Better Exhaust/Engine Note

[Baggsy]

Hello chaps. First post. I recently bought an MR2 off of a member in here and I bloody love it. I had to take nearly a decade off of my car addiction while I used that money to build my businesses, but I could resist no longer. My little black 03 MR2 is so close to ticking every box, but there are 3 primary issues of mine; 1) the car's soundtrack 2) the wheels 3) the headunit. But this thread is about 1)

With the huge rev range, I was expecting more from the sound of the MR2. It sounds a little bit like a diesel at times and although when you thrash it isn't unpleasant, it's the area of the car I'm the least satisfied with. What's the best route (read: cheapest) to achieve a great sound? With my EP3 Type R I just swapped the exhaust for Spoon and it paid dividends. Ideally I would like a louder exhaust and generally more interesting tone. (NB: I'm not technical and would have to get a garage to do anything other than the basics).

Thanks!

[jvanzyl]

I think there is a list of exhaust recordings here somewhere... otherwise YouTube is a good one..


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[delhusband]

Many people like the sound of the tte/remus exhaust.
Ive got stock exhaust so can't really comment other than to say I've been in a 1zz with tte exhaust, and driven behind a 2zz at speed with the remus exhaust and they do sound nice. Heard people say cobra exhaust is on the louder scale, but no personal experience.
I like the induction noise i get from from the K&N cone filter and hacked up intake box that i got from auction at our annual "ding day" gathering

[Joesson]

Hello and welcome.
The 2 was supplied initially with a single exit exhaust and that is what I have on my 2002 pre face lift (pfl) model.
Later models, face lift (fl)  were typically supplied with a twin exhaust.
I'm guessing that is what you have.
If the standard twin exhaust is not sporty enough for you then as John  says above You Tube may be of help.
I do know that a Cobra exhaust is generally considered to be loud.
I do like the sound of the Lotus style central exit exhaust available for the 2.
If you do have a twin exhaust and are going to be changing it please be aware that you will very likely be able to sell your old one on here.

[Call the midlife!]

There's a Cobra twin for sale on the Facebook group at the moment, they're quite "sporty", I actually thought it belonged to a member on here.


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[Joesson]

IIRC @loadswine had a Cobra exhaust but found it not to his taste as too loud and sold it to another.
Unfortunately, sound, like colour is very difficult to describe and needs some reference point /s to help.

[Call the midlife!]

IIRC @loadswine had a Cobra exhaust but found it not to his taste as too loud and sold it to another.

I actually thought it was E2Vs, I've only heard them on the show fields,  never in full flight but they're definitely the loudest off the shelf aftermarket I'd say.


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[Baggsy]

Wow, prompt and very helpful replies to a completely newbie. What a community. Although my MR2 is post face-lift I believe, it is single exit exhaust.

I'll hit YouTube for some soundbytes. If anyone knows where the sound comparison thread is, throw it my way please!

[Call the midlife!]

Where are you in the world?
You have to bear in mind (as I'm sure you know from your previous statement) the same exhaust will sound different on different cars depending on what other goodies are on it. But you'll get the general idea.


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[delhusband]

Later models, face lift (fl)  were typically supplied with a twin exhaust.

Wasn't aware - is that tf300's @Joesson

Although my MR2 is post face-lift I believe, it is single exit exhaust.

Mine's fl, single exit

[jvanzyl]

My cobra isn't loud ... There is a big difference in them I think.... I've heard some that are really loud though...

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[Baggsy]

Where are you in the world?
You have to bear in mind (as I'm sure you know from your previous statement) the same exhaust will sound different on different cars depending on what other goodies are on it. But you'll get the general idea.

I'm in Hertfordshire. A quick YouTube session yielding that I very much like the TTE. Where on earth do you actually get them from?

[Call the midlife!]

You either have to be patient for a second hand one, although 2 have recently changed hands on here, or spend a small fortune on a new Remus one.


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[shnazzle]

Where are you in the world?
You have to bear in mind (as I'm sure you know from your previous statement) the same exhaust will sound different on different cars depending on what other goodies are on it. But you'll get the general idea.

I'm in Hertfordshire. A quick YouTube session yielding that I very much like the TTE. Where on earth do you actually get them from?

Mine MAY be up for sale in the near-ish future.
They do sound rather lovely. But light they are not.
One of my clips is one of the first to come up on YouTube I think.

[Joesson]

Later models, face lift (fl)  were typically supplied with a twin exhaust.

Wasn't aware - is that tf300's @Joesson

Although my MR2 is post face-lift I believe, it is single exit exhaust.

Mine's fl, single exit

Correction, only the Very late models, the TF's had the twin exhaust as standard.

[delhusband]

Where are you in the world?
You have to bear in mind (as I'm sure you know from your previous statement) the same exhaust will sound different on different cars depending on what other goodies are on it. But you'll get the general idea.

I'm in Hertfordshire. A quick YouTube session yielding that I very much like the TTE. Where on earth do you actually get them from?

http://www.remus.eu/sport-exhaust-with-left-right-each-1-tail-pipe-o-90-mm.html

[Call the midlife!]

You getting one to go with the new manifold Del? Assuming you ever get it wrapped...


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[delhusband]

You getting one to go with the new manifold Del?

I wish, funds don't permit that kind of luxury 

[Call the midlife!]

You getting one to go with the new manifold Del?

I wish, funds don't permit that kind of luxury 

Even I wouldn't pay that just for a shiny exhaust!


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[Essex2Visuvesi]

IIRC @loadswine had a Cobra exhaust but found it not to his taste as too loud and sold it to another.

I actually thought it was E2Vs, I've only heard them on the show fields,  never in full flight but they're definitely the loudest off the shelf aftermarket I'd say.


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I did have a cobra, never fitted it tho as I went for a custom straight through system

[Call the midlife!]

IIRC @loadswine had a Cobra exhaust but found it not to his taste as too loud and sold it to another.

I actually thought it was E2Vs, I've only heard them on the show fields,  never in full flight but they're definitely the loudest off the shelf aftermarket I'd say.


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I did have a cobra, never fitted it tho as I went for a custom straight through system

It was a Garry that was selling this particular one, I put 2 and 2 together and got 28..[emoji23]


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[1979scotte]

TTE suits most people the best.
Cobra is loud as are Janspeed and the CHE copies.
Proflow or powerflow will knock you something up to suit your needs for less than a new Remus.
Hayward and Scott are great but rare and mine fell to pieces through spending too much time in Scotland.
Tbh the cheapest way of improving the sound of your 2 is swapping in a V6.

[Call the midlife!]

Or you could always get a Fox and be in the exclusive minority...


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[Joesson]

You may just have to wait until next summer, when you can go to Ding Day and listen to a complete orchestra of 2's blowing their own tune though various pipework systems.

[BahnStormer]

I'd highly recommend the TTE on a NA 1ZZ - I could see how it would be a bit restrictive on a 2ZZ, but it suits a 1ZZ perfectly: a nice meaty burble at idle and a bit more "parp" from 4k rpm upwards... I think if you held that ~4k rpm for longer it could become a bit of a drone, so maybe a word of caution for PFL's (5 speed) for a motorway cruise or if you had more cylinders (presumably the equivalent of 4k rpm airflow would come in at much lower rpm), but my MR2 is a mostly for B-road hacks, so it's perfect and the drone hasn't started by ~80mph (in 6th), so I doubt it will ever bother me.

Later models, face lift (fl)  were typically supplied with a twin exhaust.

I'm pretty sure the later models were all still the same standard pipe with the oval trim, although more of the PFL's have had theirs replaced without the chrome trim, but pretty sure they should be identical.

TF300 was only the last run of a few hundred MR2's and that is where you have the meatier twin exit, either side of the bumper (TTE).

I'm in Hertfordshire. A quick YouTube session yielding that I very much like the TTE. Where on earth do you actually get them from?

We have the odd pub get-together nr Rickmansworth / Kings Langley - keep an eye on here: HERTS/BUCKS or the new one HERE

...or if you fancy driving around to my neck of the woods, the Surrey/Sussex meets tend to be more road-based: HERE

Regarding prices: I've seen a few TTE's in the £120-£150 ballpark (but they either looked a little tired or had needed extensive repairs). I just paid £250 for one that is also a few years old (they're all ~10yrs old now), but must have been off a low mileage car as it seemed in very good condition and had been nicely cleaned up and refurbed. The one I got was a little more than most advertised, but it looked really decent and it was being kept somewhere that was semi-local and able to do the install, so it seemed like the sensible choice