I have a 2001 cavalier 2.2 and was needing some suggestions on what mufflers would sound good but not too ricer. any help is appreciated. the only thing i have on it now is an intake for sound. keep in mind it has no exhaust upgrades but i was going to put a straight pipe and take out the catalytic converter.
if you have state inspections, removing the cat would earn you a fail more than likely. if anything go with a high-flow cat.
more than likely, any performance muffler will sound like @!#$ with stock piping.
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I have a 2 1/2 magnaflow on my 99 Z. I also have 2 1/2 inch catback and an intake on it, its got a decent sound not to raspy or loud. dont no how it would sound with stock piping but I wouldnt think it would sound to much different than mine. If you want louder than stock but not unbearably loud and raspy then you might consider magnaflow, I think it has a decent sound just my opinion tho.
I have a header, no cat, and a flowtech raptor on my 01 2200. It is prettty quiet until you hammer down on it and then it's nice and deep and does not sound like a fart can muffler at all. I just changed to that muffler bought 2 weeks ago from the stock muffler i had on it because i was afraid the fart can style was gonna get me a ticket.
Flowmaster super 40 doesnt sound like a fart can on my car
if you took out the cat and went strait-piped, you ARE gonna sound raspy and loud, i.e., like a ricer
you have several options....
I myself have 2.5" piping from the bottom of the downpipe all the way back, no cat, 22" Dynomax Bullet resonator (2.5" in and out), and a Tenzo R 2.5" in-n-out muffler. now, this set-up is extremeley loud and if you're in an area where the cops are dicks, you'd more than likely get pulled over but I love it so much that I transferred it to my new Cavalier (me and the guy that bought my Ecotec Cavi swapped exhausts). I know its not what you're looking for, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway 'cause it is in fact performance oriented, believe it or not. and it does sound VERY good.. very aggressive
Magnaflow tends to me raspy no matter what you do. before me and said friend swapped exhausts, my new car had a Magnaflow cat-back with a Magnaflow resonator. it was relatively quiet for the most part, but even in a restricted set up, it was still raspy, even with a resonator
resonators are the secret behind keeping the raspy, ricy sound down (aside from Magnaflows, apparently). they can allow you to run bigger piping and remove your cat without creating that signature annoying noise we all hate. but if you're just looking to keep it quiet and make it sound good, but without redoing everything.. then my personal suggestion is either a Tenzo R (it was very nice sounding by itself before I did the rest of the exhaust.. my ex's '96 Z24 sounded good too)... or a Flowmaster 40 Series. my old '96 Z sounded great with just this, AND after I finished the exhaust. you cant lose with FM
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I have a magnaflow oval muffler on my 03 with all stock exhaust and it sound awesome. Its not rasy at all. At idle just a bit louder than stock and when you come on to her a nice deep growl.
