First off, my Lancer is N/A and it's going to stay that way... I just wanted to make that clear. If I was going to have any kind of boost, then I would be able to answer my own question. Furthermore, I would much rather go custom since it's cheaper with the same results.

To keep this short and sweet, it's become common knowledge that by upgrading your intake and exhaust, you can see a MPG boost which is why I want to upgrade my exhaust. Axle-backs are more for sound and header-backs change the stock cat, but that's pointless since most imports come with high flow cats anyways. My best solution is a cat-back. My plan is to widen the piping from the stock cat all the way to the exhaust tip (and maybe later on, upgrade my headers). Here's my dilemma...

I want something that will be quiet in the low end, but will provide a nice growl in the upper end. The growl isn't absolutely necessary (I'd much rather have a quiet exhaust), but it is a nice perk to have. Increasing exhaust flow (like a dual exhaust) will help quiet down the sound, but our stock bumpers don't have an extra lip for the dual exhaust. The look won't be symmetrical.

What I have been looking at is a single in, dual out MUFFLER (not a canister like EvoSoul). Here's a picture from another car just so you can get the idea...

(IMG:http://i68.photobucket.com/albums/i8/Sirind/th_backdualtip.jpg)
Photoshop I stole from another forum.

Image from another car

What do you think?

Sounds like a good idea. I mean you don't wanna be driving around town and have that annoying lawnmower following you everywhere.

The major restriction in your exaust is your cat converter. If you get rid of that it will help, but then that will put you at a deeper noise all around. Do a test pipe and experiment with the sound, if you don't like it bring it to a custom shop and see what they can do for you.

Our bumpers are not at all conductive to a dual pipe, but they might be able to work something out. If not you might be stuck going with an EVO bumper :grin: I love the look of the dual, and I wish there were some way of doing it without modding the bumper so let us know if you find one.

All in all sounds like a good plan. Gonna be a little work for ya but hey, the best projects always are!

My Lancer is a very enjoyable car to all senses (yep, it even tastes great!). The problem with removing the cat is that all the exhaust fumes aren't getting filtered and it ends up making a horrid stench come out the exhaust pipe. My buddy has a S2000 with a headerback straight pipe with no resonators and just a small muffler at the end. Sure it's the best possible exhaust money could buy, but it also creates the most God awful smell I have ever encountered. A few weeks ago, a turbo'ed 1999 Integra with a straight pipe passed me up. I had to turn into a side street... that's how bad it was.

I probably should have mentioned it earlier... but yes, I do want to keep my cat. I'm not looking for the best possible performing exhaust... just a better one. I'm gonna take some sizings to see what kind of muffler I can fit back there.

I'm amazed I haven't heard anything from EvoSoul though... he's usually on top of exhaust questions. Guess the Puls... ahem, spark plug testing drained him out! :grin:

Can't wait to see what you come up with. I like the look of the WORKS pipe...even though it is way expensive. A added touch of sound & a normal size tip out the back...which is what I'm looking for. But until I hear one in person....I'm just leary about getting it. That's the problem where we live. None of the performance shops are around us!
EVOSOUL is ALWAYS busy....but you know him.....he'll respond soon enough.

:57:

What I'd like is an axelback/catback (basically the same thing in our cars since the nearest flange to the cat is at the axel) that sounds quiet but gives more power.

The only way I think I'll get this is to pick my muffler and have it custom made. I don't want it to look different either, so the tip would be as close to the stock tip as I can get.

I really don't want a car that is louder than this. I'm actively considering duramat or something similar to reduce the ride noise already.

YouTube man! If you have a decent subwoofer, it makes an exact replica of the sound you would hear in person (with 0.001% error). Muffler shops will make one for you. 2.5" piping with a 3" tip, all stainless steel... $90 total.

I'd get an oval tip... I just think it looks better. It mimics the GTS exhaust finisher too, so your wife won't see a difference... key word, see. :grin:

Glass pack mufflers provide the best sound absorption and will give your car the quiet ride you want without sacrificing exhaust flow. Hedman Hedders makes some of the quietest mufflers there are.

Every glass pack I have heard has sounded like this:
Ghetto Sound
Are ya'll talking about the same thing, cause from what I understood it was basically a resonator that amplifies the sound. And was always like a lawnmower

Glass packs should be thicker than that. The ones from Hedman's Hedders are huge. Resonators do what the name suggest... provide resonance. The exhaust flow from your car is disturbed once it enters your catalytic converter. Resonators SMOOTH out the exhaust flow, not reduce. By removing a resonator, you will make your car louder.

Just two days ago, I went to meineke and had them build a custom cat back exhaust. Only went with 2.25" tubing because i didnt want even the slightest problem with back pressure. So they did that and put on the turbo model muffler from cherry bomb. I am pretty pumped with the results. It sounds real good, i also put back on the stock tip for now. Only ran me 260 bucks!!!!! :banana:

Pics? Movie? Give us something to chew on!

OK, it's decided... the exhaust I have shown in my original topic is the route that I am going to take. Now I just need to find a muffler with dual 2.5" tips that is stainless steel.

I found one on eBay, but they are 3.5" tips.

Dual Exit BMW muffler

Any help is greatly appreciated!

EDIT: I found THIS on Google/Amazon. Yay or nay? I don't like the end tips that much, but that's nothing an exhaust finisher can't fix!

I like the one on ebay more lol.

So do I, but the tips are way too big. They won't fit under the lip for the bumper. I guess I can have the muffler shop cut them off and put 2.5" tips instead. The dual exhaust on the Subaru in my original post would be IDEAL.

Keep searching i guess. You'll find what you like sooner or later.