My 2005 Carrera S has 22,000 miles and I'm thinking of changing out the exhaust system in phases - ie, the muffler, cats, headers, etc. The ultimate goal is to improve the overall performance, but short-term, I'd like to eliminate or reduce that "cardboardy drone." I've read the posts relating to exhaust systems, however I still have one question. If reducing the drone is the first priority, which exhaust component would be best to replace first? Whatever that first step is, I also want to make sure that it doesn't compromise my ability to add further mods in the future for performance.

Other than driver's ed programs, I don't plan to track and I use the Porsche as a daily driver. I live in NH and would appreciate anyone's recommended or suggested Porsche specialists in the area who perform exhaust installs. Thanks.

 

If you do not want to hear the engine from inside the car then stay with the stock exhaust system.

Every other system out there, and I have either owned them or been in a car with them has a exhaust sound or drone as you call it at around 2000-2400rpm.

The least drone is the Porsche Sport Exhaust.

The 2 best sounding are either Fabspeed MaxFlo mufflers or Tubi mufflers.

 

I think the "cardboardy drone" your referring to is something that's inherently Porsche, and difficult to eliminate altogether. Porsche engines have a very unique sound to them. You can most certainly, however, change the tone of the exhaust to minimize the "tin can" effect (as I call it).
Luckily you can do this is phases without compromising the ability to add other components down the road. I would suggest doing mufflers first. That's where the majority of the exhaust tone comes from, and where you'll notice the biggest change in sound. Keep in mind though, that you'll also be adding some volume overall. This isn't a bad thing necessarily, as Porsches are sports cars and if you ask me, sports cars are meant to be heard.

As mdrums stated above, you can't go wrong with either Fabspeed or Tubi. Cargraphic also makes a great sounding set for your car.

Feel free to let me know if you have any questions. I'd be happy to get you more information or help make your decision a little easier.

By the way, what part of NH? I have some close friends in Manchester and the lakes region.

 

The best overall sound I had with my 997.1 was with X51 headers, AWE 200 cell cats and the stock mufflers. Deeper, no drone, burble on release. No tinny "ball bearings in the muffler" sound during warm-up. Subtle enough at low RPM for around town, screamer on the track. Very cost effective too...

 

Thanks for the info and suggestions. I'll probably hold off on any mods for a while and perhaps will take the next step and research the Tubi and Fabspeed systems. In the meantime, I'm getting more & more used to the sound. BTY, I'm in Nashua - southern NH on the Mass. border.

 

I've Tubi on my car and it sounds INSANE... Love it. Let me know if you want to hear a sound clip of it.

 

I'd put my setup against any setup any day. I'll take the Pepsi challenge. I have had people do U-turns follow me just to ask me what exhaust is on my car. Check my sig..the Borla rocks. I have heard Tubi, AWE (had them on the car first, Fabspeed as well as Agency mufflers and my setup rocks over those. It is loud and proud but with very little drone. Only thing is at startup and when its cold it is raw and can be a little raspy. After warmup however it rocks..

Dave

 

So if you add let's say a Fabspeed muffler set up, does it merely change the sound? or do you see increases in hp/tq? I wasn't sure if the muffler does much or if the real power gains come from new cats. thoughts?

 

From what I have read it is the Cats that will give you the most significant gains; gains you can actually feel with your butt dyno. Think of changing the muffler and headers as merely a tone changer.

I'm in a pickle myself. Its between the Tubi exhaust + manifolds vs the AWE setup.

 

Take a look at the following info from AWE:
http://www.awe-tuning.com/pages/shar...IL=997Sexhaust

Good breakdown of what their dyno showed for each component in a mix and match situation. Some will say there's no way they can achieve these gains. I'm not saying this is true or not, but just wanted to provide some info.

 

I''d love to hear a sound clip of your Tubi. Can you send a link? Thanks