Don't be a cheap skate. You spulged to get the "MR Edition," buy a 76mm catback and enjoy an extra 15-20 awhp. Sounds like you are tripping over dollars to save pennies.

 

See, the thing is that I can buy a muffler delete out of petty cash. A catback is going to require appropriated funds, which requires the approval of the CFO. And I'm also trying to get a set of wheels for my race rubber... And given the choice between a catback and race rubber...well, no contest.

Anyone got any ugly ol' scratched up Enkeis they want to get rid of? Long as they're round, they'll do.

 

get some Kosei T1S from the TireRack or Rota Torques from Subydude.com. Race tires will definetly help more than an exhaust! At least i think that.

 

Exhaust volume (loudness) and sound quality are very subjective.

Changing just the axle back muffler delete pipe has produced mixed opinions.
Since we originated the muffler delete pipe in early '03 we have heard all of the opinions. Most enthusiasts think it's fine. Not too loud and not too intrusive but surely noticable.

One thing for certain is that the stock muffler is the most restrictive piece in the entire exhaust system and that the stock intermediate/mid pipe is the least restrictive. The stock muffler has a series of chambers and baffles (see our pics in the Stealthworks description by clicking on the link below) while the stock intermediate pipe is straight thru with two well designed resonators. If you're local, drop by and we'll shine a light in one and drop the golf ball thru it.
Repeated dyno testing has also shown this to be the case.

WORKS would love to sell you a cat-back but honestly put your money in an axle back muffler delete pipe and spend the rest on good rubber.

Also, WORKS gives 5% off* to current SCCA, NASA, and SAE members.
*Excludes sale items and coilovers.

http://www.worksevo.com/store/index.php?cPath=21

 

Most Restrictive would be the catalytic converter. Then turbo, then muffler...

 

If it helps, I just put a used Buschur muffler delete on my car this weekend, and I think it's not too loud at all. In fact, my wife can't even tell a difference when just cruising around gingerly. I think it's a bit louder on decel than stock, but it's really not bad. I do have everything else stock, including cat and dp, so I would assume changing any of that would increase the volume. Really I think the resonators in the mid pipe are plenty to dampen the sound.
I'm very much in the same boat - appropriating funds for race wheels/tires, so a ghetto exhaust (muffler delete, and eventually cat delete) is the way to go for me this year. All you catback snobs, you can point and laugh while I beat your times.

 

Hey,

I have a Buschur AB for sale dirt cheap, I have it listed for ~$100 in private for sale, but I'll take $75 and I'm not gonna bother cleaning off the New England salt and whatnot... It's the muffler, not just the pipe. The AB muffler add a little burble to idle and was certainly louder at WOT, but not too bad. I actually got a ticket with the AB muffler, that I beat at the magistrate, heh. It also made a nice improvement SOTP in the mid and upper rpm. It got better with DP and HF cat, but that may bump you up a class, right?

I now have a Helix catback and it's definitely much louder. The other nice thing about the Buschur AB is that it "looks" stock, whereas I painted the Helix can an ugly black to try and hide it. I wish it were less noticeable and not so grapefruit launcher looking, heh.

Take care,

FB

 

Me too. It is louder under throttle, but it's not unbearable and it won't get me into trouble in these parts.

 

Wanted to put my 2 cents in too. I have the Buschur muffler delete and it was a great mod. It did shave about 30lbs and it sounds great compared to stock, didnt really feel any difference in power. I also have the 2.5 UR cat delete and that created more noise than the muffler delete. The cat delete also made more of a noticeable difference in power.

 

Thanks for the info on the cat delete/muffler delete combo. I think I felt an imaginary increase in power ;-)
Slowride, glad to hear you you went for it!

 

I went cat-back and never looked back