My JCW finally made it across the ocean and I picked it up over the weekend.
I am unhappy with the stock exhaust, I was hoping it would sound more like the S Carbon I test drove (it has the JCW Pro installed)

I can't find any good videos demonstrating AWE track exhaust, unless it really does sound that quiet until you drive it hard. I'm curious to know which one is more beefy, even when just cruising.

Is there anyone in Dallas/Fort Worth Area that has the AWE track installed? Im interested in hearing it in person, ideally, or if anyone has any thoughts on the subject.

 

Is your JCW auto or manual? I was shopping between the JCW Pro exhaust and AWE for a while. I finally decided on the AWE touring since my car is manual. I didn't want to deal with the faulty Bluetooth issues that some JCW Pro systems are experiencing, and I didn't want drone, which I hear the AWE track exhaust is guilty of on manual cars. Apparently not on autos.

 

So NellyRod how do you like the AWE?? I have a JCW on its way and I am also looking at these two exhausts for my car. I am leaning towards the AWE due to being a bit cheaper and I don't like limiting the exhaust to one pipe occasionally (who am I fooling I would probably have both open 99.9% of the time!!)

 

My apologies, I should have clarified more. I ordered the AWE Touring exhaust. It takes about 4 weeks for delivery because they are made to order. Once I get it on the car I will post my thoughts (late August).


I chose the touring over the track because my JCW is manual. Even their website recommends this option for manual cars. I've only heard these exhausts over YouTube, but with high quality headphones to give a better feeling for the sound. The AWE touring has a unique note that I really like, without being too loud for daily driving. AWE also has better exhaust tips IMO. I like the over-sized tips they use. I feel they add to the character and design of the car.

 

Full disclosure: my car was the development car for the AWE exhausts.

Truth: every single person that has heard my car asks what exhaust it is because it sounds great. i'm not being sarcastic. every single person. on the street, at the bodyshop, and at every track event...i get the same comments every time.

 

Marco do you have a manual or an auto?? And which AWE exhaust did they fit on your car?? I am waiting for my manual JCW and really like the AWE exhausts. I like the track version but on AWE's own site says I should opt for the touring version. Any thoughts??

 

I have the manual.
I think I would be okay with a little drone noise- I sold my subie STI for the JCW and I loved its exhaust, it was pretty deep even when idle. ( I know they are completely different but I want to get something close to that with the MINI )
Dru333- i would probably leave the valve open all the time too - or even rig it to be open 100%, so I should probably just buy the AWE exhaust :P

 

manual
touring edition
i never personally heard the track edition. i cant' comment on it. i was happy with the touring edition and awe simply told me "you're better off with this" so i trusted them. they know i have a daughter and they figured i wasn't one for loudness.

 

I am also looking towards the AWE Touring Edition Exhaust w/180 Technology. Any suggestion on where to buy? I'm in the Austin area. Thanks.

 

cravenspeed offers it, so does helix, as well as a few others....also direct via awe.

 

Can anyone here speak to the track exhaust? I'm not particularly interested in the touring.

 

I have the track exhaust on my JCW, it is an auto, and love it. No drone as long as you keep it in sport mode since it keeps the car in lower gears for instant power instead of going right to top gear. That said, I'd say the same would be true if in a manual JCW and keep the car in 3rd or 4th around town. It is very quiet on the highways at various speeds. So much that you can listen to classical music on low radio volume and not miss a beat. But whenever you floor it, it's quite loud but not too crazy. Pops and burbles sound amazing and most people look whenever you let off the throttle or downshift. Myself, my wife, and her daughter did half of MTTS 2016 in my JCW and it was a perfect exhaust for fun pops around the back roads and comfortable on the long highway rides.

 

I went with the AWE Track exhaust - it is freaking awesome. It came two weeks early while I was in Germany and my boyfriend installed it as a surprise. When I started up my car I was like.. this is significantly louder... I put it in sport mode and I was all smiles.

It sounds just like the MINI Carbon Edition I test drove (it has the JCW PRO exhaust) except it is on all the time. No flaps to mess with or issues like I've read with the JCW pro exhaust not opening.


Super SUPER poppy now, fun, and loud - but not when you are just idling and cruising.
Exactly what I wanted!

 

Half p1nt is sounds like you really like your new exhaust!!! I am leaning towards an AWE exhaust over the JCW Pro. I was thinking the TOURING since AWE recommends that for manuals. I love the pops so the TRACK is what I was first thinking but am afraid of too much drone at highway speeds. How does yours sound on the highway?? Any chance you could post a video??

 

Ill see what I can do for a video. The youtube ones already out are hard to hear the sound very well, so im not sure i can do much better. ill be traveling so might be a week or two.

EDIT : I talked to an Audio guy at my work and he will help me get a video with 'real sound' with all his fancy equipment. we are planning to do it monday the 19th.

 

That's awesome!!! Every video I have seen on YouTube in regards to the TRACK exhaust has been an Automatic trans. I can't wait to hear it on a manual!!

 

Alright, not the best video in the world i am camera drive shy.

i think its a good representation of just how much road noise you hear inside with the windows up vs. exhaust noise. you hear it when you get on it, and downshift, but it fades away when you are cruising. its got a little drone noise but i guess on my car i cant tell because of the road noise the stupid run-flats make. buying new wheels and tires soon.

i hope this helps but it still hard to tell.

https://vimeo.com/185028357


p.s if you drive with the windows down you can hear the exhaust way more.
the audio pickup didnt get any poppy exhaust, what is there you can barely hear it, but its loud in person.

 

Thanks for the vid and sounds! I wish I could hear both the track and touring in person... Decisions...