this might sound stupid, but are boxster exhaust systems rigidly mounted
 

remember this is my first boxer,
i am in the middle of changing my transmission fluid when i realized the aftermarket dual fartcan system the previous owner has installed is completely rigid to the car body.
i have never come across this on a car or truck before and am now wondering if it causing the amount of droning i get in the car?
and i mean solid, i can do chin ups on it and nothing moves.

It's the aftermarket fart can muffler that is causing the drone. The muffler is mounted solid.

Yes, the entire exhaust is rigid mounted to the engine/transmission.

**************** i thought i was on to something.
the droning has to go, i am just looking for cheaper alternatives before i cut those cans out.
how does the exhaust not break? the engine has to move under load, how does that not snap the exhaust system ?

The engine and trans are mounted on flexible rubber mounts (same as any car). The exhaust is mounted to the the engine and transmission, not the chassis or body. The engine/trans/exhaust all move together.

Droning is caused by lack of cross pipe between the two engine exhaust banks. Stock mufflers and some aftermarket have cross pipes or phase chambers where exhaust gasses from the two banks are mixed so that the opposing sound waves phase each other out and prevent droning.

it wasn't the creation of the droning i was thinking about, but the transmitting of the droning into the cabin for lack of isolation mounts.
but i get you, motor, tranny and exhaust are commonly mounted on a machinery raft like a ship component.
while were at it, what is the point of the aluminum triangular loop at the rear of the transmission? it would seem like a mount / support but mine isn't connected to the transmission. is a bracket missing?

Not sure what you mean. There's a triangular spacer that goes between the rear of the transmission and the OEM muffler bracket (#6 in the diagram).

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...7F5F5BC7A9.png



Or the aluminum bar that connects the skid plate to the underside of the trunk (#7)?

http://i875.photobucket.com/albums/a...DDFE8BED7C.png

^^^ What he said. ^^^

The entire system (engine/trans/exhaust) is mounted to the chassis at only three points: front engine mount (rubber isolation) and two rear transmission mounts (high viscosity fluid) to reduce NVH. Thus, the drone isn't likely coming thru the mounts, its just acoustic sound that is transmitted through the whole car. Do a search on exhaust drone and you'll find lots of posts about what others have done to reduce or eliminate it.

Or the aluminum bar that connects the skid plate to the underside of the trunk (#7)?

yes that is what i was trying to explain, is it only a skid plate support?

Yes. It also has a heat shield attached to it.