How to make your engine sound more like a boxer?

[edbelton]

Not too loud, but something more than stock w/o spending too much money. I somehow lke the WRX's sound...

[Pat]

It's not going to sound like a WRX regardless of what you do to it. Ours has six cylinders, while the WRX has four. Search for various aftermarket exhaust video clips for our cars. That's pretty much what you can end up with.

[vath2001]

Cordless drill, 1/4" drill bit and about 400 holes.
Did you need to pass any emissions testing?

[extanker]

Originally Posted by vath2001

Cordless drill, 1/4" drill bit and about 400 holes.
Did you need to pass any emissions testing?

i was gonna say something like that.....on another note [pun intended] isnt there a sliding clamp trick to give it an exhaust leak

[Boxtaboy]

Originally Posted by extanker

i was gonna say something like that.....on another note [pun intended] isnt there a sliding clamp trick to give it an exhaust leak

That sliding clamp trick is used on the 987 exhausts with the dual cannisters, not the 986 single can units.

[extanker]

my bad.....

[5:04]

You do nothing since it already sounds like a boxer.

Subaru's don't sound like that because of cylinder count or engine layout. That's a common misconception. They sound like that due to unequal length exhaust manifolds. Listen to an Sti with equal length headers/manifold and the "burble" is gone.

I agree I like the sound of the suby's though

[edbelton]

Must confess... I thought the wrx was the real boxer sound and by adding two more cylinders would make it incredibly pleasant...
So the stock boxster sounds like a real boxer engine? It just makes that vacuum type noise, but that is only at low revs ))

[eightsandaces]

My Fiat four is louder too, I think it's funny you are trying to get a Porsche to sound like a Subie. If you wanted a louder Porsche you should have chosen an old school air cooled unit with suitable aftermarket mufflers.

[Boxtaboy]

I think he's just confused about the sound emanating from the engine vs the exhaust. The sound you're referring to comes more from the exhaust tuning, not the engine layout. For example, Nissan used basically the same exact 3.5L v6 in their 350z sports car and their Maxima, but the Maxima's exhaust is tuned to be sedan like quiet, whereas the Z is tuned to sound aggressive at low revs to make that growl you always hear when they drive by.

Similarly, the Subaru WRX's exhaust is tuned to sound more aggressive than say, their Legacy sedan. With the flat 4 engine in the Legacy, you don't notice that same burble you do when a WRX drives by right? So you are confusing an engine type with an exhaust tune. If you like a more aggressive exhaust tune, get a different exhaust for your Boxster.

The early Boxsters in particular (97-02), had extremely wimpy sounding exhaust tuning (unless you ordered their PSE). After 03, Porsche started tuning their exhausts to sound a little more sportscarzy. In my opinion, Porsche should've just supplied every car standard with their PSE system...I mean, why should you have to pay extra for the car to sound like a sports car?...Nissan doesn't charge extra for their nice sounding Z exhaust...it comes standard with the sports car, but no...Porsche needs to upcharge their customers.

I also hated the sedate sound from my 01's basic muffler, and my wife hated the drone from my pal's GHL, so I compromised and put on a Dansk exhaust that wasn't as loud as the GHL, but still had a little more bark without any drone that I could detect....

Check out the goofy video I took:
Dansk Exhaust Video

[harryrcb]

Hi guys couldn't help myself after reading your comments on the bikers, I got even with one the other day, we were pulling up to a red light and I had turn left so as I passed him I rapped my throttle and downshifted, Must have scared the *#%& out of him, he cussed me out for the entire duration of the red light. I just snickered
Here is a link to utube on my exhaust sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yWX9buGSU
and another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rk1gsC_2DU

[coreseller]

Originally Posted by sppmo

" I really wish we had some sort of dump system so I could blast the next **************************** on a two wheel tractor (Harley-Davidson) I have to sit next to at a stop light. I guess they think 'cause I'm sitting in a sports-car with the top down, I'm gonna like the sound of a puking two cylinder tractor with open pipes.
If we start running them all off the road, will they stop that "loud pipes save lives" BS?"

A little education:

Loud pipes on motorcycles save lives. Most people who drive cars do not expect or look out for motorcycles while they are "driving". But when they hear a loud noise they do pay attention. Sorry you don't like it when you are sitting next to them at a red light. If may be annoying for a minute or two but them comming home to there kids alive is worth it - at least I think so.

A little WORTHWHILE education:

If coming home alive to your three kids is important, don't ride a motorcycle.

P.S. Straight pipes on Harleys are annoying and obnoxious, period.

[Boxtaboy]

That's fine that they are loud when in the street, but what is the purpose of them revving it so much when they are in a neighborhood parking lot when people are trying to sleep?

They seriously need to make a HSE (Hog Sports Exhaust) that you can switch off in a neighborhood!

[The Radium King]

given all those that like the exhaust sound of the 987 better, anyone know if it is possible to custom fit 987 mufflers in a 986? probably get them cheap from someone who's upgraded, and if they fit underneath it's just a bit of fabrication. uncertain as to how weights compare, however.

[extanker]

i hope the day hasnt come that we run people off the road because of the exhaust noise

[BoxsterDuke]

Originally Posted by harryrcb

......Here is a link to utube on my exhaust sound
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78yWX9buGSU
and another
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Rk1gsC_2DU

Ok.......your Borla exhaust gets my vote so far, sounds awesome!

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by sppmo

A little education:

Loud pipes on motorcycles save lives. Most people who drive cars do not expect or look out for motorcycles while they are "driving". But when they hear a loud noise they do pay attention. Sorry you don't like it when you are sitting next to them at a red light. If may be annoying for a minute or two but them comming home to there kids alive is worth it - at least I think so.

What a load of verbal diarrhea, just like every other post you've made on this forum.

Originally Posted by coreseller

"A little WORTHWHILE education:
If coming home alive to your three kids is important, don't ride a motorcycle.
P.S. Straight pipes on Harleys are annoying and obnoxious, period."

Absolutely, on both points - well spoke!

[S3adrag0n]

Easy on the Harley... I'm also a Harley rider when I'm not too lazy to hang on to my handle bars.

[chaudanova]

another way to make it sound like a subaru... throw a subaru motor in the boxster... not to let the cat out of the bag on it, but it's currently being done...

(not by me)

[Mark_T]

Originally Posted by S3adrag0n

Easy on the Harley... I'm also a Harley rider when I'm not too lazy to hang on to my handle bars.

No sweat dude. Although I'm totally serious about my hatred of loud pipes, my ribbing of Harleys and Harley riders is all in good fun. My best bud, after touring the continent on an airhead Beemer for 20-some years, just went out and bought himself a brand new Ultra Glide Classic. Even though he's a respectable businessman in his late 40's, we constantly razz him about all that stereotypical Harley stuff. You should have seen his face when I put some cardboard on the floor under the engine the first time he parked it in my garage! We bought him a do-rag with skulls on it, photoshopped his face onto some scuzzy biker's picture and emailed it around, make remarks about "you fkn Harley guys", and on and on. Good thing he has a sense of humor!

Side note: He runs stock pipes and ********************es about them being too loud. All his bikes have always been as quiet as he could possibly make them and has never had a crash in nearly 30 years of touring. He always says that if you ride smart and always stay aware of threatening situations then you don't need to make a nuisance of yourself. He despises these straight-pipe cowboys because they give all motorcyclists a bad rep.