Mec
As I’ve said before, I’ve loved my Porsche. When I finally sell it, I’ll probably look for an older one (late 80’s) as I just love the lines. If you add a tune, expect $2k, and I wouldn’t even think twice about who go to with. CountVohn personally told me to go to Todd @ Protomotive and he’s hands down the best. Do a tune, exhaust & meth and you’re scary fast (imo) with probably close to 480-500whp. Upgrade to fender intakes, and k24/18g or hybrid k16’s and you’ll be buying tires at an alarming rate (probably close or over 600whp depending on configuration on pump gas). I never even got a “finalized” tune from Todd b/c I’m more than content with my current level. Also, you can get used exhausts for $1200-1600. But if you want a really nice sounding one it will be $4k.
The one big thing to look for is to see if the coolant lines have been “pinned” or “welded”. It requires the motor being dropped. It’s the one weak spot of the Turbo, but it can be fixed. Luckily, the IMS that the non-turbo cars have is not an issue on the Turbo. There was a shop in ATL who used to do the whole gig for $1800 or something so it’s not as bad as it sounds. Great time to do other mods like clutch, injectors, intake, etc. I planned my build around it, dropped the motor with a buddy and a lift, and did the GT2 clutch conversion.
I’ve got a buddy who may sell his 2002 black on black with pss9’s, tune & exhaust (not protomotive but still) with ~70k on it. He’d probably try to get high 30’s. But you can find lots of options out there. Look on 6speedonline for one already modded if you want.
There are a lot of days I miss my S4. It was very custom and I had a lot of personal involvement in the build of it. But at the same time, there are not many days that I would trade my turbo for it. The sound of the S4 is the thing I miss more than anything. But the driving experience of the turbo more than makes up for it.
For modding reference I took a bone stock one:
-Catless Fabspeed used exhaust $1200
-triple carbon clutch & LW flywheel $2k
-60# injectors $400? can’t remember
-Hybrid k16 turbos $1500 without core return (~$500 value I didn’t take)
-Meth kit $700
-Tune $2k
So that’s a bit shy of $8k (plus install). And that took a bone stock Turbo (420 crank hp) to a potential of ~600whp safely which several in similar configurations have run low 11’s at high 120’s on pump in street trim.
I will say, I went with the hybrid turbo’s b/c I wanted less lag and more low in response. The guys that go for the k24/20g get up to 650whp safely with supporting mods for about the same price, and set higher trap speeds and dyno numbers, but obviously give up some on the low end.
Again, not at all trying to argue it’s the cheapest or best platform to get 550+whp out of, because its not. You’re unquestionably going to pay the “porsche tax”. But I enjoy the car and it’s what I wanted from the car. So, to me, it made a lot of sense and I’ve gotten a lot of enjoyment out of it.