My thoughts on the "New Sports Exhaust System for the Porsche 911 Carrera and Targa 4

http://www.porsche.com/usa/aboutporsche/pressreleases/pcna/?lang=none&pool=international-de&id=2009-01-26 For the times when the owner really needs, "a truly dynamic style of motoring" Porsche has added a button in the center console that changes the sound of the exhaust from regular to "sporting sound". I love gadgets and 'features' with a purpose.... this exhaust system does not do it for me. That's the kind of button I'd expect to see on a car that doesn't already have substance, or one that could use some style enhancements by making the exhaust sound more 'sporty'. What's the point here? Isn't owning/driving/beeing seen in a 911 enough? Does Porsche really think it is necessary to give us the ability to cruise down the strip continually giving shots of gas in sporty exhaust sound mode? Apparently so.... Those are my initial thoughts anyway, I'll probably have more/different opinions after seeing/hearing one up close.

How is this new? PSE was on the 996 models as well... Its there due to mostly European regulations about sound control and hence why it is supposed to turn off at lower speeds. I like the sound personally, and its just that, a personal preference. It sounds much like most aftermarket exhaust systems, but not quite as harsh. Again, the idea is to have it one over the 50km/h speeds only, so its not like you're cruising around the strip being a knob. Its for WOT on the highway sort of idea. Cheers Aaron

The 'new' was directly from the title of that press release on the porsche website dated january 26, 2009, so... there must be something new about it (porsche usa website, maybe new in the states then?). Actually, now that I read again, "The engineers of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, have developed a new sports exhaust system for the latest generation of the 911, available as an option on new models as of February 2009."... anyway, neither here nor there. After posting, my friend and I had a chat about it and he felt it was implemented to lower the volume of the car at low speeds, for example, while driving through your neighbourhood at night. By his rationale you'd have Sport Sound! engaged unless you needed to be quiet(er). You suggest something semi-similar, but going the other direction. You'd have Sport Sound! disengaged until out of earshot. I'm curious now! I'd like to hear the difference between the sound of a non-PSE 911 and the sound of a dis-engaged PSE equipped 911. Would they be the same? ps. I also wonder if there would any performance gains or hits depending on the the state of the exhaust.

No performance increase... although there are people that think so. Check YouTube... loads of videos on and off. I did the MK1 hack on my stock cans so that its exactly the same as the PSE sound and on all the time as its modified mufflers. I like it... again, videos of the hack on YouTube. Cheers Aaron