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best sounding exhaust

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by waldo
So its been brought to my attention my car sounds like a sissy... stock exhaust. I want to get the best sounding exhaust so any idea's? I don't want it to sound like a civic or anything I want something to let people know its a rotary.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by Renesis Rx
When I have the cash I'll be going with a Borla.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by Ryanmmacoustic
I would go with Vibrant...If they make one for the RX8.
Sounds great on the MZ3 and MS3

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by chickenwafer
^Vibrant doesn't make any RX-8 exhaust.

Best sounding is highly objective and opinionated. Might as well start a thread asking if you should run synthetic or dino oil.

I had on HKS Hi-Power on my 8. It was loud. I mainly got it because it was cheap and, due to the single tip design, was lightweight. There aren't really any power differences between brands...except TurboXS has some of the best gains. Racing Beat yields almost no power and is just as heavy (45lbs) as stock.

My suggestion would be to go on YouTube and just search for various brands exhaust clips. You can usually find most popular exhaust systems on there so you can get a good idea of how they sound.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by Number2
The exhaust you want is what Jimmy (GR-8) has. It is teh aewsome.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by erod550
^^ Agreed. Jimmy's exhaust sounds amazing.

Posted: Mon Feb 14, 2011 9:14
by GR-8
Custom Magnaflow systemt. It's had many sounds. I like it and have had many compliments on it. It's had many different sounds on it - I like where it's at. If you go cat-less I recommend a resonator. It is loud! Now with the turbo, 12" or 16" resonator and no cats is sounds almost like it did with the muffler and cats. Just a tad bit louder and more agressive. I love it and have had it since before there were really any muffler kits out for the 8. That was a factor and all the kits are Expensive. Heck it's been on the car almost 7 yrs now.

By many different sounds I mean different configurations with the same muffler. (ex. No cats, cats, turbo....)

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:14
by reconbygod12
youtube

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:14
by GR-8
reconbygod12 wrote:youtube



It's really hard to tell if you'll like the sound from video. Most of it sounds the same and horrible. I think best bet is to go to a shop and try out different mufflers.

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:14
by chickenwafer
If you're looking for off-the-shelf exhaust YouTube wins. This is one of the ways I narrowed down which exhaust I wanted on my old 8. Here are just a few examples:

I would also be aware that exhaust does little for actual horsepower. Your butt dyno might lie to you due to the decibel increase but catbacks really don't gain any power. The most bang for your buck on these cars, power wise, is a catless midpipe or an AccessPORT with a tune.

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtsDwrasgBw"]YouTube - Rx8 greddy se exhaust 1[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ1ZgIGeE_c"]YouTube - HKS Hi-Power Single outlet Exhaust RX8 part 2[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZyDLNpL-jI"]YouTube - Mazda RX-8 Borla Exhaust[/ame]

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Be3II7hRcCE"]YouTube - Agency Power Mazda RX8 Catback Exhaust[/ame]

Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:14
by Number2
after listening to these: HKS

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:14
by Renesis Rx
Still loving the Borla. Keeps that nice low tone through the RPM range.

Posted: Wed Feb 16, 2011 9:14
by chickenwafer
The HKS is nice but it gets LOUD without a cat on the 8. A dual resonated midpipe is a must.

All this proves is picking an exhaust system is highly subjective across all platforms so factor in everything important to you and make a decision.

Posted: Thu Feb 17, 2011 9:14
by rx8ghost
I have the TurboXS w/ test pipe and I love the sound. However, I would NOT go with testpipe w/o a turbo as it's loud w/ one. Great gains, great sound, great quality and great price. Hard to beat.

Posted: Tue Aug 30, 2011 9:14
by eliminster
I have to agree the HKS is loud even with an 18in resonator on my 7, but no one out there can call your car a sissy with it that is for sure, if you want to hear what the hks with a 18 in resonator sounds like on a 13b re with a turbo, and street port to give you an idea what it really sounds like just pm me and ill find time to bring it over to you so you can listen as i live in the springs too.