Planet 9

notquitefob · #1 08-06-2009, 11:18 AM

For those of you who don't know, I recently made the jump from the EVOMS/Sharkwerks/RSS RS350 setup (reviewed here: http://www.planetporsche.net/cayman-...view-dyno.html) to TPC Turbo kit (install thread: http://www.planetporsche.net/cayman-...ll-thread.html)

First a little background....

In the past 2.5 years, I went through a series of cars after selling my much loved E46 M3(track prepped on Motons). E46M3 => 996Turbo => E60M5 => 997C2S => ...

I currently own a 2006 Cayman S (manual), purchased from the dealership as a CPO vehicle early in 2008, 100% stock at the time. The wheels/tires combination were recently replaced with factory (Carrera Classics) 19's wrapped in Continentals. The car came equipped with every option in the book minus the PCCB option.

Stock to RS350

The car was dyno-ed before the RS350 kit to obtain a baseline, and put down a respectable 277rwhp and 254rwtq. (refer to the RS350 review thread for specifics). With the RS350 kit, the car put down 300rwhp with significant gains in the mid range, completely removing the "dip" early in the RPM range that the car suffered from in stock form, and dyno-ed at 300rwhp and 264rwtq.

summary from the RS350 review - "the car pushes you forward like a 996TT down low, and extremely very eager to rev to redline like the 997C2S up top."

RS350 to TPC TURBO

The TPC Turbo kit arrived and few weeks later, the installation was underway. The entire installation time took from start to finish, just over 2 weeks. Yesterday, I took delivery of my new car. The reason why I say I took delivery of my NEW car, is because that's exactly, a completely different beast. An absolute ANIMAL trapped inside a "hard top boxter's" shell.

Initial Impression

Without looking underneath the car, or have the engine cover off, there's no sign of change to the car. The car idles like stock, drives like stock, feels like stock and handles like stock. I put the same junky 91 octane gas in the tank, I putt the car around town, and commute in and out of traffic.

That's of course, only until the car hits operating temperature and you put your lead foot to the floor. Between 3.5k to 4k RPM, the car takes on a whole new persona. The first hint of force induction comes in with the high pitch whine of the turbo creeping up from behind. At 4k, the RPM needle starts to pick up speed and like a volume knob being dialed up, the turbo whine gets louder. While you're busy admiring the symphony happening behind your right ear, you're pegging redline. But wait, that wasn't in 1st gear, that was third. The freakin' car just revved to redline in third gear like it did in first... clutch in, shift, and the wastegate gives you a reminder that it's ready to go again.

If that doesn't paint the picture of awesomeness in your head, I dunno how else to describe it.

In its current 91 octane setup, the car is no slouch. Easily faster than my previous 996Turbo. How fast? Scary fast, like the first time i floored the V10 M5. Surprisingly, the car has plenty of traction, even with the slim 265 width Continentals in the rear, I didn't have problems easing off the line and immediately stomping on the gas. Instead of chirping tires between shifts, the car snaps your head back with each succession.

Exhaust Sound

When Mike and TPC said there's no drone in the exhaust, they REALLY mean it! In fact, around town while driving conservatively, it's quieter than my Milltek, and very similar to the noise pitch of the Porsche Sports Exhaust. It's extremely pleasant for my commute cruising 65-70mph in 6th gear and have absolutely no drone whatsoever.

Get on it and above 4000rpm, the exhaust note climbs, perfectly matching the sound of the Turbo as it spools up. It gives you the bark you need without drowning out just about the coolest sound you can hear inside a car. At its peak, I would guess that it's a little bit louder than the Milltek exhaust it replaced, but definitely not enough to piss off any neighbors.

What next?

Once the initial test and check period is over and my underbody panels are reinstalled along with oil change, data logged via Durametric will be sent back to Mike @ TPC to further refine the 91 octane tune. All you California Cayman owners itching the pull the trigger, you now have the perfect excuse. A trustworthy, highly competent installer (check out the installation thread), and perfected 91 octane tune will be readily available.

My butt dyno is reading conservatively under 400rwhp with a bit more after Mike works his magic. I originally planned to dyno the car this weekend, I think I will push it back until after Mike gets a chance to check out the Durametric logs.

I will post in this thread overlay graphs and dyno charts as they are done along with video comparisons when available.

Special Thanks

TPC Racing

I would like to thank Tom/Casey/Josh/Mike (not in any particular order) from TPC for the incredible support they've provided over the course of the installation process. We're not talking about a company that ships you a box and you're on your own. These are a bunch of guys that loves cars, races cars, and wants to share their enjoyment with everyone else.

EuroAutoSpot, San Diego

I honestly can't thank Shane/Chris/Bobby/Linh over at EuroAutoSpot enough for the amount of care and attention that went into the install. For anyone reading this, you HAVE TO check out the Installation Thread. Shane literally prevented my car from burning to the ground with absolutely no chance in hell anyone would cover the damage. This is the same guy that's worked on maybe 5 porsches EVER, with his first go at the Cayman being this Turbo install. Since they're not a sponsor on the board, I don't want to seem like I'm giving them free advertising, so if anyone is interested in getting this kit installed in California or nearby states, contact me in private and I'll get you in touch with them.

As always...

I'm not a mechanic, not a race car driver, and don't do this for a living. But like you all, I'm an enthusiast first, and would be more than happy to take anyone out for a spin in the car, or answer any questions you may have about the TPC kit, the RS350 kit, or just anything in general. I'd like to extend that same invitation to anyone that may be out of state, or not in San Diego, CA but happen to be in town. I'm sure TPC would be happy to sell you the kit, and EuroAutoSpot would be happy to schedule you in for the install, but even if you have no intentions on making the upgrade to your own car and just want to go for a spin, let me know.

Anyone with a stock Cayman, or have some sort of performance modification you're interested in comparing to the standard TPC kit, please feel free to get in touch with me.

More to come after Durametric logging, ECU tweaks and Dyno...

ReconTrojan · #2 08-06-2009, 12:25 PM

Thank you!

Being a Southern Californian this was important to read from an install and reference point of view.

I have a warranty and I am not keen as of yet to void it but this kit is on my radar and I will be watching yours and others posts on their travels with this kit over the coming months.

Again, thanks and enjoy.

DaveD · #3 08-06-2009, 01:17 PM

Thanks much for the review, Kevin. Have fun!

Dave

**Casey@TPCRacing** · #4 08-06-2009, 03:22 PM

thanks for the review... post turbo install we recommend redline oil.

peter f cummiskey · #5 08-07-2009, 12:57 AM

Good job.........

**samwY** · #6 08-07-2009, 02:18 AM

Thanks for the solid write ups Kev. Be safe with that beast.

RobMason · #7 08-07-2009, 08:12 PM

What is your plan when it comes time to have the car smog certified in California?

I must say, the TPC turbo mod seems to have a paucity of problems after installation. Either that or people aren't reporting them.

notquitefob · #8 08-10-2009, 05:00 PM

Originally Posted by RobMason

What is your plan when it comes time to have the car smog certified in California?

I must say, the TPC turbo mod seems to have a paucity of problems after installation. Either that or people aren't reporting them.

I'm not worried about smog = ) plus that's many many years from now.

Funny you should mention about problems, I do have one that I've been chasing for the past 2 days. Got a Check Engine Light with no fault code. After chasing a ghost for 2 days, calling Porsche and having Durametric on the phone (Duram@Durametric is awesome by the way), the problem was resolved using a generic OBDII sensor. Turns out the dash got stuck with the light although there was no fault code. Since there was no fault code, the Durametric software apparently couldn't just reset the code. This was the one and only problem I've had with the TPC kit. Two other problems came up but they were installation quirks that were easily and very quickly rectified.

Anyways, car's been running stronger and stronger everyday as the ECU gets more and more use to the 91 octane fuel. Will be doing some datalogging for Mike@TPC to further refine the 91 octane tune. All the underbody panels are now back on the car after 250miles of problem/leak free motoring. Will post DYNO soon!

RobMason · #9 08-10-2009, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by notquitefob

I'm not worried about smog = ) plus that's many many years from now.

Curious, in California, how many years?

notquitefob · #10 08-10-2009, 11:02 PM

every other year, unless you qualify for the 6 years or newer exception:

If your vehicle is six years old or newer, you will be charged an annual smog abatement fee when you register your vehicle, rather than being required to provide smog certification.

banhbao · #11 08-11-2009, 04:22 PM

Hi Kevin,
Since you mentioned that you used to own a 996 turbo, would you share the experience of the Cayman S RS350 and the Cayman TPC Turbo vs the 996 turbo? I'm interested in both cars and as the 996 Turbo prices continue to drop, I'm curious as to which would be a better buy.

Thanks,
Brian.

notquitefob · #12 08-11-2009, 05:18 PM

Brian,

When I first upgraded my E46M3(320rwhp all motor w/ motons+kinesis all around) to the 996Turbo(2001 6spd), it wasn't my first choice. I had wanted a 996GT3, but couldn't find one within my price range, so I bought the Turbo because a friend of mine was raving about it. Anyways, soon after the initial novelty of the added power wore off, I started to have a lot of complaints about the car.

First, the car was very rear bias (as are all 911s) compared to my E46M3. As a result, the 996Turbo is hard to drive "fast" because it simply wasn't confidence inspiring as my M3 was. The nose tends to "bob" up and down on the freeway because of the lighter front end, which again, made it difficult to push without feeling unsafe. The AWD was very unintelligent, and as a result, during high speed banks, you can feel the power distribution between the wheels, causing the car to sway. All this, combined with the fact that the interior felt extremely cheap and was lacking every bit of creature comfort that I had on the M3, I started to regret my decision. Keep in mind that I wasn't complaining about anything the car was meant to be, which is fast and stop on a dime. It did all that, beautifully.

Fast forward to the 996TT being replaced by the E60M5, which was replaced by the 997C2S, which was replaced by the Cayman S that I'm in right now.

Jumping in the Cayman and taking it for a spin with my friend who didn't drive stick but wanted to test drive a Cayman at the dealership, I was sold. The car handled incredibly, and the car reminded me of my M3. It was confidence inspiring. One thing it lacked was a little bit more grunt. Don't get me wrong, the Cayman S is plenty fast around town and too fast for 90% of the people out there. In fact, it was just a hair slower in the straight line than a stock E46 M3. Trust me, we compared them = )

Anyways, the Cayman had everything I wanted. The look and feel of a sports car, sublime handling, and everyday interior for my daily commute. After a few months of daily driving the Cayman followed by 2 track days, I was missing a little bit more kick. The car still handled far better than my driving skills could use, but I was getting tired of not being able to pass BMW 335s on the straights.

With that desire, came the RS350 kit. This kit worked wonderfully, adding a noticeable 25rwhp up top and 35-40rwtq across the midrange. It flatted out the weird power dip early on in the power band, and retained the rev-happy nature of the car. The exhaust really sweetened things up too. If I had to sum it up, I'd say that the RS350 kit really gave you that gut feeling of torque, much like puttering around the 996TT, but then it's eager to rev up to 7k. Is it worth the $? Of course, but then again, I sourced most of my parts used, and was able to do most of the install. It'd be hard to swallow at retail $ when the TPC is within reach. At twice the $, the TPC is more than 5x the power gain.

Since you've read my review on the TPC turbo, we'll skip that.

Comparing the three kits, this is what I'd say.

If you want a car that'll be INSANELY fast, cheap(relatively) to mod, pedigree, and nothing more, the 996TT is the way to do it. It's the best bang for the buck if you want to go fast. I mean 500-600hp+ fast.

Now on the other hand, if you want a car that you can drive, everyday, comfortably, and have a lot of fun at it, I really like the Cayman. The handling, the great weight distribution, superb brakes(for daily use), and just overall look and feel, was just what I was looking for. I can have my navi, ipod, heated seats, and high quality interior, and track it too.

Is it fast enough for public roads? Yes.

Will adding the RS350 kit make it that much sweeter? Of course!

Is it fast enough with the RS350? For me, I think the answer is: obviously not.

If I had to choose, all over again, would I have gone the same route? Yes. If you're happy with the car stock, then keep it stock. If you want just a little bit more kick without going balls out, then I still think the RS350 is an excellent option. But for me, I probably would go straight to TPC, simply because in the end it gave me the amount of power I wanted, that of a 911 Turbo.

Will I trade up to a 911 Turbo again? No, because at the end of the day, the rear engine layout never grew on me. I didn't enjoy driving the car. I like cars that will make me feel like a damn race car driver, without me having to spend hundreds of hours at the track. I think GT3s are great. If you're a good driver, it can be immensely rewarding. Will I ever be able to get that good at driving? probably not. Not because I don't want to be, but because I simply will not have the free time to do so. In the mean time, I want a car that I can drive fast, feel safe doing so, and if need be, turbocharged = )

My biggest problem now will be my Cayman's replacement. Not too many options out there as far as 400rwhp+, mid engine, rwd. Only thing coming to mind.... F430. I'll probably wait until the next revision...

I hope that answers your question. Thanks for making my work day go by faster lol. time to go home.

banhbao · #13 08-12-2009, 02:00 AM

Hi Kevin,
Thanks for detail reply. You more than answered my questions. By the way, where do you work? I would like to work some place that allow me to afford all the toys you have had. Are they hiring? hahaha

CJP80 · #14 08-12-2009, 08:05 AM

Kevin,

Have you had a chance to do any performance measurement post Turbo install? I'd be interested to see how the car compares to a 911 Turbo in terms of numbers.

It must be bonkers fast...

Schwabe · #15 08-12-2009, 08:58 AM

The TPC Turbo is fast but not 997TT fast, maybe GT3 fast. The gearing (especially first and second) and revving on the 997TT is a lot faster. Brakes on the 911 with 6 pistons front is also a lot stronger.

CJP80 · #16 08-12-2009, 09:07 AM

I can understand the 997TT being faster from a start due to the rear engine layout, fatter rubber and the shorter gearing, but once up to speed I'd expect them to be similar. Especially given the increase in drivetrain losses from the 997TT's AWD system.

And the TPC Cayman would still be lighter, no?

notquitefob · #17 08-12-2009, 09:22 AM

I haven't had a chance to do major comparisons because I've only just concluded the initial testing of the kit while closely monioring all sensor variables and check constantly for leaks. I want to make sure te car is running top notch before doing benchmarks.

The 997tt is geared for faster acceleration and got awd goin from a dig it surely will be hard to beat. But the cayman enjoys a 500 lb weight advantage. Won't know until we try it especially after the tune is optimized for 91 octane pump gas. yes the brakes are also nicer but that is also the result of having to stop a heavier car. The awd system doesn't lose as much power as many would think. Porsche really is very well engineered. : )

will keep you guys posted as I plan to do some comparative driving against a v10 m5 and a 997tt to try things out. Plus dyno to come.

**Casey@TPCRacing** · #18 08-12-2009, 09:25 AM

Dominic, i dont think you can compare your 997TT to the Cayman Turbo anymore ...

Schwabe · #19 08-12-2009, 11:05 AM

... that is true too ...

notquitefob · #20 08-12-2009, 11:08 AM

lol... 775Blitzkrieg? = )

I think they're both great cars in their own rights, just for different purposes. I would love to run my car against a 997TT, in due time.