I've been reading about the "one-ball" mod for the MCS but I was wondering if anyone has made a custom exhaust for an MCS? I know there are a lot of $$$ aftermarket options but there is a muffler shop near me that does a lot of custom work and they have a good reputation. I was wondering if I could have them make a 2.5" cat-back with a single muffler in the $150 range. Plus I could find some nice exhaust tips of my choice and not be limited to what comes with an aftermarket unit.

The thing is that I want it to be a little louder but not too loud. I can't believe how quiet the stock MCS exhaust is for a sporty car. My wife used to drive one of the first model years of the Miata and that thing really sounded great for a four cylinder. That's the tone and loudness I'd like but don't have a clue as to what muffler would acheive that. I can't really think of another stock four cylinder that sounds decent... maybe an S2000 but the Miata still sounds better. I seriously doubt a stock Miata muffler has 2.5" inlet & exit pipes (and is designed to flow enough) so that's out the window.

Does anyone have any experience with a custom exhaust? What muffler(s) have you tried? How is the exhaust tone, loudness level, and performance? BTW, I don't really like the "burbling" sound on deceleration of the stock MCS exhaust either.

 

be careful what you wish for! it can get really loud very easily and most will accentuate the burbling sound. Best thing is find someone's car that you like and ask what it is.

 

I have a custom exhaust on my 2006 'S' cabrio. Initially, it was 2.5" from the cat back to a single small muffler (about 7" X 8" X 3"), then out the back with an oval stainless-steel tip. I loved it when autocrossing, but it got to be a little loud for everyday driving, so I went back and had them add a small tubular resonator just behind the cat, using flanges so I can take the resonator out and replace it with a straight section of pipe when I want to. The total cost was more than $250, but still significantly less than almost all of the aftermarket solutions, especially when you consider that some of the companies charge an extra $100 for the cabrio versions of their exhaust.

One word of warning, though - anything you do to make the exhaust louder/deeper/more aggressive is likely going to enhance the "burble" as well. For those of us that love the burble, that's not a problem, but if you don't like it on the stock exhaust, you'll probably hate it with an aftermarket or custom exhaust. Before I had the resonator added to my custom exhaust, it sounded like an F1 car on deceleration. Rather than the two or three individual "pops" I got from the stock exhaust on deceleration, the new exhaust would give off more of a loud "crackling" sound for two or three seconds when I let off the gas. Sounded evil, but if you don't like the burble, it would probably drive you crazy. With the resonator, the burbling/crackling still lasts several seconds, but it's much more muted now.

 

in choosing a muffler should one stay away from universal Japanese mufflers for turbocharged cars?

(had to ask. too many nice mufflers to choose from)

 

The exhaust burble comes from the ECU, not the mufflers. With my Miltek exhaust, the pitch of the burble in now lower which I like better.

 

True, but changing the muffler/resonator will change how the burble sounds, and can change how long you hear it on deceleration. When I changed my exhaust, I went from only being able to hear a few individual pops/burble to having a crackling/popping noise that lasted for several seconds whenever I let off the throttle. And that was without any changes to the ECU.

 

I have a friend that had a custom exhaust, it is magnaflow. It sounds loud but the sound is great and you will save a lot of money, but i really dont know if the performance will be as good as an aftermarket system.

 

I recently did a custom Magnaflow exhaust. Its a bit loud in the cab so im looking for a resonator. Anyone have any recommendations... brand, part #'s

 

I did a custome exhaust as well. 2'5 piping into a magnaflow muffler. stock cat but it was way to loud. I got a magnaflow resenator for 60 bux and it helped out alot.

 

I've got a 2.5" exhaust also, but I don't have any mufflers so I can't help much.

My car sounds like an SRT4.