Fabspeed or Porsche sports exhaust?

Got the prices together and am unsure which to go for - Porsche = �1,400 fitted at dealer Fabspeed = �880 + fitting (how long does it take/cost?) Is the porsche one worth the extra? Will be keeping car for a year or so, although dealer has a nice GT3 clubsport (fiance loves the roll cage) if I can find an extra �20,000!

Hogan, This topic has been actively discussed on the board for the last two months. Just scroll back through the archives and you will find many opinions on this. I personally don't have either but am still in the market for one. I have heard the sport exhaust and it has a raspy motorboat like sound. I have yet to hear the fabspeeds to make my decision.

Hogan, I've been similarly debating what I will do when my C4S arrives. I will probably wait to see what the stock exhaust sounds like, but I'm pretty sure that I will then go the the Fabspeeds. One of the benefits of the Fabspeeds is a weight savings over the factory system (not to mention lower cost). You can listen to some audio files of the stock exhaust vs. the Fabspeed exhaust on their website <a href="http://www.fabspeed.com-Enjoy" target="_blank">www.fabspeed.com-Enjoy</a>

the Fabspeeds are easy (probably easier) to install than Porsche sport. If you want to hear the stock v fabspeed, Joe F. has a sound clip on his website. <a href="http://www.fabspeed.com" target="_blank">www.fabspeed.com</a> My vote is still fabspeed..cheaper, easier to install, and save valuable weight! (no connection to JoeF. at all. Just very happy with the 4 sets of Fabspeeds: (90C2Cab, 94 Speedster, 98 993CS, 2002 996 C4 Cab) The sound in the Cab with the top down is awesome! <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" /> <img src="graemlins/a_smil17.gif" border="0" alt="[blabla]" />

Just had the Fabspeed exhaust installed about a week ago and I can't believe how nice they sound. Wish I would have done this addition earlier. The exhaust sound makes it a lot easier to hear proper shifting points.

HoganScrogan, I've heard the Fabspeed and owned the Ruf exhaust and my definite preference is for the Porsche sport exhaust I have on my car now. There is no loss of low/midrange torque, common with many low backpressure systems, and there is absolutely no drone or resonance at any speed, in any gear, at any rpm. Period. It's what you would expect of a system designed by Porsche for their car. I installed my system myself, without hooking up the noise bypass, and it was very straightforward. All mounting hardware was included in the kit. To me, the throaty quality of the exhaust now is the way a Porsche flat six should sound, not someone elses idea of what "sports car sound" should be. I was at a Porsche club autocross this weekend after installing the system and had several people tell me my car was the best sounding one there. The comments were very generous, and it was nice to get reinforcement on my choice. Good luck with your decision. <img src="graemlins/beerchug.gif" border="0" alt="[cheers]" />

The porsche system sounds tempting but so does the fabspeed, i've looked at the exhaust fitted and some of the nuts look pretty rusted up so I might not fit it myself! Am leaning more towards porsche at the moment.

Greetings, Heard the sound bites & the comments. Bit the bullet last week & went w/ the Porsche " sport exhaust" ( B&M short shift too) LOVE 'em both! My local PCA CVR region guys just had some Dyno testing done on several different cars- the things that put me over the top- Dealer sharpened his pencil & the Dyno says HP increase w/ Porsche "sport exhaust". Unfortunatly don't know the exact #'s yet. Ran 6K before the change- it's like a new vehicle!! Very pleased, but guys--just do something!!

&gt; Now w/ both add ons its like a new vehicle. Either way quit BS'n & get &gt; something on there! As soon as I get my trip to Lala out of the way (and the bears don't get me!) I think one will be bolted on ASAP! Cheers for the info mate Andrew PS I've got a track day this Saturday and will be hooning around a hopefully get some vids and stills up on the web - will post the links up on rennlist for all to enjoy. To see what I did to my now departed S2000 check out <a href="http://www.jimbocam.com/elvington/v8/DVw-elv8-s2000-1.mpg" target="_blank">http://www.jimbocam.com/elvington/v8/DVw-elv8-s2000-1.mpg</a> Loads more good stuff on <a href="http://www.jimbocam.com" target="_blank">http://www.jimbocam.com</a>

Whichever way you want to goI always thought the stock exhaust was hearing a hoover vacuum cleaner so I had to change the exhaust. All of them are good IMO it only comes down to the sound that you like. I chjose the Fabsppeds simply because of weight savings and definitely a step up on the stock exhaust. Now also depends on what car you have-I heard both the sport exhaust for both 99-01 model and 02 model and the 02 is simply delicious- if they had that for my car I woulda gone for that plus it's a Porsche part. I'm not taking nething away from the 99-01 sport exahust but the sound wasn't enough for me to justify changing it versus Fabs. Only problem with any aftermarket exhaust is centering the tips which was a PITA. Fabs are great sounding, liteweight and less expensive. Regards. Mike

Mike, what does your Fabspeed sound like during highway cruising vs the stock exhaust?? I have met the Fabspeed people. Their shop is close to my home in Princeton NJ and they have offered a free installation!...Hard to pass up

The sound when highway cruising(constant speed) is the least obtrusive since you're not modulating throttle. Where it really shines is during shifting/full throttle/turning on ignition especially inside a parking garage-sweet : ). I didn't find it invasive at all during highway cruising and IMO sounded better then the stock one-lower grunt. Regards. Mike

The Porsche sport exhaust on my '02 C4S that I have had since mid-Feb convinced me to get the car. I have enjoyed every minute of it since! It produces sounds that vary depending on rpm and that are very communicative. I have little perspective on other exhaust systems, although I have read many positive comments on a number of systems, including Fabspeed and RUF. The Porsche system apparently has some electronic control. The sound is not intrusive at highway speeds. The throaty sound rounds out the driving experience nicely.

Hear are my comments posted in the local PCA club newsletter. The Porsche OEM Sport Exhaust system is designed with vacuum controlled dampers that open and close an approximately 1" diameter muffler bypass pipe. Porsche designed it be controlled by the speed of the car through a wiring harness and relay. It is designed to be open between 0-25 mph and opening again somewhere above 40 mph. This was designed to be quiet when driving through residential neighborhoods in Europe. I have a custom installation that is controlled by an additional switch in my console that allows me to open and close the bypass by the touch of a button. Sport mode (louder) light on, standard mode (quiet) light off. I works great and the car roars when I put my foot down and it can be quiet when I want it to be (in the neighborhood early in the morning, late at night and when I fire my C4 up in the garage).

Hogan (Andrew?), More options might be the last thing you want but you could also consider the Roock exhaust, available from JZ Machtech (you are in the UK, I guess). I saw JZ answering a question about it on their web site forum with "try it and just return it if you don't like it" - seems pretty fair!