renzo088, you proved me wrong on Mode Racings car thank you (though it has intake, downpipe, exhaust, tuner, and custom tune on 110 octane), and 4TGEN is hitting 234whp (with intake, downpipe, exhaust, pulley, tune), not 240whp, not 250whp. With an upgraded intercooler and piping he should come closer, but I haven't seen it surpass the 250whp barrier.
So, again, it's close with intake, exhaust, downpipe, and tune. Will they put down the same EXACT power on the same dyno on the same day? Will they run the same at the track? Who knows. But, looks like it's close enough to say yes, about "$3000 ($2300 parts plus installation) is what it will cost to get the 2.0t up to par with the 3.8."
As an example (using what I posted previously):
$850 Buschur Racing Cat-Back
$200 downpipe
$220 Buschur Racing Intake kit without Carbon Fiber shield
$700 plug-n-play PowerAxel programmer
$300 custom tune
---------------------------
$2270
Add in installation, tax, and shipping. At most $3000
So, about the same cost to get the 2.0t base and then buy the mods to hit what the 3.8 would hit stock, as just buy a 3.8 base.
After that power level though, you add another $3500 and hit about 350whp... which is approximately what the 3.8 would cost to hit with bolt-ons and tune. The 3.8 would be at a bit of a disadvantage in power though, as it won't be at 350whp, more like 330whp:
http://www.gencoupe.com/3-8-v6/12017-dyno-high-angle-cams-installed.html
Bottom line, when would you like to void your warranty. Sooner (2.0t) or Later (3.8).
AND, when would you like to have the power. Sooner (3.8) or Later (2.0t)