Is an exhaust even worth it?

[SloCal]

So I'm at almost 2000 miles and so far I have ordered (but haven't received) the Mountune Accessport and drop-in filter. I started a thread a few weeks ago about whether a tune or an exhaust is a better first mod and after being convinced of the merits of the tune, I ordered one. Now, I'm considering getting an exhaust in the next few months but honestly I can't find one that actually sounds good. Obviously, with the ABarth 500 being my baseline for small 4 cylinder exhausts its hard to match but after hearing the mbrp, cobb, borla, mrt and even scorpion somewhat the only one that sounds even remotely good is the MRT which is essentially just straight pipes anyway. So my question then, is, is an exhaust even worth it with this car?

 

[TheGreenOne]

So I'm at almost 2000 miles and so far I have ordered (but haven't received) the Mountune Accessport and drop-in filter. I started a thread a few weeks ago about whether a tune or an exhaust is a better first mod and after being convinced of the merits of the tune, I ordered one. Now, I'm considering getting an exhaust in the next few months but honestly I can't find one that actually sounds good. Obviously, with the ABarth 500 being my baseline for small 4 cylinder exhausts its hard to match but after hearing the mbrp, cobb, borla, mrt and even scorpion somewhat the only one that sounds even remotely good is the MRT which is essentially just straight pipes anyway. So my question then, is, is an exhaust even worth it with this car?

From my own shopping, I've found that exhausts do actually net gains on this car, especially with a DP. However, I agree that finding a nice sounding exhaust, at least based on the videos, is difficult. I'm also a fan of the MRT but I've been reading that it's not a well liked exhaust for some reason. The Cobb would be my second choice, only over the MBRP due to seeing people having quality issues with the MBRP. With that said, I'm buying an exhaust purely for the sound. The best gains are had with a tune, DP, and IC upgrade.

 

[SloCal]

From my own shopping, I've found that exhausts do actually net gains on this car, especially with a DP. However, I agree that finding a nice sounding exhaust, at least based on the videos, is difficult. I'm also a fan of the MRT but I've been reading that it's not a well liked exhaust for some reason. The Cobb would be my second choice, only over the MBRP due to seeing people having quality issues with the MBRP. With that said, I'm buying an exhaust purely for the sound. The best gains are had with a tune, DP, and IC upgrade.

If i bought an exhaust it would not be with the expectation of making any hp/tq gains. it would be purely for sound. With that said none of these exhausts really wow me. It's a small 4 banger and I'm just wondering from people who have heard them in person if it's really worht it to someone who 700 dollars is still a big deal.

 

[me32]

The down pipe is where the gain is. So far i havent seen any personal cars that showed a gain with just a catback.

 

[SloCal]

The down pipe is where the gain is. So far i havent seen any personal cars that showed a gain with just a catback.

Idc about gains again im talking purely about sound

 

[me32]

Idc about gains again im talking purely about sound

Well i cant help you there because none of the exhaust ive heard sound good. But im biased because i like the v8 sound an youll never get a ricer exhaust to sound like it.

 

[MMMTRBO]

In my opinion even just a catback is worth it (for the sound). I'm partial to the COBB for its construction, materials used and sound output. Couldn't stop smiling for a week after the catback went on.

 

[eleven]

The cp-e turbo-back setup sounds a lot like the Abarth

 

[Connor]

The videos are never going to do an exhaust system justice. Come to some meet's, listen to the individual sounds from each car. I love my MBRP. I think its the best sounding for the lowest price because a lot of these kits are ridiculously expensive.

 

[SloCal]

The videos are never going to do an exhaust system justice. Come to some meet's, listen to the individual sounds from each car. I love my MBRP. I think its the best sounding for the lowest price because a lot of these kits are ridiculously expensive.

Are you going to be at any meets soon? Also I looked at MBRP's website and theyre saying about 10whp 10wtq gains which is pretty good. Can you confirm this? Just noticed you're in LA too

 

[jgrieco10]

what quality issues have you heard about the MBRP exhaust?

 

[FistSt215]

Map is also coming out with a turbo back. A 2.5 option for the stock turbo and 3 inch for their big turbo setup. I'm waiting on mpx tbe. Their exhaust are high quality and sound really good on the srt4 . My second option is the Cobb tbe .

 

[Young L]

what quality issues have you heard about the MBRP exhaust?

apparently some guy recently had the material on the inside of the muffler come apart, not sure whats going on with that. To me the quality issue I have with it is the metallurgy of the t409 which is what I have. It has a very and I mean very noticeable drone in the 3-4k rpm range, i cant cruise on the autobahn over here over 80mph because of it. Even at 70-75 it can be a bit much, i actually will wear ear plugs on long drive. daily driving around town isnt so bad if you keep the shifts under 3k. Ive read that the Cobb drones a bit also but that its pretty tolerable.

 

[TheGreenOne]

what quality issues have you heard about the MBRP exhaust?

One guy recently had welds snap on the muffler. On other vehicles like the F150, guys have started seeing serious surface rust with under 2 years. Stuff like that.

 

[Dustys318]

I cut the resonator out and got a low speed drone; welded it back on. I then cut the muffler off and got a high speed drone; I don't drive over 80mph (constantly) so that wasn't an issue. Either way I received no hp/tq gain. I put in a CP-E catted downpipe and gained 8hp and 12lbft. I like the sound of the muffler delete, not too loud at cruise speed but you can hear it when applying power.

 

[Connor]

Are you going to be at any meets soon? Also I looked at MBRP's website and theyre saying about 10whp 10wtq gains which is pretty good. Can you confirm this? Just noticed you're in LA too

Yeah man. We'll figure out a meet.

Can't really confirm or deny the power gains (haven't dynoed). But my gas bill has gone up as i can't keep off the throttle now haha.

 

[SloCal]

Yea j need to here it in person before I decide. YouTube is hard with exhausts. Makes them sound diff

 

[Young L]

One guy recently had welds snap on the muffler. On other vehicles like the F150, guys have started seeing serious surface rust with under 2 years. Stuff like that.

which kind tho,T304 or T409? Surface rust is expected on 409 but 304 shouldnt have any

 

[pelotonracer2]

So I'm at almost 2000 miles and so far I have ordered (but haven't received) the Mountune Accessport and drop-in filter. I started a thread a few weeks ago about whether a tune or an exhaust is a better first mod and after being convinced of the merits of the tune, I ordered one. Now, I'm considering getting an exhaust in the next few months but honestly I can't find one that actually sounds good. Obviously, with the ABarth 500 being my baseline for small 4 cylinder exhausts its hard to match but after hearing the mbrp, cobb, borla, mrt and even scorpion somewhat the only one that sounds even remotely good is the MRT which is essentially just straight pipes anyway. So my question then, is, is an exhaust even worth it with this car?

"Sound" is subjective. Everyone likes something different. For instance, most of the loud and raspy exhaust systems I've heard for the FiST make the exhaust note sound like a UPS truck. That's not exactly an enduring trait for a small sporty car. They tend to be annoyingly droney. In my opinion the best sounding exhaust from a stock car is the VDQ Nissan/Infiniti cars (350Z/370Z/G35/G37). I went with an exhaust system that sounds good to me (quiet at low rpm and cruising speeds) but at full boogie has a unique sound for a four cylinder turbo. I also took future mods into consideration, including reduced backpressure for downpipe and bigger turbo. Sometimes a nice sounding exhaust system turns to sh*t once you start pushing the envelope. The only advise I can give is to hear the exhaust systems in person (at a car show or meet) and get what you like. My days of Flowmasters, offroad exhaust are over with, but maybe I'm just getting old. lol

 

[SloCal]

What system?