HELP: Throaty engine sound all of sudden - similar sound to WRX

[DriV3n]

Had some misfires about about 3 months ago and learned it was one failing coil. Replaced all 4 coils and all was well until this past Saturday. Motor started to sound "throaty". Similar sound to a WRX. I have no check engine lights, no loss of power, just sounds different all of a sudden.

I did notice that if I tap the accelerator to rev the engine while at idle, there seems to be a vacuum flutter when the RPM lowers back down to idle.

I've pulled and reseated coilpacks. Plugs were replaced under a year ago. Daily driven not really pushed hard very often.

GTI 2009 (TSI motor) with 73K on the odo. APR Stage 1

Any ideas on what to double check would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Fred930]

Any chance it's just a leak in the exhaust system? If so, should be pretty easy to locate source of the sound.

 

[heavyboost]

That very much sounds like an air inlet leak. Did you have any intake pieces or vacuum lines off while working on the car? Maybe you bumped something when you changed the coils?