It honestly depends on the setup. I have been in a 500rwhp KB setup that felt slower than a 350rwhp centri setup because it had absolutely no traction, and vice versa. I personally know 2 guys running PI intakes in the 575rwhp and 620rwhp range, but yeah that seems to be about the max of them. When pushing that range, usually your boost is 15+ which causes the issues. Some would say that my setup does not have street manners because its a V7 blower, high stall converter, meth injected, yada yada but I mean you see me drive it to the American Muscle shows every year and thats an hour and a half drive. Gas isn't the best but you get the idea lol. I'm going to be running a 50-100 shot on top of my setup and planning on doing it this winter. One thing I really like about a centri setup with an overdrive crank pulley is that I can literally drive hours and not even see 1 psi, but when I go WOT my boost pegs to 11-12 right off the pedal due to the 8 rib setup and overdrive crank
I really like the centri setups, but they have to be setup just right. My power goal is to be under 600hp to tell you the truth even with a built short block, anything past those power levels you have to upgrade everything and it is not worth it, plus the power is unuasble where I live since it is so densely populated. I believe the twin screw have the same features, but once you get into boost it is a different story. I was also looking at lysholm 2.3L twin screw blower but I do not think they make them for the 2V's anymore. They made a few that came on saleen extremes, they are slightly more powerful then KB2.1's. I also love the fact that on the highway a centri feels like it is forever pulling once its fully spun up.
If you want the best of both worlds then turbo is the way to go. A proper sized turbo will get you there easy
A proper turbo is awesome but I hate that you have to devote the headers to spool it. It kills some of the rawness from the V8 at w.o.t, but I understand where you coming from.
Ive got 1 of each. Ive got a D1 with ported/machined PI heads. It put down 523rwhp and I run 10's consistently. If your primary goal is fun on the street, then the KB is probably what you want. I've also got a stalled/built/geared auto so I have no problem down low.....and the D1 just absolutely rips up top.
The kennebell will be lots of fun on the street but can a brother have a best of both worlds? Would having a really low compression long block make the car feel like a dog down low on the street?
Sometimes $$$$$ can dictate the route you go also. You may be set on one thing and something else falls in your lap that may change things.
I honestly think you can't go wrong with any of the above options including the Turbo ,which if I was just buying an SN now and didn't have anything bought yet, would be the route I went.
Now you need to look deeper into what Mike was saying about with more power comes more $$$$ because once you upgrade one thing, something else may now be at its limit.
Pick a goal, whether thats based on power, money or usage and go from there.
I have found that IMO a daily driver SN over 500hp can be unrealistic and unreliable. Its completely different then a Coyote that can knock down 550rwhp and get 24mpg. If you are just looking for a fun and fast street car anything in the 400-500 hp level will be more than enough to get you in trouble and that range can be reached easily.
I drive a turbo audi for a daily so the SN stays in the garage. It used to have daily driver duty about 4 years ago. Now I am just slowly restoring all the worn out parts that is on it and turning it into a fun car again. Money does dictate what route you go but right now I am trying to stay under a 10-12k budget. I am not married yet, and I have the freedom to mod the car to how I like since I am getting into my career. If I do not mod this car now, it will take forever once you compound wife, kids, house etc priorities change.