PSE retrofit worth it on 981 Boxster?
#16
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I recently added the Soul Valvetronic exhaust to my 981 '13 Boxster S.
The sound is magnificent on track and on highway.
At COTA last weekend, I had a few people comment on the great sound of my "mere" Boxster as I went up the main straight at full throttle. (My run group was littered with GT3's, GT3RS', a pair of GT2RS' and 2 McLaren Senna's. (The Senna's hardly make a sound at 150+.)
The cool part is, when it was time to drive home, I just hit button 2 on my Homelink overhead, and the car converted to street quiet sound for the 220 mile drive home..
The sound is magnificent on track and on highway.
At COTA last weekend, I had a few people comment on the great sound of my "mere" Boxster as I went up the main straight at full throttle. (My run group was littered with GT3's, GT3RS', a pair of GT2RS' and 2 McLaren Senna's. (The Senna's hardly make a sound at 150+.)
The cool part is, when it was time to drive home, I just hit button 2 on my Homelink overhead, and the car converted to street quiet sound for the 220 mile drive home..
We designed our Valved Exhaust to be like PSE+ - just as calm with valves closed but slightly more aggressive with valves opened while keeping drone to a minimum with our drone fighting mufflers. You would need to wire in our valve controller which is the most difficult part, but you can control the valves by pairing our included key fobs with your HomeLink buttons! You can also make a custom set of exhaust tips to your liking. Different logo, different finish - we can do it - make it yours. We always invite anyone considering an exhaust upgrade to contact us so we can chat about getting you the ideal setup - regardless if it's our solution in the end or not.
![](https://soulpp.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Soul-Performance-Products-981-Valved-Exhaust-System-Product-Satin-Black-Straight-Cut-Single-Wall-Tips.jpg)
-Mike
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SOUL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
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jwheel@soulpp.com
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SOUL PERFORMANCE PRODUCTS
Quality Exhaust Solutions, Fair Pricing, and Outstanding Service
John Gaydos- Owner, Performance Specialist
Cell - (484) 883-6197
johng@soulpp.com
Jon Wheel - Marketing Manager
jwheel@soulpp.com
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#17
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Yes, it’s worth it. Definitely. Couple of points (as someone that paid to install PSE on a base 981 Cayman):
- The sound is glorious, much better than the standard exhaust (while driving/accelerating - I’ll come back to that later).
- Come resale time, for better or worse, most people prefer OEM
- Be careful on using an Indy - I don’t know what programming is like on a 987 but I used a VERY high profile indy locally who said it would be ‘no problem’ because they had a ‘PIWIS equivalent’ but ultimately were unable to program after several attempts & I had to go to dealer. They even wanted to charge me more hours for the install than the dealer quoted. Do yourself a favor: get a quote from an Indy that you trust & if the quotes are even REMOTELY close (couple of hundred bucks?), use the dealer.
- UN-like the 991 (I have two of them currently with PSE), pressing ONLY the tailpipes (PSE) button, does NOT change the sound at idle. Some folks mistake the change in tone when they press “Sport” to PSE but it’s really the change in idle speed that does that. I was disappointed about this b/c, in my 991s, JUST pressing the tailpipes buttons drops the tone an octave. I even thought something was wrong with the system so I had it checked out at two different dealers - they both said essentially the same thing: “the system in the 991 is executed VERY differently than the 981 and the 981 was behaving as it was supposed to”. It could be that there WAS a change but my ear wasn’t sensitive enough to catch it? Also, maybe the 3.4 is different (but I doubt it as the exhausts are the same). Anyway, something to consider.
All I can think of for now - good luck!
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steve.oohh (11-01-2023)
#18
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I took the exhaust off of my 2014 Boxster base and sent to Fister in CA. They work their magic and send back the same exhaust but sounds much meaner and throatier. Doubt it is a dramatic as the PSE or full Soul kit, but it is less pricey and not difficult to install. No electrical changes at all which is a big part of the PSE expense. I also put on the Soul X Pipe with dual chrome tips for a dramatic aesthetic upgrade. I think it is a great upgrade over stock for not a ton of $$$. Fister is great to deal with as well.
Cheers!
Cheers!
#19
Burning Brakes
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I blame Porsche for not making some things standard like PSE. It is standard on certain models, but should be in all. There probably isn't a huge difference in their cost between the stock exhaust and PSE. Both require about the same amount of metal. I realize it's just an extra money maker for them on certain models, but would be so nice to have it on every ICE Porsche. I've only not had PSE once in 10 Porsches, on a 2009 997 S. Really made the car seem less enjoyable to drive and didn't own it as long as I had planned to. Porsche pours R&D into PSE to extract just the perfect sound for each model. Of course the 718 is only going to sound so good, but that's a different issue. I've never heard any after market system sound anywhere close as good. Not including headers in this dialogue. That's a separate argument.
#20
Racer
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+1 I have the PSE on my 2013 Boxster S and I love the sound it makes, I only have it off early in the morning or late at night in the neighborhood otherwise I love it, specifically the burbles and pops when you come off the throttle. Seriously considering putting it on the Cayman it sounds so good.
#22
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Thanks all! Suncoast has a discount on the PSE system for $2095 excluding chrome tips and dealer install labor. Do the chrome tips make any difference in sound or will I be fine with the stock tips? Also is the PSE on the GT4/Spyder the same as it is for the other Caymans/Boxsters?
If any RLers are interested in selling a slightly used 981 PSE, feel free to PM me!
If any RLers are interested in selling a slightly used 981 PSE, feel free to PM me!
#23
Rennlist Member
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Thanks all! Suncoast has a discount on the PSE system for $2095 excluding chrome tips and dealer install labor. Do the chrome tips make any difference in sound or will I be fine with the stock tips? Also is the PSE on the GT4/Spyder the same as it is for the other Caymans/Boxsters?
If any RLers are interested in selling a slightly used 981 PSE, feel free to PM me!
If any RLers are interested in selling a slightly used 981 PSE, feel free to PM me!
https://www.getporscheparts.com/oem-...bC1oNi1nYXM%3D
BTW, the chrome tips make no difference in sound or performance.
#24
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Another RL sponsor, getporscheparts.com has the same PSE system for $2,085 with free shipping. No sales tax unless you live in the state of Maryland. No affiliation, just a happy customer.
https://www.getporscheparts.com/oem-...bC1oNi1nYXM%3D
BTW, the chrome tips make no difference in sound or performance.
https://www.getporscheparts.com/oem-...bC1oNi1nYXM%3D
BTW, the chrome tips make no difference in sound or performance.
#25
Rennlist Member
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You are welcome. They always offer slightly lower price than Suncoast but the biggest attraction is the free shipping for $299+ orders. The only drawback is that their website is not as easy to navigate as Suncoast's. I usually shoot them emails for price inquiries and they respond very well to emails. gethelp@getporscheparts.com
#26
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Had my Boxster S for about a year now and after all the reviews I'd gathered, there is no escape from it for the PSE. My S came alive after the install with pronounce gurgles and pops on throttle lifts. When you go WOT it will scream like a rocket launching.
I was lucky enough to tracked down this low milage CPO 2013 launch edition (Platinum Silver w/ Carrera Red top and full leather interior). It had all the sport goodies PDK, SC, PASM, PTV but no PSE. Now finally this S is complete.
I was lucky enough to tracked down this low milage CPO 2013 launch edition (Platinum Silver w/ Carrera Red top and full leather interior). It had all the sport goodies PDK, SC, PASM, PTV but no PSE. Now finally this S is complete.
#28
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I'll keep it short & sweet here. There is absolute no droning for the PSE. Comparing to the stock exhaust, it's a bit lower octive in sound. I have no means of logical measuring but with my ears. When on Sport mode it will get louder (the beauty of the buttons). WOT will scream as I'd mentioned (what a wonderful sound).
I had a Remus system on my S before this so the difference is the Remus is more of a raw and loud sound. The plus side on the Remus is the slight gain in HP. I do feel it when start going. There was a slight drone at around 2K rpm. Once past that it also sounded great but don't scream like the PSE.
In short I think the PSE is the more mature choice for the Boxster with the option of off/on button.
I had a Remus system on my S before this so the difference is the Remus is more of a raw and loud sound. The plus side on the Remus is the slight gain in HP. I do feel it when start going. There was a slight drone at around 2K rpm. Once past that it also sounded great but don't scream like the PSE.
In short I think the PSE is the more mature choice for the Boxster with the option of off/on button.