I'm on a tight budget and I want to improve the sound of my RX8. Whats the best way to do this for under $400. I don't care so much about increasing HP but I don't want to lose any HP (obviously) or any torque. Also I don't want the car to be annoyingly loud. I want it to cruise close to OEM level but be about 5 to 10 dB louder at WOT. These are all the ways I can think of to do this...

1. Intake
2. Universal Muffler
3. HKS Hi Power ( I hear its very loud though)
4. Punch holes in my OEM mufflers (yes I'm serious!)

Any other ideas? Remember I want it to sound good, not ricey but like a rotary.

You need to put exactly 6 holes in the muffler. 3 sides to a rotor X 2 rotors = 6 holes. They should be 3/8 inch in diameter. Pointing toward the rear.

Did you like the results? What did it sound like? How loud was it?

At 3/8 inch, it adds just the right amount. It is almost nothing at idle.

Wilson, keep in mind that this is the only mod he has right now.

You may want to start with just 3 holes and then upgrade as you get more mods to allow air to flow more freely.

Yeah... and if you do this please post pics/vids!

and dyno it

Wilson do you have a sound bite?

I don't have a microphone.

Punch holes on the cat back exhaust.

Mu ha ha...............

Dude, just buy a used exhaust from someone on this board. There are always some for sale. I got the RP Supercat and am pleased. You should be able to stay under $400 with either a used catback or a highflow cat.

catless midpipe for $230. It'll do exactly what you want.

$400 to improve sound? Easy!

OBX-R exhaust for $375 shipped.
Spend the other $25 on a performance filter with 4in inlet. Remove air horn from stock intake box, slap on the filter. Also remove the two baffels inside the air box for more sound.

There ya go..the car will be louder both going in and out.

Do you know anyone with the OBX-R exhaust? How does it sound? How loud is it? $375 shipped seems too cheap and I'm worried about the quality. As far as removing the baffles in the airbox, does that cause any problems such as lumpy idle?

People who have removed them say the idle is fine. I haven't done it myself.

I had the exhaust on my 05 and loved it. The quality is fine, it's cheap because it's a knock off. I have it for my 04 as well but havn't installed it yet. But trust me, it really does sound good. I received many compliments on it. These cars see vitually no HP gain with exhaust so I don't see the point in spending $500+ on a system when $375 will get a stainless steel system shipped to your door.

I bought a used Greddy exhaust and had it installed over the weekend. It was pretty low mileage and looked pretty new still. I love it... very quiet at idle and cruising but loud enough when you floor it, and it sounds nice! I think I made the right buy, cuz the HKS would probably have been too loud for me. Thanks SuperGoat for the feedback about the OBX.

I was so hoping you would punch holes in your OEM muffler. :naughty:

I bought a used Greddy exhaust and had it installed over the weekend. It was pretty low mileage and looked pretty new still. I love it... very quiet at idle and cruising but loud enough when you floor it, and it sounds nice! I think I made the right buy, cuz the HKS would probably have been too loud for me. Thanks SuperGoat for the feedback about the OBX.

the hks isn't that loud under normal throttle. it just screams when you gun it. the greddy screams all the time IMO. lol

^Yeah, HKS sounds almost stock just with more balls- until 2k rpm. Above 7500rpm it screams

I was so hoping you would punch holes in your OEM muffler. :naughty:

I was thinking to myself: Just maybe, just maybe we will do it.. oh boy..

I figure a stock muffler would only sell for about $40, so if I screwed it up, I would just buy a Greddy or something. If you don't have money then it's worth a try. There's a fair bit of snobbery on this site.

Are you talking Greddy SP? Thats what I have and it's actually pretty quiet until about 6000 rpm at WOT. It's almost as quiet as stock under freeway cruising speeds

I figure a stock muffler would only sell for about $40, so if I screwed it up, I would just buy a Greddy or something. If you don't have money then it's worth a try. There's a fair bit of snobbery on this site.

It's not snobbery. You stated in your first post that you were considering punching holes in the muffler. I just ran with that.:)

^Yeah, HKS sounds almost stock just with more balls- until 2k rpm. Above 7500rpm it screams

Quiet? Maybe with the OEM cat in place... but I wouldn't be able to verify.

Hi-power with catless midpipe and turbo (makes it a lot quieter) was still loud for me: http://youtube.com/watch?v=xwkwZgtaetk

If you get it an find it too loud, I have a modified apexi silencer (so it bolts up properly) you can buy that will quiet it at low rpm, while still allowing it to open up in high rpm.

does puncing holes really work? aha

well if u destroy ur muffler it wont muffle anymore right

would anybody ever suggest to do this?