Getting an exhaust next week and while I'm still looking at the pros/cons of a custom straight-through exhaust, the Borla Sport is my number one pre-fab choice. However, I'm concerned that it may be too loud since it is said to be the "loudest". But I really don't know what that means, because internet sound clips aren't very telling. Can anyone who has this exhaust try and explain what it sounds like? Do you have to crank your stereo up on the freeway to drown it out? Maybe someone could compare it to another car on the street or give it a 1-10 rating scale i.e. stock = ???, Borla Sport = ??? Thanks.

 

I recomend the milltek, unless you want a loud exhaust. I don't think you will feel any power difference that coralates with noise (for the mini). I recently road all day in a car with the magnaflow. At first I didn't think it was that bad. By the time we got back my ears were numb to the point that I couldn't hear the alta intake in my own car. I don't have before and after, but my dyno was very healthy.

 

I had a Borla street which is quite civilized with a nice growl on top.

I now have a Miltek with a header and under load at 4-6K it just sings, I love it. but, I have the stock sound system and it affects it for sure.

 

i had a Borla Street and it was pretty nice. i've heard a lot of people say thats how the stock exhaust should have sounded. i'll prolly go Borla Race next time around tho, more power

 

1-Borla Race cat-back...loud WOT. Purrrs during cruise.
2-BR with Miltek header...LOUD WOT. Purrrs louder during cruise.
3-BR/Miltek header/Webb head...Very LOUD WOT. Loud purrr during cruise...likes to be in higher RPM during cruise or SP can become uncomfortable when under load. HK can cope and SO has not complained. Let's just say this tolerable but not for everyone.

During our caravan down to the Dragon, everyone comented that they could hear me over everyone else and hear every shift Other's who attended might chime in and give their impressions of Msfit's exhaust.

 

Due to a dealer mistake, I've heard both the Borla Sport (Part # 140119) and the Borla Street (Part # 140120) on my car. I chose the Street. On long drives, like the 9-hour drive from DC to The Dragon, I couldn't tolerate the level of noise from the Sport. The Street has a modest, but noticeable growl at low rpm, and it starts to sound really great as the engine gets to 4K rpm and above.

One thing that surprised me about the two systems - about 1 1/2 - 2 inches of the tips of the Sport project (as I recall) and they look great. But, the tips don't project at all when the Street is installed. With the Street, the ends of the tips are flush with the black plastic trim below the bumper. I haven't found a way to simply adjust the factory parts to get some projection - there doesn't seem to be enough slack in the system to allow it.

 

I've had the Borla Race on my '04 for 9 months. It's a love hate relationship.

My wife and I both love the sound during "spirited" driving. It has a great growl at WOT and burbbles during coast down.

On a long trip > 1hour it can be pure torture. The exhaust creates a droan at about 3K RPM ~ 70MPH (The speed limit here in Texas). This is most noticeable going up hills or with the AC running. We have found the easiest way to reduce the droan is to keep the RPMs lower or higher. You can guess which it usually is. I finally ditched my stock 17" wheels for 16" with 215/45 tires to change the gearing reducing the droan.

I chose the Borla Race since this is a G Stock SOLO2 car and with the limited mods available it was touted as the biggest HP & Torque gain available. (this may have changed?)

I did see that mini-madness has some venturi inserts that were supposed to quite down the droan of the Race exhaust but I haven't heard of anyone that has tried them yet.

 

Thanks everyone for their replies.

 

I put on the Milltek and love it! I do not care much for how loud is it outside, but inside. I can carry a full conversation with someone with the windows up!

I have a few videos on my website if you want to hear me getting on the freeway! If not, that is okay too!

 

Belowradar, your gonna have to ride with someone that has it man. That was how I made my mind up and got the Sport/Race system.
I made a 13 1/2 hour trip home from the Grand Canyon and did not get bothered by the sound, so it's not a problem for all.
Good luck

 

I've had mine for 1.5 years now. With the OEM header and with an OBX header. Factory CAT.

Everyone is correct. Its loud enough that you will always hear it and notice it. But I would also say that the tone is what sets it appart. With the OEM header, there is no drone and I wouldn't play the radio, just so I can listen to it. It sounds that great. With a header, it sounds even better, the tone gets deeper, but it develops a drone at 2700-3100 rpm that can get annoying... not painful like a V8 can be.

If this is your famliy car, pass it up and go for the street. If this your performance fun car... where you're the only passenger most of the time, then go for it!

If the OEM exhaust were a 1 and a catless header with this borla were a 10 (literally PAINFULLY loud and buzzes all the interior body panels), then this exhaust with the OEM header would be a 4. With an aftermarket header a 4.5. The magnaflow would be a 5.

I really like the adjustability of the system. And, if I ever decide that its too loud, I will have a small free flowing resonator cut into the system... but I'm not even close to considering it.

 

A lot of people are recommending the Street if I want something quiet. However, if I'm going to go softer than the Race, I might as well go Milltek as I think it has the best gains out of the quiet exhausts...better than the Borla Street from what I gather.

 

several of us have actually measured exhaust dbs. do a search here and on mini2.