Yes, the exhaust.

[KeWLKaT]

Hey, people! It's me again with my questions.

I read about this in a couple of threads, but once again, everthing is leading to different places. I would like to know about the best muffler/exhaust upgrade, while being cheap ( :D ) out there for our XDs...

And no, I'm not talking catback :P I'm talking about the muffler and whatever comes after it, for people like me without a lot of money but wanting to get good performance (and sound! :D ).

[Josh K]

After the muffler? You mean the tip?

[KeWLKaT]

Ooops, sorry. My bad. I meant muffler+whatever comes after. Will edit :D

[FordFasteRR]

the lowest price for an exhaust is a custom made cat-back with any aftermarket muffler.

... :)

[KeWLKaT]

the lowest price for an exhaust is a custom made cat-back with any aftermarket muffler.

Gee thanks!

*grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........*

Please, I'm hopeless :(

[2004ElantraGLS]

I'm not sure what where you're going here, KeWLKaT. Are you asking us what the cheapest muffler is? If all you want is a better sounding exhaust note, just go to a shop and have them cut off your stock muffler, than weld in a piece of tail pipe. That's the cheapest, but I don't recommend it because it gets a little annoying at 70+mph.

You could get a Thrush Turbo muffler. They're like $20 at your local autoparts store. Shouldn't cost too much to have it welded on. And any decent muffler shop will be able to put on a nice tail pipe after the muffler. I don't know if you want to keep things stock or if you want the tailpipe visible from behind the car. Your best bet is to go to a muffler shop and ask. Most of them won't charge to put your car up on the rack for a few minutes to discuss possible muffler choices. In the end, you shouldn't spend more than $100.

But remember, you get what you pay for. Spend a little, get a little. Spend more, get more.....you get the idea.

Axel

[04 elantra cvvt]

The Turbo Mufflers are cheap, and will give you a little more power, but I have really liked the Magnaflows. They do cost a little more, but the sound and the gains are really worth the extra money.

[ilanpro]

I say magnaflow

[KeWLKaT]

I'll check it out... Heard a lot about it, but never seen it. So you guys think they sell these in just normal muffler shops?

[FordFasteRR]

Gee thanks!

*grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr........*

Please, I'm hopeless :(



ok, before this thread becomes any crappier..

answer these questions in the same order they are asked..

1. Do you want to go faster than stock ? YES / NO
2. Do you want your car to sound more aggressive ? YES / NO
3. Do you want your car to look unique by changing the muffler ? YES / NO
4. Do you want your car to look stock, but go faster than stock ? YES / NO

[KeWLKaT]

Thank you sir! ''Yes'' to the first 3 questions :D

[FordFasteRR]

Thank you sir! ''Yes'' to the first 3 questions :D


ok then.. now we have something we can work with..

1. Do you want to go faster than stock ? YES
2. Do you want your car to sound more aggressive ? YES
3. Do you want your car to look unique by changing the muffler ? YES
4. Do you want your car to look stock, but go faster than stock ? NO

ok, so this is what you must do.

1. You must upgrade the cat-back & the muffler.
2. Any aftermarket muffler (including a turbo style muffler) will give you a more aggressive sound.
3. In order for the car to look unique *(I consider unique to be rice LOL) then you will probly want a bullet-style muffler, maybe a titanium or carbon fiber one... that hangs out of the bottom of the bumper kind of sideways... (rice) ... that will definately look " unique " .

thats it..

Now, go spend some $$ ! !!

[KeWLKaT]

Alright... I'll take that into consideration, but I dont have lots of Benjamins right now to spend on that, I'll talk to my guy :D

Oh and screw that ricer angled muffler look :P I thought you meant unique as in you were going to refer me to a nice kind of muffler nobody has. Anyhow, thanks!

[FordFasteRR]

hmm... i think that at this point in the import game... someone has already installed every known muffler out there...

now, if you want performace & a stock look... you can keep the anti-rice cops off your tail... you should go with any muffler you want, and have them tuck it up under the bumper in the same fashion as the stock unit.. and then have them install a regular turn-down tip that looks stock...

this will yield a few benefits and a few draw-backs..

benefit: will look stock, idle will be very low and cops / other ricers wont notice your exhaust setup.
benefit: you will make lots more power than stock.
benefit: theives wont think your car is souped up and want to break in and steal your SAFC LOL
benefit: you wont smash the muffler on the street when you pull in / out of parking lots ! LOL

draw-back: it will not have a fancy look to it.. (dont expect to win a car show)
draw-back: the turn-down tip will yield a slight reduction in flow because of having a narrow bend-angle, but you will still make tons more power than stock ( see my dyno & 1/4 mile slips)... and you can compensate for this by installing a 2 1/2 inch muffler which has bigger openings on it...

[SWortham]

What kind of look are you going for?

Do you like the giant mufflers with a 3" tip?
http://www.ultimate-racing.com/Products/CivicSIR/Civic3inchExhaust14.jpg

Or something more subtle like you'd see on a Mazdaspeed Protege?
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2003/Mazda/100178606/027734-E.jpg
http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com//pictures/VEHICLE/2003/Mazda/100178606/027750-E.jpg

Or do you want to hide it completely like Ford suggested?

[FordFasteRR]

that mazda exhaust looks very clean :)

I like it.

I would like to point out that in order to get the same look on an XD , you would need to trim the bumper to get the same opening...

[SWortham]

I would like to point out that in order to get the same look on an XD , you would need to trim the bumper to get the same opening...

Yep, you'd have to take a leap of faith that it's going to turn out well in order to bring yourself to do that. But I think it would look very nice as long as the cutout is done tastefully. It may even help to outline the bumper cutout with a 1" strip of flat black paint or vinyl (whatever it takes). It would give it a nice look as if it actually belongs.

[RonnieSan]

Just wanted to post a warning to everyone that is getting a custom exhaust done. The dealer is charging me $350 to fix the 2nd O2 sensor wiring harness (non-warranty) because when Midas did the exhaust, they pulled the piping down to weld and the O2 sensor harness snapped off of the mounting bracket. They didn't notice it was hanging and it was rubbing against the drive shaft. It wore down the harness and moisture got in and corroded the contacts. So just a word of advice, make sure it is clipped to the body after you get any exhaust work done. You can see it from the engine bay if you go to the passenger side and look down below the intake manifold. The O2 sensor should be right after the flex-pipe. I'm sure Midas will pay to have it fixed, but I thought I might save you guys some possible heartache.

[NorthernYankee]

that mazda exhaust looks very clean :)

I like it.

I would like to point out that in order to get the same look on an XD , you would need to trim the bumper to get the same opening...

That is exactly what I did.

--NY

[KeWLKaT]

Well, I'm looking for an exhaust a little bigger than that Mazdaspeed there, but not with a 3'' tip, something in bewteen. I just hate the stock noodle hidden under the bumper. Also, I wouldn't want my exhaust to sound like those farting civics (silencer?).

Basically, I'm lost, because I'm picky :P

[KeWLKaT]

HKS Muffler for 0.95$ on Ebay.... I'm asking myself some questions...

Oh yea, it must be the 52$ shipping cost :(

[KeWLKaT]

No ebay? I go to their site and when I click on an item they send me to ebay. And you still tell me no ebay? Comon... It seems the company deals that way.

[tharptroy]

well...ebay stuff is cheap...

I'd just stick a magnaflow muffler on and forget it.

[Choking Hazard]

www.teamsr.org