Quieter Exhaust

[dandydaniel]

well just from experience, i went from stock, to removing 2 resonators from my stock exhaust, to a hks cbe. and i'd have to say that the stock exhaust minus the 2 resonators was the loudest by far. the hks in my opinion is a pretty damn quiet aftermarket exhaust. it eliminates almost all the ridiculous drone that comes with the stock exhaust and replaces the exhaust note with just a more refined tone. its hard to hear the exhaust when youre inside the cabin with all the windows up and is satisfying to hear with the windows down. for me, it was the perfect exhaust since when you do get on it, it gets loud as fk but yet when youre just cruisin, its just chillin.

 

[bani]

reducing noise and maintaining power generally don't go hand in hand...

they do, just not in cheap cars. if you're looking for refinement, the mazdaspeed3 isn't the car for you.

 

[Metro Gray]

they do, just not in cheap cars. if you're looking for refinement, the mazdaspeed3 isn't the car for you.

Actually I think the Mazda is plenty refined but you bring up a good point. There are plenty of cars that have quiet exhausts without generating significant backpressure. I think Mazda was trying to achieve a sporty sound which the average person can live with on a day to day basis while still realizing the cars sporting intentions.

A few have made some good suggestions which I will research further

Thanks

 

[eg6motion]

Actually I think the Mazda is plenty refined but you bring up a good point. There are plenty of cars that have quiet exhausts without generating significant backpressure. I think Mazda was trying to achieve a sporty sound which the average person can live with on a day to day basis while still realizing the cars sporting intentions.

A few have made some good suggestions which I will research further

Thanks

not really... there are certainly cars with more power and quieter exhausts...but you are taking the engine out of consideration. All things being equal, making any exhaust quieter than stock usually sacrifices power at least marginally.

 

[Jasnall]

I hate to be one of those guys but...this thread is stupid, and I feel like you bought the wrong car for what you want. I commute 90 miles a day and dont notice any drone. It's only loud when you coast in gear at like 3k rpms.
BUT i'll try to help

I think you can get a silencer type product that goes in the exhaust tip, Or add more CAT's, Or a 2nd muffler. But I'm afraid most things you try to make the exhaust quieter will effect performance for the worse.

 

[eg6motion]

I hate to be one of those guys but...this thread is stupid, and I feel like you bought the wrong car for what you want. I commute 90 miles a day and dont notice any drone. It's only loud when you coast in gear at like 3k rpms.
BUT i'll try to help

I think you can get a silencer type product that goes in the exhaust tip, Or add more CAT's, Or a 2nd muffler. But I'm afraid most things you try to make the exhaust quieter will effect performance for the worse.

+1... best option IMO would be to change the muffler or have an additional resonator put in. Or replace the resonators with a longer one...thats the best cheap option anyway. Other alternative is to either install additional sound deadening material yourself or have a reputable car audio shop install it...that will certainly make both the exhaust and road noise diminish significantly...but is more expensive than the exhaust alternative.

Or go with a different car... I hear the Tesla Roadster is pretty quiet...

 

[hugador]

You'll still get attention if you go with a quieter exhaust.

 

[tuOdekcalB]

Wow i think the exhaust isn't loud at all

 

[Metro Gray]

Very few cars are capable of hauling people and stuff while still being fun. Add to this a reasonable price and you get a great package. When I bought this car I wasn't expecting luxury or frills. I wanted something that offered a pure sports car performance without the bells and whistles that made a car feel artificial. I knew exactly what I was buying when I bought the speed 3 and I have no regrets.

Many of you feel the speed 3 doesn't offer enough performance so you have decided to spend some extra $$ the factory wouldn't spend to get that extra 5 - 20 HP available. Well I'm on the opposite side of it. I think the performance is adequate for daily use but I want to spend my $ making the car quiet. I don't want to make it quiet for me, I want to make it quiet so the local constable doesn't notice me due to a louder than average exhaust. I want to make it quiet so that the people in the small town I live in don't give me a hard time about driving fast just because the car is loud (yes I've seen it happen). Its like the red car affect. We all know that red cars will result in more tickets and if you think its not true try reading the statistics.

I'm not asking for opinions, just facts and I appreciate those that have offered that.

I'm going to check out the increased insulation and changing the length of the muffler to determing if sound deadening can be improved without increasing backpressure.

Thanks again for the tips.

 

[robin2660]

Very few cars are capable of hauling people and stuff while still being fun. Add to this a reasonable price and you get a great package.

I agree wholeheartedly!

When I bought this car I wasn't expecting luxury or frills.

Anyone who bought this car and expected anything else was either disillusioned or stupid.

I wanted something that offered a pure sports car performance without the bells and whistles that made a car feel artificial. I knew exactly what I was buying when I bought the speed 3 and I have no regrets.

Yup!

Many of you feel the speed 3 doesn't offer enough performance so you have decided to spend some extra $$ the factory wouldn't spend to get that extra 5 - 20 HP available.

LOTS of extra cash for those HP.

Well I'm on the opposite side of it. I think the performance is adequate for daily use

Most performance I've ever had (23 years driving)!

but I want to spend my $ making the car quiet. I don't want to make it quiet for me, I want to make it quiet so the local constable doesn't notice me due to a louder than average exhaust. I want to make it quiet so that the people in the small town I live in don't give me a hard time about driving fast just because the car is loud (yes I've seen it happen). Its like the red car affect. We all know that red cars will result in more tickets and if you think its not true try reading the statistics.

This car isn't at all loud when you consider all the other LOUD-ASS vehicles such as Harleys, etc., but I can understand your case. I have always chosen quiet vehicles.

I'm not asking for opinions, just facts and I appreciate those that have offered that.

I'm going to check out the increased insulation and changing the length of the muffler to determing if sound deadening can be improved without increasing backpressure.

Thanks again for the tips.

Good luck and enjoy your car!

 

[Bluejester521]

V

I'm going to check out the increased insulation and changing the length of the muffler to determing if sound deadening can be improved without increasing backpressure.

I'm looking forward to what you find. I have to say that the droning while letting off the gas in gear is very annoying.

 

[freeflyfreak]

Judging by the replies it appears that no one has really investigated this for the sole purpose of maintaining power while reducing noise.

I'll have to get the car on a lift and determine what the best approach is through a custom fabricator. I'll post back here if anyone is interested.

Please let me know.
I am in the same position as you, love the car, dislike the exhaust (we are not all 20 something), let me know if you find a reasonably priced solution.

 

[LukeP]

Considering this car is a torque machine and wheezes out at 5500 rpm, I'd say going with a more restrictive quiet muffler is a legitamate option.

 

[DaleNixon]

Buy the Racing Beat.

 

[squidmotion]

I'm looking forward to what you find. I have to say that the droning while letting off the gas in gear is very annoying.

yep... i was noticing that yesterday... vroooooooooooooOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[DaleNixon]

That droning when engine braking completely went away with my Racing Beat. I kind of miss it.

 

[kessragnell]

I agree with 18PSI,

Cobb Exhause is quite amazing. However I hate to be the typical smart ass forum guy.. if you want a "quiet car" I wouldn't get a Speed 3 mate.

 

[MelloSpeed]

I agree with 18PSI,

Cobb Exhause is quite amazing. However I hate to be the typical smart ass forum guy.. if you want a "quiet car" I wouldn't get a Speed 3 mate.

Call me typical, smart, or an ass cause what they say it true. The Speed3 is not for everyone. I lub the stock exhaust.

 

[squidmotion]

i drove on a perfect day today, with my front windows down a bit.. and loved it... i have fallen in love with the sound of this car. when i get the drone... i just put the clutch in, probably better for the turbo anyway (though i don't think engine braking hurts one)... where i drive, it isn't that bad, and a louder car lets folks know you're there sometimes....

please don't knock metro for buying a cool car and wanting to detune it a bit, or lose a touch of power for the sake of quiet fun.... it's still gonna be a blast to drive...

'you bought the wrong car'.... give it a rest. if that were the case, i've been buying the 'wrong' cars my entire life, and laughing every minute.

 

[jabba]

My problem in terms of loudness is that damned drone. I have a 40+ mile roundtrip to/from work, quite a bit of it up and down hills, and the drone has become tiresome--especially when passengers remark that I seem to have a hole in my muffler...(ignorants!)

I'm going to replace the exhaust with the Racing Beat. I like the dual tips, it sounds a little more throaty, and it won't have the crappy drone.