Today I was given an audition by a fellow 6speeder, Gotboost (thank you for the hospitality!), of his gorgeous tripple black 997TT with AWE exhaust. (Don't know what the wheels are but they are beautiful. The interior is very well optioned and gives me second thought about my beige leather.) We had the 2 cars next to each other and I was able to walk back and forth and compare the AWE exhaust to my stock.

First a side note: Gotboost's car also has the RSS plenum and after market air filter besides the AWE exhaust. I got a brief test drive as passenger and from seat-of-pants sensation, his car seems to jump off line noticeably more vigorously than mine.

The sound of stock 997TT bothers me greatly because first, it is continuous in nature, like a vacuum cleaner, as opposed to the bubbling/rumbling of my old NA 997 C2, and second, it is not loud enough. Stock turbo sounds more like a loud 4 door sedan in other words and the non turbo car clearly has exhaust that is both louder and more muscular in nature. My personal preference is that I am looking for a system that is slightly louder, but not too loud. I also like a lower pitched exhaust note, versus a raspy, all out metallic scream. BTW, I am an audiophile who uses tube amp and Linn Sondek, so you might want to take my opinions with a table size grain of salt.

The GREAT news is that the all important "bubbling" is back!!! It is not quite a low frequency rumbling of a Corvette V8, but most definitely lower in pitch and louder than stock. It actually has a deliciously wet character, like bubbling water. (I am only half kidding. )

Loudness wise, the AWE is louder than stock, but not too loud. If you want to scare the neighborhood's dogs, this is not the system for you. We were able to carry out our conversation easily while driving on freeways and surface streets. It does scream when "Gotboost" got on the throttle, when the pitch became higher, but still not raspy.

Any problem with drone to me would be a deal breaker . This is the one issue I am afraid of most. It was a typical Southern Cal. afternoon so we didn't have clear freeway to test adequately. From old posts, it seems AWE is not susceptible to this.

Although I am partial to a low pitch V8 rumbling, I am also afraid of the loud thumps of some system that give me a headache. The AWE passed the "aspirin" test easily.

On the way home, I noticed how wimpy my car sounded compared to "Gotboost's." If your preference is similar to mine, I think you will LOVE this exhaust. I will listen to more systems, but what I heard today was *beautiful* sound.

(And no for this write-up Mike did not promise me free AWE tips. But I have to say, they are kinda gorgeous and make me want to cry when I look at my weird oblong stock tip. Ahem... cough...Wonder if that special is not repeated until next Christmas. )

 

Cannga,

I concur with your assessment. I put on the AWE about 2 weeks ago, and I am very happy. But then, anything is better than stock! Also, I seem to get the impression that throttle response is better, maybe just from the freer flow (or maybe it's just my imagination).

 

So Can, it sounds like it is AWE for you? I'm still leaning towards the Tubi, as I have a preference for the higher pitch wail of the Tubi - but still would like to hear one first. If I can't hear one, I will probably go ahead and take Champion up on their money back offer. My company worked with the BMW F1 team for several years and became intoxicated/addicted to the higher pitch scream. Also, the higher frequencies are easier to attenuate in the car and, like you, droning would be a deal breaker for me.

Still coming to C&C on Saturday morning? If so, I try to park close to I5 (in the "back")

Dick

 

It was my Pleasure Can.

Mike

 

Great write up. I'm kinda sold on AWE too, but still trying to compare the sound with Sportart, a german muffler. But I'll most likely go with the muffler for a trial run first to avoid the hassle of being without my turbo for a day.

However, I'll bet those "weird oblong stock tips" will be back on your turbo if you want to trade, i.e., unless you want to swallow some loss. Everyone has an opinion as to what looks good to them, but to fit round objects. i.e., round exhaust cans into oblong holes looks a bit odd to me. Some exhaust-aftermarketers even offer fiber-glass inserts for each end of those "weird oblong holes," to change the teardrop look to a curved look so their round exhaust cans don't look so strange placed in creatively designed "weird oblong holes." I think the round tips seem a bit dated anyway. Round exhaust tips have been around for years, look plain janeish and that same circular look has to be getting a bit tiresome and uninteresting for some of us anyway. Porsche was a bit creative in the design of their tear drop look, gives the rear of the turbo more of a super car look, something different for a change, and I think it is one of the best exhaust designs to come along in years.

 

I am, as I write this, sitting in AWE's waiting room waiting for them to get their 700HP beast out to listen to. Mike gave me great tour of their facility.

 

Get mike to give you a ride as well... violent is the term I use to describe the acceleration and braking power that car is capable of!

 

I wouldn't leave here without it !!!!!!!

 

Check out Cargraphic exhaust. Got my TT back the other day and the note is perfect.

Gotboost- What do you think about teh IPD plenum? I have been trying to find some #'s on the gains before I order. Thanks.

 

Duffy,

The ability to do on the spot A-B comparison, stock versus after-market, is important and interesting, especially from an audiophile point of view . You might want to place your car next to AWE and start the engine also and walk back and forth to see if you could hear what I describe above. Obviously this only gives you the static sound, but it's a start.

I am not an expert by any stretch of imagination and certainly could be wrong here, but what I hear is 3 sources of sound back there:
1. Sound from the airbox/turbine: very boring and the source of the vacuum cleaner character.
2. Sound directly from the engine: I would imagine this is partially responsible for the metallic component. The raspy scream at WOT.
3. The exhaust: Where AWE strikes gold. Stock bubbles at a higher, more wimpy frequency, AND so mute that it gets drowned out by the sounds from the engine and turbine. AWE has a wet sounding , lower frequency bubbling and is louder, so you could hear it more prominently.

Hope this helps and please post your impression.

 

Great analysis and description of the AWE tone. I'm loving mine.

Ron

 

I love my plenum. You should contact Mike at RSS.

 

Dick,

I very likely will go with AWE, but still would like to listen to some more systems before deciding.

OT: Yes I still plan to come to the Irvine thing this Saturday, around 7:30 or so. If you are coming too, let me know and maybe we could exchange cell phone numbers and I'll see you there?

BTW, I have the parking map in front of me. I was just going to park in the "Visitor" lot on Gateway. What do you mean by "close to I5"? Is that the back side of the parking lot and is it better there for some reason?

 

Can,

I think you hit it right on the button with your descreption of the sound of AWE's exhaust. Unfortunately I couldn't compare the AWE to stock as my car is on the way to the dealer now. (Should have it next week.) While I can't describe it any better than you already have, I can say I really liked it. I left AWE with an exhaust, black tips, pedals, a FREE SHIRT & a lighter wallet. If somebody wants loud, this is not the exhaust for them. My wife just told me my cell was beeping. It was a message that my car arrived at the dealer this afternoon. I guess I know where I'll be tomorrow

thuggy,

Mike took me for a ride in their beast. WOW!!!!! Unfortunately their facility is not in a location conducive to fast driving, but a few small spurts were enough to get an idea of what this car can do. 700 horsepower is -- well I don't really have the words for it.

If anybody is in their area, it is worth stopping in. Mike could not have been more hospitable and gave me a great tour of their facility. Thanks Mike!!

 

I am interested in getting full AWE system (headers, cats, cat-back sys). Then I want to do ECU flash and cold air intake.

It says on the bottom of the web-page that it isn't street legal with the cats.

Can I get away with doing this?

I'm just a daily street driver at this point, and dont plan on doing track as of yet. I want to do this work though to have a bad *** rig.

If I ever have to do a smog test at the DMV, will it likely pass and not have issues?

I have a 2006 997.1 C2S TipTronic 3.8L

thx