Dealer invited me to check out a fully loaded 2009 c4s pd. with pse , sport passim and ton of options
Some observations
1) PSE sound is present at most of the speed but not varied or loud enough to make a good audible pleasure especially from the inside of the car
2)Sport PASm in normal mode is rougher riding than regular passim and generates lot more road noise on the highways
3) my friends was with me who was checking out a 08 boxster S orange special edition and the sport exhaust in the booster with the top and windows up was better sounding and more audible, we were surprised how lighter the 08 boxster S felt compared to c4s but the c4s has mind boggling grip around the turns.

 

Two issues come to mind. First, the C4S I have to assume is a coupe. The PSE is tuned slightly differently for the coupes than the cabs. Also, the engines in this comparison are entirely different animals. The 09 C4S is a Direct Injection engine with a considerably milder sound while that Boxster is a pre-DI engine. I'm very happy with my 06 non-DI engine in that the sound comes as close as possible to my old air cooled 911s. With the introduction of the DI engines the sport exhausts just aren't able to produce that classic Porsche sound we have all learned to crave! Of course, all those DI 911 guys can laugh at me at the gas stations (since they get better economy) but I didn't buy the car for the gas mileage now did I?

 

I found the 997.2S non-PSE to be very quiet, too quiet in fact. (Comparing it to 987.1 and 997.1)

 

Or when our faster cars leave you behind

 

Or, you can't miss what you never had.

 

Me, I just look at the rev counter to make sure the engine is running. I like the civilized nature of the 997.2's exhaust note. It's not a race car and I'm not a racer. I don't like to attract attention and more would hate rather than appreciate the added db.

 

then why did you buy a 911? It's a Sports Car, and the sound is PART of it!

 

"it's not a race car"
ok Boys flame away this guy deserves it...