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5 minute(s) of a 612 minute read
12-22-2010
12-22-2010
Hey Ben thank you. Yes I could recommend a bunch of things but I don't think the word "affordable" fits anywhere.
If you only have had the car for a few weeks, I would recommend to just drive the car as is for a month or two before you do anything. In that one or two months read and search this forum on the following 3 topics: suspension tuning, exhaust, and ecu tuning. These are probably the 3 key mods in the Turbo, and that's actually would be the order that I would do the mods.That said, any of these mods are only necessary if you think the stock equivalents are not acceptable. In other words, you don't have to change the suspsension if you like stock as is.
I discussed each of these 3 mods in the links in my signature in rather interminable details LOL - have fun. Obviously there are other choices and although I love mines, it's not the only way to skin the cat.
The key is only let reputable and seasoned tech touch your car -- absolutely no rookie, and if at all possible, test/audition the mods before buying. That is, test drive a car with Bilstein, listen to the exhaust, ask the people with the particular ECU tune, etc., etc. Done right, the Turbo will become an un-rivaled, un-equaled, daily driver; I love my baby and miss it every day that I don't drive it.
8-5-2011
Tire weight update - Michelin Pilot Super Sport, non N rated. Pilot Super Sport is newer and is related, at least by name, to Pilot Sport. Higher weight a little disappointing. OTOH look at the price difference between Pilor Super Sport ($1300) and Pilot Sport ($2000)! 
I don't understand the significantly cheaper price, but I don't think I am going to complain about it.
Super Sport is claimed by Michelin to be "better" in many aspects: better in wet and dry road holding, 2 seconds faster in 1.6 mile course, higher tread rating of 300 vs. 220, 30,000 mile warranty. It's like a dream tire, per advertisement trouncing the best tire on the market, its older brother Pilot Sport. The technology used is born from endurance racing (Le Mans) and now found in this street tire.
The key to the performance of the Pilot Super Sport appears to come from Twaron, a synthetic aramid fiber. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aramid From what I could gather from ad materials and "web research," typically the belt of a tire tightens the tread more than the shoulders. By strengthening the tire with Twaron, pressure is more evenly distributed and the tire is kept in "shape." I would assume this why Michelin claims a nicer profile and contact patch with the Pilot Super Sport.
As always, any expert here please correct me as needed. I might just give this tire a try as my R compound experiment with Pirelli is coming to a noisy, very very noisy, end. 
Boy these R compound tires don't seem to age well, especially with the noise aspect.
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Here is my informal tire weight ranking, courtesy of Tire Rack's Tires for Porsche 997 Turbo 235/35-19 front, 305/30-19 rear (pls correct any mistake as needed).
The number in bold are the weights of one front plus one rear tire:
R Compound Michelin Cup: front/rear 20/27 = 47 lbs
R Compound Pirelli Corsa: 21/26 = 47
Continental Extreme Contact DW: 21/28 = 49
Race Tire Hoosier R6 (not street tire, 315/30-19 rear): 22/27 = 49
Michelin PS2: 22/28 = 50
Continental SportContact 3: 22/28 = 50
Pirelli Rosso: 22/29 = 51
Michelin Pilot Super Sport: 25/30 = 55***********
Bridgestone RE050A: 24/31 = 55
Hankook Ventus V12: 24/32=56
R Compound Toyo R888: 25/31 = 56
Bridgestone RE11: 27/32 = 59
Interesting, no? A weight difference of 24 lbs, such as from Michelin/Pirelli cup to Bridgestone RE11, should not be ignored. Another interesting example: a Turbo with iron brake and RE11 will have close to 60 lbs. more in unsprung weight than one with PCCB and Michelin Cup?
I am surprised that in my reading of tire comparisons on various forums, I've not run across more discussions of this extremely important parameter of tire weight.