I'm looking at getting a muffler for my '01 1.8t but I'm not sure what to go with. I had a full flowmaster setup on my Dakota but didn't like it all that much because it droned a bunch on the highway.

I like the sound of the borla's and the magnaflow's but don't see too many people just getting a simple muffler only on the 1.8's. I don't want it to be too obnoxious and I plan on keeping the stock piping most likely all the way to the muffler. I like the looks of the magnaflow 14862 but cant find any sound clips on the 1.8 only the 2.8

Also as a quick question, does the stock cat have much restriction? I still have to pass emissions but have looked at the Labree hfc and wasn't sure if it was worth the $250

 

Stock cat flows plenty. With your current setup, you wont see gains with a HFC. It's meant more for a BT setup.

The Borla drones too, but it sounds a lot nicer than the Magnaflow. The problem is the high rpms on the highway with the 5 speed and a four banger. You'll always have drone unless you stay with the stock exhaust. Whatever you do, make sure you keep your resonator if you are concerned about noise.

Most setups are cat-back and include a larger downpipe, which will increase flow. The Borla also includes a resonator and is a very liveable tone. I'll try to take some sound clips tomorrow for you.

 

look at the newbie guide on what to do for exhaust setup.

are cats are pretty high flow for a stock cat and aren't to restrictive.

ill just say don't get borla cuz its 2.25" piping while your stock piping is 2.17"

 

Unless you're going BT, it's plenty. Plus, it's not as rude sounding as a full 3"!

 

then why buy cat-back exhaust...

if thats the case just swap out the muffler and gain next to nothing hp.

2.5" will definitely benefit you more then 2.25"

 

Haha im going to be screwed this summer then... Im going BT and putting a custom turbo back 3" setup on. It will have a resonator and a (probably) borla on it.

 

He's looking for sound. Replacing the muffler and not the resonator will simply make it louder, not necessarily nicer sounding. The larger dp section is where the gain is, even though it's minimal. K04 or smaller is not going to any great power gains from cat-back exhaust. If he wanted power, I'd say go BT and 3" (which I hope to one day do, but who doesn't?).

 

If I did replace the downpipe think a place like Midas could weld one up and it be quality
or not? Tweaked has it right, I'm looking for a nicer sound than hp gains. Its a car that I like to play around with but I also don't want it to be annoying when my mom drives it once a week. I've thought about getting 2.5" piping bent and fabbed up from the cat back to the stock resonator and again out to a new muffler. How much do you think this might cost?

 

Why would you take your car to Midas for a larger DP when a Borla cat-back comes with a larger dp section?

 

Because its either a universal muffler for like $150+install+fab. Or buy the Borla but thats like $700. I'm a college kid so if I can skimp and save thats ideal...