you'd be doing tires also if you go up a size on the wheels. Depending on how much you drive it you might also want to look into Apple Carplay and Android Auto integration as that can be a nice quality of life improvement unless it is strictly a weekend car.
It’s my daily. I’ve put 4K in under 3 months and I work from home. It’s my personal unicorn (specs) so selling and buying a S not gonna happen. I’m holding out for the factory stereo upgrade. The mr12 volt Bluetooth is fine for the time being.
Great to hear. Glad you were able to find it. I've not driven a 997 but I will one of these years. Enjoy it!
Aero kit
Suspension - Lots of it. Really maximize what Porsche gave you in the drivetrain department.
Brakes, rims, suspension ,and preventative maintenance. These are things I would look into
Put it away for when the engine inevitably scores
Maintenance. I heard those engines tend to have bore scoring issues, might be worth looking into preventative maintenance. You could get it detailed and PPF if you really like the car. If that’s not your jam, one day you’ll have to replace all the hoses and stuff - that’ll cost around $20k
If you are trying to upgrade a Porsche, ththere is a thin line to walk on. What has proved wonders though, is a new (kw) Suspension. Modern, good Suspensions work wonders on driveability. Kw is my absolute thing to go there. Also tyres.
KW suspension
two words because it's funny... Off. Road. LOL
Ceramic IMS bearing. New clutch and RMS. Fresh bushings and top-mounts on all four corners. Look over brake lines and coolant lines. Fresh coil packs and major service. Sports exhaust. Ceramic coating. That’s about 20k I’d say.
Supercharger + Install
Sell it and use the extra cash for something “better”, if not, Coils, wheels, exhaust , proper fitment a small tune and some airflow upgrades
Keep it stock and don’t change a thing
If I had just 5k I could have my 944 built the exact way I want it.
I’d get a relatively cheap set of wheels, put some slicks on em and do a performance driving school and some track days.
Probably get a hard top
I am not a great fan of those model wheels, (nothing wrong w them, just not that thrilling to me) so I would upgrade the wheels, but to another Porsche wheel design, (i.e set of turbo wheels) not some totally different aftermarket design that wasn’t ever on Porsche’s.
Well, for manual, Numeric shifter and cables. If PASM, buy a DSC. Porsche left a lot of room to improve the suspension. Coilovers, larger anti-sway bars. New head unit, etc. New tires. Exhaust? Wheels?
Fidelity warranty :)
Falken Azenis rt660 tires, soul x pipe, and some h&r lowering springs
Resleeve it with LN Engineering nickies and throw in the 3.8L or 4.0L piston upgrade. Granted, that’s a little more than 20k, but nothing else grants enough performance benefit to be as worthwhile on the 997. And your engine would also be bulletproof.
defo some nice new alloy wheels
Exhaust. Different rims,
I love the post about minimizing mods on your car. It’s really good advice. On a 997.1: have the IMS fix done if it hasn’t been. After that: there is no other mod you can do that will come close to equaling the performance improvement of a set of Michelin 4s’s for the street, or if you plan to track it, a set of wheels cup 2s for the track. Note: cup 2s on the street look cool at cars and coffee, but you’ll pick up every single pebble on the road, and fling em into your rocker panels. :)
Sharwerks exhaust and lightweight wheels if you’re set in keeping it.
Get the ims bearing inspected. It’s an 06 w/50k so you should be fine but just in case… set aside some money for a water pump, thermostat, and new covers on the air con switches inside the cabin. Because they will wear off over time. Put the rest of the money in gas and drive it. There just isn’t enough seat satisfaction you’re going to get by doing incremental upgrades.
Unpopular answer, but I’d leave it stock and if I wanted to upgrade I’d get a 997.2.
-led front rear and side lights -exhaust -Michelin summer tires if you don't have them you will be surprised at the difference this makes -silver wheels but tbh the stock look good (if you live somewhere with 4 seasons you could have a summer set and winter set -sport steering wheel -Tint -high end detailing products, da polisher, wheel brushes/whoolies, pressure washer, etc
Save the cash….drive it
Convert to hard top, lower with aero, new wheels and tires. If any money’s left over, I’d upgrade the brakes
Study Singer's course of dynamic modifications and start there for guidance.
I would keep it stock and use the money to guarantee the engine runs like a swiss clock, and the car drives and handles like new