Which cat-back exhaust gives a nice increase in performance yet still sounds similar to the OEM system? I have heard the sound clips and to me it seems like the Alta exhaust system is closest to the stock sound (just a little deeper but not too much louder).

The only one I have heard in person is the Miltek exhaust and I did not like the sound. It sounded to much like the honda kids.

 

For loudness, on a scale of 1-10, 1 being OEM, the Milltek is a 2, the Alta a 4, a Magnaflow an 8. I think Borla falls in between the Alta and Magnaflow.

We had a Milltek on our cabrio and it sounded very much like stock. The JCW is very raspy in comparison. The Alta sounds great....not like a 4cyl at all, but it's MUCH louder than a Milltek, at least that's what my wife told me when I hauled *** out of her work parking lot the day after I put it on my Coupe.

 

To me the Milltek just sounded strange and I was not a fan. It was only a short ride though so its hard to tell. The videos make it seem like the Milltek is louder and more annoying. A deeper note is good though.

Do you still have the Alta on your coupe? How is it in the cabin and on the highway? To give you an idea of how easily exhausts can annoy me, even with the OEM if I have the seats down and cruise at about 85 mph its gets annoying... With the seats up the sound is fine but it gets to be droning and loud after a long trip with the seats down.

 

I have the RMW now. The Alta sounded better. I wouldn't hesitate as far as noise....the Alta is livable, but the Milltek moreso. If I was at all worried about being hassled by the police, I'd buy a Milltek or JCW

 

Its more my ears and the wife getting annoyed. We still use the mini for road trips as we still don't have children and anything a lot louder is a tuff sell . I thought the Alta sounded better in all the videos. I will have to find a local person to have a ride in a car with the Alta.

 

we road from OH to VA in the cabrio, with the top down and the exhaust never was annoying.

 

Borla Street is th one that you want, quality product as well.

 

Hey Paul you got some pics of that 11 sec MINI?

 

one-ball

another option is the Minspeed system - just a tad louder and deeper then stock.

 

+1 for the borla street. I've heard claims that it is just as quiet, if not quieter than stock.

 

If you want close to OEM go the one ball route.


Jack

 

Magnaflow with ALTA catless header!

-Cody

 

I never found the Alta being loud at all.
It sounds Very numb for sure... MAYBE it may sound different from outside.. but inside, just like a stock exhaust, mellow and quite...

 

Where's the one ball fit on the noise scale??

 

Never heard one in person, but it's known to be essentially the same as stock, just lighter.

 

I have a Milltek but I suggest you check into the Borla Street or Mini-Madness cat-backs. The Mini-Madness looks good and when I talked to George he said it was going to be quite. I wanted something a little louder so I went with the Milltek. I have also had a Borla Sport but that would be too loud based on your preference.

 

whats up! i have a mymini exhaust... well now its Minspeed. but its a great sound. when the car is idle you dont really hear it. but when you need the performance you know its there.
awesome exhaust plus customer service the best

 

+1 on the one-ball.

It is just a bit louder that stock under power, otherwise it is OEM sounding at cruise.

 

Thanks Scott..That's what I was looking for...

 

This is a sweet sounding system and very soft on the loudness side yet lower sounding. I live near by MInspeed and at the dyno parties this system continually produces on 8hp gains.

 

That is what I am after. Inside sound being similar. If it lets you know the engine is alive from behind outside the car that is fine.

 

Alta gives you a hint of aftermarket exhaust when you really push it but then the s/c whine just eats away the tone at high rpm.. I will have to get one of my buddies to do some drive-by or something..

 

where would you guys that have heard the obx rate it on this 1-10 sound scale.?

 

You can cut the interior exhaust sound a LOT, by stuffing the area forward of the taillights with absorbent material, and inserting a thick, floppy rubber mat (I used 3/8" soft rubber sheet) under the floor mat in the boot.

My Borla Street is quieter than stock from the inside now, with just enough grumble-cough getting in to let me know it's back there.