mx5cartalk.com

Ok i got a 3inch XFORCE EXHAUST for dirt cheap right. im not dying to put it on i just want my car to sound a touch louder and better at high revs.
I have a NB SERIES II 01 model.
Stock.

Now im not sure whether to cut off the stock muffler (the big thing in the middle) and get a pipe welded to fit the xforce. Will it be to loud??

Second option is .. sell the xforce exhaust..
Just rip off the muffler and make my car.. um.. straight pipe?

I'm sure you'll find a 3" exhaust on a stock motor will noticeably reduce your power, plus you're centre "muffler" is really a resonator.

Want more noise? Just change the rear muffler.

A straight pipe sounds terrible imo, the car is incredibly raspy and tinny. If it's just a muffler then you've still got the oem pressed pipe and cat in place so it shouldn't make it that much louder fitting what I'm guessing is a cheap 3" cannon muffler? Don't expect much more performance though, it'd take some highly sensitive buttocks to tell the difference. There are many proven mx5 specific mufflers ranging from $200 up to $1000+ which simply require bolting on. Don't forget to factor in welding on exhaust hangers, flange etc into the cost of your new muffler to see if it really is cheaper. Bear in mind cheap mufflers have a habit of burning out their packing pretty quickly and that changes the sound quite a bit for the rasp. My $250ish dollar N-force muffler lasted 3 track days before it started rasping, the $800 SMB survived 3 years of someone else racing it..then 2 years more of my abuse before it became horribly raspy. Something for you to consider.

im just after a nicer and depper sound. and that TAD loudness.