I'm still shopping for a T/A but I was in my friends 98 cobra w/ a flowmaster exhaust system. While I didn't mind the noise, it was diffecult to hold a conversion and I can imagine how this could be annoying to my friends who are non-enthusiasts and especially chicks. Is there anyone who would like to share their ideas on how to abate noise in a pony car?

 

sure... run a stock exhaust system and a cutout to open when you want the noise

 

Exactly what I was thinking! It's the best of both worlds.

 

I don't have any trouble holding a conversation in my car. But, I know that Magnaflow has a good reputation for being tame, but sounding good and flowing well. I know there is a group purchase going on in the Supporting Vendors forum.

 

I agree, the Magnaflow is pretty tame down low, you can hold a conversation just fine. I had to add a cutout to the Magnaflow just to liven it up a tad.

 

I'll look into magnaflow. Isn't borla adjustable?
I doubt I'll buy cutouts b/c I live in the suburbs w/ cops who have nothing to do but harass drivers, also I'm pretty sure when closed, cutouts hurt flow.

PS: does anyone have a soundclip of a magnaflow LT1?

 

Yes, the Borla is adjustable.

 

Hooker + cutout =
The hooker catback gives you a nice, quiet, throaty sound that is easily tuned out while driving. Flip open your cutout and roar like a lion.

 

Stock SLP DUAL/DUAL is quiet.... a little too quiet at times. Good for teh family, bad when the little demon in me wants to play. Luckily I have a cutout.

 

+1 :thumbup:

I'd go Hooker cat-back and forget the cutout unless you are racing every weekend. The Hooker is one of the best flowing mufflers out there and it's very sedate at most cruising engine speeds. It does drone a little at 2000 RPM but all chambered mufflers do that. It roars when you open the throttle. It's also priced very, very well. I bought mine from Thunder Racing.

Here's a sound byte for you: http://www.ws6transam.org/transamidle.wav

 

There is always dynamat

 

Same, I run the magnaflow 3" w/ a 3" cutout right before the axel. Sometimes is nice to just cap off the cutout and drive since its a hell of a lot smoother running through the muffler. cutout's tend to vibrate a lot of stuff.

 

I can't really see it hurting flow much when closed. Ya sure a little bit of air gets caught but there is still no resistance. It will find its way out. I get a little better torque from 500-1200 rpm when the cutouts closed...if that means anything.

 

Get some subframe connectors, you can leave the cutout uncapped and it won't chatter your teeth together from the vibrations.

 

The problem with running hte stock muffler is the weight... I noticed the rear of my car even sitting higher after I switched out the stocker. Also.. because it is so large it make it hard to work around to get to other things like hte rear diff, ect.