The one thing my car will never have

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Nick R

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That even our V6 mustang has. Is a nice exhaust sound. The 4.0L V6 may sound tractor-ey but it's still a nice growl. My 2.0L is a higher pitched purr that no exhaust can fix. Not to say most of them sound bad, but they aren't what I want in an exhaust. The stock one sounds best, to me
frown.gif

The 2.0L just doesn't seem capable of a growl, like other 4 cylinders.
 
I like the burble of my 2.0t in my saab. My BMW 1.8L is a bit high pitched, and drones a bit at a specific RPM, but it isnt that bad.

What sounds the worst to me is when someone tries to make it sould like it does not... fartcans or whatever.
 
Maybe it needs a strategically placed exhaust leak?
grin2.gif


It would probably sound okay with no cat, one resonator, and one straight-through muffler, without much or any increase to the pipe diameter (no fartcan!). But only with the ear-pleasing rise and fall that comes with a manual transmission. I can't stand the steady drone of a loud exhaust combined with a torque converter!

But really, it's fine. The way it sounds right now is the way that the vast majority of the population that will be subjected to its noise wants it to sound. Can you imagine how ridiculous the city would be if every vehicle had an obnoxious exhaust system?
 
There are some exhaust systems(cat back) that sound great on your Focus. I might be missing the point. I think Borla makes a great system that is about 600 bucks. I almost bought it for my Focus but Wifey said, "NO!". And that was that...
 
Yah at high rpm the Mazda derived 2.0 in the current Focus is no symphony. Had you bought a Mazda with the same engine and variable valve timing I think the story would be different a bit to say.

Alas we got the simplified version that is easy on oil, gets super MPG and pulls like a tractor for a 4 of its size. I'm in the same boat with my O8 Focus. I enjoy the car and it sounds great as yours does under acceleration it is only at the higher rpms that the "rattyness" comes on.

A fair trade off I do say so myself tho...these things pull like tractors and pass gas stations all day long.

I had an 02 Prizm that had the 1ZZ-FE and I loved that engine! It was super smooth on bottom and sounded like an F1 at higher rpm. Thing is you had to use higher rpms alot more just to get up overpasses and such.

I'll take my simple Focus motor all day long. And I've got an automatic...
 
You know which 4 cylinder I owned sounded the best?

My Triumph Spitfire.

It was the most unremarkable engine. Cast iron OHV. But it sounded brilliant

I read somewhere that the original MX-5 Miata designers tried over 100 exhaust designs trying to duplicate the MG/Triumph sound
 
Nick, I've in the past owned several 4cyl's, and I Love Bass. It, to me (not meant to dig on anyone) is just at best "difficult" to get that roughly 40hz laden-rumble out of anything but a good-old performance muffed V-8. I do enjoy the sound of many V-6's, my Old Cutlass included, but I feel your "pain" on the exhaust note of many 4cyl's. To me, a good exhaust note is simply "Music" to my ears. My Fiancee kids me all the time, because often while we are riding in my GMQ with 40 series Flowmasters, I will have the radio down just to listen to "Moya" purr
19.gif
 
My Sister's old 1972 MG Midget sounded incredible. Keeping the two carburetors sync'd was a pain though.

Nick,
If you want to change your exhaust note, check with a good independent muffler shop (not Midas,etc.), they may be able to suggest a good muffler to get a decent sound for a fair price.

Dave
 
Originally Posted By: hardcore302
The best sounding 4 bangers are those SRT4's. Burbly, cracking, spitting... sounds great for a 4 banger.


Or the Subaru WRX STi, I think I like that sound better, just a throaty deep choppy roar thats hard to believe came from a 4cyl. But then most turbo 4cyl cars sound much better, the turbo wastegate I'm assuming is what changes the sound so much.

Mind you, they behave nothing like other 4 cylinders its only fitting that they sound better too.
 
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It's a slippery slope, now you want to change the exhaust note, next thing you know you will be chasing fartcans, CAI's, fake blow off valves, side skirts and spoilers.

If you want to keep this thing for a really long time just keep it stock. Aftermarket stuff may look good brand new if done with some taste and planning, but ages terribly, especially visual modifications after few years they just look tacky.

Leave modding for a weekend car, daily drivers are best kept stock as they last a lot longer and trouble free that way.
 
I've never heard a domestic 4-cylinder I thought sounded good. Or an Asian car with aftermarket exhaust that sounded good.

JMO.
 
Originally Posted By: pidster
Originally Posted By: hardcore302
The best sounding 4 bangers are those SRT4's. Burbly, cracking, spitting... sounds great for a 4 banger.


Or the Subaru WRX STi, I think I like that sound better, just a throaty deep choppy roar thats hard to believe came from a 4cyl. But then most turbo 4cyl cars sound much better, the turbo wastegate I'm assuming is what changes the sound so much.

Mind you, they behave nothing like other 4 cylinders its only fitting that they sound better too.

Turbo cars sound great because they can have an almost totally open exhaust system, so at idle or low throttle they have a nice deep sound. But when they step on it, the turbo spins up chopping the exhaust pulses up so the car isn't obnoxiously loud. One of the guys in my motorsports club as a TDI that has been worked up to 180whp, the way it drives and sounds reminds me of 500cc 2 stroke motocross bike. Lots of torque and bark just off idle, but the motocross bike smokes less...
Another guy has a super charged Elise with a carbon fiber exhaust can just like a sport bike would have, it literally sounds like its ripping air when he stands on it, mostly from the supercharger through the intake I suspect.
 
You could try taking off some of the air intake, before the air box of course, you might actually lose a hp or two but it might sound better. Hot air from the engine bay can sometimes increase mileage too.
Also doesn't your car have two cats? Try taking the muffler right off and see what it sounds like. The cats might muffle enough so you could just get a cheap glass pack for a deep no non-sense sound. And if you get tired of it, just put the stock muffler back on.
 
Originally Posted By: Nick R
That even our V6 mustang has. Is a nice exhaust sound. The 4.0L V6 may sound tractor-ey but it's still a nice growl. My 2.0L is a higher pitched purr that no exhaust can fix. Not to say most of them sound bad, but they aren't what I want in an exhaust. The stock one sounds best, to me
frown.gif

The 2.0L just doesn't seem capable of a growl, like other 4 cylinders.


Anything can growl with the right exhaust combo. My 'stiva sounds pretty awesome for being a 1.3L. Granted the stock resonator has been removed a long time ago and probably the cat is hollowed, not for sure never looked but doesn't smell like it, but still has the muffler. Advancing the timing made it worse. It can be annoying at times parking garages etc but not loud enough to be a bug during normal driving. Part of the sound could be modified airbox and the intake resonator removed. Every little bit helps with 65hp!
 
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