[GTS]

Great cars are great cars. Listen to the wide variety of engine combinations at next weekend's Rolex 24 Hours at Daytona and tell me which one sounds the best. Then look at the standings and see if that still correlates to on-track performance.

Engine sound has been and always will be subjective. Choose to drive whatever makes you happy. Personally, I really dig the gruff, slightly demonic, character of the 2.5L turbo flat four. It still makes me smile when it starts and whenever I put my foot down.

 

[Rjzey]

Liked the sound in my 718 CGTS. Like the sound of my new 718 GT4 even more. Never understood the hate toward the T4.

Totally agree...It's a different soundtrack compared to the F6. So what, I listen to Zeppelin and the Pink Floyd

 

[Miopyk]

We've currently got both, a 981 Cayman with PSE and 718 Boxster with PSE which I picked up just before Christmas. I don't think its that the 718 sounds bad I think its that the F6 sounds so good. If sound is one of the senses that is essential to enjoying the overall driving experience then those that experienced the F6 are likely to find the experience in the F4 somewhat disappointing.The F6 at full chat with PSE switched on sounds as good as any other high performance engine in my opinion and the F4 just can't compete.

 

[patentcad]

Porsche did an awesome job engineering the sound to include the burbles, backfires and general rumble.

Exactly. You put that car in Sport mode and it's like a soundeffexfestenhaven. Sure it's a 4 banger but it's VERY angry and Teutonic 4 banger. I like it.

 

[DriveInHouston]

I get the burbles and backfires on Sport Mode (no Sport + for me...) only when I have the Soundaktor fuse in and the PSE on.

When I removed the fuse, the burbles and backfires were gone (so fuse got a triumphant return), if I press the PSE button off, they are also gone, even with the Soundaktor fuse operational.

I think I read somewhere that there is no Soundaktor in Normal mode. I wonder whether you turn off the Soundakto if either the Sport Mode or the PSE are off.

Does anyone know?

 

[sobiloff]

Soundaktor's always on in all driving modes, which is why I pulled the fuse before I even started the engine for the first time. The intensity of the Soundaktor varies a bit, I believe, depending on mode.

 

[Laulau]

I have to admit I haven't owned a 6 cylinder Boxster, but I have tested driven 2 of them. Some "purest" seem to really hate on the 4 cylinder and make fun of its sound. I actually think it sounds pretty good and I've heard others say the same.
I would be interested in hearing from others who have had both to know how they feel about the sound. Is it really that big of a deal?

I own and drive a 2019 C63s but in a transition period of trading into a Porsche Cayman GTS 718. I am worried making the wrong decision here as the AMG sounds terrific for a V8 and for me to jump into a 2.5 4 cyl. makes me nervous. My AMG purchase was for me to use it as a DD and occassionally track work but unfortunately I was told the C63s is not suitable for track work therefore I went looking for something I like and Cayman GTS came out on top of my list. Should I go ahead with it or keep my C63s? Sorry if this is the wrong thread for this discussion. Just join and I am a newbie. Last but not least, how much better is 718 Cayman GTS vs C63s? Thank you everyone!

 

[don]

I own and drive a 2019 C63s but in a transition period of trading into a Porsche Cayman GTS 718. I am worried making the wrong decision here as the AMG sounds terrific for a V8 and for me to jump into a 2.5 4 cyl. makes me nervous. My AMG purchase was for me to use it as a DD and occassionally track work but unfortunately I was told the C63s is not suitable for track work therefore I went looking for something I like and Cayman GTS came out on top of my list. Should I go ahead with it or keep my C63s? Sorry if this is the wrong thread for this discussion. Just join and I am a newbie. Last but not least, how much better is 718 Cayman GTS vs C63s? Thank you everyone!

You know some people have likened the sound of the 2.5 T to the sound of a V8, at lower revs it is a good gruff sound and has quite a ring to it above 5000RPM. If you need it louder there are now plenty of exhaust options. You are also used to a turbo charged car so why not stick with the turbo 718 GTS?

Given you are also used to an automatic transmission I'm assuming you will wanting PDK GTS so you really don't have any choice as an NA 4.0 GTS or GT4 is only going to come in manual for some time yet. If the PDK NA 4.0 718 GTS was out now then it might create a dilemma for you.

The turbo 718 GTS is also a great daily, on par with your C63s, whilst also being a great track car. You have probably read that with a stage 1 tune and set of light weight wheels and Cup 2 tires you will get GT3 level performance but in a balanced mid-engined package making it a superb track car with super car level performance, and a nice sound to match.

In stock form it is still dam impressive on the corners and with acceleration and sound really creating some excitement.0-100 in 3.9sec and 1/4 mile in 11.9 sec is impressive as is and the guys I drive with in their tuned Golfs, M2s and Audis are always impressed with the straight line pace let alone the corners!

Alot of those who complain, arguably do so because they really don't get the opportunity to experience the joy of these cars which is not just about sound.

I have this recording from the GoPro a while back driving at the limit and I think the sound is nice and has a kind of urgency to it. Note this with the soundactor turned off.

 

[982CS]

I get the burbles and backfires on Sport Mode (no Sport + for me...) only when I have the Soundaktor fuse in and the PSE on.

When I removed the fuse, the burbles and backfires were gone (so fuse got a triumphant return), if I press the PSE button off.

Strange. I removed the Soundaktor fuse over a year ago and still get the pops and bangs in Sport (and to a much lesser extent in Sport +). Never use normal mode to be honest. Car does have PSE, which is on by default in Sport and Sport plus.

 

[HooosierDaddy]

Strange. I removed the Soundaktor fuse over a year ago and still get the pops and bangs in Sport (and to a much lesser extent in Sport +). Never use normal mode to be honest. Car does have PSE, which is on by default in Sport and Sport plus.

If I remember correctly... There are two ways to disable the soundaktor and the Direct disconnect while leaving the fuse will still give the desired cracks & pops.

Which makes me believe that pulling the fuse must disable full functionality of PSE in some fashion?

 

[JazzCatGab]

Strange. I removed the Soundaktor fuse over a year ago and still get the pops and bangs in Sport (and to a much lesser extent in Sport +). Never use normal mode to be honest. Car does have PSE, which is on by default in Sport and Sport plus.

My 2019 came with PSE as standard item. I pulled the Sondaktor fuse a month or so into ownership and love hearing other mechanical noises along with a good exhaust sound and nice pops and gurgles in Sport mode. So the feature is a Sport mode feature, with or without, the fuse. I generally run all the time in Sport for various reasons, but use Normal when I need to be as quiet as I can get and Sport+ on the track. My Individual setting is Sport for the pops and gurgles along with PASM for the stiffer suspension.

 

[CaymanMatt]

Strange. I removed the Soundaktor fuse over a year ago and still get the pops and bangs in Sport (and to a much lesser extent in Sport +). Never use normal mode to be honest. Car does have PSE, which is on by default in Sport and Sport plus.

The pops and bangs in Sport are due to extra fuel in the exhaust. It's there whether you like it or not in that mode. Does it come through the Soundaktor and make it louder inside the car? Probably.

"Pops & Bangs" is purely aesthetics, done so the car sounds cool! Historically, this existed in older race cars because of fixed timing due to chains/cams/valve relationships that were unchanging. Now people want their cars to sound like race cars so Porsche & others program your car to sound like a lesser-tech car. That doesn't make a lot of sense to me and I personally don't like it. Such is life - I'm just a curmudgeon I guess.

Sport+ eliminates the cool factor in favor of better engine response.

FWIW

 

[DriveInHouston]

Maybe it's time for fuseless Soundaktor v2.0 for me!

Perhaps now I know more what I am looking for...

 

[CRam0311]

I like driving cars. I love driving the 718. I have a base, and even though it's underpowered compared to my last car, there is way less power loss in the drivetrain, so I'm actually getting better torque. The handling, even without the VLSD of my last car, is pretty sick. Sound be damned this car drives flipping fantastic. If someone lets the "sound" detract from the pure enjoyment derived from pushing this thing around on a "spirited" drive, or taking a turn at speed.. well that's their right, but they're obviously driving the car for a completely different reason.

 

[BillyX]

Maybe it's time for fuseless Soundaktor v2.0 for me!

I'm driving a 2019 Cayman MT, fuseless. Pops and gurgles are there in Sport but not Normal mode.
With the MT the P&Gs depend on the RPM at which you shift. A long deceleration in 3rd or 4th gear is most pleasing to the ears.

 

[dreamer]

The Soundaktor has nothing to do with wether you car makes pops and bangs. It’s about the sound on the interior of your car. Disabling simply stops the amplified or synthesized (whatever you wanna call it) sound on the inside.

 

[DriveInHouston]

Normal isn't a choice for me... Other than driving for 8 hours on a freeway, I would never choose 'Normal'.

In Fuseless Soundaktor V1.0 I felt that turning the PSE off had about the same effect as pulling the fuse (more or less). I couldn't hear the Ps&Gs with PSE off, still can't. I may need to confirm that I can hear them with Fuseless Soundaktor V2.0. Probably not as loud, but I want to hear them...

 

[JazzCatGab]

Normal isn't a choice for me... Other than driving for 8 hours on a freeway, I would never choose 'Normal'.

In Fuseless Soundaktor V1.0 I felt that turning the PSE off had about the same effect as pulling the fuse (more or less). I couldn't hear the Ps&Gs with PSE off, still can't. I may need to confirm that I can hear them with Fuseless Soundaktor V2.0. Probably not as loud, but I want to hear them...

Oh, you will hear them my friend! So don't punish yourself for waiting this long (however long this was).

 

[AManWithAPorsche]

I'll chime in and say that I pulled the fuse from my Soundaktor, then put it back in, then pulled it again, then put it back in, then pulled it again (I wrote about this in another thread) and honestly I couldn't tell any difference. I left it out. Anyways with it out, nothing seems to have changed. I get pops/bangs when the car is in Sport only, not in Normal or Sport+. As someone said, I don't think the Soundaktor has anything to do with pops/bangs.

But the other thing is that I don't hear much of a difference with SE ON vs OFF. Very little difference in Normal mode, maybe some more difference in Sport/+, I need to check again.

 

[MLJJ]

True story, honest. Before I was in the market for a sports car we were in New Zealand on vacation. My wife and I were sitting on our 2nd floor blacony in Queensland enjoying beverages when I heard a snap-gurgle-pop just down the road. My wife asked what that was. My response: dunno, some exotic I don't know but it sounds good doesn't it? Next day I found the car parked - 718. A few months later I started looking into the brand and heard a couple of you-tubes which disclosed what I heard in NZ. The rest, they say, is history.