Hi NAM members ,

I want to ask about ALTA exhaust system. Why it dose have only one muffler ?

- Is it better than two muffler ? and what is the difference between one and two muffler ?
- what is the best JCW or ALTA exhaust system ?

 

Because it only needs one. It also uses a resonator before it gets to the muffler. One muffler usually has less restrictions than a two muffler system. It is also lighter than a two muffler system. Borla uses two and is still less restrictive than a stock system. Some people do a "one ball mod" They remove one of the stock mufflers and then tie in the piping, so it all goes thru one muffler.

 

The ALTA is louder.
I think better also, but I don't own one tho.

 

Like Ireland Engineering states on their website, they feel a 1600 cc engine doesn't need 2 mufflers. I could't agree more. I'm sure there are reasons why some manufacturers choose 2 mufflers. Either way, they both do the same thimg...........expel waste.

 

on the stock set up, one is a muffler, one is a resonator.

 

which gets better performance JCW or ALTA?

 

ALTA should. and its lighter

 

But it is noisy than JCW

 

Yep... having one muffler requires the same volume of exhaust gas to pass through a smaller path (one muffler instead of two). This will change the tone of the sound, the volume of the sound, the weight of the system and the overall performance. If the car doesn't really need the extra factory muffler, the performance drop could easily be offset by the weight loss. I'd bet that MINI uses two in the factory design because they have to design for a common aesthetic and set of laws that are more restrictive than the average desires of a NAM member.

I installed the Alta 2.5" exhaust on my '06 MCS. I had a bit of trouble with their resonator contacting another mod that I installed, causing a nasty cabin vibration, but I got around it by installing a narrower resonator. It went together easily and is well made. It is definately louder and 'popier' than the stock exhaust. I also noticed more torque across the band. The single exhaust also left me some space on the exterior of the car for an additional mod that I've been working on for a long while.

My modified exhaust is louder than a JCW exhaust and has a more agressive note... something along the lines of the Volt (from what I can tell from web audio clips) but less agressive than the Borla race unit. It's on a car with a larger intercooler, intake and pulley (all make an exhaust sound difference) that is pulling about 198 hp at the wheels.

 

My Alta 2.5" is only loud under load or WOT. Cruising on the freeway and city streets it's about as quiet as the stock exhaust. But when you open up the throttle...man it's loud!

 

I agree on that mellow when putting around but totally roars when floored.

 

It's about the same sound as the JCW system with the JCW resonator removed.

The ALTA is really a sweet sounding system.

 

It sounds even better when you add their header . Not to sure how much more performance though? pberry I see you are from the central coast? Where?