Friday 28th April 2006

New pipes for AM V8 Vantage

Quicksilver system brings fruitiness and power

---

Quicksilver exhaust for AMV8

Exhaust specialist QuickSilver has designed a stainless steel system for the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, following on from its AM DB9 product.

QuickSilver reckons that its system will not spoil the enjoyment of the car for the high-mileage and urban driver as there are no intrusive tones at low or medium rpm.  

The V8 Vantage system is claimed to increase the flow speed and volume of the exhaust gases, producing a noticeable improvement in throttle response. The driver will enjoy a higher pitched, crisper exhaust note with more volume as revs increase.

Key features include:

• Unique crisp sound rising in proportion with rpm
• Dyno tests awaited – about 20bhp improvement is expected, more torque and better throttle response
• Huge weight reduction from rear of car – 10.4Kg lighter than stock – with benefits to all areas of performance
• Accelerated gas-flow draws heat away more efficiently to reduce under-floor temperatures
• Entirely manufactured from aircraft grade 304 austenitic stainless steel including the flanges
• Bolt-on fit

Comparison chart

Speed (rpm)	Aston standard system (dB)	Quicksilver system (dB)
Idle	71	74
4000	81	84
5000	88	91
6000	96	96
6750	96	98

• www.quicksilverexhausts.com

 

[Polarbert]

Sounds like it could be good!

[BUND]

Or pull fuse 22!

I charge £25 to pull the fuse for you.

[Polarbert]

BUND said:

Or pull fuse 22! I charge £25 to pull the fuse for you.

Yeah thats what you tell everyone, when its actually fuse 21!


It is isn't it? Or have I just had a memory lapse

[bund]

Polarbert said:

BUND said: Or pull fuse 22! I charge £25 to pull the fuse for you. Yeah thats what you tell everyone, when its actually fuse 21! It is isn't it? Or have I just had a memory lapse

I think you may have had a memory lapse or that might be why my parking sensor's have gone wrong.

[g55dxb]

Fuse #22 in the trunk/boot fuse box, it's also listed in the manual.

[Polarbert]

bund said:

Polarbert said: BUND said: Or pull fuse 22! I charge £25 to pull the fuse for you. Yeah thats what you tell everyone, when its actually fuse 21! It is isn't it? Or have I just had a memory lapse I think you may have had a memory lapse or that might be why my parking sensor's have gone wrong.

Yeah sorry, I did actually have a memory lapse. Even though I don't own a V8, I've been going on at other enough that I should have remembered!

[akers]

Has anyone bought these pipes? I'd be interested to know if the increases in power, torque and response, were noticable and how much they cost?

[v8tvr]

akers said:

Has anyone bought these pipes? I'd be interested to know if the increases in power, torque and response, were noticable and how much they cost?

I have, they do two types, a sports and super sports, the sports i dont think are as good as the standard pipes, and the super sports are just way too loud...and i mean loud

So i would personally recommend you stick with the standards, so much better after the fuse is removed

[spadgefr]

I HAVE HAVE HAD THE SUPER SPORT SYSTEM FOR A FEW WEEKS NOW AND IT HAS DEFFINATELY IMPROVED THE THROTTLE RESPONSE AND THE NOISE IS TRULEY FANTASTIC BUT IF YOU LIVE IN A BUILT UP AREA YOUR NEIGHBOURS WILL KILL YOU WITHOUT A DOUBT AS IT IS VERY LOUD. IF YOU USE THE CAR AS A WEEKEND TOY THEN THEY ARE DEFFINATELY WORT IT IF YOU LIKE THE NOISE THING, BUT IF YOU USE IT EVERY DAY ON THE MOTORWAY I WOULD SUGGEST STAYING WITH THE STANDARD SETUP. I ONLY USE MINE AS A PLAY THING AND I USED TO HAVE A SPORTS EXHAUST ON MY TVR SO I AM USED TO THIS SORT OF NOISE BUT IT NEED TO BE HEARD TO BE BELEIVED.
SORRY I CAN'T GET MY COMPUTER TO GO INTO LOWER CASE

[XXXAngelXXX]

pull fuse 22 and invite us for a dinner thats cheaper

[tphnet]

Hi.....I've tried both versions of the "Quicksilver" exhausts, originally I ordered and installed the "Super Sport" version, turned out to be way too loud for daily driving! Don't waste your money on the premium sound system if you're thinking about this system.
After about 3 weeks I contacted "Peter" to arrange exchanging the system for the "Sports" version, perfect for daily driving, better throttle response and a really nice exhaust note that is slightly higher pitched than an uncorked exhaust. Extremely well made, much much lighter and fits perfectly!

Scott

[akers]

Thanks guys, I had the fuse 22 job done at the 1000 mile service back in May.

I was just interested to see if the claimed extra 20 bhp quoted for the quicksilver exhausts was a noticeable reality. Guess I'll have to wait for the upcoming Prodrive upgrades mentioned on one of the other posts.

[sadlerj]

I dont think it's the pipes that need replacing it's the Cats, best performance and economy gains can be made by replacing the cats with some free flowing race ones, and then remapping the ECU to cope with them. Also this will help fuel economy buy stopping it using unspent fuel from cooling the Cats (that is needed in the standard setup). Got all this info and more from a very interesting workshop at Prodrive with 15 or so other V8 owners last night). They will shortly be able to do all this for you (and more) for a mere £6k, and they are quoting 425 BHP! They seem to have got lots of experience from the Race/Rally V8's. But one word of warning tho, the race cats make the car much louder (I heard it last night, was fantastic, like a cross between the Vantage and a 360 CS), so you may not be allowed on quiet trackdays

[roar]

As I mentioned in another post, AM Works Service are about to trial a new sports exhaust which they have available but have yet to fit to an AMV8 - any guinea pigs out there? They don't seem to know if it brings any performacne enhancement! They suggested that I go and check out the sound, but pushed for time so likely to go for standard exhaust with a switch which does the same as fuse 22 (cost £385 to fit a discreet switch on the steering cowl - will have full AM warranty and means I can enjoy the noise, not upset neighbours and have less noise on motorway journeys when the car is below 4,000 rpm).

[spadgefr]

i am getting my hands on a decibel meter tomorrow so i will take some readings of my super sport system and post them as soon as i can.

[spadgefr]

here are the results for the quicksilver super sport exhaust for the V8 Vantage

IDLE 90
4000 RPM 103
5000 RPM 104
6000 RPM 106

[Beej]

sadlerj said:

I dont think it's the pipes that need replacing it's the Cats, best performance and economy gains can be made by replacing the cats with some free flowing race ones, and then remapping the ECU to cope with them. Also this will help fuel economy buy stopping it using unspent fuel from cooling the Cats (that is needed in the standard setup). Got all this info and more from a very interesting workshop at Prodrive with 15 or so other V8 owners last night). They will shortly be able to do all this for you (and more) for a mere £6k, and they are quoting 425 BHP! They seem to have got lots of experience from the Race/Rally V8's. But one word of warning tho, the race cats make the car much louder (I heard it last night, was fantastic, like a cross between the Vantage and a 360 CS), so you may not be allowed on quiet trackdays

and another thing.. if Paul was telling us the truth about the complexities of the ECU, then how would just changing the back box have any measurable effect on the throttle response? I think this is where I trust Prodrive's offering more than anyone else's - its a much more integrated solution.

[spadgefr]

There really is an increase in throttle response with the super sport back box. The throttle response with the standard box was my main (only) gripe with my car and the new box has sorted it out. Its not race car sharp but it is now as i would have expected the car should have been from the start. I do not think there is any increase at all in performace bar the fact that i can now heel and toe perfectly smoothly which i could not do before.

[VirginiaUSA]

Quicksilver claims a 20hp increase but if pressed, they'll waffle on the figure.

[roar]

Have discovered that sports exaughst from AM is the one developed for and used during the 24 hour Nurgurgring race this summer which Dr Bez took part in.