Is your car, truck or off-roader too quiet? Do you wonder what its actual soundtrack would be like? Do you feel inconspicuous as you drive down the road? If so, you’re in the market for a louder, deeper and more aggressive exhaust. After all, you want to sound sporty, don’t you? Petrolheads and automotive enthusiasts revel in the soundtrack of a well-tuned, well-matched exhaust system. They feel that it embodies the very soul of the car itself.
Let us help you unlock your car’s soul. In this article, we’ll tell you about how to enhance your exhaust sound, and what kind of benefits you can expect if done correctly. We’ll also mention some brands to get you started. If you’re a total beginner, talk to our team. They’ll explain exhaust types such as the cat-back, X-flow, axle-back and more. Then, they’ll help you identify the best one for your ride.
Why Is My Car’s Exhaust So Quiet?
Most motorists want their vehicles to be as quiet as possible. They want to drive down the road, listening to their favorite music (or jabbering on their mobile phone). The last thing that they want is a noisy exhaust. That’s why manufacturers go to great lengths to make their cars quiet. In fact, they do so well that several now add synthetic noise when Sport mode is selected. There’s also the matter of legal and regulatory compliance, since many countries have noise regulations, and in our country, they may even vary from state to state.
However, automakers may offer a sports exhaust for buyers to specify at purchase, or as a dealer-fitted extra. This allows them to cater to enthusiasts without compromising on the model’s quiet nature. Amazingly, you might find that some of these sports exhausts are manufactured by the brands that we will mention further down in this article. If that’s the case, you know you’re in good hands.
How Can I Improve My Car’s Exhaust?
By installing an aftermarket exhaust. That’s the best way to go about it. Choosing a well-matched aftermarket exhaust will ensure that your car sounds great, goes better, and even does more miles per gallon. Doesn’t that sound good? Conversely, a poorly matched exhaust system can give you poor gas mileage, low performance, and a splitting headache after every drive. Remember, your upgraded exhaust system shouldn’t affect your enjoyment of the car during its regular driving duties.
Will I Realize Any Performance Gains?
With the right exhaust system, yes. You see, an exhaust system’s job is to evacuate spent gases from the engine. But you also want something called back-pressure to ensure drivability at low revs. A well-designed exhaust system will minimize restriction under load while maintaining a healthy amount of backpressure when required. This means that your car won’t bog down at low RPMs, and you’ll have plenty of power and torque for swift getaways.
Who Makes Great Performance Exhaust Gear?
You may have heard some of these brands, or seen their stickers plastered on cars. These are our top picks.
- Borla is well-known for performance exhaust systems. They’ve got a wide range of cat-back and axle-back systems, which include cosmetic enhancements such as polished or black chrome tips.
- MagnaFlow is another renowned aftermarket exhaust system manufacturer. They also offer axle-back as well as cat-back solutions. Furthermore, they have direct-fit solutions so that if you want to sell your car, you can easily revert to stock.
- aFe mostly makes intake components, but they’ve got some cat-back exhaust systems too. This is great if you’ve already installed some intake parts from them, and want to maintain the brand throughout your vehicle.
- Flowmaster is yet another established name in exhausts. They’ve got quite a few axle-back and cat-back systems, and you’ll be amazed at their relatively wallet-friendly prices.
What About Fuel Economy?
A well-matched aftermarket exhaust system won’t reduce your fuel economy – and may actually increase it. This is because, thanks to the extra power and torque, you won’t be working your engine as hard. However, a poorly-matched system will result in poor fuel economy plus dismal performance. And, of course, if you like the sound of your exhaust so much that you drive around in high revs all the time, that’s definitely going to kill your fuel economy.
Can I Get in Trouble With the Law?
Nothing draws cops towards a car more than a loud, popping, and banging exhaust. This is a surefire way to get in trouble with the law, especially as states have noise regulations for automobile exhausts. So bear this in mind when choosing your aftermarket exhaust. You can also fit a bypass valve if you really desire noise, but be aware that using it on the street will most likely be illegal. We take no responsibility in this department.
Let’s Talk Exhausts at AmericanMuscle
If you want to avail yourself to the best performance exhausts out there, contact us at AmericanMuscle. For over two decades, we’ve been helping enthusiasts find their soundtrack. Our warehouse is based in Philly and boasts over 115,000 square feet of automotive aftermarket goodness. Then, our sales techs will gladly offer their expert advice and tips to help you out.
