Let's talk exhaust
 

I know this topic has been batted around in many threads but let's try to get some concentrated info/personal experience in one concentrated thread.

Here's what I'm thinking:

Keep the stock headers (997 S) since there doesn't seem to be huge gains in power (or sound) from header change. Why spend the extra $?

Go with AWE 200 cel cats and cans. Their dyno charts show a nice bump in HP and TQ with that combo and only a slight gain beyond that if you add the $1600 headers. Anyone with personal experience here (sound/power)?

Anyone have issues with the cats, CEL or smog check?

Some of you like the X51 headers. Any evidence/thoughts on what they do for you?

What other brands/combos does anyone have experience (good or bad) with?

Favorite sound, AWE, Tubi, Cargraphic etc? What about Milltek?

1. Your wrong on the headers, that is the first thing to change. I first went with E-bay Suncoast headers. Nice change in power and noise. Noise on two fronts. 1st the sound itself changed slightly, 2nd The resonance I noticed in 6th gear at Highway speeds was gone. The stock headers are very restricted.

Then I changed to a complete AWE sytem(headers,Cats, & mufflers). Nice Very Nice. But A little too loud for me not bad just not What I wanted so I put the stock Mufflers back on and I like it all. Very satisfied.

Now do some of your own homework and do some searches this subject has been covered numerous times.

I don't recall ever seeing any empirical data that showed headers alone making much of a difference in hp.

If there is - I'd certainly like to see it.

Oye, this again.

There are a zillion threads on this. I've got Fabspeed and am happy. Check out my video on YouTube- search for "fabspeed 997s".

I ran into the same questions with my dealership that im very close with. The X51 package which includes:

"The key feature of the Powerkit is the optimized gas-flow characteristics on inlet and exhaust. This is achieved by means of a modified cylinderhead geometry. Other features include an aluminum intake manifold and revised exhaust manifolds with larger bores. Controlling it all is a specially uprated engine management system. The performance is matched by the sight and sound of the carbon-fiber air-filter housing. Also included in the package is a sports exhaust system with matching sports tailpipes."

With this said your stock computer ratios are designed to opperate with the air inlet and exhaust of the stock system. Changing to the X51 headers alone or even intergrating the PSE wont be worth while unless you tell the computer more air is coming in like in the X51 package. I would suggest you save the money untill you can afford to do the Chip, headers, intake, and exhaust.

I don't think that's exactly right. The ECU can adapt and learn. But it's base level program is intended for a wide variety of driving conditions. One of the advantages of tuning the ECU is that it removes select "outlier" scenarios- such as driving with sub 93 octane gasoline. The real difference that tuning the ECU makes is that it has a more aggressive "base" program, or range, and accepts a narrower range of acceptable which is chosen at the higher end. Did that make sense?

I had the F77 , Evo, Tubi, ECU on my previous 997S and loved it. Even though I currently have a Turbo I wish I kept the other car too .

The combination of those parts offered a beautiful package combining a midrange bump and a note which I found very appealing.

Good luck with whatever choice you make . I do advise that you look at a few cars first and then decide as opinions may vary.

For the 997S I agree with dndodd...personally if I had a 997S I would do headers/Cats/Muffler from either AWE or Faspeed. My fear with tuning the ECU is warranty issues. As far as I know this varies dealer to dealer....the response I got at my dealership was that if the ECU in any way contributed to the damaged vehicle than Porsche may not cover you.
abe

I"m probably going to leave the car pretty much stock. A few extra hp here or there really isn't going to be worth it to me. I'd rather buy another set of R compounds with that money.

If I still have this car when the warranty runs out - it's supercharger time for me. :D

10-30hp just isn't that big a deal. I've gotten point bys on lapping days from Z06s and other cars with way more power than my S2000 from just having faster corner exit speeds so I'm going to continue to try and learn how to better drive my cars.

There is a difference . Beyond the sound and HP is the midrange pull on the car . It's like Popeye after he ate a little spinach .

Very True. Makes the car just that much nicer.