Thank you guys all so much for your responses. I'm a newb of sorts around these parts (just upgraded from a 996 NA to turbo) and love the commentary and advice I get here. Color me suitably convinced that i'll need a good exhaust pretty early in my build (don't worry, the details will be documented here).

I had a similar conversation with my sister's boyfriend, and he said, "The first thing you need to do is get yourself a good exhaust. Even if it doesn't make your car faster, it'll make it feel faster."

This week i'll be attempting my first car DIY project. I'm swaping out my DVs (i'm getting CEL's).

Thanks again!

 

I look at exhaust as free horsepower that isn't damaging to the motor in any way. No issues with running too rich/lean or frying sparkplugs quickly as a tune leads most people into. Exhaust is usually what I modify first.

 

Now comes the slippery slope. Which one LOL.

 

When I bolted on the exhaust I had to wait a couple weeks to flash the car. Well...I can tell you the exhaust alone made a HUGE difference...car felt much more alive, boost came in sooner and harder and it pulled noticeably harder up top..

So far the best money spent on the car along with the flash, which of course is a must LOL..

And Duane is right..I started with "only exhaust and tune" and less than a year later here I am bolting up A30's with supporting mods

 

That did sound strange didn't it. I'll rephrase:

Peak power with a flashed K16 car with or without an after market exhaust will not be that different. The difference comes in power under the curve as boost will come on 500 RPM sooner with the exhaust upgrade.

 

Even some aftermarket exhausts will cork up after 650HP...

 

That's a gross generalization if I've ever seen one.

 

I'm not an exhaust guy. Never was, never even half interested.

But then I drove a really awesome exhaust on a 996TT appr 3 weeks ago... and I got 100% totally blown away - it sounded like an angry GT3(!!). No drone, just a light humming on easy driving, then revving it turn insane.

I heard growly ones on 996TT, don't like that, others that sound "tired" on the 996TT. This one just sounded TIGHT.

5500rpm sounded like 7000rpm already. Inferno!

So now I'm an exhaust guy, in a sense. As long as it sounds just like that one that I drove.

So, find the right one and you will love it.

 

MrWhite> Well let it out.....what exhaust was it?

 

Sounds like mine from the description!

 

Yeah - how can you tell that story without revealing what the exhaust was?

 

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I am also looking for an exhaust amongst other things for mine. Just spit it out, thanks

 

 

Did not want to jump the thread to plug something, just inspire to find the right exhaust. I didn't think I wanted anything else but stock but now I'm sure there's a sound for every taste.

But per so many requests the exhaust I test drove is made by AE Performance. I made a crappy sound clip (w a little much windnoise) but sure the guys at AE can provide a good one per request. Or I could go there and try to make a better one in a week probably, it'd be a good reason to try it out again.