Testimonials

Posted by ABCararra :

Just thought I would let you know about a mod I have just had done.
I have fitted a GT Muffler from Carnewal. Basically it is a reworked
original Porsche catback section. I had similar RSR mufflers fitted to my 993
and they sounded bloody good, these though sound even better.
Louder than Porsche sports exhaust but with a lovely deep tone, no boominess
at speed. There is now a lovely burble on the over run or when down shifting
quickly.
I had tried a Tubi system but this beats it hands down, none of that high pitched Italian noise, just proper Porsche sound as it should have been from the start. My gut feel is that the car car seems to pick up a little quicker too.
I have no dyno figures expect the driving seat dyno!!
I have recorded a before and after clip which I will post as soon a possible.

I found Gert at Carnewal really helpful and I received the muffler in really quick time. Once I had he new mufflers fitted I just sent the old ones back to him. That is the cheapest way to get a great sounding exhaust.

Posted by Chris B. :

Being a bit stupid I didn't read this thread first - but just got my car back after having the GT conversion done on my 987 2.7. It sounds great.

I decided to send my exhaust over to Gert at Carnewal (who couldn't be more helpful). Cost roughly £70 for next day UPS to him, he takes 24 hours to do the conversion and the cost of return shipping is included in his cost (this is next day also). So for £370 and 4 days my exhaust is back on the car. Unfortunately the bolts had to be cut off my exhaust to remove the back section from the car because they were so corroded - but another hours labour and some new bolts and gaskets isnt too bad.

Had the work done by JMH Automotive in Holmes Chapel (who are also fab) - and a 4 year service and brake fluid change while they were waiting for the exhaust to come back - so time well spent.

Now sounds nice and mean at tick over with a fab howl past 3500. No droning and doesn't sound like a max power corsa - so all good. Oh and I kept the original tail pipe so it looks nice and standard as well.

Posted by Lurker :

I got back from my trip to Belgium last night so I thought I'd report on here for anyone thinking of taking the plunge with the Carnewal GT muffler.

I was expecting to just turn up at Gert's place, have the part fitted, stay at his guest house and then leave in the morning and drive to Bruges. What I actually had was a very nice weekend away from beginning to the end.

Gert and his wife are lovely people and Gert has been lucky enough to combine his passion for Porsche with a successful business. In his workshop he has a mint condition ultra-low mileage black 993 4S which I couldn't stop staring at. What a beautiful car.

In the evening Gert dropped us off at a local restaurant and the owner had translated the menus into English especially for us. The food & wine was fantastic. Gert also picked us up later - nice touches, and not what you expect when you take your car in to have some work done! Afterwards he invited us for a leffe beer or 3, and 8 hours sleep and half a liver later in the morning we were on our way to Knokke then Bruges.

Now on to the exhaust.... I am still getting used to it, and as Bruges is not actually that far from London I've not actually had a huge amount of time driving with it, but my first few days with it are only positive.

You don't get droning at 75/80MPH on the motorway when cruising - it's not THAT loud an exhaust. I also can't imagine failing too many noise level tests, but admittedly the jury is out on that as I'm not familiar with levels at tracks etc. I'm sure berty987 will be along with his SPL meter soon. The main noise on the motorway from the Boxster is tyre noise for me (new tyres fitted recently as well), and this is still the case with this exhaust. Gert knows his stuff, and the exhaust tweak wasn't the first he'd tried - he's experimented a lot to get it right. He knows that a Porsche owner is generally someone who doesn't want a droney boy-racer drainpipe on the back of their car....

The exhaust obviously allows it to be more free-flowing. Gert explained that the ECU on my car should adjust over time. Maybe I'm jumping the gun, but I suppose it's possible that the MPG could rise a tiny bit now? Then again, maybe not as the sound is going to be more addictive!

The first thing you notice is that the tone is a bit deeper, more gruff. Other than that, it just gives you more of the distinctive sound of the boxer 6 engine that was there anyway - good! When driving slowly and accelerating smoothly, you don't hear much more at all. That's the way I personally like it. It now takes a little less throttle to introduce the sound we know and love. It's moved from pinot noir to a more full bodied cabernet.

If you're the sort of person who would drive around with the window slightly open to hear more exhaust noise (as I do!), then I think this will satisfy you. I didn't feel like a boy-racer with it installed, it simply sounds more as you'd expect a Porsche to sound. I've yet to check how the exhaust sounds externally other than on tick-over, though I did hear Gert driving it around the nearby roads and from a distance it sounded more "race car" than before.

If anyone wants to hear how it sounds, feel free to PM me. I'm in East London.

Posted by ChrisP. : 

It’s been a few weeks now and I have to say that it is still a pleasure to hear that deep rumbling every time I get into the car. It’s just right – not too much to draw too much attention but also controlled so that it doesn’t compromise the ride. I couldn’t recommend it more to anyone that is thinking of changing exhaust.

Posted by berty : 

Finally got to hear one of these Carnewal exhausts at the weekend and do a back to back comparison with the PSE I have on my car. Both cars tested were 2005 model year 987S models (3.2), so its the best comparison you can get. Bear in mind also that I have the overide mod , so the PSE was tested without the 20-40 mph cut out found on other PSE systems , and remained open or "loud" throughout the test. Both cars were driven is succession by each driver over the same 10 mile route.

Initial start up :

The Carnewal exhaust gives a nice sharp crackle at start up , and then settles down to a deep burble
The PSE exhaust doesn't seem to allow the crackles and pops to exit the tailpipe but seems just a little deeper in note at tickover.
With the PSE valves closed , the exhaust is quieter than the standard silencers but there is still a nice deep quiet but reserved tone
The standard exhaust sounds more turbine like than sporty.

Revving :
The Carnewal is sharp and crisp , when revved the exhaust allows all the crackles and pops to be heard but the exhaust never sounds harsh even at high revs.
The PSE damps the pops and crackles of the ovverun more than the carnewal , but they can still be heard. At higher revs the exhaust is a harder sound, more race car like.
With the PSE valves closed the engine sound seems louder than the exhuast , the exhuast allows very little noise to exit the car.
The standard exhaust has a tuned note , louder than the PSE with closed valves.

Driving :
Under load conditions (climbing a hill in 3rd) between 2,500 and 3,500 rpm the carnewal gives a nice deep note, not overbearing inside the cabin , certainly not boomy like a Remus. The engine sounds a bigger capacity than a 3.2 , much closer to a 3.4 or 3.6 996. Definitely a true "P-car" sound.
The deepness of the exhuast note seems to be apparent over a wide reve range from 2,000 to 3,500 rpm.

The PSE gives a slightly more resonant note , again not boomy , but doesn't seem to keep the deepness of the tone as the revs move from the sweet spot at 3000 rpm . On a motorway I prefer to switch off the PSE as 70 mph is the resonant point.

The PSE in inactive mode allows the engine note to be heard but is much more subdued.  The standard exhaust allows the driver to hear the engine but only when at the sweet spot , at other times there is a tuned exhaust note but never deep.

Through the gears :
The carnewal scores points here, the exhaust is so well made and fettled that you could be mistaken for a 3.4 or 3.6 996 from the sound. The exhaust gives a clear sharp note through the rev range and a nice crackle on the overun. At higher rpms the engine and exhaust give a cohesive symphony though equally matched. The exhaust is louder when the engine is being worked , but returns to a quiet and less noticeable humm when being driven more sedately.

The PSE is a real Jeckyl and Hyde item. It gives a nice deep note but does seem to be less characteristic of a Porsche flat six sound initially. Certainly better than the standard exhaust. At higher rpms the exhaust allows vitrually all the engine sound to be heard, it sounds more like a race or rally car and allows the full frenzy of the engine to be heard. Drive at high rpm's in a PSE equipped car and everyone will hear you coming.
With the PSE switched off the engine note only really becomes apparent at high rpms , you need to work the engine hard to get any real effect from the exhaust.
The standard exhaust gives better feedback to the driver than the PSE when switched off, the exhaust works in harmony with the engine note but never really stirs the soul.

Overall Conclusion:
For the money we both agreed that the carnewal gives excellent results.
The sound is definitely more "porsche flat six" than the PSE or the other aftermarket systems I've heard.
It's possibly not as "race car" sounding at higher revs as the PSE and obviously isn't switchable but it certainly gives a good overall improvement. Both systems can be lived with on an everyday basis and are never boomy or tiresome at motorway speeds (with PSE deactive). Most people that buy the PSE leave it switched on, the fact it's quieter than the standard exhaust when deactive is probably the main reason why. The Carnewal seems to give a much more consistent sound improvment throughout the rev range than the PSE , which gives maximum effect at tickover and high rpms. Unless you can be bothered with the hassle of finding and fitting a full PSE, the Carnewal is by far the best improvment on standard I've heard to date. Not as extreme as other exhausts , but a lot cheaper, still giving good improvements , and accepatable for everyday use.

Many thanks to Robert for taking the time to bring his car over for the comparison.

Posted by CJFP on pcgb : 

Just to let you all know that a few weekends ago I spent a great couple of days in Belgium with Gert of Carnewal - stayed in his lovely guest house, ate wonderful food and drank some nice beer. Oh, and I also had his GT Exhaust fitted to my Cayman, along with the Sport Exhaust Tip (had no intention of getting this extra bit, but it looked so good when it was in my hands!). The exhaust is great and I have saved so much money. The sound is a perfect rumble both at idle and when accelerating, and there is no deafening boom in the cockpit - I couldn't be happier. If anyone is thinking of getting this done then I would recommend this without hesitation - www.carnewal.com. If anyone wants any further info then please do not hesitate to contact me - alternatively, email Gert @ Carnewal and he will (usually) reply within a couple of hours.

Reported by M.J.  July 2010

Hi Gert,
Had the exhaust fitted this morning & been for a spin & all I can say is WOW!!!!!!!!!!
It sounds FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!!!
The videos don't do it justice, it sounds even better in the flesh!!!!!
This is how all Porsches should sound from the factory, it's transformed the car.
To say I'm pleased is an understatement!!!

I can't thank you enough Gert as the service, prompt replies to e-mails, quick delivery & the quality of the exhaust has all been first class!

I'll do my best to recommend you to everyone I know & I'll write you a testomonial when I get a minute, I'll probably stick a video up on YouTube once we get some more nice weather (back to cold & wet here at the moment!)

 Reported by S.F.  Aug 2010

I have now covered about 300 miles since fitting and can honestly say the
GT Muffler has far exceeded my expectations - it's the best £400 I have ever spent.
My Boxster now sounds like a "proper" Porsche!!
I have compared it against a friend's PSE and the Carnewal mufflers are definately more cultured.  The throttle response is also more instant.
 
The only downside to all this is the extra petrol I use to hear that fantastic burble!!

Posted by Caymanster on PCGB May 2011

Ok, just back from a quick trip across to Gert Carnewal.

Firstly, what a thoroughly great service. Arrived at 11am, gave the car over to Gert, he showed us to his guest house and told us (Mrs Caymanster with me) to make ourselves at home. 2 hours and a quick snooze on the leather couch, I worked a night shift last night, and the car was done.

First impressions were that the look of the RS60 tailpipes is much better than the gen 1 S pipe. Gert warned me that the DME would take a while to adjust to the better airflow so the car wouldn't sound it's best straight away. Still sounded way better when I first turned the key.

After settling up (very reasonable for the excellent work and service, a bargain in fact) we said our goodbyes and hit the road again. Every bit of open road or a gap in the traffic was met with a quick blast of the, increasingly, loud pedal and accompanied by a big grin from me. Gert was spot on when he said it would take 60km or so for the full effect to kick in. The car steadily grew in raspiness and volume and then settled at a satisfying yet not too antisocial level. No drone at steady, ahem, motorway speeds either.

Suffice to say that our journey back from Gert's to the Eurotunnel was a good 15 minutes quicker than the journey there this morning.

Sat nav took us via the Dartford tunnel on the way home because of heavy traffic on the southern and western sections of the M25. You can guess the rest. The sound on full chat in the tunnel gave me goose bumps and drew a thumbs up from a couple of van drivers.

That's it really. Thoroughly enjoyed the day. Gert is a top man and his work seems exceptional. May even go back for the 200 cel cats at a later date although I don't want to go too loud.

Can't recommend Gert highly enough.

Posted by Miatman on Club911 June 2011

Petite experience du week end, direction la Belgique...

Pour mémoire, j'ai eu une 993 dont j'avais adoré les vocalises apres la modif RSR effectuée par Gert Carnewal.

J'ai toujours été tres decu des echappements de 2ème monte, quels qu'ils soient. Ma 1ère experience il y a 15 ans sur ma GTI avec un Sebring s'était soldée par un remontage de l'origine au bout d'un mois et revente du pot inox... Sur le Cayman, un pot Strosek avait été monté avant mon achat. Je suis repassé à l'origine car il était trop bruyant pour mes oreilles, et que la sonorité n'était pas assez "Porsche" mais plutot italienne... De plus, il resonnait un peu à tres bas régime.

Par contre, autant l'origine sur mes ex Boxster 986 2.7 et sur la 993 etait plutot sympa, autant sur le Cayman (comme sur mon ex 986 S), le son est inexistant et indigne d'une sportive... Meme ma Saab Turbo X fait mieux chanter son 6 cylindres!

Tres satisfait de mon experience avec Carnewal sur la 993, j'ai donc pris RDV en Belgique pour Samedi, parti à 8h de Paris, retour à 15h, et attente sur place dans la fameuse Guest House ;-)

Le résultat est exactement ce que j'en attendais : un vrai son Porsche à tous les régimes, aucune résonnance, un bruit qui "gratte" bien l'oreille quand on accélère, mais qui n'est jamais intrusif. Juste ce qu'il devrait etre d'origine si Porsche ne cherchait pas à refourguer son option PSE que je trouve du coup d'autant plus inutile et surtout demesurement chere...

Bref, pour 390 euros + un peu d'essence et de péage, c'est un vrai bonheur dont aucun Boxster ou Cayman sans PSE ne devrait se passer...

Bon, j'ai en plus craqué pour une sortie de Cayman R noire... Je sais, je suis censé la vendre cette voiture mais bon, on se refait pas...;-)

Posted by J_D on Planet 9,  June 2011

I've just got back from Carnewal, in Belgium, had their GT exhaust fitted.

Just amazing, I was a bit apprehensive at first, as the YouTube clips were a bit, well, not the sound I was looking for. But it sounds nothing like any of the clips, it seems to have a very strong hint of Porsche flat 6 in lower revs, more like 996/7 sound, then up in the higher revs, above 4,000, it screams, more like a race car, very loud too when gunning it.

Cannot ask for anything more from it really, would recommend it to anyone thinking about an exhaust, especially if you are in UK, its a very simple drive down, the GPS led me right there. Brilliant. He's a great host too, both Gert and his wife were very welcoming, I ended up spending about an hour there, and all of it at his guest house, with the lovely grounds, in the sun!

Couldn't have chosen a better day either with the weather.

Posted by edge on Boxa.net, July 2011 :

Popped over to Belgium for a visit to Carnewal and had the GT exhaust fitted to my Gen2 S . Gert and his wife made sure i was comfortable in the guest house with coffee and nibbles while Gert carried out the work, i opted for exchange pre-modified boxes to be fitted slashing 2.5 hours of the job.
First impressions are very good , gonna put a few miles on her then do a bit of a write up but so far i am impressed.

Reported by T.C.  July 2011

Prachtig werk dat je uitgevoerd heb op mijn Boxster. Heel mooi geluid en zeker in de hoge toeren. Alles was perfekt en zeker jullie guest ruimte, zoiets krijgen we niet bij Porsche zelf. Heel bedankt daarvoor en tot binnenkort.

Posted by Jean Michel from France, September 2011

Montage effectué chez Almeras, nickel, très satisfait, tres beau son, aucune résonnance.
Le son est encore mieux que sur la video de carnewal, les techniciens d'Almeras etaient impressionnés.

Et pour carnewal rien à dire, paiment le soir , envoie le lendemain matin par fedex le vendredi, à la maison le mercredi matin
 

Posted by Graeme C. on Piston Heads,  October 2011

Got back from Gert Carnewal on saturday night, was going to post up while I was there in his guest house but too tired after a 750 mile drive!

All I can say is well pleased and recommend anybody to get it. The exhaust was louder than I expected at first but its not a bad noise. Sounds a bit old school (like a TVR?) like a powerful car should.
There is no resonance and its not boy racer at all. If you drive the car softly you will hardly notice the difference (well apart from start up and low gear) but it comes into its own when you are driving harder. And what a result. I thought the car was good before but this totally transforms it, in a good way.

Driving back through France we were lucky to get little traffic as we tried to beat the clock back to Calais and could easy maintain 100-120mph on the fairly straight and well maintained roads. In 6th gear the car already pulled well from 100mph+ (coming into max torque) but with the GT exhaust there is a new feeling of absolute power underneath your right foot. Can't describe it, just drive part thottle up to 120 and then push the pedal harder up to about 150-160, it gets there in no time at all. You just feel like the car has more and more and with the roar you get coming through 5000rpm it is just sensational.

It was a good road trip we had doing 1500 miles all in and as folk here have said Gert is a top man. In the first minute of talking with him you realise he is a sound bloke and definately a car guy. He is lucky enough to be doing something he loves and has a wonderful house in a really scenic location. I have to admit some envy there Gert!

Only grumble was the traffic on the M1 heading there (Friday afternoon standstill) and all the roadworks & SPECS camera's M25 and M1. Oh and the ridiculous amount of speed traps on the M6 around Kendal on friday morning.
Was so glad of the M6 toll road around Birmingham, especially with all the traffic nearby. It was empty and with its 4 lanes, wides angled bends it felt like an autobahn.

Oh and my favourite part was beating my previous land speed record (160 bike, 150 car) by getting 173. These were all on private roads or the autobahn of course.

Loving the look of the car with the black Cayman R tips, so much better than the brushed metal look of the S tips that were not easy to clean. Will post some pics up soon.

If you are thinking about doing it, just do it and I'd recommend making the journey as Gert knows exactly what he is doing and for me it was just so much a better experience.
 

Posted by Tivo on Piston Heads,  January 2012

Posted by cgardnerma onPlanet 9,  January 2012
I recently installed the Carnewal solution myself. I haven't had a chance to make some sound recordings (I will), but I think it is just awesome. I don't want to sound like a knucklehead in my neighborhood either, and it is not even close to being a problem. It burbles and growls beautifully when just putting around and has a nice tasteful howl when you get on it. It also does not drone at all on the highway. You can hear the exhaust now when cruising at 70, but the tire noise is still much louder. It is a really, really great solution -- especially for the short money compared to a full new system. Colin Cantrell was terrific to deal with as well.
 

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