Avant's and droooone

[4ringsinLA]

Since it's so difficult for me to find the right answer about this question, I figured I would post it in this forum.

From what I gather, avants are affected moreso than sedans when exhausts are fitted. I hate to ask this question but...from Milltek, Apr, and Neuspeed (listed in ascending order of drone) can people tell me, from their experiences, the range in engine speeds (city/highway) in which drone occur? Simply because I tend to do 50/50 city and highway driving so I would definitely like to keep the drone to a minimum (especially during highway drives).
TIA!

[ewytt]

Milltek is pretty damn quit, esp with all the noise reduction fitted in Audi.

[4ringAR]

hrrmmmm. ive heard that that exhausts are louder on avants because they have alot of open space in the hatch for the noise to resonate or something like that.

[VroomVroom]

It makes total sense - one of the reasons exhaust resonance is an issue in SUV's but not pickups. Sorry I can't offer any help with the comparisons on this...good luck.

[duglas]

I have piggie's and borla exhaust and there is a little drone but nothing too bad

[JumboBlack1.8]

I've got a Milltek in my 01.5 Avant and I get literally NO drone. If you're cruising on the highway, the exhaust is really quiet.......so quiet that you almost forget its there. That is, until you downshift into 4th to pass the granny drivin in front of you.....When you get on the gas, the exhaust definately gets louder, but it is smooth and not obnoxious. I've heard that APR is equally as quiet, but a Borla (at least on the B5) will drove like a bastard in an avant. I'd say go with either APR or Milltek. They have a deep tone, and don't drone. Milltek was the perfect match for me

[onemoremile]

Neuspeed G2 drones between 2500-4000 rpm. Pretty much 95% of cruising it is droning. It isn't nearly as bad with the HFC as it was with a test pipe but it still very noticeable.

[4ringsinLA]

thanks for the replies..
funny thing is I heard of an avant owner with APR exhaust that says it drones on the highway, well enough to cause him to get rid of it..
I guess milltek is the only way to go, unless I magically find $2.5k in my socks the next morning for the MTM exhaust

[b7cruiser]

hrrmmmm. ive heard that that exhausts are louder on avants because they have alot of open space in the hatch for the noise to resonate or something like that.

This is true. I have the Neuspeed on a b7 2.0T Avant and it drones quite a bit. I rode in a sedan previously when I was trying to figure out the exhaust I wanted and I didn't notice it at all in the car. Since the trunk is at the back of the car, it seems to absorb a lot of the sound. In my Avant, the sound just resonates through hatch and echoes in the car. A little bit of a pain but hey, that's why we invest in exhaust.

[ed@mtl]

I have the Milltek exhaust and it's quiet as a mouse. Now with the test pipe, it's a touch louder and a small hint of drone is noticeable at certain rpm.

I've heard that's it best to weld all the joints instead of using the clamps.

[b7cruiser]

I have the Milltek exhaust and it's quiet as a mouse. Now with the test pipe, it's a touch louder and a small hint of drone is noticeable at certain rpm.

I've heard that's it best to weld all the joints instead of using the clamps.

Neuspeed is nice, all the connections are flanged.

[tonggi]

man my UUC VM3 would of drove me crazy if it was on my avant rather than my sedan

[onemoremile]

I also spent a lot of time in an S4 Avant with K04 turbos and stock exhaust. It was dead quiet. Even at full throttle there was just a little turbo noise from the front. That car is spooky quiet.

[[email protected]]

I had the AWE/Thermal Race and it drones at 3200rpm and loud enough to wake up people sleeping in the back seat.

Sounds sweet at WOT but at exactly 3200rpm it'll rattle your fillings out. To rid the drone you have to keep the exhaust above 4000rpm.

I sold that exhaust and bought a Milltek instead and have been in love with how it sounds ever since. It is perfect on the Avant. It has the tiniest bit of drone if you can call it that. Nice bassy purr at low RPMs and goes near silent when you are cruising on the highway.

I want to try a test pipe with the unit but I have heard mixed reviews on how it makes the exhaust note sound and didn't want to screw up a great sounding exhaust for a bit more HP up top.

[617 Bones]

My car: 02 1.8T Avant
My first exhaust was an APR Catback Stealth, it had a nice rumble to it, but I found out it was because i smashed a nice crack into the center muffler/resonator (y-pipe).
What I was looking for was a loud, rude exhaust like my wife's Vortech MK3 GTI VR6 w/ Scorpion Catback.
So, I bought an ER Testpipe and Magnaflow Downpipe Back system.

Now I have a Franken-Exhaust...
ER Testpipe (+ Wayne Fitting), APR Downpipe, Magnaflow Y and Mufflers

Holy Hella Mother is that mofo loud and drony and rude and yay!!
So if you want quiet... don't get what i got!

[seank]

^sound clip?

[617 Bones]

^sound clip?

I'll get a couple clips this w/e for ya!

[patate2]

Hi All,

Once again Im confused !

I want to order my exhaust probably next week, and Im also affraid that it will drone.

What kind of sound droning makes anyway ? Is it that much inoying ?

I had a milltek on my last A4 2.8, loved the sound, but a little bit too quiet for my taste

[confused] [headbang]

[Saturnine]

Sounds like my exhaust!

I have a miltek DP with Sebring mufflers along with an Ecode TP.. Its loud!


My car: 02 1.8T Avant
My first exhaust was an APR Catback Stealth, it had a nice rumble to it, but I found out it was because i smashed a nice crack into the center muffler/resonator (y-pipe).
What I was looking for was a loud, rude exhaust like my wife's Vortech MK3 GTI VR6 w/ Scorpion Catback.
So, I bought an ER Testpipe and Magnaflow Downpipe Back system.

Now I have a Franken-Exhaust...
ER Testpipe (+ Wayne Fitting), APR Downpipe, Magnaflow Y and Mufflers

Holy Hella Mother is that mofo loud and drony and rude and yay!!
So if you want quiet... don't get what i got!

[AvanTTix]

Hi All,

Once again Im confused !

I want to order my exhaust probably next week, and Im also affraid that it will drone.

What kind of sound droning makes anyway ? Is it that much inoying ?

I had a milltek on my last A4 2.8, loved the sound, but a little bit too quiet for my taste

[confused] [headbang]either Milltek or MTM, although i've never heard the MTM in an Avant, is the way to go imo. the drone w/ the Milltek is minimum and happens in the ~2,800-~3,200rpm range. if you know your car you'll noticed it, i'm not convinced your passengers on the other hand will notice. also if you have the means, then get a Milltek HFC as well, it will pretty much supress the droning and make the exhaust sounds nicer. i'm not sure how to describe it, but i had the cat back for about a year before i got the HFC, i liked how my Milltek sounded before the HFC, i like it even more since the HFC...

the thing w/ exhausts though is that what sounds tolerable to one may not be the same to someone else...

btw Winston (aka McHammered) switched from the APR to the Milltek after he took a ride in mine specifically to check out the noise level of the Milltek...

[4ringAR]

from the times i have been in my friends chevy silverado 1500 w/ borla, this is how i would describe droning. although i might be describing something other than droning.

it is basicaly a really deep and loud noise that is very audible and drowns out everything in the car(including people talking)

[4ringsinLA]

thanks avanteix, your input was friggin awesome. i guess all i need now is the milltek hfc...but godaamn that thing is expensive.

[[email protected]]

btw Winston (aka McHammered) switched from the APR to the Milltek after he took a ride in mine specifically to check out the noise level of the Milltek...

Small edit.

I had the AWE exhaust, not the APR one, and switched to Milltek.

[patate2]

Thanks Avantéix I guess that confirms what I wanted to do, and mix the HFC with the exhaust.

Do you know if we can a discount off if we buy both at the same time ?

[Stevelev]

Also have the Milltek and can understand how some complain about it being too quiet. Mine woke up the day I added a BT and MTM relocated HFC though [:D]

[patate2]

Hey SteveLev

When you say woke up when you added the HFC, can you compare it to the awe mpeg on there site ?

I was supposed to order mine last friday but was too busy and I was thinking to get the HFC at the same time, but im still affraid that it will be too quiet.......

Is it verry noticiable without being a Honda civic ?

Thanks


Pat

[Stevelev]

Hey SteveLev

When you say woke up when you added the HFC, can you compare it to the awe mpeg on there site ?

I was supposed to order mine last friday but was too busy and I was thinking to get the HFC at the same time, but im still affraid that it will be too quiet.......

Is it verry noticiable without being a Honda civic ?

Thanks


Pat

My exhaust has a deeper sound than the AWE and probably not quite as loud but its tought to compare mine to the online sound clip. There's a local guy who has the Thermal on his chipped B6 Avant (GIAC BI). I'd say my exhaust @ WOT is similar in db's to his but there are a number of factors that affect the sound on mine: I have a BT (more airflow), my MTM HFC is 100 cell and relocated versus most other HFC's that are not relocated and 200+ cell. One more point to add: my exhaust is relatively civil on the highway whereas the Thermal drones so much that my bud purchased Magnaflow resonators (to be installed shortly).

Hope this helps. Cheers !

[AudiBenz]

I just put the fast intentions cat back non res on my car and its not loud at all. Tell you the truth I wish it was louder. Probably will be next month when I get the down pipes.

[ed@mtl]

Pat, where did you order the Milltek from?

[patate2]

Im Planning to buy it thru stratmosphere. Is there any other better place ?

All around I dont think that I will regret my choice if I go with that setup.

Is there a big difference on the performance side between the HFC from MTM and Milltek ? Because at the end its fun to have a nice sound but gains in HP makes the difference !

Best [az]

[ed@mtl]

Ya, you can buy from them but you should pass by HP (High Performance) and ask for a quote, you never know.

I know they ordered a Milltek for someone very recently.

Also, at that time, I ordered mine through another shop and it came out cheaper than what Stratmosphere offered.

[patate2]

would you have the phone number by any chance ?

THanks

Pat

[patate2]

Never mind I just saw that its the link you gave me for the installation !!!!!

THanks for the help I will keep you informed

Pat
[up]

[Stevelev]

Im Planning to buy it thru stratmosphere. Is there any other better place ?

All around I dont think that I will regret my choice if I go with that setup.

Is there a big difference on the performance side between the HFC from MTM and Milltek ? Because at the end its fun to have a nice sound but gains in HP makes the difference !

Best [az]

I doubt there's a big difference in performance (much bigger going to a TP); however, if you go BT, you'll need to go with a relocated HFC or a TP to avoid possibily burning out yout cat. I purchased the Milltek HFC initially and then was told that I was looking for trouble with a BT. Miltek would not take on any responsability for warranty issues so I returned the HFC.

Buyer beware ... Strat will ship via UPS and will state that it's made in the UK (non NAFTA country) so you'll get nailed with duties ... Strat sent a replacement rear muffler under warranty to me and I ended up having to pay $82. to UPS for a free part valued at $240. !! Ask Strat to send via USPS and marked as "warranty replacement" or alternatively ask Bryan at IT in Toronto to provide pricing.

[tonggi]

I dont have any drone but on my B5 at certainm RPMs due to my straight pipes. I get a rattly sound and sinc eIM on mys tock exhaust I can notice it really loud. Is it my stock catback or is it just the test pipes>?

[e.van]

<<<< Straight-piped from the cat back (no mufflers). No drone, problem solved! :D

[mas]

kind of late to chime in but i have the creative/britalman on mine and i hate it.

the drone gets really loud when the engine is under load from 2600+ rpm in almost any gear. i think it's may be worse since i have tip so i can't control the rpms as easily. i commute about 90miles/day and about 1/3 of that is going uphill which is when i hear the drone. i'm getting better at modulating my driving to minimize the noise but it's annoying to have to do that.

i like the quad tips enough that i haven't taken it off yet but i'm considering cutting off the mufflers and splicing in different cans- maybe even one that can accept the same tips. i even put a small resonator on the stock mid-pipe between the flex joint and where the custom pipe begins but that only took off about 10% of it. also, if you drive with the windows down, it's pretty loud too.

the droning sounded about 50% worse on mine than anthony's neuspeed exhaust- i actually liked his a lot. outkast has the same exhaust as me with a tip sedan and he didn't seem to mind his so i think a lot of the droning is avant specific.

good luck with your choice!

[deephouse]

Small edit.

I had the AWE exhaust, not the APR one, and switched to Milltek.

When it comes to exhausts and avants, pay close attention to MC HAmmmered and Avanteix.


[:D]

[youngspeed]

MTM and test pipe, some drone but tolerable.

[patate2]

Milltek exhaust installed and confirmed no drone at all.

Very happy with the results !

Enjoy summer guys !!!![up]

[stryker]

Stay away from the GHL system i have a 3'' tb quad tip on my A3 and after 4-5 mos of break in it got a droooone from hell especially when the dsg is down shifting. When cruising it's just okay. I'm to on the market for an exhaust, right after my fmic (forge) goes in.

[blur510]

Small edit.

I had the AWE exhaust, not the APR one, and switched to Milltek.


Which AWE res or non res? I wan thinking of getting the awe res for my avant...

[tonggi]

im going to put in my neuspeed G2 soon when I get my car back on the B5 with straight pipes. I'll let any b5ers know if it has drone or not, but then again i use to have the UUC Vm3 which was loud but not drony so I will see.

[Stevelev]

Milltek exhaust installed and confirmed no drone at all.

Very happy with the results !

Enjoy summer guys !!!![up]

[up] Congrats man !

[Docwyte]

No drone in my B5 S4 avant with APR downpipes, APR test pipes and APR stealth back...

[4ringAR]

the verdict with eurosport tuning 2.5" cat-back: not really any drone. some when going up a hill and you downshift to get your revs at ~3500, but its not bad. mean and deep sounding, but not too loud.

[patate2]

Thanks Stevelev !