C JinMyung

I've searched and searched and I haven't found a thread that answers my question so...

I know real straight pipes are too loud and will attract a great deal of attention from police, and that is something I want to avoid. However I still want a loud exhaust.
My question is: Will it be too loud if I remove the stock catback and put straight pipes in with these mufflers? I have a Megan Racing midpipe on my 8 as of right now.

I have attached two pictures of different systems that are similar to what I want to do. (not 8's) I also have attached a picture of the kind of mufflers I have that I plan on installing.

And like I said I do want a loud exhaust (like a deep muscle). Loud enough for others to know when I'm coming down the street, but I don't want pure RX8 straight pipe, drag car amount of loud.

logalinipoo

Just add a unresonated midpipe.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

You are saying: "I want really loud, but not too loud"

To be honest, it's going to be hard for us to know exactly how loud you are looking for through simple text descriptions on the internet.

C JinMyung

I understand that now lol.

Basically I don't want tickets from the noise... And as long as it's not as loud as just actual straight pipes. I'm having a hard time trying to convey my question...

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

The muffler that you have shown has a carbon fiber tip...that will not work with a rotary..it will burn off

You will hate the sound of a poorly muffled rotary (and so will anyone within a half mile of you)

I have a Racing Beat single sided exhaust....and it is LOUD. Even with a turbo and 2 resonators.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Still, it's not something we can easily quantify, since even if we were cops, we wouldn't be the cops that would pull you over. Some have more of a problem with a given volume than others.

I once drove an RX-8 with an Agency Power resonated midpipe with a TurboXS catback, and i was cringing at how loud it was, and not just loud, but obnoxiously annoying AND loud. Literally like attacking a tin shed with a chain saw from inside the shed.


If you put a BHR midpipe in place of the cat, and run straight pipes from there without any muffler, it's your only hope at not being quieter and less annoying than the above combination. If you straight pipe the cat section, nothing you do at the tips will get it quiet enough, or sedate enough. If you add a BHR mipdipe + a catback with mufflers, well, it will work, but it isn't straight pipes any more is it?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

New owner's just don't seem to understand how muffled the RX-8 is from the factory, and how quickly that noise climbs when you start uncorking it. And how obnoxious the noise quality starts becoming.

Seriously Jin, if you think you can get away with straight piping it, go ahead. You will find out that you were in error.

200.mph

iTrader: (9)

op i have a dual res agency power midpipe and catback, my car is pretty damn loud. some of the local members by me bitch about the sound and smell but i like. havent been pulled over for noise (knocks on wood) but have been for my tint

ken-x8

The short answer is yes, it will be too loud.

Ken

IBADAMV

I was running a BHR resonated mid pipe and a HKS single catback.My neighbor once told me every morning he could hear me getting on the freeway about a 3/4 mile away.Never once got a ticket though.

C JinMyung

@RIWWP I do have a resonated Megan midpipe. I know better than to run it without anything but pipe.

I guess what I'm asking is, will muffler tips deepen or refine the raspy, "tinny" sound enough to where it doesn't sound like a chainsaw through sheet metal?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

No, it will not. If there is any significant volume reduction or rasp reduction, that is done at the header and/or midpipe.

The only thing the catback cans do is make minor changes to the tone/pitch of what's coming out, so deeper, shallower, sharper, duller, drone, etc... and it can't make huge changes to what's coming out of the midpipe.

There is some component of volume change at the catback, but not significantly.

So basically the cat back can make a tin rasp sound like a steel rasp, or an iron rasp, but it's still going to be a big metal rasp. If you want to refine the noise, start with the midpipe.

C JinMyung

@ RIWWP
I feel like an idiot but what I'm understanding is that past the midpipe, having a catback or muffler will make little difference with the volume only the tone. I already have a catless midpipe so the only thing that will change by installing the mufflers is the tone?

Obviously I'm wrong here so try to correct me nicely?

C JinMyung

I mean there's a reason why this is posted in the "new member's forum"

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yup, there are rules against flaming and harassment in the new member forum, don't worry about that

Yes, changing the rear cans will change the tone, but not significantly, and it won't do anything to 'refine' the tone like you asked. The header sets the initial base, the midpipe can make a major change to it, and the catback and make a minor change.

C JinMyung

@ RIWWP
But you still think it's a bad idea lol?

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

Yes

Feel free to try though.

C JinMyung

@ RIWWP
I'm tempted lol... I've always been the kind of person who only learns his lesson if something bad happens...

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

Then why bother wasting everyone's time asking? Seriously, its going to be awful. Listen to people who know what they are talking about.

Mysterion

I have never fully understood the young person's obsession with fart-can exhaust. I call it that because, in the majority of cases, that is EXACTLY what it sounds like.
One thing to consider, though. Bearing in mind the cost to replace an engine the question arises (one you might want to consider after checking the cost of an engine replacement) is "might there not be a reason, mechanically, why Mazda installed the exhaust system they did?" Cars, as a rule, depend a certain amount on back-pressure to run correctly and when you alter that back-pressure, you adversely affect any number of operating parameters. Fuel economy (which, as a rule, is no hell to begin with), Emissions and, ultimately in some cases, internal component longevity. You say that you want it to be loud(er). I say "is the risk worth it?". Personally, I think not.

Legot

iTrader: (1)

You must live an exciting life.

To add to Mysterion's post: I honestly don't think there week be any serious losses based on exhaust choice so long as it remains unrestricted, aside from a potential effect on torque. However the stock exhaust was very well thought out and designed. I wouldn't say the same for most of the kit on the RX8, but the flow of gases through the engine is phenomenally designed, including the entire intake system, engine, and the entire exhaust system. They all play into some psychedelic hella JDM acoustics/resonance/power system that s actually improves performance within certain constraints.

That being said, the aftermarket approach to improvement is non-harmonious with the current system, therefore there is generally allot of give and take when messing with the stock setup. If you do it wrong, you'll lose what was designed and lose performance, if you do it right you'll lose what was designed and gain a meager amount of performance. If you do it your way, you will lose what was designed (the midpipe takes care of that), lose performance, and sound like a pleb all the time.

C JinMyung

@ Mysterion
The obsession stems from broke college students only working part time, trying to find a cheap, quick way to give my car a meaner sound without having to pay several hundred dollars on a nice Borla, BHR or AP system (even though I would love nothing more).

However from the overwhelming amount of advice from everyone saying "don't do it" I'll have to rethink my strategy and scratch my ricer plan. :/

Chrishoky

iTrader: (9)

Ricer=waste of money. I get the broke college kid routine, but your better off waiting a few more months of riding around stock and saving money for the quality parts for your car. You'll end up buying them anyway after you see how crappy the ricer versions are. Also, no one will laugh at you for having a stock car, people WILL laugh at you for making your car worse than stock.

Gr8Bullet

iTrader: (5)

Ive heard many different setups of exhaust for the 8. it to your own preference tho on what you want. for me i started out on stock exhaust and a AP single Resinated mid pipe (cat less). keep in mind with that said i did my research before i put it on and what i would have to deal with. It sounded a little tinny for my taste but i wanted something a little more deeper so i added a HKS Hipower with the AP mid and let me tell you that was loud!!!! some of the forum members can tell you! Ive been told i was heard about 2 miles away after a meet one time. I had that on for about 3 months. then i bought a RB Duel Resonated Midpipe and i love the sound. Its deep at low to mid rpm ranges and then it gets loud when you step on it at the higher ones. You just have to mess around with it and see what you like.

ken-x8

When messing with an exhaust, you should also give consideration to what your neighbors (and those people two miles away) would like and not like.

Ken