C5 exhaust drone - cheap options; may sell car in nr future
Discussion
Hi folks
I've had a C5 corvette for a couple of months now and although I do 'enjoy' the noise of the MagnaFlow exhaust to an extent... it's doing my head in on longer journeys.
It's just about bearable on motorways, especially if it's really flat or slightly downhill - but on country roads or uphill it drives me crazy as the slight increase in pressure on the exhaust you need to maintain raises the exhaust note significantly and the constant drone is not pleasant at all.
I've heard the stock exhaust isn't loud enough though, and you can't really hear the V8 grumble? Seems the Corsa Sport (or Corsa Pace?) might be a better option, having read a few posts on here ("Most guys on the Corvette Forum suggest the Corsa Pace Car exhaust for what you want. The Borla gets a great review but apparently can be wearing at motorway speeds").
However, I might not keep the car that longer so I'm hoping to get an idea of costs and opinions and try and work out whether it's worth doing anything at this stage. If anyone could help me answer the following that'd be much appreciated.
1) How much would it cost (UK) to go from my MagnaFlow exhaust back to stock? (would consider a second hand exhaust if that's an option but I guess there's not many to hand o the UK market, not many 'vettes around here!!)
2) Is there a cheaper option to 'mute' the MagnaFlow (which could be reversible should a future buyer want to take advantage of some NOISE!)?
3) How much to upgrade to a Corsa exhaust?
4) Would changing the exhaust be worth it when it comes to re-sale (be that in a month or 6 months time, probably wouldn't keep longer than that - I have a high turnover of cars as I like to try different things out)?
Thanks
Ross
I've had a C5 corvette for a couple of months now and although I do 'enjoy' the noise of the MagnaFlow exhaust to an extent... it's doing my head in on longer journeys.
It's just about bearable on motorways, especially if it's really flat or slightly downhill - but on country roads or uphill it drives me crazy as the slight increase in pressure on the exhaust you need to maintain raises the exhaust note significantly and the constant drone is not pleasant at all.
I've heard the stock exhaust isn't loud enough though, and you can't really hear the V8 grumble? Seems the Corsa Sport (or Corsa Pace?) might be a better option, having read a few posts on here ("Most guys on the Corvette Forum suggest the Corsa Pace Car exhaust for what you want. The Borla gets a great review but apparently can be wearing at motorway speeds").
However, I might not keep the car that longer so I'm hoping to get an idea of costs and opinions and try and work out whether it's worth doing anything at this stage. If anyone could help me answer the following that'd be much appreciated.
1) How much would it cost (UK) to go from my MagnaFlow exhaust back to stock? (would consider a second hand exhaust if that's an option but I guess there's not many to hand o the UK market, not many 'vettes around here!!)
2) Is there a cheaper option to 'mute' the MagnaFlow (which could be reversible should a future buyer want to take advantage of some NOISE!)?
3) How much to upgrade to a Corsa exhaust?
4) Would changing the exhaust be worth it when it comes to re-sale (be that in a month or 6 months time, probably wouldn't keep longer than that - I have a high turnover of cars as I like to try different things out)?
Thanks
Ross
From another Ross - is the current exhaust system relatively new? - Magnaflow being absorbsion tube system may need a few thousand miles to 'coke-up'.
Had a similar thing with my modded BB powered Vette - went with stainless custom built 3" diameter 'X' pipe system with same type of mufflers. Firstly it was too quiet - and it droned badly at town speeds causing me to drive in a much lower gear. Eventually - in my case 3 or 3 years (but only a few hundred miles) the droning went, the exhaust 'coked' and all is well - in fact at 5000+ rpm it is extremely 'strident'. 'X' pipe helps.....
Had a similar thing with my modded BB powered Vette - went with stainless custom built 3" diameter 'X' pipe system with same type of mufflers. Firstly it was too quiet - and it droned badly at town speeds causing me to drive in a much lower gear. Eventually - in my case 3 or 3 years (but only a few hundred miles) the droning went, the exhaust 'coked' and all is well - in fact at 5000+ rpm it is extremely 'strident'. 'X' pipe helps.....
Hey "another Ross!!
Thanks for the response. I believe it was fitted at least 2 years ago, maybe longer ... I'll have a dig through the documents and see if I can work out when exactly it was fitted & how many miles it's done but I believe it's done at least 3000 miles in the last 2 years so may not be that!
Thanks for the response. I believe it was fitted at least 2 years ago, maybe longer ... I'll have a dig through the documents and see if I can work out when exactly it was fitted & how many miles it's done but I believe it's done at least 3000 miles in the last 2 years so may not be that!
mrrossi said:
Hey "another Ross!!
Thanks for the response. I believe it was fitted at least 2 years ago, maybe longer ... I'll have a dig through the documents and see if I can work out when exactly it was fitted & how many miles it's done but I believe it's done at least 3000 miles in the last 2 years so may not be that!
I always used to use Simons mufflers on most yanks - made in Sweden I think, available in many different sizes and configurations both in mild steel and stainless - marketed in UK by Jetex. Never had an issue with drone - quiet on cruise - hit the loud pedal and a good not too noisy sound. Not cheap but well made and long lasting.Thanks for the response. I believe it was fitted at least 2 years ago, maybe longer ... I'll have a dig through the documents and see if I can work out when exactly it was fitted & how many miles it's done but I believe it's done at least 3000 miles in the last 2 years so may not be that!
roscobbc said:
I always used to use Simons mufflers on most yanks - made in Sweden I think, available in many different sizes and configurations both in mild steel and stainless - marketed in UK by Jetex. Never had an issue with drone - quiet on cruise - hit the loud pedal and a good not too noisy sound. Not cheap but well made and long lasting.
Thanks mate - will look into them!300bhp/ton said:
Why bother doing anything if you plan on selling. I’m sure it can’t be that bad or loud anyway.
Bad enough for me not to want to drive it on any reasonable distance or when I'm with my daughter (who suffers from headaches) and I'm not driving it / not enjoying driving it!mrrossi said:
Bad enough for me not to want to drive it on any reasonable distance or when I'm with my daughter (who suffers from headaches) and I'm not driving it / not enjoying driving it!
Easiest and cheapest would be to get a local custom exhaust shop to add in or swap out the current silencers. Lots of choice online for new silencers or go for whatever the exhaust shop offers.300bhp/ton said:
Easiest and cheapest would be to get a local custom exhaust shop to add in or swap out the current silencers. Lots of choice online for new silencers or go for whatever the exhaust shop offers.
Thanks - thinking about it, there's a garage in town that fitted a X-pipe for me on my Jag XKR a few years back when I was disappointed with how quiet that was; they may be able to do something here, albeit in reverse!Or a more elaborate way would be to fit an exhaust cutout. Which is really an electronically operated solenoid valve. Which allows you to direct the exhaust flow down a different pipe.
You could fit one and allow you, at a flick of a switch to go from loud to quiet or vice versa. You'd need different silencers first though, as you don't like the current ones. Again, a custom exhaust shop should be able to cater for this, even if you supply the cut-out.
The issue you'll face buying an entire new system is, it will be completely hit and miss. And you won't really know the results until you fit it and drive it. And everyone will have a different opinion of what is or isn't acceptable.
Other factors to consider. Are you also running aftermarket headers? And do you still have the factory cats in place? If these have changed, then the noise will be different, even with the same exhaust on.
And the transmission. Auto's tend to drone more than manuals. Due to how the revs behave with the torque convertor.
You could fit one and allow you, at a flick of a switch to go from loud to quiet or vice versa. You'd need different silencers first though, as you don't like the current ones. Again, a custom exhaust shop should be able to cater for this, even if you supply the cut-out.
The issue you'll face buying an entire new system is, it will be completely hit and miss. And you won't really know the results until you fit it and drive it. And everyone will have a different opinion of what is or isn't acceptable.
Other factors to consider. Are you also running aftermarket headers? And do you still have the factory cats in place? If these have changed, then the noise will be different, even with the same exhaust on.
And the transmission. Auto's tend to drone more than manuals. Due to how the revs behave with the torque convertor.
Thanks for the input... that'd certainly be an option if I intended to keep longer. And yes - always hit and miss changing the complete set up. I remember having a nice twin exhaust on my third MX-5 which sounded great but when I got the same for my 5th one it was really quiet - but that's a turbo set up and somehow it muffled it. I tried a de-cat... didn't do much. When I came to re-fit the cat (for UK MOT) I realised the cat was shot so bought a new one - fitted - car sounds awesome!!
The C5 is indeed an auto.
The C5 is indeed an auto.
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