Options for replacement exhaust!

[Gaz B]

The exhaust on my 1.8 has been blowing worse and worse over the past few weeks. Got it up on a ramp this morning and the pipe is cracking around the weld on the underside of the pipe just after the cat.

So basically I need a new cat back section, but as with most people, when a part goes, the temptation to replace it with something a bit better than standard is too much to resist.

I see my options as:

Replace with standard: About £145 fitted!

Replace with generic off the shelf stainless: £?

Replace with custom stainless: £?

The only thing I don't want is anything TOO LOUD and obvious. Just a nice looking exit and a sporty (conservative) sound!

So any ideas or suggestions peeps!?! All appreciated!

 

[Dan]

http://www.fastfiat.com

they've got some, i don't know how they sound though, try your yellow pages or http://www.yell.com look for your local performance exhaust people and speak to them. i'm after something a bit better for my 1.2 and i'm goning to go to a few places as i think thats the best way to get a good idea of what there is

 

[Gaz B]

Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Phoning round is a bit of a pain in the arse compared to getting the opinions of people who have already had an aftermarket exhaust fitted.

Most companies will just say 'It doesn't sound too loud at all' but thats compared to the 10 inch drainpipe they stuck on some lamers Saxo that morning!

So Bravo owners....I'm sure you can help me out. Remember though, I'm after a Cat back system rather than just a rear silencer.

 

[Ian]

Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Gaz, I can't really be of much help this time round matey. But I can suggest that you try blue flame performance in skelmersdale. Wimmy got his backbox done there, so I guess that they do whole systems too.

http://www.blueflameperformance.co.uk/main.html

I'd expect to pay around the £250 mark for something 'stainless-standard'.

Wimmy's backbox was £180 if I remember correctly, but that was a dual exit custom thingymajig.

Give them a call and see what they say.

 

[Ian]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Oh by the way forgot to ask; How's the filter sounding?

 

[Gaz B]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Bloody fantastic, puts a smile on my face every time I put my foot down. Suprised how tame it sounds if you go easy on the pedal, but then you slam your foot down and it sounds like someones wrestling a lion in the engine bay.

Shame my blowing exhaust is letting the overall sound down.

 

[Barakka]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

I've got a Powerflow CAT-Back on my 1.6 was 1st fitted just over a year ago, and refitted (we'll come to that) about 5 months ago.

I do 90% motorway miles so wanted something that was subtle, and that's what I asked for, but not what I got. Some people might remember me asking on here if it really should sound like someone's got my head in a vice ! It turned heads at 500 yds easily and only just passed the MOT on db's.

After 6 months of complaining and three increasingly larger centre boxes I phoned PowerFlow direct who sorted it out for me. They worked out the best setup for my car and arranged for the garage to refit it, I now have three boxes !

This was a lot quieter but still LOUD at motorway speeds. However, the week before last it finally dropped in volume significantly and is gradually starting to sound quite good. The test will be the next week as it will be doing some good miles with 2 people in it

The moral of the story is that Powerflow like so many of the custom exhaust builders are franchised and certain ones specialise in certain types of system. I didn't know this until I spoke to Powerflow who were most helpful. So get a recommendation if you go down the custom route. I have heard nothing but good things about www.topgear.co.uk in Burnley and I think that's who Powerflow discussed with to come up with my best system.

Six months ago I just wanted to rip it off and burn it, and if it hadn't have cost me so much I would have. But now i'm going to give it some time and see how it wears in, after all it's only 5 months old.

The sound is constantly changing but I like where it's going if that makes sense. Power wise i'd say i've lost a little bit of low down, but gained accelleration at motorway speeds.

Worth noting I also had to get an induction kit as the standard air filter was 'strangling' the engine with the more free flowing exhaust.

Also worth noting that none of the big insurers will touch me with a very long barge pole. Not too bad as i'm now with one that specialises in boy racers and they're quite reasonable - guess i'm a bit of a rarity on their books with 12 yrs NCB and 0 points.

 

[Gaz B]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Thats exactly the kind of situation I want to avoid Barakka.

Really think with the Motorway miles I do, it has to be subtle.

I remember Nath saying his Remus silencer was fairly tame and looked quite nice in his pics, but they only seem to do just the rear silencer for the Bravo!

 

[Barakka]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

I looked everywhere before I went with Powerflow and the only manufacturer I found that did a specifically designed S-Steel full system for Bravo's other than the HGT was Raggazon, but that was looking at about £4-500+ without fitting.

The only other option I found was getting an off the shelf backbox and getting Powerflow to make a centre section.

You can still hear it at motorway speeds but at least now the stereo will go loud enough to drown it out - it wouldn't before !

 

[jay]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Ello Gaz,
the best one to go for then is a remus twin 3 inch back box.

It has a sporty note, but well quiet. Both me and EJ had them fitted and they are subtle.

Expect to pay around £120 to £150 fitted. Both me and EJ had ours fitted by a company called Elite in Essex.

Jay

 

[GazB]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

Was that fitted onto the end of the regular pipe?

See the ballacher is that there is currently a crack on the underside of the pipe just after it leaves the cat, so I'm gonna need to buy a whole new standard rear section as well as the new rear silencer if I go the Remus route. Atleast thats what I think I'll need to do.....unless anyone else knows any different!?!

Perhaps I could get a custom pipe from the cat into the remus silencer! Not sure if it would work out cheaper or more expensive. Also would the custom pipe mean more noise than the standard pipe?

 

[lew B]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Options for replacement exhaust!

its hard to find an aftermarket full system for the bravo Supersprint do one with a twin Backbox starting from the cat.
I will see what i can get and keep u posted
Cheers Lew B