Fabspeed Exhaust on Porsche Boxster S (986)

Analyzing the performance gains with FabSpeeds exhaust on 2001 Boxster S. Reviewed Fabspeed MaxFlo and Fabspeed Supercup systems. Analized on the street, the track, and the dynamometer.

[@robertlong6704]

the most comprehensive non manufacturer’s video on this type of subject you’ll ever find. Well done

[@mikepetersen3]

Thank you Robert!!!

[@smccray760]

I rarely write anything in comments section, but this video was done very well. Found it very informative and well planned out. Great job to the author(s) of this video! Learned a lot!

[@mikepetersen3]

Glad it was helpful!

[@AkeLovesGAMES]

Surprisingly great video from a smaller channel! There's a real lack of this sort of technical content on the Boxster/Cayman platform. Hoping to see some content on the sound and performance benefits of the IPD plenum and larger throttle body, if at all possible.

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Ake, I've installed IPD, larger TB and a hi-po air intake. Dyno results complete. I will post something shortly.

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Ake, Just posted the analysis of the IPD Plenum + TB here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIO4eaF9ha92ZrM

[@FabspeedMotorsport]

Awesome video thanks for the detailed analysis!

[@jasonjones7355]

A second thank you for producing... having watched your air intake + exhaust videos, which are both well documented & detailed, I am now confident and clear about how to prioritise our budgeted dollars on a new project 986 S we are kicking off (new intake? no; upgrade exhaust? yes!)

[@mikepetersen3]

Thanks for the kuddos!

[@Claus356]

Great video. Thanks. Very in-depth analytical approach. Not many videos like this on YT - Usually just talk, and as you say snake oil. :-)

[@mikepetersen3]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@BrianGormanly]

Thank you for doing such a complete breakdown. I have the headers with free flow cats, maxflow and tune on my 01 986 s and the sound is great. I spent some time looking for the right 986 and dove some with other exhaust systems and the drone was horrible. One owner told me he would just not drive below 3k rpm.

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Brian, I agree with your assessment. The Maxflow is the best option for 95% of the drivers.

[@normychu]

What a great review man! keep up the great work. There are all these reviewers out there but your science of the review is what seperates... Thank you for making this video. just purchased 2000 986 54k original everything last month and researching what others have done to make it more fun...

[@mikepetersen3]

I appreciate that!

[@carlfogle6517]

Fabspeed, Fabspeed and Fabspeed. I have this same system on my ‘04 986, love it.

[@dylansun5116]

Very well organized comparison between the two systems. Thank you for sharing the thoughts

[@mikepetersen3]

My pleasure!

[@MW-qc7wi]

Great video. Thanks for the tips.

[@mikepetersen3]

Thanks

[@airforce66]

Great Review! May I ask if you have any other physical mods installed except for the exhaust (I know that there's an ECU tune)?

[@MKNAOMIII]

Great job on the detailed video. Hitting all the important stuff most other exhaust videos don't provide(weight savings, dyno, track time). BTW did the 200 cell cats trigger a check engine light?

[@mikepetersen3]

The 200 cell cats did not trigger the check engine light, however it has an aftermarket tune and they may have suppressed the sensitivity of the MIL light in the new program.

[@PaulCuenin]

I think you might see less gain in a 996 911 just because they intentionally bottlenecked the Boxster to keep it from being faster than the 911. Great video. Would love a similar review of a Plenum and throttle body upgrade. Would be interesting how much power you could get with that combined.

[@mikepetersen3]

There is some truth to what you say... However I've never looked closely at the 911 manifold so I cannot make an educated guess of the net impact. I do plan on "opening up" the intake and will report back when I do!

[@PaulCuenin]

@@mikepetersen3 looking forward to it!

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Paul, just posted the video the IPD plenum + TB here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIO4eaF9ha92ZrM. Let me know what you think.

[@PaulCuenin]

@@mikepetersen3 thanks I will check it out!

[@hellothere9262]

Awesome video, I know it's difficult to capture in a video but how loud is the supercup? Would you say that it is obnoxiously loud like you couldn't leave a neighborhood without waking people up? I don't know if you tried it with the top up but was the sound good with the top up and windows up as well? I was considering getting it and adding a J-pipe or helmholtz resonator to cancel the drone but I also don't want to be the "everyone look at me" person when im accelerating at a normal pace. Sorry for all the questions and once again, great video and awesome breakdown.

[@erikwithak6555]

One of my friends who was driven with both Maxflo and Supercup says the drone and noise of supercup isn’t as bad as people say, but it’s still very loud. He also said the Maxflo isn’t much louder than the stock muffler so it would really only be for performance

[@mikepetersen3]

It's a great question. I found the supercups fun for about a week, and then they were just "too much". With the supercups on the car, my wife would not drive it, my 20 YO son thought it was too loud after driving it for a few weeks, and it was not neighbor friendly even at low RPM and light acceleration. The maxflows are roughly 2X lower than stock, it is definitely noticeable, but it is not offensive. I've had many "kids" comment and a how cool it sounds, so it does get noticed. After living with the maxflows for 2 seasons, They are the right overall balance, in my opinion.

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Erik, the MaxFlows are much louder than stock. Measured at the Dyno, the stock car was 106dB @ WOT, and the Maxflow was 112dB @ WOT. Thats obviously 6dB more... Perception of volume is always subjective, but generally an increase of 8-10 dB corresponds to the perceived doubling of volume. So the Maxflow is almost twice as load as stock. On the other hand, the Supercups were 122dB @ WOT, obviously they were 10 dB more than the Maxflow and 16 dB more than stock. In other words the Supercups are roughly 2x louder than the MaxFlows, and 4X louder than stock.

[@hellothere9262]

@@mikepetersen3 Thanks for the awesome and detailed replies, really helps.

[@erikwithak6555]

I’ve been doing a lot of research on exhaust for my 986 mainly to get rid of the super heavy and muted muffler. I’ve always had the Supercup in mind. I’m not sure if my neighborhood would appreciate the loud drone below 3-4k RPMs, maybe exhaust insets such as car chemistry would help? If I don’t end up going with fabspeed Supercup or Maxflo I might just do the cheap $200 eBay ones since they seem to be fine especially for the price.

[@mikepetersen3]

The 986 exhaust is HEAVY. Part of this is to pass drive-by dB regulations. Adding a lower cost and lighter aftermarket muffler would help. However, most of the performance gains are probably due to the exhaust manifold (ie headers) as they are larger and better flowing than stock. Unfortunately the headers are the most expensive part of the build, at $2300.

[@danielwillett7164]

Actually, the eBay headers work quite well

[@rosariusintia2486]

Did you get power steering line issues? I’m going to get the full exhaust parts upgrade from ebay. Gonna get them wrapped before putting them all at once.

[@mikepetersen3]

I added a P/S line cooler. There is another video on my site showing how to do it. Good luck!

[@buckkylem]

How much was this kit all together? Looks expensive

[@mikepetersen3]

About $4k...

[@normychu]

Because of your review I went with FABSPEED maxflow system, contacted an ebay wholesaler and offered up $1400 direct and free of tax and they accepted just for the maxflow without fabspeed headers. Obviously it’s been a few years since your initial reviews so prices have changed but keep making the offers and see what you get.

[@danielwillett7164]

Install a high-flow intake and your results would be better. Sound too. I'm not sure what tune you have but Softtronics is the way to go.

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Daniel. Ironically I just ordered a Fabspeed cold air intake / filter coupled with a IPD plenum on a larger throttle body. I will install in a few months and dyno test and share the results. BTW, I have a Fabspeed tune, it is actually the second tune from them as the first tune did not show great dyno improvements. The second tune from them is working better (+4-5HP), A/F ratios look appropriate on the dyno with this tune...

[@mikepetersen3]

Hi Daniel, Check out my latest vid, Hi flow intake did not make any significant impact, Check it out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sIO4eaF9ha92ZrM. Also, I spoke to the owner of Softronic per your guidance. I was not impressed, IMO he is selling snake oil.