Like many recent posters, I'm new to the 911 community- just recently moved from a '08 RS4 to a '07 C2S. What a fantastic car! Only one (very very small) issue though- moving from the RS4 w/Milltek exhaust, and even compared to a 987 Boxster S, the C2S even with PSE sounds fairly unaggressive. Is there a good aftermarket exhaust that provides a deeper (and somewhat) louder note compared to the factory PSE? I also love the intake "whirring" from the 987- can this be accentuated too in the C2S? It's not a daily driver, so the extra vroom vroom is welcome every time out- Thanks!

 

There's a lot of different options out there. You'll get some additional sound from swapping out to a good set of aftermarket mufflers, but the majority of the grunt is going to come from good header and cat sections. Do both, and I guarantee you'll be smiling ear to ear every time you drive the car. Adding an intake system will also give you a little more of that "whirring" sound you're referring to, definitely. Best of all, each of these mods will also add noticeable power gains.

Most important is going to be your budget and tailoring a setup to your specific desire. Feel free to PM or give us a call. We've tried most of the options on our personal or shop cars, so we'd be happy to give you a unbiased opinion on what might suit you perfectly.

 

I had the same issue with my 07 C2S coming from Mustang Cobras with 32V V8's and E46 M3 with headers, 100cpi race cats and no resonator and a Borla. It will all depend on how aggressive you really want the car to be. If you find the PSE unaggressive you might just want to add a set of 200cpi cats. Cats are almost 50% of the sound suppression, especially the OEM units on the 997.

See my sig what I run..I am extremely happy..not for the faint of heart.

Dave

 

Yep that is the only problem with the newer pcars (996 / 996) - they are just too darn quiet with stock exhaust. the 997.2 is even quieter. Is it a sports car or a lexus?

Suggestions based on my experience with a 996 and now 997:

If you want to retain bone stock sound inside the car, but a bit more blurb outside the car, go with a factory sport exhaust.

If you want mild sound increase over the sport exhaust, go with something like Fabspeed / AWE / Tubi / Agency. But you may end up with a tad of vibration increase inside the cabin since most of those mufflers do not have a flex section like the OEM exhausts.

If you want woodie-inspiring cup car porsche sound and a decent increase in HP/TQ without changing cats / headers, go with a set of AfterHours pipes. Plus they weigh 8lbs each and have the flex section / no vibration.

This is what my 06 997 C2 sounds like with the AH pipes. I have a KN intake, RSS plenum and AfterHours pipes. That's it. These mods netted me an avg 26hp / 28tq gain at the wheels over stock. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IQWueROnQh8&fmt=6 (turn up the sound!)

Either way you go, any upgrade from stock mufflers will be an improvement

 

I had a set of Fabspeed (FS) mufflers on my 997S, and loved them. However, I wanted my car to be louder, and considered doing muffler bypass pipes, meaning NO mufflers whatsoever. That would have been too loud. I opted for AfterHours (AH) mufflers, and am thrilled. Be warned: they're LOUD. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure, but just right for me.

There are a ton of options out there. One word of advice: if you're going to add mufflers, do yourself a favor and add an EVOMS cold air intake to pair them with. The combination sounds and performs extremely well.
CATTMAN

 

Catttman. Did you notice any gains with the AH pipes? Mine have been on for a week, and the car seems a tad slower to me. The car is VERY loud, but it doesn't seem as quick as stock. Hmmmm....

Nick

 

Hey Nick,
Keep in mind, my 997S is heavily modded. After installing each of my mods, which I did one at a time, I never noticed anything but upside, until the AH pipes, and I actually wrote to Brian about it to see what was up. He asked me to go to a dyno so he could help diagnose it, but before I had the chance, I got some advice right here on 6speed from IanUK. I started a thread on the issue:

https://www.6speedonline.com/forums/...ll-sudden.html

Ian recommended that I disconnect the negative terminal on the battery for a couple of hours, to let the ECU "reset". This didn't erase my flash, as was a concern. When I reconnected it after about 2.5 hours, I drove it HARD for 100 miles, and it was back, better than before.

I think the AH pipes are so much less restrictive than what I had on before (Fabspeed) that my ECU sort of limped to get accustomed to it, and never really did. Resetting via disconnecting the battery for 2 hours cured it. Now it seems quicker than ever.

Meanwhile, how do you like the sound of the AH pipes?
CATTMAN

 

Cattman,
I followed your thread when you were having issues. My car doesn't seem sluggish, just not as quick through the gears. I may try the reset today after I get home from church.

As for the sound...I am conflicted. I love it sometimes, but think it is too much at other times. My cabin gets SO LOUD when I start out of a light. I am leaning towards keeping them, but I would love a toggle switch! How about you?

Nick

 

Yeah, I hear you. When I first put them on I thought they were way too loud for me, but then I got used to them, and get compliments all the time. As mine is a daily driver, there are times when it can get annoying. However, I wanted loud, and that's what I got. Generally, I love them. Nothing else has that sound that turns hears.
CATTMAN

 

My opinion is, similar to others that posted to this thread, to add the catalytic converters, headers and airbox. While the PSE is not what I would choose for a muffler, you already have it. If you are going to spend money, why not get some extra power from it? The stock headers are crude and the catlytics very restrictive.

As far as an airbox is concerned, the Evo is popular and runs around $600. I have an Evo, but if doing it over, would go for the X-51 parts. Somewhat more money ($1000+) & more work to install, but probably flows better and is OEM parts, as well as being more attractive.

The 997 airbox issue has been beaten to death on the forums, do a search here and on rennlist. Very little in the way of hard data from dyno testing and what has been posted to date has been hammered as being inaccurate.

Also consider a reflash for the ECU. The Evo and Softronic are fairly new and highly regarded. FVD also has a recent one. Plenty of threads on this topic.

 

Most important since you say it's a new purchase is WAIT until you meet some Porscheites in person; pretty soon you'll find a sound you like. Then decide if you also want to juice it up a little (I did, I'm happy, but it's a pretty stupid expenditure just to be a little quicker than a stock "S"). As a couple of others have already said, the 200 cell cats will make the biggest difference, particularly since you already have the PSE (and do have the vacuum line capped off).

 

Nick- do you have a tip? If so, you'll typically start out in 2nd and lug the engine a bit. Lugging the engine (heavy accell in a lower gear) will magnify the sound, I only notice an increase in interior DB at around 2400-ish RPM if I'm doing just that. Above / below specific that RMP it's pretty tame. I usually drive 2600 and up through the gears so i'm usually above that louder range. Overall it is daily music to me though- I just LOVE it. Realistically the sound level inside with the AH pipes is about on par with the earlier air-cooled pcars running stock exhaust. Basically it sounds like a Porsche now

Anyway, try the ECU reset- I think Cattman has it nailed. Thinking back I had reset my ECU prior to dyno testing the AH pipes back to back with stock pipes. Both of my pcars have been way quicker with the AH's than without, that is for sure.

 

No, I have a 6 speed. I guess it was just in my head, because my car was amazing yesterday.

However, this was on the drive home from seeing Fast & Furious

Overall, I do love the sound. I love starting the car in the garage...as it just roars when it starts. The idle is really great. I agree, there are some boomy RPM ranges, but that is just part of having a race-type exhaust. Love my pipes.

Nick

 

I had the same kind of conversion. At first, I thought, "Oh no, what have I done!" But once I got used to it, I love them!

Did you reset the ECU? If you do, drive it like you stole it for a hundred miles or so in order for it learn/ adapt.
CATTMAN

 

No, I didn't reset the ECU. Brian said it would take about 100 miles to learn the new conditions, and I am past that mark. I doubt I need to reset it, since the ECU has always been stock.

Nick

PS - I found my favorite mod yesterday. Empty gas tank! She ran like a champ on the way to the gas station ;-)