PSE Volume

[RMJ891]

I appreciate there is another PSE thread at the moment, but I have a slightly different question.

Is having PSE specced, but switched off, quieter than not having PSE specced? For instance, say for argument's sake not having PSE produces a sound that is (a made up value of) 100, is having PSE but with it "on" = 110 and "off" = 90, or is "on" = 120 and "off" = 110

Essentially I appreciate that having PSE set to "on" will be louder than not having it specced, but I wondered how quiet it goes when switched off, and whether it will always be louder than just not speccing it.

Sometimes it's fun to make a racket, but on a 5 hour motorway journey you just want quiet (and it is making me wonder whether I should go for an M4 / C63, which I know can be very comfortable over long distances, rather than a 718)...

Ta very much

[Gorsh]

With PSE off it's always louder than a non PSE car I would say, but not by much at low revs/throttle such as when cruising. My BGTS is not noisy at Motorway speed unless accelerating to increase speed. Somewhere around 4k revs the exhaust is a lot noisier under acceleration, almost as loud as with the PSE switched on.

A few notice droning at 70mph cruise (PSE off), especially with PDK which is in 7th and revs are quite low - but it's not an issue for most owners.

With PSE on it's noisier at all times under acceleration and pops on overrun, the higher the revs the noisier it is.

[bcr5784]

As Gorsh says PSE is basically noisier than non-PSE - even when switched off. The rear silencer boxes of the PSE system are smaller than those of the standard system.

[jackliebling]

sorry to contradict you both, but I would say differently.

I bought my 991.1 S in October 2015. It didn't have PSE, I had the PSE installed in Feb 2016.

I would say that the non-PSE had more loud throaty parp when accelerating than with the PSE OFF. Of course, with the PSE on there is no comparison, the car sounds much more aggressive than either. So the PSE OFF is quite discreet at all times...

My 2p...

[RMJ891]

Thanks guys, interesting to hear the different answers. I've had two drives in a 718 CS, but both from the East London OPC so can never get over 50mph, and both in non-PSE cars.

I'm currently in an Audi S1, and every couple of months do a cross country journey that's 5-6 hours each way, and the wind noise and drone make it exhausting (I used to hire a Golf / BMW 118d or something, and they were very comfortable!).

90% of the time I'm happy with the car being as loud as you like (hence wanting the ability to have PSE on), but I don't know how I'll find out whether the same (or worse) issues will persist on the long drives...

[bcr5784]

jackliebling said:

sorry to contradict you both, but I would say differently.

I bought my 991.1 S in October 2015. It didn't have PSE, I had the PSE installed in Feb 2016.

I would say that the non-PSE had more loud throaty parp when accelerating than with the PSE OFF. Of course, with the PSE on there is no comparison, the car sounds much more aggressive than either. So the PSE OFF is quite discreet at all times...

My 2p...

Not sure that it would necessarily be the same on a 781 as a 991.1. Not driven a non PSE 991.1 but certainly found that the 991.1 with the PSE off was certainly noisier that my non-PSE 981 - if that is relevant.

That said I found the non-PSE 781 (I hope you are keeping up!) exhaust too noisy, so if PSE off on a PSE exhaust is quieter that would be a plus as far as I am concerned. As I say that seems counter intuitive since the silencer boxes are definitely smaller with PSE on a 718.

Sorry should have said the 991.2 not 991.1 that I drove.

Edited by bcr5784 on Thursday 15th December 13:41

[RMJ891]

From my (low speed) drives of the 718 CS, I'd agree that there was a lot of engine sound in the cabin.

If PSE set to off was significantly louder than that, it may actually be a problem for me, given that mine wouldn't be just for B-road blasts on the weekend.

[Miopyk]

I'll go with the PSE is louder off than a non PSE car. I had a Macan S without and now have a Macan GTS with and the GTS is louder off, although I would understand if this was down to the extra horses. The wife's Cayman is definitely louder with PSE off than the loaner she had without PSE a couple of weeks ago.

[Maxym]

Comparing my non-PSE 981 Cayman S with my current GTS I'd say the PSE is louder off than on the non-PSE car, but mainly noticeable on an M-way cruise.

[RMJ891]

Thanks all - seems that most are in agreement that the PSE specced but off is louder than the standard exhaust. Shame that you say that it's most noticeable on a motorway cruise - that's when you don't want the engine to be loud!

[Maxym]

I wouldn't say it was intrusive. Just a little bit louder than the standard exhaust.

[Urowho]

Can't help on the PSE but when I take long M way journeys in my 987s I usually put the roof down. And some Bose noise cancelling headphones or my sure noise cancelling in ears on. Quiet journey and can listen to music, radio, satnav at nice quiet volumes. The other 98% of the time I can't see how PSE couldn't be better.

[bcr5784]

I think the other point to note at motorways speeds (on British motorways in particular) that tyre roar is, depending on the surface, often the loudest noise by far. So if a quiet motorway cruise is an important issue, then a Cayster is not ideal.

[RMJ891]

Yeah this is something I'm thinking (and I guess the Macan GTS would be the same). The ideal for me would be to have a Cayman and a something else, but since it would be my only car I am slightly concerned if it would be deafening on a long ride (an M4 and a C63 would, despite large tires, be much more comfortable on a long run...).

Just a shame no one seems to offer me more than a 20 minute spin with someone next to me who knows nothing about the car.