The best sounding Porsches ever

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

We recently took a look at the 5 iconic Porsches inside the secret factory warehouse (HERE if you missed that thread) and now we have the top 5 best sounding Porsches.

5. Carrera RS 2.7 - only 1080 models produced
4. 550 Spyder
3. 911 GT3 RS
2. 918 Spyder
1. Well.. you'll have to watch to find out. Can you guess what it is before watching?

What do you think the 5 best sounding Porsches are?

[Vipergrün]

904
908
910
917

I think all of these sound better than everything in the video....except for maybe the 550

[stevej37]

Not sure of the list...but to me, my 78SC with SSI's and M&K 2 in 2 out, makes the best sound I've heard. Above 4K rpm, it screams.
Other cars may be faster, but the sound it makes is the best!

[Fast Freddy 944]

944 turbo, 911, 928, 914, Now for the best sounding car of all time? None else but a snarling Ferrari. LOL!

[VincentVega]

904 please

[BE911SC]

^^That 904 does sound pretty damn good.

[kolo]

Holbert (Lowenbrau) going around the boot in Watkins Glen

[berettafan]

nice list but not how I would rank them.

[pitargue]

WTF? 917k at full song, no contest.



I learned the differences between the sounds of a Porsche flat 12 vs a Ferrari flat 12 from that movie. And at every historic race, it reaffirms that lesson.

Can you not hear that screaming flat 12 in your air cooled 911 at WFO? Such a legacy, an audio legacy every time to remind us of this wondrous marque.

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by pitargue

WTF? 917k at full song, no contest.

I have to agree with you.

Thank you for posting that video, I hooked up some new computer speakers a few days ago and it's stuff like this which makes me happy I did.

In my opinion, the original video posted is weak, I've heard better soundtracks in the 911 forum. They didn't even open those cars up to shifting rpm let alone red-line.

[Jeff Higgins]

I've had the privilege of attending two Rennsport Reunions and the Monterey Historics the year Porsche was the featured marque. As a result, I've been fortunate enough to have spent some time around every one of the cars mentioned, and many that haven't been.

I have just a few general observations. First, and probably all too obviously, is that the number of cylinders is the biggest component in the sound of various Porsches. I find the fours, whether four cam or pushrod, all have too flatulant of a "blat". The eights crowd their exhaust impulses too close together, and come off sounding pretty tame. The twelves just sound like really loud sewing machines - it's sometimes hard to tell it's a reciprocating engine. The sixes are, to me, "just right". They have a "snarl" to them absent in engines with more cylinders, and they do away with the "blat" of the fours.

I find this true, generally speaking, of all makes. The only "wildcard", for me anyway, is an American V-8. None of this flat-crank evenness of tone - give me that 90 degree crank burble any time. To me, even in road racing, that beats any sound on the track. Even my beloved flat six.

Some V-8 sounds (showing even the Brits do a pretty good job of it):

[look 171]

OI have to agree, the CGT sound pretty damn good even if it wasn't at full song. I have heard a few around here just taking off at a light and they sound like if they are screaming already at low revs.

[svandamme]

No sound list is complete without the 917 and 904 GTS, and don't forget the 911 SC/RS
Which was basically a 2.7RS on steroids.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YaNNtYrLTI

[Jeff Higgins]

O.k., here is some shameless self-promotion. My favorite sounding Porsche (skip to about 10:00 in to get to where the fun starts):

[GH85Carrera]

I have to admit I am very prejudiced. My 85 911 with stock muffler is the best sounding to me. I own it, and it is my gasoline making the noises back there. Having listened to it back there for 80,000 miles I have determined it is just right. After 12 hours of driving in a day it still sounds great. No doubt on the track at Charlotte Super-speedway rowing through the gears to red line in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and stand on it in 5th for a long pull well into the triple digits the engine was screaming in a different tone than 2nd gear can accomplish. Just pure music.

[masraum]

I saw that video a while back. I definitely thought they missed the mark a bit, or maybe just didn't use the best recordings. I'm not sure that I agree that the 918 should be on the list when the CGT is an option, but then I'm sure part of the list is also marketing.

[targa911S]

No contest...

[Fast Freddy 944]

The 911 engine is a flat 4-6 motor similar to a Lycoming small aircraft engine. Now a twin cam v-8 up to a v-12 has the right growl. Nothing wrong with the Porsche flat motor, but its idear is slap an aircraft style in the back of a lightweight car and see what it does type of affair. It works, but it sounds funky! LOL!

[Icemaster]

Hard to tell which one sounds the best with all that talking and music over the top of the engine noise...

I agree with Glen, 'my '85 with M&K etc. sounds like a symphony.

Damn near anything running WOT on a track is beautiful, ranking them one over the other seems like trying to rank an creme brulee or an ice cream sundae over peach cobbler or apple pie. They're all awesome, just different types of dessert.

[devodave]