That is a good question, but it really depends on what kind of sound you going for. It is definite personal preference (and slight consideration for the 'law dogs') What is it that you want... ?

 

I am looking for a clean powerful sound, something that also mKes you get noticed when you floor it but not so loud on the inside of the car that I go deaf after a while. I would really like to hear someones borla exhaust setup!! I keep reading posts saying that it is so great but I would love to hear it. Also, what kinda of sound difference do you get if you have the muffler near the front of the car or near the back of the car? Thanks!

 

Maybe not what you were looking for, but here is a flowmaster clip:

http://www.thedeathknight.com/928/Fl...WindowOpen.MPG

It's much quieter at idle.
This is with the windows open.
You can get an idea of the sound around town, when I first start it up...

 

Johnny,
I never saved any sound clip of my Borla setup. Right now, mine sounds similar to BC's (awesome).
I will try to explain it: (the sytem was on an 80 AT, no engine mods)
With a single Borla XR-1, straight pipe, no cat; it rumbles deep upon startup. It is very noticably louder, in the cabin as well. My friend compared it to a small block Camaro (ugh).
At cruising speeds it is similar in decibels to BC's. Upon excelleration, look out. It is deep and raspy, and WILL turn heads. This was a little too loud for me. Also, if you life in a congested neighborhood (I was in beantown), it is hard to sneek in at night, even just idling along.
If you like the Borla sound, I would recommend two inline , or dual pipe. Borla also makes a bullet muffler which fit well where the cats are. Or you could have one in front (resonator location) of the rear traverse, and one behind (stock muffler location).

 

I have heard an S4 w/ a flowmaster and was not impressed at all

 

Jadz928

I think I might put a bullet muffler in on this exhaust system as well so I don't end up with a head ache after driving for awhile. How do you like your afterburner? Once I am finished with my exhaust I will post a sound clip. If you know anyone who is selling a test pipe or borla mufflers could you let me know? The rest of the piping on the exhaust on the car is good so I would like to keep that and just put in the mufflers. Thanks for all the feedback. If you or anyone else has any other suggestions for me for a new exhaust please let me know. Thanks

 

Johnny,
I love the Afterburner (which I believe is a Flowmaster), though mine is lacking the Monza tip as BC's (that is on the list for mine). It is not for everybody, but I like it, and enjoy the complitments. My car sounds like and angry Chewbacca.
If you are looking to use you stock exhaust (80 US), do you plan to keep the cat? Is your resonator in place (intermediate muffler behind the cat)?Are you going for sound, HP gains, or both? I have the notion you are looking for a good sound for a reasonable price.
Here an example Flowmaster on Ebay

Here's the Borla XR-1, couldn't find any on ebay

Here's a Dynomax bullet muffler to replace your Cat
Dynomax bullet on Ebay
I couldn't find a Borla bullet to fit your oem pipes.

A Dynomax bullet with a Borla XR-1 could be interesting.

You will need an exhaust tip too. (I don't have one yet, but need it)

Or of course, you could purchase my Borla custom system, as I mentioned before. (shameless plug, sorry). With its mandrel bent/welded joints. Very nice, and would work on your car well. I have too much development cost into it to sell if for less.
Take a look...
It is not easy to know what you are going for, and sound preferences are subjective. The cheapest way to go it to experiment. By a muffler, take it to a muffler shop, and try it out. I would not recommend developing a new/complete system on your own, as you would find it expensive (and possibly not satisfying). Find the sound you want by experimenting, then make further Hp plans from there. You will find Hp gains just by opening up the mufflers. Maybe not optimal gains, but surely substantial. Also take into consideration future engine mods. That is when you will need to look into larger diameter piping.
Good luck and let me know if you have more questions.

 

Jadz928,

First of all, thanks for all the details and the link for the mufflers! That has come in handy. The main reason why I am redoing my exhaust system is because someone played around with it and it sounds like crap now. There is some generic muffler where the cats used to be so I would like to get rid of that and put in a test pipe. The intermeditate muffler has a hole in it so I would like to replace it. I think I am going to put that dynomax bullet muffler where that was. For the rear muffler they have some kinda generic muffler as well. I would like to replace that with one of those borla XR-1 mufflers or flowmaster 40 series. Hopefully this will make the car sound better. Do you know what size of borla XR-1 case would fit where the rear muffler used to be? Also, what is the difference in sound between a borla XR-1 to a flowmaster 40 series delta flow? Does one give better gains and sound over the other or are you just paying more for the name brand? If you have heard both the flowmaster and borla which would you pick? Thanks again for all your help!

 

WHat would you think of this muffler as well?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2460182806

 

I have factory manifolds and rear muffler offof my 89 gt that I would sell . 970 668 5057 Tom

 

Tom,
Your manifolds won't fit the 16V cars, different bolt pattern.

Johnny,
Sounds like you are on the right track. I think you can fit either the 12" or 16" Borla in the back.
I have never installed any muffler in place of the intermediate. Consult the list, or search archives. Or just jack up your car and compare spacial contraints to mufflers you find interesting.
Like I said, sound is personal preference.
I can say I really like the sound of the Flowmaster. The Borla was nice too, but I hadn't finished devolping the system before the car was taken off the road (read: eat a cow). Matter of fact, I was on my way to have a Borla bullet fitted when 'bessie' the milk-truck decided to cross the road. As it was, w/one Borla, it was too loud. Like I said, the Borla and Dynomax bullet could be interesting.
Experiment, and have fun.

 

One last question, If I went with a flowmaster 40 series, would it be just as loud as the single borla or would it be not as loud? Do I need another bullet muffler to make it quieter or would just the one muffler be good enough? Thanks

 

Well, the question is this: How does the bullet muffler compare to the muffling effect of cats?
I found the Flowmaster to be too loud at full throttle, *with* cats on the car. Without cats,
it would be even louder. So what I did was add a Monza resonator. But perhaps the
bullet muffler, of glasspack, in place of the cat, will quiet it down enough that you
will not need a resonator. Why don't you just try it, and if it is too loud, just add
the resonator later...

 

What do you guys think of the magnaflow mufflers? Any good? Do they sound more like a dynomax or flowmaster? Thanks

 

If you go Flowmaster, get a 50 series. Much quieter, same flow.

I replaced my 40 with a 50; even with 3 resonators it was still too 'buzzy' inside the car.



Has a little burble at idle, fairly quiet takeoff, and a nice roar at full throttle.