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Well, with an engagement ring on layaway and a two week trip to Thailand and Singapore looming on the horizon, I couldn't wait to save up enough for the APR exhaust...or even save enough for the FK knockoff...So, taking a tip from our cheap brothers at Beyond.ca, I decided to give Carline Muffler behind Pacific Place a try....
I have attached a gif of the stock exhaust on my frontrak (fwd) A4...you see that wonderful sideways muffler (resonator), its #20 in the picture? Well, let's just say I assumed that was a major bottleneck (I mean exhaust gas has to do a complete 180 in there, sure it makes it quiet but...), as was the original OEM muffler -- even when I put the hammer down, you still couldn't hear the exhaust.
So, Rob at Carline hooked me up....2.5" piping all the way through (my stock DP is 2.5" as well), and aside from the sideways muffler, the piping was already pretty much straight through so the only curve it took uses a pre-made mandrel bent elbow right before the muffler to clear my rear suspension. Now instead of just replacing that stupid resonator, I wanted things as straight through as possible, but still want it quiet (no weedwacker wanted), so instead of just installing one bullet-style resonator, Ken decides he wants two. In a row. I know I'm weird. For the rear muffler, its not too bad, its a no name brand one but its all stainless and its straight through. Pro-flo or some crap like that.
Initial impressions -- Judas priest I can actually hear my exhaust. Its not loud, its very deep and burble-y (if that's even a word). I can barely hear it under moderate throttle, at idle its almost silent from inside the car, but at WOT, it sounds like the end of the world. Power-wise....don't really feel a difference. Power comes on smooth (as always), spool up was never a problem (I mean I only have a K03 in there, not like I have a T3/T4)....should have done a baseline dyno but I'm lazy. No noticeable loss of low-end, and top end feels as good if not better than ever.
Best things about my el-cheapo exhaust: straight through all the way, quiet, and CHEAP! Installed, including tax, I paid less than 560.00. For my model of car, that's a 300.00 savings off the FK, and almost 800.00 savings off the APR, not including tax and install! (* note that the APR one came with a DP....but my stock one is 2.5", and the APR one is 2.5"...only difference is its shinier).
I have attached a gif of the stock exhaust on my frontrak (fwd) A4...you see that wonderful sideways muffler (resonator), its #20 in the picture? Well, let's just say I assumed that was a major bottleneck (I mean exhaust gas has to do a complete 180 in there, sure it makes it quiet but...), as was the original OEM muffler -- even when I put the hammer down, you still couldn't hear the exhaust.
So, Rob at Carline hooked me up....2.5" piping all the way through (my stock DP is 2.5" as well), and aside from the sideways muffler, the piping was already pretty much straight through so the only curve it took uses a pre-made mandrel bent elbow right before the muffler to clear my rear suspension. Now instead of just replacing that stupid resonator, I wanted things as straight through as possible, but still want it quiet (no weedwacker wanted), so instead of just installing one bullet-style resonator, Ken decides he wants two. In a row. I know I'm weird. For the rear muffler, its not too bad, its a no name brand one but its all stainless and its straight through. Pro-flo or some crap like that.
Initial impressions -- Judas priest I can actually hear my exhaust. Its not loud, its very deep and burble-y (if that's even a word). I can barely hear it under moderate throttle, at idle its almost silent from inside the car, but at WOT, it sounds like the end of the world. Power-wise....don't really feel a difference. Power comes on smooth (as always), spool up was never a problem (I mean I only have a K03 in there, not like I have a T3/T4)....should have done a baseline dyno but I'm lazy. No noticeable loss of low-end, and top end feels as good if not better than ever.
Best things about my el-cheapo exhaust: straight through all the way, quiet, and CHEAP! Installed, including tax, I paid less than 560.00. For my model of car, that's a 300.00 savings off the FK, and almost 800.00 savings off the APR, not including tax and install! (* note that the APR one came with a DP....but my stock one is 2.5", and the APR one is 2.5"...only difference is its shinier).
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