How much have you driven a speed 3? the stock exhaust is really quite quiet... it already has 2 resonators, 2 cats, and a muffler on it!

 

[quote author=JoeK link=topic=80099.msg1477362#msg1477362 date=1181573654]
Hi there,

I'm considering a new MS3 and wondered if there is an exhaust mod I can buy to tone it down a bit. As one reviewer online wrote (and I tend to agree), he'd rather hear the whine of a jet (the turbo) than the boomy exhaust. I would sacrifice a few HP for a quieter more stealthy ride. I'm not going to be racing at the track...

Thanks for any info!

JoeK
[/quote]

Don't worry, someone will help you out shortly...
I'm also interested to hear if there is the possiblilty to have a quieter system that doesn't lesson the power at all... :?

 

I've test driven it 3 times. I agree it's not that loud comparatively speaking, but I would prefer it to be closer to the regular Mazda 3.

[quote author=Mellman link=topic=80099.msg1477706#msg1477706 date=1181578939]
How much have you driven a speed 3? the stock exhaust is really quite quiet... it already has 2 resonators, 2 cats, and a muffler on it!
[/quote]

 

Would a regular 3 cat-back work? Probably would loose some power at high revs.

 

Hmmm...me on the other hand would love it to be louder. Once we do a CBE, and a race pipe we should hear the engine more so.

 

I thought the car's exhaust was near perfect for what I wanted. It doesn't sound like a cheap fart can and doesn't vibrate your face off when your cruising. It was one of the things that sold me on the car for sure! But, I can understand the want to be stealthy That's why I bought the black one and tinted it soon as I could 8)

 

I'd like to have a performance exhaust with stock sound. Any ideas for more power, but no more noise?

 

The free-er the flow of the exhaust gasses, the louder it is going to be. So the quieter the exhaust, the more restrictions you are going to have. You can't have your cake and eat it too.

 

Tanabe's Concept G exhausts advertise the fact that they are relatively quiet while adding power. Under 93 dB, which I assume is the legal limit in some places. They don't make one for the MS3 yet though.

I thought the Speed3 was pretty quiet at first, and it is, inside the cabin.. but the people at work tell me my car sounds just like my coworker's BMW M3 (with aftermarket exhaust), and his is pretty loud. Also, sometimes when I'm driving past a building or another car with the windows down and the sound of the car gets reflected back at me, I think to myself, "so THAT's what other people are hearing"

 

[quote author=QuicklyCosmic link=topic=80099.msg1485281#msg1485281 date=1181783893]
Tanabe's Concept G exhausts advertise the fact that they are relatively quiet while adding power. Under 93 dB, which I assume is the legal limit in some places. They don't make one for the MS3 yet though.

I thought the Speed3 was pretty quiet at first, and it is, inside the cabin.. but the people at work tell me my car sounds just like my coworker's BMW M3 (with aftermarket exhaust), and his is pretty loud. Also, sometimes when I'm driving past a building or another car with the windows down and the sound of the car gets reflected back at me, I think to myself, "so THAT's what other people are hearing"
[/quote]

Beautiful isn't it?

 

If your asking to quiet it down then this isn't the car you should be buying. A prius might be in order for you.

 

^ lol

the borla hush CBE actually reduces the sound while increasing the power. hopefully they make one for our car though =(

 

[quote author=TruboPower link=topic=80099.msg1485956#msg1485956 date=1181800336]
If your asking to quiet it down then this isn't the car you should be buying. A prius might be in order for you.
[/quote]

some people have matured to the pont that the do not want to attract eveyone's attention everywhere they go. In my situation, I want the added power, just not the "look at me" factor (at least not all the time). I am seriously considering an electronic cutout for this reason.

stock the car is rather quite, even with the CAI. A little volume on the radio dial cancels out almost all the noise (at least inside).

 

I heard one go by the other day and in no way do they sound like a ricer honda fart can or anything like that under decent acceleration. I think the exhaust resonates in the cabin a little in this car. The speed 3 that went by me 30 feet out was not loud at all. Funny though. I could tell it was a speed by the exhaust tone before I turned to look as there were no other cars and it was quiet enough to hear just the speed.
anyway, if you are worried about cabin noise that is one thing, perhaps some sound proofing near the hatch where the muffler sits would help....but from outside, these cars are quite quiet. I find my speed sounds a lot like my buddies vr6 with techtonics exhaust. A nice rumble, kind of mechanical sounding...but not ricey at all.

 

[quote author=proclam link=topic=80099.msg1485843#msg1485843 date=1181796453]
[quote author=QuicklyCosmic link=topic=80099.msg1485281#msg1485281 date=1181783893]
Tanabe's Concept G exhausts advertise the fact that they are relatively quiet while adding power. Under 93 dB, which I assume is the legal limit in some places. They don't make one for the MS3 yet though.

I thought the Speed3 was pretty quiet at first, and it is, inside the cabin.. but the people at work tell me my car sounds just like my coworker's BMW M3 (with aftermarket exhaust), and his is pretty loud. Also, sometimes when I'm driving past a building or another car with the windows down and the sound of the car gets reflected back at me, I think to myself, "so THAT's what other people are hearing"
[/quote]

Beautiful isn't it?
[/quote]

Yup!

 

Um, I don't think his prius comment was to off. Look, the reality of it is this. For a performance oriented vehicle, stock it is by no means terribly loud. Now if someone were to go buy a cherry bomb or some fart can thing like that from the local auto store, then I could see where the "maturity" thing would be valid. But not over pointing out that performance cars are sorta loud by there very nature. In fact I didn't buy my car to get attention, just the opposite actually. One of the biggest selling points for me is that it is a sleeper.

 

Thank you all for your comments... even the Prius comments.

I agree that for a performance car, the exhaust is not so loud, and it does have a nice tone when you punch it.
I think Mazda engineers/marketing did a good job all around with the car so that it sells well and appeals to the drivers they were aiming for. If the exhaust were super-quiet, you'd all have to buy after market exhausts to get the tone the car deserves.
The comparison I have, and why I posed the question, is that I have friends who drive sport/luxury cars (BMW 535i, Infinity G35, Acura TL) and their cars are quieter and (almost) as powerful. I don't believe the speed3 is meant as a sport "luxury" car, so I don't think the comparison is fair. So it is what it is and people like it, so don't mess with it. I'll probably end up buying one (in Cosmic Blue).

Thanks again!

JoeK

 

there are a number of ways to quiet the exhaust... I would just wait a few more months and see what becomes available. Greddy and some other companies make "stealth" unit that do make it hard to think they are producing power, but they do. I amsure there will be some options for you once these guys get a chance to work on it some.

best of luck!