Is it my imagination or does the 997.2 3.8 engine create much more of a racket than my '08 3.6? I started it up yesterday with the door open and it seemed to make a huge clatter, not as pleasing a sound as the 08.

 

Its the direct injection, some like it some don't, its all personal taste. I think it sounds great with a good exhaust.
Its also the sound of "no IMS/RMS failure"

 

Had an '06 3.6l C2. Now have an '11 3.8l C2S. From the very first time I started the '11 up, I thought it was appreciably louder than the '06. And all I had read was how much too quiet the 997.2's were. Not mine. Don't mind at all, either.

 

Yeah, I don't mind the volume, but the character is different and I just wanted to make sure it's normal. From the responses so far, it sounds like it is.

 

Yeah, I agree about the character of the sound. It is, initially, kind of "clattery." But after a second or two, the clatter levels out.