Okay..i know this sounds really weird..but what do you guys think about automatics with loud exhausts?? I know lots of people who think that it sounds annoying with an automatic due to the fact that there is usually alot of fluctuation in the RPM's from the transmission goin in and out of OD/downshifting in traffic..and around town..Also, i know certain exhausts have alot of drone at certain RPM ranges, with an auto. you cant control where your revs are at. Now, i gotta tell ya guys..the people who have told me that loud exhausts sound weird on autos are ricers..in my opinion there exhausts dont sound good no matter what. But it did get me thinking about our cars..and if people think they sound weird due to the fluctuations in the RPM during normal everyday traffic.

 

The engine is what gives the exhaust it's tone, not the trans. Some exhausts do "drone", most otably the Flowmaster. It still sounds like an LS1 with a Flowmaster, regardless of the M6 or A4.

The auto can attenuate a "droneing sound" in the exhaust due to the RPM that it keeps the engine operating, usually around 1800-2200RPM's. This is where a some exhaust systems will resonate (such as the Flowmaster).. If you drove an M6 ar around town at 1800-2200RPMs, there would be no difference in sound.

My last car was a 97 LT1 with an A4, Flowmasters, and Jet Hot LT headers. Without a doubt it sounded 10x better than my LS1 with the Magnaflow system. It was loud as well. Why mention this? Because, bottom line is "loud" and "good sounding" are opinion. The tranny really won't change that.

Schantin
2002 Camaro Z28 M6

 

Not sure why the auto would be fluctuating so much around town. My previous car was an auto and it sounded just fine. The only thing I don't like about the auto was the exhaust sound didn't change while downshifting. I love the sound of my exhaust when I downshift the M6 into second gear. Sounds sweet. Anyway, I think your friends are wrong, just ask any LS1 guy with a cat-back.

 

Look at sig.....
My car sounds great and all i ever get is compliments.
Also, when i floor it and the car downshifts to 2nd the exhaust changes tone drastically! My car sounds like its ready to jump off the pavement.

 

mine too... the bullet helps the rasp and drone A LOT. sounds UNBELIEVABLY PISSED OFF at WOT....idle is actually quiet and around town driving is surprisignly benign below 3K rpm.

 

My bad, I meant when downshifting while slowing down. Nothing like dropping into 2nd in a parking lot making all the people turn your way.

 

yea well if we did that the tranny would fall out after awhile...

 

yea thanks guys! yea i know the exhaust sound doesent change with the transmission..i was just concerned with the drone and stuff..with an M6 obviously you could just ride a gear lower to get the RPM's out of the "drone" rpm range..When i said fluctuating while driving..i meant like..driving along..start goin up a slight hill, the car shifts out of OD..rpms go up...than a second later..drop back down..Or your in traffic..and the transmission shifts into 2nd..right before your gonna stop..than you start moving..and i just didnt know if maybe the constant up down of the RPM's got annoying with a loud exhaust..even though ive never heard an LS1/LT1 that sounds annoying... thanks for the help!

 

Same here, very quiet at idle light throttle give it any throttle and it roars. Really helps when driving around cops, kind of lets you sneak by only to unleash it just down the street.

 

The only affect that I can see from having an automatic is that it usually keeps the engine in a tight RPM range like was stated above (I'd say typically 1500 - 2500 for average cruising around town). Obviously with the M6 you can rev right out to redline before shifting if you want to without having to hold the pedal to the floor to prevent an automatic shift as you would with the A4. Point being, if the exhaust is going to have a drone around ~2000 RPM, there's not as much you can do about it as there would be with the M6, BUT I haven't had a problem with my car and the Flowmaster cat-back on it.

BTW, Schantin, I agree with what you're saying about LT1 exhaust vs LS1 exhaust. My friend has a '96 T/A with a Borla exhaust, and it sounds like the "classic" SBC sound that I've come to love, and I prefer it to the sound of my LS1. I find that my LS1 has a smoother tone (almost like a Mustang, actually ) but his LT1 even with the factory exhaust "sounded" much stronger (even though in reality it isn't).

 

I had my cutouts installed a couple of weeks ago, and I have been running them open. Since having them put on I find myself getting on it more often just to hear the exhaust. It sounds sweeeeeeeet!