987.2 PSE Exhaust Tone vs 997.2 PSE Exhaust Tone
 

I'm considering moving to a 997.2 S cabriolet. I find the Boxster's handling to be nearly flawless on the roads I drive, but I would like a little extra power. For my taste, the exhaust tone on my 2010 Boxster S with PSE is absolutely perfect and is probably my favorite part of the driving experience. Does anyone have experience directly comparing the exhaust tone on a 997.2 S with PSE to the 987.2 S with PSE? I'm not sure if I would trade to the 997 if the exhaust tone isn't as nice.

Of course, I'd like to hear it for myself, but Porsches rarely come up for sale anywhere near me.

IIRC they have similar tones.

Having driven the 997.2 I wasn’t really blown away by the increase in power. In fact I would vote making some improvements to your Boxster to increase it’s power. The best bang for the buck seems to be sport headers and a tune which should net you at least 20hp and some weight loss.

I've seriously considered that as an option. Do the headers change the tone of the exhaust? I love the high pitch of the PSE.

I'd really like at least 350hp. Not sure if that can be done for much less than the cost of upgrading to a 997.2.

Sport headers and cobb/fvd/whatever tune and you will be there and then some. 3500 for headers, 1k for tune.
Also i dont think the 3.4l and 3.8l sound the same. The 3.8 is more mechanical, lumpy and deeper tone. The 3.4 sounds more exotic - with headers - higher pitch. I love it.

Thanks for sharing Hyper911. It is the high pitched tone that I find to be fantastic. Do the sport headers change the tone on the 987?

The sport headers don’t change the tone, they just increase the volume.

Thanks for the feedback, everyone!

my sport headers (long tube FVD) made it sound more exotic for sure...did not change the tone but completely enhanced it.

4K FVD Headers
1.3K Plenum, filters, TB
1K Tune

Installed, taxes shipping, etc.... @~7K$. This recipe works very well and is ~360 - 370bhp reliably.

I put a Sharkwerks 3rd muffler delete on my 997 GTS and its perfect. With PSE off its quiet and no worries firing it up at 6am in the neighbourhood, but makes a nice howl at high revs. No drone on the highway. With PSE on it sounds great at idle and low revs, blipping and down shifting around town, probably more than a bit loud at revs for city driving but awesome on the back roads and track days. The best solution.

I test drove a 997.2 Carrera 4S with PSE last week and didnt find the exhaust note to be nearly as exciting as the Boxster S with PSE. Low end growl was nice but it wasn't exciting at the top. I wonder if the difference in engine displacement is a big part of the difference or if it is more muffler acoustics. I did like the power bump but wasn't blown away by it.

Sport headers, the intake mods, and a tune may be the way for me to go. Too bad you can try before you buy!

You may get more help if you share your location. You're welcome to try mine in NC.

My 981 BGTS with race headers / protune / sport button pressed on then off / warning files are 25 and 16 megs. A tune and headers is the best bang for the buck on 981 3.4. Smaller jugs of the 3.4 vs the 3.8 result in a higher pitched howl at the same rpm imo.

981 GTS video sport button on

981 GTS video sport button off

That's an awesome offer, Garfunkle! Wish I was a little closer. I am in northeast Arkansas.