hey everyone

i am not the best when it comes to the technical side of cars, i have the standard exhaust system on my 2.0 siii, it doesnt give off much sound, does anyone know how i would be able to get a decent noise out my existing exhaust or would i have to consider a whole new exhaust system?

First start would be to fit an Induction Kit... either a Cold Air Intake or Short Ram Intake.
This is the cheapest option and wouldnt involve you touching the exhaust itself.

After that it would be either a 4-2-1 manifold, or having a cat-back system fitted, OR both!!

the induction kit will be your best bet to make a big difference in sound without spending a fortune, like chris said.(although not your exhaust) i fitted mine about a month ago and the growl it gives off is spot on. swallows up kids as you drive down the street ha.

Put holes in it will create more noise
4-2-1 headers are loud, but not realy a nice loud, just loud.
Catback and Backbox is the best way to go if you just want sound, won't see much more the 5bhp from it, headers are for power increase, but as i said, they don't sound nice

just for sound, go with a backbox.

Seems a bit chavvy to me

Chavvy is putting a 5" backbox on a 1.1, you can get some nice looking backboxes that'll give a nice sound.

there is no REAL difference between the sound of a catback, and a backbox.

Cheapest option would be an induction kit.
next would be a backbox (just not a huge one)
then onto a 4-2-1 manifold

Catback has a purpose though, gives decent power gains

there's more to a car than power

my gen 1 had a backbox.. gave it a rumble and the insurance company didnt class it as a performance mod.

On my last car i had a backbox, it did the job i wanted as i wasnt looking for any extra power just a meaner exhaust note.

If you are wanting power then 4-2-1 manifold, sports cat and a cat-back system. but thats the best part of £800, a backbox can be found for £100

Well each to their own. Just my opinion

Even the Cat-backs offer little power gains, 5bhp-ish, yes it'll feel a bit more responsive, but if you want to get the full potential from one you need the header, for sound though Lidls with just a backbox sounds nicer than mine with the full system.

but surely though its all down to personal preferance as to what is a good noise... there are some real "raspy" sounding exhausts out there which IMO are awful... to me a 'good' sounding exhaust is a nice deep rumble on idle,,, and a growing growl when you give it the beans.
Bearing in mind that MAK is just asking for sound hear with no mention of power, your best bet, when you take money into account would be just the back box.... but hay....

Trust me, with the 4-2-1 I'm not getting a nice noise, it does sound like a chav with a 5" backbox on a 1.1!

Isnt there any way of having the 4-2-1 and a full catback but having the noise down, because i know there can be different tones for an exhaust which are determined by the backbox?

RobG has just fitted an OBX 4-2-1 and 200 cell sports cat on his Gen3 2.0 and the noise isnt bad at all. Its not a harsh sound, or massively noisey even when you put your foot down.

The noise will always depends on the rest of the exhaust system.

If you want to keep the noise down, have a centre box fitted in your exhaust.
I did with my Powerflow cat-back and mine is just a nice deep tone but not massively noisey.

what does it meab by "200 cell" what is this "cell"?

A cell is a part of the mesh inside of a catalytic converter. It is coated in precious metals (such as platinum) which provide a surface for noxious gases (such as carbon monoxide) to react to form more pleasant gases (such as carbon dioxide)

Cats are actually measured in cpsi - Cells Per Square Inch (shortened to 'cell') A normal cat has 400 cpsi, whereas a sports cat has 200 cpsi and a race cat 100 cpsi

The fewer cells there are in a square inch, the less restrictive the cat will be to exhaust gases trying to flow out. Sports and Race cats use more precious metal in order to make up for the fewer cells present, so still convert the noxious gases, but are less restrictive

AHHHH very well done Joff., explained it and i understand
cheers mate

i think i am going to go for a CAI induction kit and a backbox, anyone have any good ideas for makes and where to buy from?

An SRI will give you a better intake noise than a CAI. Performance gains are much of a muchness really, realistically about 3-6 bhp with either. But that noise will only come when you press the loud pedal. When idling a CAI or SRI won't sound any different to stock

And just to check, you realise you need 2 backboxes right?

ok cool i will have a look into the SRI's

ye i would need to backboxes for the car, need something that will fit and still look good

i took the middle box out of my exhaust (left standard back boxes) and a SRI and to me it sounds lovely. Obviously depends where your standing in relation ot the car, from the back its quiet raspy (almost ferrari like) but from the front its very growly and deep, but from the drivers seat its a lovely mix of both :-)