There are times when it would be fun to have a louder exhaust, and others when it's nice not to upset the neighbors or attract undue attention on the street. For a long time it was all or nothing with performance exhausts - think back to the aggressive sport mufflers that sounded like a LeMans racer, but could shatter your own windows in confined spaces. Porsche figured this out and offered PSE - the sport exhaust with a button that opens a vacuum

operated secondary bi-pass in the muffler to let out a more traditional Porsche growl. The stock version keeps the baffle closed under 25mph, but can be opened by a touch of a button over that speed. Heyer Performance can install the PSE system and exhaust on your 1999 or newer 996 or 997, and have the factory button activate the exhaust an anytime or speed. Tony adds, "as far as power gains go, let's leave that up to your imagination."

Monitor Your Tire Pressure

As cars become more complex, electronics are taking over the most routine maintenance checks. New 997's don't even have a dipstick to check the oil level, or a spare tire in the trunk. Early 997's didn't offer the option of tire pressure monitoring either. They do give you a Porsche branded Fix-A-Flat bottle to plug leaks, an extra valve stem, and an electric compressor that plugs into a 12volt power source in the car. Tire pressure monitors are now optional, and are the best method of warning drivers of impending tire issues. With the ultra low profile rubber on the newer cars, it's tough to tell when there's a low tire. Bill Freed was backing his new cabriolet out of his garage when the tire warning went off and stated the pressure was low by 7psi. He got out and looked at the tire, which

	Far Left: Instead of a spare, new 997's carry this electric compressor in the trunk...
	Left: ...and some Porsche branded fix-a-flat in a bottle to combat a deflated tire.

looked fine. He pulled back into the garage, and saw the nail head poking out from the tread. Without the system he would have continued to drive it until it became a bigger problem. In another extreme case, a misaligned trailer wheel was detected when a tire pressure monitor showed air pressure of 90psi! Heyer Performance can retrofit your 996, 997, or any car with tire pressure monitors that help you catch tire problems that otherwise might leave you stranded. The kits are priced at $325.00 plus installation.