Fister D Stage-2 3.6 996 review

I’m a relatively new owner of a 3.6 996 coupe with a manual transmission, and I live in the LA/Orange County area. I love all Porsches and I love this car. I don’t need to tell you why. If you’re reading this you probably drive a Porsche too. The 996 edges out my old Boxster because it’s roomier and more comfortable for my tall lanky frame. One area where 996’s are horrible is the sound. After I changed out my RMS and did an IMS upgrade for preventative maintenance I decided to do something about the joyless, passionless sound coming from the car. The 996 sounds like a big electric fan wrestling with a blender. I can’t understand how anyone can like its stock sound. What were the Porsche engineers thinking when they designed the car’s acoustics. It’s quiet, it’s boring, it doesn’t even sound like a car but more like an appliance. It makes some ok noises once you open it up WOT, but even that noise is weak sauce relatively speaking. And at low RPM’s the silent engine provides no feedback, and thus no enjoyment to my ears. By the way, where’s that cool induction whine that the Boxsters have? I don’t care about performance improvements. The 996 has far more performance than I can use. I just want it to sound as sexy as Porsches look and drive. So I decided to look for a cold air intake and new mufflers. I wanted a better sound coming from the car, but I didn’t want to make a reliability trade-off. I looked at a couple of cold-air intakes but they all reported some MAF sensor problems, and I didn’t trust them to keep out debris and oil from my engine, so I went with the Fabspeed cold air kit with the OEM paper air filter, which doesn’t seem to have these problems, and which should arrive soon. I can post a review afterwards if anyone’s interested. For the exhaust, I wanted a louder one with some varied tonality to its voice. Yet I didn’t want any vibrations at certain RPM ranges that would rattle my teeth and make my eyes water. I heard about Darin Fister’s modified mufflers, listened to a sound clip, and read some nice reviews about his work. The pictures of his mufflers looked hand crafted and much better constructed than some of the PSE-type muffler hacks I’ve seen. After exchanging emails with him, I found out that he would switch out my muffler for a stage 2 in his shop in under an hour on a Saturday afternoon so I didn’t have to miss any work, and that the total price including installation would be $325. Say what? Yeah, Darin, I’ll be there. I didn’t even mind the fact that I live in Southern California and Darin is in NorCal. Some would consider a 360 mile drive in a Porsche sports car a treat after all… I drove up there around sunrise Saturday in the first downpour we’ve had all year in Southern California (the car was steady as a rock) and I got there 2 hours early. And yes, it was a fun drive. Darin is truly a nice guy, kind, modest, and honest. Unfortunately, he fired up his stage 3 Fister modified 993 for me before he switched out my exhaust. Wow, what a sound from that beast! Note to Darin: it’s probably not a good idea to fire up your 993 to potential customers with 996’s. So after he switched in the stage 2 Fister D cans and fired them up, I was underwhelmed. The car was still so QUIET. But since then, I must say that the QUALITY of the sound is much better. When you first start the motor, it does so with a slightly more focused intensity. At idle and at cruising speeds, including highway cruising, the car sounds stock. It’s only when you apply throttle that you hear the difference. The car now produces a sound that is somewhat organic and mechanical at the same time, almost like a machine gun firing and a dog growling mixed together. And the more throttle you give it, the faster, more intense, and louder the noise gets. The car has more of a vocal range now. A more varied soundtrack that has a bit more bass, is slightly louder, and has a couple of extra instruments in the ensemble. Interestingly enough, the car still sounds stock, but it sounds stock in that this is how the average Joe thinks a Porsche should sound. And indeed, it does remind me a bit of how those fantastic air-cooled engines sound when I give it some gas. It does not attract unwanted attention because the car does not sound as if it has been modified. Actually, I’ll revise my statement to say that this is how a modern Porsche SHOULD sound. His mufflers also make the car more fun to drive. It actually changes the way I drive my car now. I will often let the car naturally slow below the speed limit so I can stab the throttle just to hear that bark/machine gun rat-tat-tat. And yes, you hear the upgraded soundtrack anytime you press the throttle. Driving is now an even more interactive experience since the engine noise now provides feedback as well. Fun! This is a very tasteful modification and one that I highly recommend anyone with a 993, 996, or 997 do. If only Darin will create a 996 Stage 3 mod that captures the essence of his stage 2 mod, with its extra ensemble accompaniment and zero vibrations, droning, and resonance, but is 50 or so decibels louder. Or better yet, one that will make my car sound like his 993. Get these mufflers. For the price, like a good 996, it’s a bargain.

Sounds good. I am debating on Fabspeed vs. Fister, so very helpful write-up.

CT944: +1 for Fister's...... I too, did the Fister D's earlier this year, and I can't say enough good things about Darin, his work and the sound I know have coming form my mufflers. Absolutely no regrets, whatsoever!!!! However, you should take into consideration performance increase desire vs. simply, a sound change....Fister's are an acoustic tune-up, only. But as it has been said in here all too often, Fister's are the best bang for the buck. r\ Scott

+1 Very happy Fister customer!

Fister for price/smile break point (or a DIY hack mod like I did )

+2. I love mine.

I had mine installed a few months ago by Darin (he lives 35 miles from me). Super nice/personable guy. Funny thing he fired up his 993 as well before he installed mines. We did talked about a Stage 3 for a 996. The issue or problem we have on our 996's mufflers is the design. They are harder to hack due to the way they were welded together. The 993 mufflers are easier to modify.

My dad and I installed Fisters on mine 3 days ago......... ridiculously awesome stuff.

I had my Fister Ds installed a few weeks ago, and I have enjoyed an appreciable difference in sound ever since - it's a modest growl at low revs, and a monster as you throttle up. During my DE last weekend, I rec'd many unsolicited comments from drivers who were behind me regarding the sound of my exhaust. Darin sells a quality product and I'm very glad I bought my mufflers from him. I'd do it again without hesitation. Bob

I installed my FisterDs just about a year ago in my garage, and I still think that it is by far a great mod and one of the better bargains out there for our Porsches.

went from droning fabspeeds to fisters and couldn't be happier.

fisters+cat bypass pipes= FTW

What do you use for cat bypass ? How do you prevent sensor check engine light CEL ?

Quotes source post: 8086114

1. I bought some stainless steel ones off ebay that were actually high quality. 2. I dont.

I have these on a couple of months and they are great, very quiet unless you step on the gas.. great mod, great price.

Wow, thanks for all of the nice comments guys. I am very appreciative of this wonderful community.