Q – My Porsche doesn’t seem to have the “get up and go” it used to. I wonder what I can do to spark up the performance without ruining the resale value. It is a 1986 944 Turbo. Todd
A – Performance is a relative thing so first of all, I would test drive it to see how it compares to others I have driven. Next I would inspect the car to see if any obvious mechanical problems exist that might cause it to feel a little weak. If everything checks out fine, I would then plumb in a boost gauge to see what the turbo actually produces and compare it to standards. Once base line readings are obtained, there are a number of performance upgrades that you could consider.
On line forums are a great place to get ideas but even better is when you can find a local fanatic that has actually done them with success. See if you can snag a test drive or at least a test ride to see how you like it. You might also ask him/her what the down side to the modifications might be. Some commonly used phrases to watch out for are: “Bolts right on, can easily be done in a weekend with common hand tools”
The beauty of a turbo is that you can have excellent drive ability and massive power at the same time. But to maintain the resale value you need to take a conservative approach. The key is to be able to put it back to stock for the next owner. If your car is in very nice condition now, do not cut, staple, mutilate or otherwise deface the master’s work. I have driven some outrageously fast Turbos that I would not recommend to anyone who does not want to destroy the resale value, not to mention grenade their engine. Think about the resale value of your turbo with a hole in a piston. It happens.
And finally, one of the easiest ways to get more power is to simply remove the extra floor mat that is keeping the gas pedal from going all the way to the floor! Now was that a lucky guess or an astute observation? I speak from experience. MC