Chuck Jones

There are already a number of established and reputable tuners who have had their products on the market for years...thus passing the acid tests of time and trial by fire (figuratively of course). The only difference I see here is a different approach to capturing more variables....although how that equates to a much superior tune or noticably better performance is yet to be seen. Given the additional variables they claim....I would want to see this system field tested for some time before I would take it over a product that's been designed, R and D'd, and run on different cars for some time.....there's also the fact that some of the better known tuners are coming down in price and are offering some killer deals. This new company would have to compete with those prices as an unknown entity while at the same time trying to recoup a lot of money they spent in R and D. For guys like me who don't regularly track their cars, we're fairly satisfied with the performance enhancements offered by the established folks at reasonable prices....not to say that there isn't room for a new and potentially better product. I'd also be a bit skittish about offering up my car as a beta test platform for the X50 version of the product....unless there was a clear cut contractual agreement for full engine replacement in the event it messed something up....and that's an easy $20K.

Dus10's description sure sounded like an exerpt from the sales brochure to me....what affiliation ....if any....do you have to this company? Not meant as an indictment or negative....but put a few pictures with that description and you'd have a sales brochure.

Lovin' every mile of it......congrats.

It sounds like youve already gotten a bunch of opinions from the various tuners. Your question is directly related to your wallet. Im guessing that you have the K16 turbos...so about the only thing for you left to do unless you want to spend BIG BUCKS is upgrade the turbos, put in a wastegate kit (either Kevin or Tony sells them...do a search for wastegate kit), and install the bigger intercoolers.....then at that point, you're about even with an X50 TT....or you can just put in the hybrid K16 turbos. Best thing is to get with a tuner you trust and have him guide you thruough the installs because it looks like you're just grabbing at mods.....if you end up buying one doo-dad from one tuner, another from someone else.....you can end up with a mismatch.....the GOOD tuners are not anxious to see you blow up your motor, so they'll give you their particular take using their expertise....with their products of course....but at some point you need to stick with someone. You don't indicate what you're running so it's difficult to say...but you don't have much more to do now that you're running 1.1. That's about the max you can go without goiing to larger FPR, modified internals etc. Like I said...how big is your wallet? At some point you need to be happy with what you've got....unless your stock portfolio looks better than mine....which isn't hard to do. Drive it and enjoy it for a while....you don't need to be the baddest dude on the block...read the forums and do research. You'll find that in 6 months you'll be sorry you bought XX when you really should have bought YY.

Did you take that wrench back to Craftsman and tell them that you wanted a new one? They are warrantied against ALL defects....even those self inflicted ones.

I called and spoke to Tony....he said there were two gallons of the DELVAC sitting on the shelf that he'd sell me right then. I asked if they had a policy about not breaking case lots of the gallon containers of the DELVAC, and that you had been informed they wouldn't do it...and he said NO....you might have spoken to one of the girls in the front office who aren't really sure of policy....I'm not knocking the front office....but ask to speak to Tony....he will break case lots of the gallons of DELVAC and ship to you. Sorry you're having so much difficulty with what should be a relatively simple process of selling you some DELVAC. Chuck

I have 15 gallons of 5W-50 sitting in the garage if someone needs some...I bought a bunch in the event some folks might have difficulty finding it. I'll probably only keep about 2 oil changes worth of the oil for future use since I usually change at around 7500. Dez: When I went down there to pick up my oil, I thought that they told me they would sell the Delvac in less than four gallon lots...it's the 5W-50 they didn't want to bust the quart case lots on and would only sell by the six-pak. I'll call them and see if there's some misinformaton there....

Actually....the newer garage door openers are being made with micro circuitry so small that they just attach to your key chain and eliminate the need to try to wire in switches....but of course that doesn't cut it with some of the afficianados and/or purists who want a dedicated switch on the dash.

2nd gear pop out....and the fact that the 01 didn't come with a glove box or coffee cup holders. There have been some killer deals recently on some 04 TT's with relatively low mileage on them....actually are selling for less money than I paid for my 02 last November.....great time to buy.....lousy time to try to sell one.

I would agree...that's a lot more rust than I've seen on any car except one that sat in water, but you indicate that you've been under it and it looks ok? Pull up the carpets and take a look....I find it curious that an HRE wheel would cause all of that rust??? Obviously it needs a good steel brush and some protectant.

My goodness WROSS....you certainly were busy on the keyboards....good and thorough response. Nmis: I just came home with ten cases of Mobil 1 5W-50 that I was able to find at a Mobil distributor in Norther California...so it is available, but you just have to look around for it. I have an 02 996TT and will be changing out to the slightly higher viscosity next spring when the temps start climbing here in central California. Although I only burn about 1 qt every 1500 miles or so, it also depends upon how hard you have been driving your car....and althought the 0-40 worked well, I was able to get the 5-50 cheaper per quart than the 0-40...so it seemed prudent.

Whereas one has to be particularly careful when supporting or berating any particular product....as was referenced earlier...there is a lot of information available on RennTech, Rennlist, Six Speed,and other Porsche forums on the pros and cons of using this particuar filter. What always struck me was the fact that folks would go out and buy this or any product that had a documented history of causing problems....maybe not universally, but cause problems nonetheless. You have your advocates, and you have your folks who have actually had CEL problems, water ingestion during driving in the rain, repeatedly blown MAF's... etc. I also don't see much advantage or evidence of performance enhancement even though claims of XX HP increases are routinely made. There's an old adage that goes....."If it works, don't fix it". Porsche put in a fairly decent stock air induction and filtration system....unless you're going for over 600 HP....there's little to be gained by any small incremental increase you MIGHT see....and then there's the issue of the unnecessary expense. Leave it alone....spend the money on something that really works. From a personal perspective....and I bought the CAI from EVOM....I had no gain except for a little more feedback from the sound of the engine....and spent $500 to get what.....a little more engine sound feedback. Quick edit here....just went over to the 996 forum and found a discussion thread entitled "Just junked the K and N Thank God"....you might want to read that one.....many of the issues I discussed are laid out in more detail by folks who encounted the actual issues with them. If you really want performance...buy a turbo and put in a good flash performance with the upgraded wastegates rather than spend thousands of dollars doing like so many do....and that is trying to enhance the performance in a NA car that already exists in the turbo. How do I know? I went that route myself....

It just fits into a circular receptacle that you can see by looking into the grill....you push it bqckwards and it just hangs there on the wires...no biggie really.

I recently had a tune and upgraded wastegates, exhaust system etc and was wondering about how long the clutch might be good for even tho right now it's not slipping....so I just got a quote from a reliable local (Sacramento, cA) Porsche shop and the figures came to $1200 for the install if you bought the parts from a reputable source....i.e. no off the wall cheapie stuff....OEM from Sunset or whomever. The hours for the install will vary between dealerships....but 18 hour estimate you got must take into consideration the 7 or more hours the mechanic goes home to sleep. Usually, if you buy the parts and something breaks, you eat the cost to go back in and fix it. That's the only downside to buying your own parts and saving some of the costs. Personally, I buy good Porsche parts and take the chance....the parts are warrantied so you might eat some labor....but the chances of that are slim to none, and I've never run into a situation like that.

Good move Loren....My electrical gremlins would undoubtedly multiply if I tried to chase them down in the rain. So much for the plans of mice and men....

Loren: Thankx.....I have the electrical diagrams for the car also...but I have an easier time reading Egyptian hierooglyphics than I do deciphering an electrical diagram. I'm having problems with the blowers running even though the swtich is off...this might be why the battery is running down. I put in a new battery as well as replaced the alternator.....so I need some OJT on electrical CPR at the WOCD.....how's that for acronyms?

I've got some electrical gremlins in the heater blowers I need to have someone who knows wiring help me chase down. So I'll be bringing my 87 factory slantnose cab. Hopefully someone has some expertise with wiring issues. Chuck

Kevin is an extrodinarily bad influence when it comes to the subject of flashing....not only does he have a financial interest in the outcome....but he can talk you into just about anything....How do I know? I made the mistake of calling him "just to chat"....and came away with his tune and wastegate kit. He should have been a diplomat....but I do have to admit that his product line is excellent as is his support to folks who have bought his products. Some vendors kiss you off after the purchase....Kevin stays with you.

Another plug for Sunset....I buy all my parts from them...I've checked all over and they usually beat all the competition for OEM Porsche parts....Plus they're very knowledgeable and helpful.

WROSS: Just kuz it's in the Porsche manual doesn't make it right :) .....How do you get the leather conditioner extracted from the leather on the dash??? Just kidding....too late....but I'll quit prepping the dash. BTW Bill....I didn't say you were wrong....I only said I hadn't heard of it before....must be in the fine print.

You do some nice work.....however the true test is whether the CF will retain its color and not delaminate over time.

I overlooked the draining of oil from the oil filter housing by suction....how much oil is really left in the filter housing??? Couldn't be much judging by the syringe depicted in the DIY drawing....I do, however, drain the turbos, but buy the crush ring for reinstallation of the plug. I usually do this after I warm the engine up a bit...not hot, just a bit so you don't have to wait so long for the turbos to cool down.

Where do I sign up for the tour? I missed it too.... :).........Oh yeah....the topic....sorry.

Bill: I haven't heard that either before about the door panels....I use a different product from everything that's been posted...it's Dr. Jackson's Leather Rejuvinator....but we all have our favorites...McGuire's, Leatherique, Zaino, etc. etc. Just depends on who you listened to when you started looking for a leather product...then you became a supporter. I went to a leather shop that restores classic cars...talked to the guy for a long time...and that's how I ended up with my particular flavor. I used it to restore my 87 factory slant that had been a garage queen and sat covered in a hot environment for some time...the seats and interior leather became hard and that's what got me looking at the classic car restoration guys. I can see that the leather on the dash is much smoother...almost looks like it's not leather. It's the stitching that gives leather away...so there must be a different process they use to make it look that way....but the fact that sun will eventually crack the dash if it's not periodically rejuvinated by the addition of some additive that puts oil back into the leather would make me think that you do need some sort of leather product to protect it from shrinking.

nmiss is right....there's no real remedy for getting much more mileage out of your rear tires. As long as you have them properly aligned and balanced....they usually wear out at a two to one ratio....two sets of rears to one set of fronts....that is if you're primarily a street driver with some spirited driving in the mountains or twisties. I run 315 Michelins in the back and drive conservatively...still only get about 8-9000 miles out of a set of tires.....and the Michelin's run about $450 each!! The fronts look almost new. I stayed in the 18 inch wheel since I prefer a bit more tire on there to absorb the roadway.... This is a price you pay for driving a Porsche...and it's worse if you drive on 19's since they have less rubber...and are more prone to denting a wheel in a pothole.