I don’t have any mods on the car, followed break-in religiously and currently have 2,500 miles in the car. All I can say is the sound is spectacular. The more I take it up to redline the better it sounds during my next drive. I know the metallurgy can impact the resonance in these cars as they go through heat cycles. It’s just epic!

 

Many have said the 718 isn't as glorious as the 981 and that may be true. But you have to give Porsche credit for doing as well as they have with the 4.0 considering all the emissions hoops they've had to navigate. I'm very pleased so far.

 

I concur that the sound does indeed get better. I am at 1,800 miles on my GT4. It still could use some help though, IMO. At a minimum the GFP delete with a aftermarket OAP is going to be much better. Im waiting on Kline inonel OAP and rear with an eye on the headers soon thereafter. The GT4 deserves to sound right, but glad you are satisfied with the stock set up as it will save you $$$ and time.

 

I also have a feeling the sound improves with use. I don't recall my Spyder sounding particularly exciting, but last Saturday I took it out the first time this year (currently around 4000 km ie. 2500 miles on it) was was pleasantly surprised. It sounded better than I remembered or expected. It does lack the high pitched high RPM sound the GT3 or 981 GT4 give through mixing of the two banks with centre exit exhaust, but it's not bad at all. Maybe I won't mess with the exhaust on it.

 

I'm actually looking forward to it. After my recently annulled marriage to a 997.2 GT3RS with its oh-so-incredible-say-to-the-police "Over here" exhaust note... I'm going to enjoy something a bit "tamer". The RS was as you'd expect -incredible, and the PERFECT Porsche for 2-3 hour EPIC runs, but after that it gets tiring. I even used my Sony Noise-cancelling headphones on long trips.

The two 718 Spyders I drove, each in the breaking periods, I thought the sound was fine. If you've got that boy-racer in you and love the off-throttle burbles etc... then it may not be for you. But I'm hearing murmurings of great things from those above 4000 RPMs.

 

You are not alone.

Maybe the trick is to wait until you can bring the revs up to the redline before deciding to tweak it or not? Also doesn’t the stock rear section mix the banks? I thought I saw a Soul video where they scoped the OEM box.... I’ll see if I can dig that up.

 

I think these cars sound excellent on the inside to begin with for sure. The intake sound is as glorious as ever.

The "worse" sound is not so much emissions and sound regs (though the latter are to blame for the valved exhaust staying closed until 4000 rpm anyway) but the fact the diffuser has split the exhaust into two different sides for each bank. It's like the RSR race car which sounded glorious with the center exhaust and then they ran two side exhausts and it sounded a bit crap. Mixing the 6 cylinders together is what makes symphony.

 

I've heard a (US) 718 GT4 start up and the sound easily filled the showroom.

 

IMO they sound good but you do hear a lot of mechanical noises (probably the new injectors) that detract from enjoying the exhaust/induction sound in the lower RPMs/windows open....at least on mine that has less than 200 miles.

 

Stock exhaust mixes the banks on the valves closed path, but not valves open part. Aftermarket exhausts fix this by introducing an x-pipe on the valves open path.

 

I waited until after break-in (about 950 miles) before installing my Akropovic overaxle pipes, as I wanted to have a baseline for sound and power. They definitely increased the volume of the car, but I do agree that the car does seem to have increased in sound level over the past few hundred miles. I'm now up to about 1850 miles and it sounds absolutely glorious and intoxicating.

Ron

 

Need to pile on the miles and get to 800-1000 miles quick!
I already disconnected and plug the vacuum line to the valves....but have the Soul Race system and Cargraphics race headers in the garage ready to go.

 

Ron would love to meet up and hear that in person! 😁. I just hit 2800!

 

Absolutely. Lots of autocross starting up now, so will be out at BMP the next two weekends for that. You should have come to the PCA practice last weekend!

Way to pile those miles on!!

Ron

 

BlackBeauty,

Thanks for your excellent review of the Stock-Exhaust as you have accumulated miles.
I much-much prefer to leave my GT4 as it comes from Porsche and not mess around changing exhaust components.

As I have now read your post numerous times I'm thinking I will without any doubt easily live with the GT4 Stock-Exhaust.

Happy motoring buddy,
Terry
USA