RB Exhaust in today - My observation
 

My RB Exhaust was installed today and I thought some of you who do not have yours yet or may be trying to decide if you should do it or not may be interested in my observation.

After installation, the mechanic cranked her up and drove off the lot as I stood outside to listen to the exhaust note. I was surprised that it was not louder but that was cool, he wasn't punching it. He came back and turned it over to me at which time I think I had huge stupid ass grin on my face.

As I lightly pressed the gas and pulled out, I wanted to just enjoy it as you would sipping a fine wine. The note is really noticeable inside the car and boy is it fine! I slowly accelerated and the low rumble flutter rumble at low RPM's turned into an audio experience that you feel deep in your body. Continuing up to 3, 4, 5, 6K RPM's and I realized that what I had been missing all this time was a feeling of power/sound in the lower RPM's and now I have the missing sensation. Oh my! I have not driven 1/2 mile and I am 120% satisfied.

Off of the surface streets to the I-75 South on ramp... well, you know what happened there. Oh, was it sweet. Sunroof back, windows down, 80MPH and waiting for the off ramp so I can go down through the gears and rev match into second. Ummmmm! Is this really my car? I had to keep telling myself, "OK Silver, no one really cares what your car sounds like, quit gearing down to 3rd on the Interstate".

Fifty miles later I'm approaching home and feeling like this was too short of a drive so I backed out of the driveway and off I went again. It's just damn sweet.

I know to many of you, getting RB Exhaust is just not a big deal. For me it is a huge mod that means more than speed. It's the missing audio in the low RPM's.

I can see I do have a problem now though. I have been driving very conservatively for the past 2 months. I gained 2+ MPG by trying to keep my RPM's down below 4K. I think this will set me back for a while till I get used to it. Right now, I don't want to get off of the throttle to shift gears until I encroach into the red zone.

Just do it!

AWESOME!

Its good to see another person with common sense and not get another coffee can of an exhaust.

I felt that way when I got my first exhaust. It had a nice deep tone. :D None of that high pitch screams, thats just as annoying as a roomful of crying babies. :eek:

This exhaust is how this car should have sounded stock. Even with the minimal hp gains, it is well worth it. I crave to open the moonroof and windows whenever I can which is almost everyday.

Nice review!

You may find that the usefulness of your audio system significantly diminishing as well. I think I use the CD player maybe 10% of the time when driving, and never unless I'm on the higway. :)

I just like to hear the sound of the car.

(Just wait 'till you hear it if you add the REVi...justify the cost by the 2 mpg you'll gain back:D )

I've just installed a stainless Hymee catback and know exactly how you feel. ;) :D :D :D

For the moment I'm not checking my fuel consumption. :cool:

I wanted to start a thread myself Silver, but I was worried at how trivial it might sound. The catback seems to be the mod everyone does pretty early into their life with the 8, so its kinda like you don't talk about it, you just get it done.

Well here I was, having just put my RB catback on successfully. I stood on my driveway and gave my best hulking man interpretation! My wife and daughter couldn't stop laughing.:( Anyway, my new problem ( or question) is....how long is the mute button on the steering wheel suppose to last? You see ( and you may also have this problem) every time I come to a stop sign or curve, I hit the mute button so that I can listen to the exhaust back up through the gears. I am a big music nut, so I don't think I can turn the music off completely....

Is there a DIY thread on replacing mute buttons? I may need it soon!

Mmm,.... driving = sweet.

Sweet!

Once you get an exhaust installed, you start to forget about the CD player.

i'm glad i read this forum, you have made my decision of getting the rb exhaust a no brainer. i did order the revi already i guess here goes another 600 bucks. thanks for just bringing up my credit card a little higher. lol.

do you really call urself silver when u talk to urself?
congrats on the exhaust :D

thanks for the post Silver- im been contemplating one too.
while your review was great, can you describe how it actually sounds (not using words like amazing, awesome, but maybe comparing it to sounds (deep rumble, etc) ..., or other cars exhaust notes)

just curious- thanks man, and congrats

damn u silver !!

making me cant wait to other mine :D

Wow, lots of positive feedback. Seems like I hit an (exhaust) note with this thread.

Y&Y, I agree, I specifically did not want the tin can approach but a more mellow, non-intimidating note.

7andan8, I will always post when something gets me excited about my RX-8. No matter how small... hell, I posted pics of my Clear Corners and when I painted my brakes. I think sharing experiences is what this forum is all about. Just because many have experienced this doesn't mean the rest of us shouldn't talk about it. It is a first for me and it is exciting. I wish you had a pic of your "hulking man interpretation".

mamboy, Now that's cool. Glad I could help you make a decision.

Dinhx8, I will do better than describing, I will post some audio using my stereo recorder. it does a great job of picking up the little things. The one thing I'm not sure it will pick up on is a real faint flutter at low RPMs when you have let off the gas. I wish I could turn the volume up on it! :D I'll get some from inside and outside the car. If you do a search you will find others have recorded theirs already. Abbid just did a thread on exhaust systems. I suggest you read over that thread as it is very informative. That was the last straw for me.

williamngRX8, LOL, yep... 1-800-SENDNOW

============================

Now, on to today’s observation:

I couldn't wait to go to work today, I was in my car 30 min. early just so I could play longer. I thought I would wake my wife up when I cranked it up but it wasn't that loud. I pulled out of the drive un-noticed. Now that may not sound like a big deal but for those of you that are not going to tell your wife about the installation because you are afraid of the monetary repercussions... this is a HUGE factor! :p

Now, I'm used to about 12 red lights on the way to work and I'm excited at this opportunity to do my usual 9 to 12 stops. Wouldn't you know it. The one day I want to catch every stop light, I catch only two. :(

Oh well, I'll have plenty more opportunities to stop and start. No radio this morning, only sterio exhaust! :D

... back to work!

sweet thanks man..im already on the page about to ADD TO CART as we speak...but i'd love to hear the audio samples...
thanks again

Got a hymee too on Shinka. All I can say is going through an underpass on the I at 8000 rpm's is da bomb! Brrrrrrrroooooooooooommmmm.....

Oh and the low rumble in the garage on start up is cool too.

This was a big mod for me too as its the first car that I've really done much too.

And ya, if your not on the gas much no-one will even know it's there. If the car isn't being pushed it sounds pretty similar to my eclipse gt just a little lower in tone.

It's funny taking people for rides, they always comment on how everyone is looking at us. Must be the purple/brown/black/maroon/gold highlights.

I've got about 3-4 hours of driving this weekend and I'm looking forward to it.

How is the low RPM rumble on the RB exhaust? (both in terms of sound and feel inside cabin?)

My biggest complaint about the stock exhaust is that it's difficult to hear/feel the low RPMs (below 1-1.5K RPM). My roommate's Subaru STI has this wonderful little deep burble at low RPMs.

stop it! STOP IT!!

me = car poor

Just wondering, and much too lazy to find out for myself: Where'd you get it from? I'll start some modding sooner or later...

I purchased and had mine installed at Mazcare, our local Mazda specialist. It's pretty simple to install so you can order it online and install it yourself from Racing Beat. The website list dealers. http://www.racingbeat.com/

Cool, thanks.

Hey Silver (or anyone else) - how long did it take to install it? I'm interested in getting the RB cat-back sometime this winter.

Paul, I was out of the shop in about 45 min.

silver,

can you bring your recorder to the GA club photo shoot? I want to get a good sound clip of mine. And my camcorder really does not capture it, sound is a little metallic, not really the sound of the exhaust note at all.

Trhoads, Sure, I would suggest you remind me a day or so before our get together.

I recorded mine yesterday. I've not listened to it yet so I don't know if it's any good or not. If it's OK I'll try to upload this evening.

Audio recording of Racing Beat Exhaust
 

OK, heres the audio of the car stationary.

(Right click/Download)
RB Catback Quicktime audio

I tried to shoot the car moving but I'm not satisfied with that right now. I'll have to try that again. Does anyone know how to record on the outside of the car without getting so much wind noise? I have a wind spongy thing on the mike but the noise is coming from elsewhere. I can record with the camera in a stationary position while I drive off but that doesn't get all that I want recorded.

at idle, it sounds like she's purring



Thinking about changing my exhaust now........

I downloaded the audio file.. Holy shit is your recorder amazing, i could even hear the crickets, it sounded like I was outside standing next to the car.. lol

odd thing is your exhaust sounds exactly like mine. I have the stock exhaust though, but 38,000km on the odo.. But compared to last summer, i have noticed a huge increase in the sound my car makes now.


MrJynx

I was told that as the RB breaks in, it will change just as yours has changed over time. Today when I went for lunch, I took a friend with me to show off my new toy. He thought it would have been louder. But then he used to rice up his Civic.

Nice audio Silver! Sounds great. I've enjoyed mine over the last couple of weeks enormously! What a perfect time of year too...windows are down all the time! If anyone is interested in video, I found the Mazdatrix website very helpful. They have video of the Racing Beat, Greddy and Borla. Maybe more by now.

awesome sound! i think this is just what i'm looking for!

heh, i can get a quality recording of the stock exhaust, but who needs that? :)

knowing silver, I can just imagine the grin on his face while making that recording. Great sound, pobably the best recording on the forum, crickets and all. I love the little backfire pops, something about that sound makes me smile. :D

Awesome. Thanks for posting a clip! :D I'm still trying to decide between the RB and Borla myself.

I installed the Racing Beat cat-back over a year ago. It was one of the first batches. I noticed virtually no difference in sound (tone or volume) from stock (except at WOT, when it was a bit louder).

It was a beautiful product, and I had zero problems with it, but I really wanted more volume and throatiness from it, and eventually I sold it. I reinstalled the stock system and noticed no difference at all.

Maybe I have lousy hearing; I don't know, but I consider myself an audiophile and I can certainly hear differences in stereo systems. So go figure. Either (1) my RB exhaust really sounded just like stock (except at WOT); or (2) I have terrible hearing.

Maybe later batches have a slightly different design. I don't know, but it's really strange reading all these rave reviews of the RB sound.

Can you do an install yourself w/o lifting the car a significant height...in other words would some car stands from like pep boys suffice to get the car high enough up. Of course..what does this do to the warranty?

Hard 8, I assure you there is a difference and the low end is where I noticed it the most. If you are an audiophile you would HAVE to notice the difference. I would suggest that you are correct in the first batch theory. If I drive normal then it is almost (but not quiet) the same as stock. But on acceleration there is a noticeable difference. If you are looking for a more robust, loud and non-refined approach then you should go to another brand. It is my understanding that the stainless used in the RB is thicker than most and is more durable. The shop that installed mine said it had a lifetime warranty. If I keep driving like I'm driving these days, it will not be very long!

^ yep! i did mine on jackstands. and as long as you spray the heck outta the hangers with wd-40, the gaskets pop right off. one bolt and yer good to go.

the sound is amazing!! i find mahself goin out of my way to hit underpasses. my passengers laugh at me when i downshift or even just clutch in to rev anywhere i find walls around me.

rb had the best note imho :D

great sound clip silver!!!

I don't know the answer to the lifting question but since you must access all the way to the catalytic converter, you will need plenty of crawl space.

The warranty is not an issue according to my dealer/service shop. I refuse to do anything to my car that will void warranty. I communicate with them and discuss everything I would like to do and that satisfies me that I will not screw up. Since it is past the converter, you are safe but don't remove the converter.

silver,
great review, and congratulations on your mod. i installed my rb catback a couple months ago and i felt the same way you did when i first drove off. and then parking it at home, only to find yourself pulling it back out 2 secs later and driving it around just to hear it again. this is the first mod i've done to my 8 and i LOVE IT. my next step is to get the revi intake. i can't imagine how awesome it would sound to match both products. would anyone have a sound clip of both the revi intake and rev8 exhaust installed?
also, i had my exhaust installed by a mazda dealership, so i don't think it affects the warranty.

I do the same thing every time I'm inside a tunnel or next to a wall! But the most interesting sound I've heard was when I was sandwiched between two huge freight trucks under a bridge. Amazing sound even if I don't have aftermarket exhaust!

Hey all you RB lovers, has anyone else noticed the tips yellowing? i use nevr dull and they get very shiny, but never like the silver color of the mazda badges. ive seen another RB on an 8 and it is older and much more of a white/silver chrome vs my yellowish chrome. any thoughts?

its from heat, the steel will turn that color over time. It is a single walled tip, so it is more succeptable to that than double walled tips. I am not sure how some people have kept it from doing that, maybe they don't drive hard enough! :D

hmmmm... well ive had mine for a little over a month and it yellowed right away. the one i was comparing it to (BlueRenesis82) tracks his car! he uses never dull too. it doesnt make sense. if they all yellowed, id understand, but it just seems to be mine.

mebbe its cuz red gets hotter? ;) :D

Mine has already turned. I was looking at it yesterday evening. I'm used to washing my car and with a lite washing my OEM exhauset looked like new. The RB's were yellowed still after washing. I just figured that was the price I payed for great sound. I aslo figured that since I have to deal with dark smutty inside exhaust I might as well deal with discolored Big Tips. Once I'm inside the car and rolling, it doesn't matter anyway.

that must be it, and when a red is driven by a girl, the heat is....well, we wont go there. :eek:

yea mine turned color too. i'd rather say it turned gold than yellow. i actually don't mind it too much. i use neverdull on it also. and it's not only the tips that turned gold, if you look under your car it goes for the rest of the exhaust. i don't mind it at all, makes it unique than the rest.

i only mind that it doesnt match the other metal parts on the car. im kinda match-y liek that :D

and if i hadnt seen one that stayed silver, i would just think this is what happens ... mystery #4685

dj, I resently did my exhaust with the small ramps that are available everywhere. They were metal and raised the car about 10". I would be worried pulling the car on frontways because of the front lip. But backing up onto it was a breeze and allowed plenty of room to shimmy up to the catalitic converter. It wasn't too high either, I could lift the new exhaust into place resting it on my knees as I reattached the rubber hangers. A pair of jack stands also help to keep it steady. Good Luck w/ yours.

The one thing I'm worried about is how it sounds on an extended interstate drive. How does it sound at a steady 70-75mph for a few hours? Is it noisier or boomier to the point where it might increase driver fatigue??

I drive Interstate to work everyday for 10 miles one way. I don't even notice it. Unless you are pushing it, the RB is not imposing. IMHO

so the RB exhaust has agood sound??? i think im gonna go the same route...what intake do u have right now? the RB REVi is in my car with the cold air duct so i guess ill stick with them....then the pulleys. so regular street driving its quite right?? then once u jump on it u notice it ? i dont want my rents to realize its aftermarket. and i dont want that awful civicky dirtbike sound ya know? let me know....also have u put an aftermarket head unit in it?? and how? is there a kit avaiable anywhere?