[flwbyu]

I have found that in owning my Porsche 968 people have two responses - I am driving to slow or not fast enough. Rather ironic since my license plate says 'flwbyu' (Flew by you). In any event, this made me want to ask the question, do you wish your 968 had more horsepower? My guess is more than likely yes. However, let's see what the vote says. . .

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[flash]

since some of the most popular threads are about forced induction and other engine mods that make power, i would say that most people want more power

the question is "how many will pay to get it?"

i think a lot of people have "settled" for what they have because the bolt on stuff didn't represent a large enough gain for them to justify the cost - they were looking at about $2k for only 30-35hp - that's a lot of gain for a normally aspirated engine, but still not a lot of net power relative to other cars

but, now that the new supercharger is about to come out, i think the gains will justify the expense in a lot more minds - it won't likely be a landslide, but i think a lot more people will start looking a lot harder at what they want

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[ds968]

I can't imagine anyone will say no.. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img] However, I would not want a lot more power ( as in.. Powerhaus-type range..) even if it was dirt cheap to get there.., I want just enough to give it a 10:1 weight/hp ratio.

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[Cloud9...68]

Wow, talk about a no-brainer. You can only drive a "momentum car" so long at the track for so long before you realize that more power coming out of the corners is a must. However, as Flash said, more power means big bucks; even the very reasonably priced supercharger will for many of us require major engine work, so it will be interesting to see how many go for it. Sadly, significantly more power from these cars, while hugely desirable, is likely to remain a dream unless and until the economy improves in a big way.

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[flash]

that is probably the wisest thing said here on this site all week - far too many people seek the big numbers, and it only brings them headaches - the car is not set up for it - even if you do beef everything up to handle the power, you still have problems, due to the design of the engine itself - that's why i have yet to see a forced induction 968 street car that runs "right" - there is always something wrong with how it runs

that's also exactly why we are targeting the power level we are with the new kit, but also why we are going to such lengths to add components that will insure that it is daily drivable and reliable

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[PorscheDude]

My thought was a 100 more horses would be just right.

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[Chris Vais]

There is no substitute for cubic horsepower. However, after owning a few american muscle cars where it was all about cubic horsepower, if the chassis won't allow you to control it and put it down on the road, it is largely wasted.

I'd really like to see more torque in the lower end of the RPM range so that the car has more grunt exiting a corner or coming off the line.

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[flash]

lol - i was just about to say exactly the same thing

i think 50 ft/lbs at peak would about do it

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[rxter]

I'm in the clear minority here. I think that the car is pretty close to bang on. Of course there are always times when a bit more would be fun, but I am a devotee the idea that is more fun to drive a good slow car fast. This is not a slow car by any means, but the chassis can handle everything the engine (and a spirited amatuer) can throw at it. I'm sure the guys that track are looking for more power, but for canyon carving this package suits me fine.

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[flash]

lol - we'll have to see if that holds after you have driven my car

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[ds968]

Again, a little more power can't hurt , if for no other reason but the added fun factor and the satisfaction of knowing that a g-damn 2010 Honda is not faster than your Porsche, but the dilemma is just how often, where, and for how long of a stretch will you be able to use the extra power ( without losing your license, the car, or your life..) ? If you're mature enough to control the temptation of pushing it all the time and just have a little fun in light traffic, or on wide open roads / highways rarely patrolled that's probably worthwhile, otherwise you're inviting trouble.. Not entirely sure I am mature enough..

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[Pauli]

I asked a friend not too long ago if his 570HP luxury sedan was really worth it. He said "Horsepower is a lot like money, you get used to it" Don't read that the wrong way - this is the least pretentious guy you could imagine. He was really just saying "Once you have it, you don't want to live w/o it. I think that is to Flash's point - You are content until you drive the same car w/ the ponies, then ask yourself which one you want back in your garage.

I'm guessing this car could still be well balanced w/o major mods in the 300-325HP range.


PRS

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[Johannvb]

I am also in the minority. I am happy with the power my car produces, i just wasn't happy with the way it did it. What I am chasing is smoothnes and balance. The harsh sound of the engine when I bought it drove me nuts. But after the airbpx mod, RS Barn Catback, endless cleaning of flaps valves and sensor I think I am finally getting the car where I want it to be.

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[Cloud9...68]

As several have stated, the "need" for horsepower has to do with how you drive the car, particularly whether you track it or not. The 968 in stock form is a great car to learn on, because it's very well balanced, and generally won't get you into trouble. But once you get the hang of it, driving a "mometum car" gets a bit old. I totally agree with the guys who've said mid-range torque is what really counts, because I'm typically in the low-mid 3000 rpm range coming out of most of the turns at the tracks I've frequented the most. I've found myself muttering through clenched teeth, throttle mashed to the floor, "...come on, Bessie, come on, any time now..." waiting for Mr. Horsepower to show up. Yes, an extra 50-100 hp, and a commensurate increase in torque, should just about do it...

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[ds968]

I hardly ever let the car drop below 4k rpm.. so coming out of a turn and catapulting away has never been an issue. Even when I cruise for 500 miles to SoCal on a straight highway, I'm still at 4k rpm or so the majority of the time. I simply like the feel and sound of this engine consistently around the 4k and above range. I'm probably getting lousy gas mileage, but I don't really care about those things..

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[flash]

lol - dan is going to have to learn a whole new way of driving

having to stay in high rpms so as to maintain power on tap is an issue with this car in normally aspirated form

with a supercharger, you won't be able to keep it up in the high rpms like that and stay out of trouble (in more ways than one)

but then, you won't have to rev it like that either, as so much more power will come on so much earlier - that's the beauty of a centrifugal charger - it has the benefit of progressive boost like a turbo, but comes on early, and MUCH smoother than either a turbo or a roots

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[968Oz]

Currently I drive my 968 6 speed and a 300+ hp 928 4 speed auto. I love to drive the 968 in a spirited fashion on the road and track when I can keep the revs high. The far superior torque of the 928 at low revs makes it more drivable day-to-day proposition, and the fun is their when I invoke the kick-down in the auto. In short it would be hard to convince me to by a car with less than 300 hp now and I'd love to experience torque and power of the 928 in my 968. But I don't know if makes much sense to bring my high mileage 92 model up to that level as it would take a lot of work and money. Maybe finding a 951 that can easily be modded to 300 hp would be easier/less expensive? Or finding a later model low km 968 that can be supercharged, which is even harder down here. Or just enjoying my car as it is now and working on suspension and brakes to make it more track friendly, as I am doing now. Choices, choices , choices.

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[Cloud9...68]

"I hardly ever let the car drop below 4k rpm.."

Whoa... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ohmy.gif[/img]

I'm speechless...

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[ds968]

Why would that be an issue with the 968 [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/huh.gif[/img] I kept driving the 944s at similarly high rpm all the time for nearly two decades and after quarter million miles the engine never showed the slightest sign of a problem...and I hear the 944 engines pale by comparison to the built quality, resistance / durability of the 968.. maybe keeping it over 6k rpm all the time, but at 4k it's where it breathes the best IMO

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[flash]

driving a normally aspirated 968 and driving a supercharged 968 are VERY different in where you shift and where you let it sit in the rev range for cruising

while the system will certainly be capable of running full tilt, i would not want to see it on boost all the time without taking a lot more precautions and adding more cooling - just like our car runs hot right now if you hold it at 5k for extended periods, so would a supercharged car if you held it on boost

but again, you will hit power so much earlier you will find yourself short shifting a LOT

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