Adding performance exhaust to 2001 Boxster S

[bwillia080261]

I put a relatively inexpensive exhaust system on my 01 S that I bought from a retailer on Ebay. There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is there is drone at low RPM's. The good news is it sounds amazing at high RPM's and it has more power. I'm convinced this system is essentially glass packs but I was surprised how much performance gain I got. I think they are restriction free for the most part.

[Redboxs]

Originally Posted by bwillia080261

I put a relatively inexpensive exhaust system on my 01 S that I bought from a retailer on Ebay. There is good news and bad news here. The bad news is there is drone at low RPM's. The good news is it sounds amazing at high RPM's and it has more power. I'm convinced this system is essentially glass packs but I was surprised how much performance gain I got. I think they are restriction free for the most part.

I am considering one of these systems. Or borla, not sure yet.. I have a question though.. Does it still scream like a flat 6 or is it more like a V6? My tahoe has a mild mellow tone with a flowmaster 70 series. My hyundai sounds stock at idle and a weedeater at WOT.. I just LOVE the screaming flat 6 sound that comes from my box. It's addictive, it refills my soul.. anywho, so, in your opinion.. do you lose that with a louder less restrictive exhaust?

And the sound clips that I've listened to (youtube etc) really don't help much. Because I know how different it is in real life.

Thanks!!

[AcesSpeedShop]

I live in an area without emissions testing so I had some flexibility in my exhaust design. First I bought a Stebro racing muffler with non-catted intermediate pipes. This combination was beyond loud and the drone on the interstate was literally painful. But the sound was amazing at full throttle. Sounded like a GT3 RSR. I went back to the stock muffler with the new intermediate pipes. My next step was a set of eBay headers. They were $99 and the best quality, best craftsmanship headers I have ever bought. The headers REALLY woke the engine up. With the headers it pulls strong to the red line and throttle response is light years beyond stock. However the headers do not have cats either so I have to trick the computer into thinking there are cats and I can usually keep it convinced for about 500 miles at a time. I have Durametric software so I reset the CEL when it occurs.

The last and current iteration replaced the stock muffler with a M2 muffler, again from eBay. I think it was $199. This muffler system gives a really good sound when driving conservatively but sounds excellent when you accelerate. At the last autocross I had 2 other drivers come up and compliment me on the sound the car makes when racing.

So my combination is eBay headers (no cats), Stebro intermediate pipes (no cats) and a M2 muffler. Great sound on throttle and no drone at highway speeds.

[biglimited]

Hello!

I have 2004 boxster s (ok i get it day after tomorrow) and i am very anxious about my future car! Is it hard to to fit aftermarket cats to these chinese headers?

[edc]

Originally Posted by biglimited

Hello!

I have 2004 boxster s (ok i get it day after tomorrow) and i am very ancious about my future car! Is it hard to to fit aftermarket cats to these chinese haeders?

I'm in the UK so my car comes with only 1 pair of cats anyway. I have had the cheap ebay manifolds on both my Boxsters and with the current one have them mated to a pair of 100 cell cats. I didn't do the work mysefl but they seemed to offer up and fit quite easily. A Carnewal modified exhaust finishes it off.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by biglimited

Hello!

I have 2004 boxster s (ok i get it day after tomorrow) and i am very anxious about my future car! Is it hard to to fit aftermarket cats to these chinese headers?

Yes, the 2000 and up 986 have two sets of cats and the set that is monitored by the computer is integrated into the stock "headers". You can get replacement headers with sport cats, but they are $$$.

[edc]

Originally Posted by steved0x

Yes, the 2000 and up 986 have two sets of cats and the set that is monitored by the computer is integrated into the stock "headers". You can get replacement headers with sport cats, but they are $$$.

That might be true in North America but in the UK and much of the rest of Europe the 986 only ever came with 1 pair of cats no matter what year of car. The headers are cat-less.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by edc

That might be true in North America but in the UK and much of the rest of Europe the 986 only ever came with 1 pair of cats no matter what year of car. The headers are cat-less.

Very true! I fall into the trap of being US-Centric and assuming everything else is too