I'm looking to get new cat backs, but I can't decide between Corsa and Magnaflow. I hear Corsa very widely praised, but they cost quite a bit. I've also heard Magnaflow has little drone.

Drone is really the big issue for me. My car's a daily driver, and I want it to be quiet when cruising.
I'd also prefer the exhaust to have an sports car sound, not a muscle car sound. You know what I mean? Corsa seems to have that sound, but again... $$$.

With that said, I'm having trouble finding any in-depth description of the drone that many exhaust systems (esp. Magnaflow) experience. How loud is it? Is it for a wide RPM range, or just a hundred RPMs or so?

I'd also be interested to hear what either brand sounds like in person. There are videos on Youtube, but a cell phone audio recording leaves a lot to be desired. Before I drop this kind of cash on exhaust I want to make sure I like the sound. Is there anyone in the Sacramento area with aftermarket exhaust?

EDIT: It's a 1990 L98. Sorry for not posting that originally.

 

What year is this car? Exhaust varies considerably, L98 or LT1? You want to solicit owners with similar builds as yours.

 

there is no vs. magnacrap is not even in the same league as corsa. maybe you should do a magnacrap vs obx? corsa has fff ( fit, form function ) while magna's have a terrible fit and an ear splitting function.
put a crowbar in your pocket and go with corsa. you'll be glad you did.

 

I've heard both systems in person. Mine which is a Corsa system, but my engine also has a lot of mods so it won't be the stock sound. And I've also heard Magnaflow on a stock car. Magnaflow is very deep and slightly aggressive, but it has some drone. Corsa has no drone but is more high pitched than the Magnaflow. I like the sound of my car better than the Magnaflow, and from the videos I've seen online of Corsa exhausts on stock cars, I also like Corsa better than Magnaflow. On a stock car, it sounds like a very sporty exhaust. Belongs on a sports car.

 

Though not a SBC or even a corvette, I removed the Magnaflow from my CTS-V and put a Corsa Sport on it because of the drone.

Defniitely go with Corsa for a drone free ride.

 

x2
The magnaflow will drone period. Deeper bassier sound
Some like it others dont
Go burn up the plastic

 

here is a sound clip of my Corsa system

 

I think the real vs corsa would be OBX, Borla or maybe B&B.

I've read about way way too many issues with magnablow mufflers over the years. From brackets falling off the mufflers, to poor fit, poor finish..to say nothing of the drone.

 

I'm in Sacramento...You can listen to the Corsa exhaust on my 91 Vette.

Here's an old video...





.

 

I've got both systems and like both of them. The Corsa will be a lite quieter when no throttle is applied or kinda coasting without much throttle input. But both seem to have a bit of drone when under acceleration. I have had more comments on the sound of the Magnaflows than Corsa. But. Both are good systems and both are durable. If I were buying again and had to choose, I would probably go with Magnaflow for the cost savings.

 

This is the kind of sound/music for my ears...

 

I have Corsa on my 92....

http://vid50.photobucket.com/albums/...e/MOV01143.mp4

I have been nothing but pleased with it from day one in 2004 when my car was dead stock to today with it's 480RWHP 383. With the big motor it's loud outside the car but it has a good sound to my ear. Inside the car at idle it's hardly noticeable with the windows up (the ZF6 tranny makes more noise).... at cruise it's hardly noticeable. At WOT it's race car loud.

I even screwed it up putting the car on trailer a few yrs ago and hooked the resonator on the beaver tail which pushed the system back and bent the mufflers and rear pipes all up.... I happily paid the money to put new Corsa replacement mufflers back on it.

Corsa cost more but it's a far superior quality product in fit and finish.... AS hard as I hit the exhaust on the trailer beaver tail nothing cracked... it just bent the hangers and rear pipes.....

By comparison I have seen hangers crack and bust the entire top out of Magnaflow C4 Corvette mufflers just from vibration driving the car.

I have 2 friends/customers with Magnaflows...

I dislike riding or driving the first car (91 Coupe 383 LPE SR) the drone at cruise is bad. It sounds good outside the car but loud.

The other car (93 Vert LT4 383) he removed the Magnaflow mufflers after I built the engine becasue it was so lound. It has stock mufflers on it now... much quieter, no drone and didn't loose any performance.
Will

 

Wow, this is the most responses I've ever gotten to a thread overnight. Thanks for your input everybody.

 

Sorry about that, it's a 1990. I edited the original post to note that.

 

That's pretty sick.

Sounds good! I'll be interested in hearing yours in person before I buy mine. I'll PM you to work out a time once I get a little lull in the amount of school stuff I have to do.

 

Okay, I'll stay away from Magnaflow. Do the others in the same league as Corsa cost less, and do they all (except Corsa) drone pretty terribly?

 

Okay, thanks. It sounds like people are pretty happy with their Corsa cat backs. In fact, I don't recall ever reading about someone installing it and not liking it on any of the forums.
Do you have experience with other aftermarket exhausts other than Corsa and Magnaflow? If so, do they all drone badly?

 

The friend that has the 91 383 LPE SR also has a 96 GS Vert that I built a pretty good 383 LT4 (430RWHP) in.... Has an adjustable Power Effects exhaust on it.... I don't know if the Power Effects systems are built anymore. Very high quality and innovative product thou.....

It's pretty loud and it drones.... even with the butterfly closed.

His screen name here on CF is "blackharleyman".

Feel free to PM him and ask him his opinion of the Mangnaflow and Power Effects systems. He's also ridden in my 92 a few times so I'm sure he has an opinion on my Corsa.
Will

 

I looked into it and it appears Power Effects is not in production any more. But thanks for bringing up the option.

 

I'm not 100% sure but if I recall correctly, you can buy just the Corsa mufflers from Corsa for about $600.