Any thoughts on interesting sounding mufflers?

**Clit_Beastwood** · 04-15-2018, 07:37 PM

I’m having exhaust done tomorrow morning, t304 3” downpipe to tailpipe. Vibrant 18” bottle res up front and vibrant ultra quiet in the rear. I have every expectation that it’s going to be absurdly loud without a muffler so I’m having them leave a spot for one should it be required. I can easily fit a MagnaFlow or vibrant (pref. Vibrant) muffler, but I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on especially interesting sounding mufflers. I’ve used lots, Flowmaster, spintech, dynomax, etc. - anyone have thoughts on mufflers with a unique or especially interesting “character” to them? I feel that sound is a big element of a car’s character, and after my Abarth the vacuum cleaner quiet of the ST wasn’t making me happy. A friend recommended a Borla xr1, the last Borla I had was on a vw golf 5 cylinder and it sounded great, can’t find any examples of a xr1 on a turbo 4 though. This is all speculative, so feel free to discuss. Bassani is near the shop I’m having it done at so I might see if they offer anything interesting.

I’d love to go dual exhaust but haven’t found any oem looking rear skirts with dual cutouts.

**dmb** · 04-15-2018, 09:24 PM

i'd love dual's that look factory, but looking underneath looks like a no go unless you change alot of stuff. can't wait to see what you do. i was thinking dual S&S spark arresters side by side like i had on my XR750 clone.

**Clit_Beastwood** · 04-15-2018, 11:14 PM

Originally Posted by dmb

i'd love dual's that look factory, but looking underneath looks like a no go unless you change alot of stuff. can't wait to see what you do. i was thinking dual S&S spark arresters side by side like i had on my XR750 clone.

lol i was looking at some yoshimura pipes in my garage like "hmmmmmm" :P

ew could you imagine an ST with supertrapps lol

**Dpro** · 04-16-2018, 12:15 AM

Originally Posted by Clit_Beastwood

lol i was looking at some yoshimura pipes in my garage like "hmmmmmm" :P

ew could you imagine an ST with supertrapps lol

God Forbid, lol talk about how to sound ricey.

**HBEcoBeaST** · 04-16-2018, 12:20 AM

How much did the 3" system set you back?

Listened to a 3" system with just an ultra quiet resonator and it was definitely loud. Not droney, just all around loud and raw sounding.

I'm looking into a custom 3" vibrant ultra quiet resonator and vibrant performer muffler. I like quiet, but I want more flow and throatiness. Eventually going hybrid turbo so planning ahead.

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**HBEcoBeaST** · 04-16-2018, 12:26 AM

Haven't heard the vibrant mufflers on our platform but seems like a good option for quietish low burbly sound.

I know the Borla or Magnaflow 'race' mufflers have a throaty, low bassy sound, not fart can at all, but they lose packing kind of quickly. On the opposite ricey fart can sound would be the spintech(horrible sounding on 4cyl except subies), flowmaster (street series) and the Magnaflow that comes with their catback.

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**M-Sport fan** · 04-16-2018, 02:29 AM

I've never heard an XR1 on a small 4 banger turbo car, but the one I had installed into my Mufflex stainless 3.5" system on my '00 Z28 was WAY TOO LOUD for my tastes (and to try and save what little hearing I had left at the time), so I swapped it out for the biggest 'motorhome spec' Magnaflow that would fit in that transverse position the factory muffler sits in, in that car (THEN it was bearable and sounded good).

When Borla says "race muffler" THEY MEAN IT, as it is only designed to attenuate the exhaust pulse noise by ~3 decibels or so, just enough to get you under any sound limits any sanctioning bodies may impose. ;)

**Clit_Beastwood** · 04-16-2018, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by HBEcoBeaST

How much did the 3" system set you back?

Listened to a 3" system with just an ultra quiet resonator and it was definitely loud. Not droney, just all around loud and raw sounding.

I'm looking into a custom 3" vibrant ultra quiet resonator and vibrant performer muffler. I like quiet, but I want more flow and throatiness. Eventually going hybrid turbo so planning ahead.

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Labor and materials around 500 since I had some very specific requests (backpurge welds etc). Price doesn’t include the vibrant resonators, I burned off some Amazon gift cards buying those. If it’s too loud I’ll probably go vibrant muffler if I can’t find any other compelling options. I really don’t want MagnaFlow, I don’t like their deep low sound signature.