Magnaflow question for the 3

ben tracy

Member
:
Lava Orange Mazda 3 Hatchback (2004)
I am looking at Magnaflow products for my mazda 3 hatchback. I want to get a muffler and a tip for it, but I have no idea what I should get, Can someone show me the exact tip and muffler I should get, also could I just get a Tip and make it sound good, my exhaust sounds like s*** right now!
 
I don't know if I would recommend buying just a Magnaflow muffler. A cat-back might sound okay. I had a Magnaflow muffler on a 97 Honda Accord and it sounded terrible at low rpm's...sounded like there were dry leaves in the muffler that the exhaust gasses had to get thru. A friend's 96 accord with a different Magnaflow muffler was really buzzy and annoying (he could feel the buzz in the steering wheel). So personally I wouldn't buy that brand, but that might just be my opinion.
 
so pretty much just buying a catback for my car would have to get the sounds i want for it??
 
Magnaflow universal mufflers sound really good on big engines though...

I've heard some Ractive mufflers that were nice and deep sounding...just throwing ideas out :)
 
ben tracy said:
so pretty much just buying a catback for my car would have to get the sounds i want for it??
I'm not sure what is out there for the 3, I was just saying that if you cut your stock one off and weld a Magnaflow on, you probably won't be happy.

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Actually, what I said is true of the round mufflers. The oval ones (with dual outlet) tend to be less raspy. As I think about it, they are quite popular around here. They are pretty deep and really not that loud. So if you're set on Magnaflow, I'd say go for the oval series muffler (with dual outlet).
 
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i think the rice effect mentioned above about the accord is just a problem with hondas and mufflers. i've heard a few nice sounding hondas, but the vast majority of them sound like crap. i had a oval borla muffler on my focus and it was very deep with no rasp or rice sound at any point in the rpm range. most of the time if it sounds raspy you can just add a resonator to the mix.
 
Dim said:
I don't know if I would recommend buying just a Magnaflow muffler. A cat-back might sound okay. I had a Magnaflow muffler on a 97 Honda Accord and it sounded terrible at low rpm's...sounded like there were dry leaves in the muffler that the exhaust gasses had to get thru. A friend's 96 accord with a different Magnaflow muffler was really buzzy and annoying (he could feel the buzz in the steering wheel). So personally I wouldn't buy that brand, but that might just be my opinion.

I have had the oval magnaflow on 1 truck and 2 cars. They have a nice deep sound but only under acceleration. I have one on my 3 and it has just enough tone. No rice sound. It may actualy be too quiet for some of you. Hondas sound bad because the muffler is right at the ass end of the car. Rear muffler and Honda = fart tube. When it is in the center of the car and has tube to go through it sounds great.
I had the non stainless on my Nissan Pathfinder for 7 yrs. and it looked and sounded like it did when new.
 
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ok what i am doing is buying a tip and muffler and then having the shop do a catback, this tip is 4" round and 7.5 inches long (magnaflow), is that too big or is it ok? (silly)
 
ben tracy said:
ok what i am doing is buying a tip and muffler and then having the shop do a catback, this tip is 4" round and 7.5 inches long (magnaflow), is that too big or is it ok? (silly)
4" is pretty big but it can look nice if done tastefully :). So you decided to go with a "universal" muffler? That is a good choice. I would recommend an oval muffler. That way it can be hidden well under the car so that all you would see on the outside is the tip, and that would look sweet. Just make sure that tuck that muffler away under the car. That way you'll have a real clean look (cabpatch)
 
Just about any muffler will "work" if you have a competent person doing the installation.
That last link will probably have a good sound because you can put it far forward in the system and the long tailpipe will mellow the sound.
 
I just got a quote off the internet for the magnaflow catback system for the mazda 3 for $379 shipped!! (rockon)
 
Just FYI magnaflow also make a highflow cat. I have the cat and cat-back from magnaflow on mine, sounds great. Not that stupid bussing sound but really nice.
 
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