Dennis C

I just got back from my neighborhood HOA meeting. Had multiple comments about the sound of my stock 997.1 TT. These were positive comments, and they surprised me. They included:

"I can always tell when you're leaving early in the morning. I hear your car start up."

"Your car is loud, and I like it."

"There are a few cars in the neighborhood that I can always hear, and yours is one do them."

It's funny how I feel like my car is so quiet, but my neighbors don't really see it that way. Again, these were positive comments. People like the way the car sounds. Your perception depends heavily on your point of view.

nzskater

Is your exhaust stock or AM? I have had the same happen to me - people following me and commenting on how loud my car is, but me feeling like it's quiet. I have a stock exhaust.

993MAN

People also say that too me, and i think they're just sliming up so they can go for a ride

But after the 360 I think the Turbo is really quiet. But I like it like that.

Dennis C

My 997 TT is stock.

My 996 C4S had an aftermarket exhaust and it was much louder, but I didn't get as many comments about it.

LexVan

Those sound like a lot of "back-handed compliments". Most of the great sound our cars leave behind, are in our wake, for others to hear/enjoy.

aa909

Maybe they were commenting "positively" because they like your new quieter turbo vs your previous louder C4S LOL!!

Dennis C

That may very well be true!

I just thought it was funny that I feel like my turbo is soooo quiet but everybody seems to hear it!

kchu221

niceee my HOA hates me...:/

MKIVdan

Dennis, we have quite the opposite situation............ I have a catless exhaust for my turbo and I don't think my neighbors like the 6am wake up call with it and I certainly don't think they like the Friday-Saturday night 2am arrival back from being a hooligan.

triplenet

My neighborhood is filled with exotics and big trucks with huge exhausts .... Saturday mornings are like cars & coffee ....

Yogi911

When i drove my buddies 981 CaymanS while he drove my 997tt i realized just how loud and nice the stock exhaust is...Problem is you can only hear it from outside/behind the car.

Now i have the Kline w/200 cell and while it is definitely louder than stock i wouldnt say it is that noticeable in cabin with the windows up (louder yes, exhaust "sounding" no i would say)...that being said with the windows down or in a tunnel, next to some reflection walls it definitely is loud so i imagine from the outside it must be pretty aggressive since the stock was.

speed21

The stock systems may sound fine from outside at low speed but it sure sounds terrible at wot.....like someone opening a gas bottle valve. Inside it sounds like a dyson. Very underwhelming. I thought the stock note was the most disappointing thing about the entire car. In fact it was in many senses a deal breaker for a Porsche.

Dennis C

I agree. That's why I still find myself listening to audio clips of Kline and Europipe systems....

Steve 96C4S

I found it curious when I was reading here for months before I recently bought my car that the first thing "I should get" is a new exhaust as the stock one isn't that loud or exciting.

I thought to myself... "hogwash". The car is expensive enough (I could barely afford the car as it was) and I'm not going to spend another dime on it. Plus, I wouldn't want a loud exhaust. I find them unappealing to me (on a car that I own, that is). I kept it stock, for sure.

I live in an urbanist neighborhood and the houses are right on top of one another. I didn't want to pi** off my neighbors either by buying an obnoxiously loud car.

In the end, I find my car to be as quiet as a mouse, much quieter than my stock 1996 C4S I just sold. That's just my perception from being inside it. I could be wrong.

But, when people come up to me after parking it, they do comment on how great and loud it sounds. I guess the soundproofing is really goo in my car because I can't hear it at all. Same for my MB S63. Doesn't sound that loud to me but to others, they say it sounds like a beast.

Dennis C

For what it's worth, the exhaust sound is much better when I drive with the top open. I can hear the deep rumble much better at low RPMs as well as the little burble when I lift off of the throttle. The sound at WOT leaves something to be desired, but I definitely think it sounds better on the outside than the inside.