I'm amazed that quite a few of the most popular recent posts have been about exaust system sound. With the consensees of the post: louder is better. I'm interested in any exaust system changes that increase preformance. But past that I think the stock system is already to loud. Maybe it's just my approach to these things, less is more. I ordered my car with out the rear spoiler, with less than 500 miles on the odometer, I removed the GT emblems, welded up the holes, and repainted the fenders($700). Read sleeper.Or maybe it's just my age(47).So start the debate. Loud or sleeper.

 

Here's the long version:

I used to be the "sleeper" or stealth kind of guy. Mild sound; nothing outrageous at all 4 corners, no stripes or body kits. Then kick hiney at the stoplight wars. I'm 47 too. Had American muscle cars (Roadrunner, Dart, Camaro) in my youth, modded VWs for years after getting married (I had a heck of a sleeper Jetta). Now, I've been married 20 some odd years, and got rid of my Camaro soon after. While I often had some kind of pocket rocket in the garage, mostly it was a steady stream of minivans and SUVs to handle the kids/junk/furniture hauling chores.

My oldest son was fascinated by my muscle car photo album from an early age and built model cars for as long as I can remember. He was always poking around under the hood of our vehicles, and his junior year in HS decided he wanted to build and race cars. No college, he wanted technical school (Lincoln Tech, here in Maryland). Cool. Told him if he aced every class his senior year, I'd buy him the car of his choice. I figured I was safe.

Wrong. Ended up buying him an '04 Mustang!!! Soon he was ripping out the intake and exhaust, and my taking a drive every now and then just brought back a flood of memories. When I saw spy photos of the '05, I knew I had to have one.

I ordered my (stealth) black GT in November, but was told my order had been "lost" in late January. Pissed beyond reason, I started test driving GTOs, but they just didn't have "IT". The salesman, exasperated that I wouldn't take one off the lot for $7000 under sticker (!!!!), asked what was wrong. "Sorry man, I just want a Mustang GT, but can't order one, much less find something on the lot." The kid looked at me weird, pulled out his cell phone, dialed a number, and said "Hey Dad, I gotta customer here looking for a GT. Any coming into your dealership soon?" A few seconds later he hung up and said two just rolled off the truck at his Dad's dealership. I took off up to the Ford dealership, test drove and bought my Torch Red GT from the father of the Pontiac salesman that day.

Now Torch Red just screams "race me" or "pull me over" depending on the audience, and there wasn't much I could do with it. And strangely, I found the stock exhaust a bit mild at idle (WOT was fine) and the engine always felt a bit restrained. After getting my son to do some research, we settled on a C&L cold air/Predator tune and MAC exhaust. He put in the CAI, and I crawled underneath to install the muffler. I figured it was a start.

Somebody posted something about this combo calling it a "bat out of heck". That's an understatement!! It's also a loud female dog of a machine. At startup, my wife says the car shakes the entire master bath (directly above the garage). Happy to oblige. During deceleration and lower gears, it burbles magnificently like my old Roadrunner. I sit at stoplights and just can't get the grin off my face. I've had the car since late January and the love affair is just as fresh as day one. I rarely listen to the radio loud, just so I can hear the engine. Sure, there is a nasty piece of crap poorly engineered drone at 1800 RPM that comes from the MACs that's too loud even for me, but I either downshift or accelerate quickly out of that zone.

Yeah, I used to be a stealth guy. Not any more. This morning, on the way to work on I270, I dropped into 3rd at 60 to get around this sloth of an 18 wheeler. In a rare alignment of the stars, not a single car was in the way for a quarter mile. I said WTF, stomped on the gas, and became 18 again for a few glorious seconds, racing through the gears, the exhiliration of speed, watching the speedo break 100. After pulling off the highway at my exit, and waiting at a light, a 94ish Mustang GT pulled up with some kid, all winged out (I mean, for crying out loud), painted to the nines, lowered 2 inches, monster 18s or 20s with chromed out MFs on the 4 corners. He looked at me, I looked at him, we smiled, we raised the rpm to 2500, waited for the green and we lit off. Blew the b**ch away. Next light, he gives me the thumbs up. Class.

I have found Jesus, and he's in Torch Red.

John

 

loud, either MAC or Flowmasters for lower than $350, Bassani or Corsa if u want to afford above $500 for an exhaust.

 

I can't add anything to what John said, but I too think the stock exhaust could be a little more agressive, but not to the point of drone, and I'm 42 years old. Too bad the MAC exhaust drones. I know it sounds good though.

 

Keep it stock. I am 30 and drive this as a daily driver. I am not one that likes to show off but I do like the rumble of my Stang. The thing I like about it is that if I want it to be quite I just lay easy on it and no one could ever tell that its a GT. I mostly do this when I am pulling up on my clients property, parking lots, etc. When I have a mid-age crisis moment, (and I am alone on the highway) especially on the weekends, I let let it grawl. LOL

IMO I would not make it louder. My wife and I are always cracking up when we here these guys go by us with all these exhaust upgrades. It sounds like a jet is taking off. I have always believed these kind of people are screaming for attention. To the guys that make their cars louder than stock here is a little tip. Women hate it and make fun of you and also know that you are screaming for attention. They also feel that its a sign of no confidence in yourself. This is not what I think, its what I have been told from several past girlfriends and and my wife. Now a redneck girlfriend that loves NASCAR (Non Athletic Sport Centered Around Rednecks) and takes her teeth out when she goes to bed will love the upgraded jet sounding exhaust. LOL Just depends what your looking for in a relationship.

 

 

I take it you don't like 'em without teeth!! Don't know what you're missing!

The MAC exhaust is pretty sensitive to your right foot. At idle, it's a nice burble but not overly loud. When I leave the garage at 5:15am every morning I move about 25mph through the neighborhood. Other than the startup, the thing is pretty quiet. No one's complained (other than my wife), and I'd know too, it's (unfortunately) an uptight neighborhood.

Cruising the highway in 5th is pretty sedate too. This muffler comes alive, though at half throttle, and is a peach at wide open throttle. It all depends on your right foot man. Given I average 23mpg PER fillup during the workweek (and about 18-20mpg weekends when I play), I can't say I'm running around screaming "Look at me, look at me!!" By the way, my wife almost bought the Hemi Chrysler 300c, but didn't like the way the back end broke loose screaming around turns during the test drive. Snowy slush didn't help. Scared the crap out of me and the saleswoman (end up with the 24v 260hp V6).

Woman hate an aggressive sounding car? I'm 47 and look it (see attached) but I'd say at LEAST once a week I get a heck of a positive comment at gas stations, grocery stores, mall, etc to the tune of "I heard you coming--LOVE the car" from gals. Add to that the waves on the road, and I'd say I just don't agree with your observation. Sure, they may be coming from women half my age... I admit, at the time of purchase, I wish I could have got the "quieter" black, but I had a chance to pick from a red 5 speed or yellow automatic, and figured, what the heck, as long as everyone is looking...!

It's not worth stereotyping. Some folks like a more aggressive sound, others don't. Personally, I hate all the 4 cylinder lawn mowers with 700lb wings on the road, but given today's prices can you blame them? They're having fun.

John

 

Sorry, I can't seem to attach an image to my post...any ideas?

 

Does she is have teeth? LOL I am only joking. Please take no offense just had to say it.

 

Punk.

Yes...darn...

John

 

Daily driver- Magnaflows- perfect

Weekend Toy- Magnapacks

 

well......

I just deleted the stock mufflers....and put stainless pipe going to some 14 inch X 3.5 inch chrome tips. I was gonna go with the SLP loudmouths, but i got a muffler shop to do it for $150 bucks. I am married, and not really driving this stang to impress chicks (redneck or otherwise). I did the exhaust mod so it will rumble like an old muscle car, and i am pleased to say it works perfectly. sure it is a bit on the loud side, but in my humble opinion not offensively so. It does tend to get a heck of a rise out of the ricers and generally most guys, but ocassionally a nice looking young lady will give a thumbs up, or tell me how sweet the car is, and for the most part the rumble is what really drives the point home.


go loud my man.....LIVE.

you can be a sleeper when your dead.

 

LOUD. I put the SLPs on to get that old muscle car sound... I liked the way the MACs sounded better, but they werent loud enough... and I am very happy with my SLPs now. and hey, if impressing the ladies is a side effect, I'm all for it!!

Sleepers are cool too.... but not a mustang. Supercharged BMWs or Audis make great sleepers. A mustang is meant to be LOUD, and in your face. Everybody KNOWS its a mustang.

 

My favorite sound is the low grumble you get from most older big block muscle cars. If I can easily emulate that sound, I'd be all for it. Then again, I like loud.. I'm young. Just cause you look like a sleeper doesn't mean you have to sound like one.

 

i will post some pics of my 66 old muscle car growl

 

not that this car could ever be a sleeper lol, but i go for that effect.
changed gears and did a tune, and was running 13.2 looking absolutely bone stock...now its dropped 2in but still looks stock otherwise.

am highly considering doing full exhaust on it. was thinking long tube headers with high flow cats and on-road xpipe or hpipe, followed by a pair of stock mufflers, so that it sounds stock but with a lil deeper/ever-so-slightly-louder growl...and a 20hp improvement.

then again the 1500 going into that setup and its install would go a long way towards a supercharger...

 

Do what I did....I ordered a Mak Off-road x-pipe and am going to run the stock mufflers. I will report back on the sound and fitment. The extra 1250 can go towards the supercharger.

 

Hey Faber

Glad to see you did the muffler delete. I did that mod about 6 months ago & everyone who hears it loves it. See sig. I have over 4000 automotive business customers that I solicit in my Stang & they just love hearing my car come & go.

What's that old saying? If its too loud your too old.

 

39 going on 40 in 2 months - I had the great debate about being too loud also - but after taking the plunge and deciding to get louder I have found that the SLPs are great. cant say enough about them - they give the growl to the car that should have been there stock. And when decelerating - they grumble nicely!

My Wife loves the sound and I havent had a bad comment yet.

Cant wait for the C&L intake and predator tune this friday..

 

Refering to my original post so far, LOUD seems to be ahead of sleeper. As an interesting side note, it apears that the loud sound possie seemed to have a preferance for loud colors(pun intended, torch red, screaming yellow, ect.). The sleeper pack appears to prefer black or white(Henry Ford said,"They can have any color they want, as long as it's black."). Does anyone else see this corralation? Please post your color with "LOUD" or "sleeper". As others have observed, my general female feed back is that LOUD screams small *****! The same would aply to your jacked-up, 4-wheel drive truck, with swampers, flood lights, and mud flaps. And ricers, with the little blue blinking lights underneath it on the rear end housing. I think it would further discusion to have some females post on this thread about thier opinions toward the small ***** theory. Personally I'm still sleeper all the way! Walk quietly, and carry a big stick. The procharger should be arriving in about three weeks for my black de-emblemed GT.