New to forum and have owned a couple of 911's before but didn't upgrade either of them (03 911 turbo and 00 C4). I have to fix a few big issues on the car (synchro and clutch) but am looking for advice about if I wanted to spend only a few thousand on this car to make it a little better, what would you do? Here is my starting list and rough pricing but would like your input of best bang for the buck improvements. I've owned a lot of stuff including Lambo's, Ferrari's, Lotus', Maserati's, Pantera's, ... You can see them at www.garysexotics.com I need help on these items below since most of the cars I have owned already had most of these mods as standard equipment so I don't know how much I would be able to notice the change from the base car.

1. cold air intake $300, is it worth it?

2. coilovers (used is fine), GT3 or sport springs or just buy lowering springs?

3. SS headers? Does it really matter much if I spend $200 or $1500?

4. High flow cats or just bypass (I'm in California but don't mind putting stock cats back on for smog check)? How much?

5. SS exhaust (brand?). I'm used to paying a lot for Tubi's, etc on Ferrari's and Lambo's but don't want to spend much on this car. It has 66k miles. I always thought my 911 turbo sounded way to quiet.

Any other suggestions or tell me where to go to get the best prices even on used parts. For this car, I'm not particular.

Thanks in advance for your input/advice.

 

My advice, based on 40 years of owning just about everything from base Fiats to all the exotics, and making every mistake at least twice, is: leave it stock. It is a fool's game to try to make the car what the factory didn't intend. Unless it's a 'vette (they seem to come from the factory incomplete, as if they are made only as a good starting place for hot rodding) -- just leave it stock.

Forty years of has taught me: German cars are well engineered and last forever - if you maintain them by the book, Italian exotics are gorgeous but a pain in the butt in the long run, Japanese "exotics" are high tech, and well built, but materials are only so-so, and ultimately only the English -- Aston, Bentley and Rolls -- provide a really satisfactory long-term "premium ownershjip experience." And you can screw any of them up by startiing down a never ending road of trying to mod them: its always just one more mod and a little more added Hp, and it never ends.