People complained about the 997 being too quiet. Now some complain about PSE on the 991 being too loud. I love PSE on my 991 GTS. It was great on my 997 GTS as well.

I drive my wife's Audi if I want quiet.

 

A totally plausible explanation. I never could get my previous Turbos to sound anywhere near as good as 991.1 PSE, or even 997 PSE, and that included throwing many thousands of dollars at the problem.

Obviously the 991.2 Carreras are much different setups than 996 and 997 Turbos, and your explanation makes a lot of sense. i.e., the more "turboey" you make the motor, the more it's going to sound like my previous Turbos, and the less "turboey" you tune it, the more it will sound like a Carrera.

All a matter of small degree, I'm sure, but sounds like it's noticeable nonetheless.

 

It is not about loud or quiet.

It is about the two different ways in which PSE changes the sound, and liking one but not liking the other.

I see a high chance that what I suggested earlier is trivial. Manually open the valves, turn PSE off, you would know whether there is engine management involvement in the burbles.

 

AMEN. Or just order a 991 without PSE or take it off.

 

Curious: Does one of the component settings on Individual mode reduce/eliminate the pops/gurgles -- or is it something specific to Sport+ only?

 

I should learn to RTFM. On page 245 of the 991.2 Owner's Manual they show what happens in the various drive modes. Under Sport is the interesting option called "Backfire" which I would think is the pops and burbles on overrun. That option is only "enabled" under Sport - not under Normal or Sport+. This is exactly what I have found on my car - pops and burbles are minimal under modes other than Sport. So - if you don't want the pops and burbles, then don't run Sport or if you DO run Sport, turn PSE "Off" which does a pretty good job of eliminating them.

This may be different with a 991.1 - as has been reported elsewhere in this thread. You can program this option in Individual.

 

Good info. As you posted earlier, seems likely that in the .2, its built this way to keep lag to a minimum in S+.

 

In my opinion the sounds are not fake - at least not in the same sense that another German manufacturer pipes engine sounds into the passenger compartment via the audio sound system -

How about substituting "artificial" for "fake". The popping sounds are meant to replicate the natural sounds of a race car with a racing cam where there is a significant overlap between the exhaust and intake valve openings. This overlap is ideal when the engine is near redline, but very inefficient when driving at lower RPMs where some unburnt fuel escapes out the exhaust and ignites in the very hot exhaust pipe.

 

I think what turns me off about the burbles is the nature of them, and the quantity. I just watched a few videos this weekend of the Merc C63s and the AMG GT-R. Both of them feature significant pops and burbles in their sportier modes. It's been a few months since I drove a C63, but I've got about 100 miles behind the wheel.

The burbles and pops are a tighter, shorter sound in those cars. More of a "crack" than a "gurgle" as on our cars. They are also louder, from what I remember and what I just watched again. And there are fewer. So the Mercedes sound is more of:

Snap. Or crack-snap. Occasionally there is a crack-snap-snap. Kind of sounds like an old school cap gun.

The PSE sound is lower pitch, longer durations, and more plentiful. Especially in Sport / Sport plus. The sound is more rounded, like a "pop" followed by a gurgle. Sort of like popcorn popping, or popping bubble wrap. It also happens on the overrun off throttle, whereas in the AMG's it's almost always only on the downshift. So to m it sounds more like:

Normal, PSE on: pop, gurgle-gurgle.
Sport / Sport Plus: pop-pop-gurgle-gurgle-gurglegurglegurglegurgle

Horrible video, but illustrates the sound well:

Contrast to the C63: Forward to 5:30


And the GT R. Forward to 5:00.



Personally I like the Merc's implementation better. Granted they are different engine types, so I don't think you'd get that same "snap" from the flat 6, but I wish the burbles were fewer and actually a bit louder / sharper.

 

Just for giggles, go test drive the Jag F-Type (S and R versions). They both sound like someone is banging on the bottom of the car with a hammer on throttle lift. Overall a good car but very tiny cabin.

 

Jags made the popping cool. AMGs have had it for decades. The XKR and F Type were disruptive in the car business.

 

The F-Type Coupe is a knock out. You just have to get your head around the small cabin and tiny cargo hold.

 

In my case, I can't even get my head IN the cabin, never mind around it. (6'2").

 

The XKR was one of the best cars I've owned. Support for Jag in Charlotte is awful and the only dealer near me is a crook. If not for that experience then I would be in an F Type and not a 911. Completely different cars and I'm happy with my little one

 

STG, you're a smart guy so I know you're capable of understanding the concept here, but you seem to be willfully obtuse in this thread.

Let it be explained for the umpteenth time what the issue is here:

Thank you and have a nice day.