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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 02:24 PM
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Default Borla XR-1

I am considering purchasing the Borla XR-1 exhaust system. Everything besides this system would stay stock though since I cannot afford to do headers right now. Is anyone else running this setup? I'd appreciate any comments, suggestions. Thanks.
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 02:34 PM
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Had a set on my '99 FRC a few years ago. Too much resonance in the cabin for me.
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 06:07 PM
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Had one years ago on my 97. I first put the straightpipes on from the flange back. It was loud but had only one resonate rpm at about 1500 rpm. With an automatic, every gear went through that rpm when taking off from every stop, with a stick, you could stay away from that rpm most of the time. I later put on the foward section with the center resonantor and the resonance was terrible.
The system then went to Florida in exchange for a Corsa Indy system which is still running today.
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 08:55 PM
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DO IT!!

i think its by far the nicest sounding exhaust for a C5. i ran the XR-1 when i had stock manifolds. was loud, but had a nice, almost "exotic" sound. great exhaust, but you dont hear to much about it.

would have kept the system, but did not bolt up with the LG long tubes. im running B&B Bullets now, but if i had a stock car again... i would def. do the XR-1's
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 08:56 PM
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If you know someone with SLP loudmouths, imagine that exhaust 5db quieter
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Old Jan 29, 2006 | 09:54 PM
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I currently have it on my car, with no cats. Everyone that hears my car says it sounds excellent - no complaints yet. There's definitely resonance inside - personally I don't mind listening to the sounds of an LS1 when I'm driving.
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 01:43 PM
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Originally Posted by ThePizzaC5
I currently have it on my car, with no cats. Everyone that hears my car says it sounds excellent - no complaints yet. There's definitely resonance inside - personally I don't mind listening to the sounds of an LS1 when I'm driving.
So you don't find the resonance overly annoying or anything? I mean, I certainly don't mind engine noise in the cabin. That's not a problem for me at all. I was just hoping there wouldn't be like rattling or something like that. That could be annoying I guess.
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by alanh
Had one years ago on my 97. I first put the straightpipes on from the flange back. It was loud but had only one resonate rpm at about 1500 rpm. With an automatic, every gear went through that rpm when taking off from every stop, with a stick, you could stay away from that rpm most of the time. I later put on the foward section with the center resonantor and the resonance was terrible.
The system then went to Florida in exchange for a Corsa Indy system which is still running today.
Wait, so you're saying the resonance got worse when you put the forward section on??
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 09:03 PM
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02' 6spd, XR-1 with Kooks long tubes. It's loud. I love it! When I nail it at about 60mph everyone else hears it too! I have people look at me at stop lights and smile

Last edited by Twospeed; Jan 30, 2006 at 09:07 PM.
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Old Jan 30, 2006 | 09:43 PM
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I had it for 2 days on my mallett then took it back in exchange with stingers single tip, i couldn't drive the car for more than 10 min before having a headache. I wouldn't do it again.
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 08:20 AM
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Originally Posted by 99MALLETT396
I had it for 2 days on my mallett then took it back in exchange with stingers single tip, i couldn't drive the car for more than 10 min before having a headache. I wouldn't do it again.
So why did it bother you so much? Was it just the loudness or was there like rattling or something? And do you like the stingers alot better?

It seems to me that about half the people who've bought the XR-1 love it and the other half couldn't stand it. So what I want to know is, for those of you who didn't like it, what exactly was it that you didn't like?
"Resonance" is somewhat vague. I don't mind loud and I don't mind engine noise in the cabin. I can definitely handle that. But if there's alot of rattling or plastic vibrating in the cabin, that would bother me.
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 12:22 PM
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Originally Posted by powlison
So why did it bother you so much? Was it just the loudness or was there like rattling or something? And do you like the stingers alot better?

It seems to me that about half the people who've bought the XR-1 love it and the other half couldn't stand it. So what I want to know is, for those of you who didn't like it, what exactly was it that you didn't like?
"Resonance" is somewhat vague. I don't mind loud and I don't mind engine noise in the cabin. I can definitely handle that. But if there's alot of rattling or plastic vibrating in the cabin, that would bother me.
It bothered me cause of way too much resonance in city and highway speeds up to 80MPH, plastic vibrating in the car and it's not as loud as the stingers. About the stingers, i love em
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Old Jan 31, 2006 | 12:36 PM
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I do agree with most, it has a wonderful sound and at WOT there is no boudt that the car will be heard. I like the sound that it makes when I am in the cockpit of my jet, I mean vette!
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 12:11 AM
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I'm running the XR1 exhaust with shorty's and a bassani x pipe with no cats, it is the sweetest sound you'll ever hear! It is definitely loud, and it does resonate in the car, but no plastic pieces vibrate or anything like that. I have taken three trips to florida in it, 1300 mi one way, and my wife and I drove straight through every time, only 17 hours we even stopped for breakfast! So I guess what i'm sayin is if you don't mind hearin her rumble a little you'll be able to handle the sound. Plus you get to save some weight out back and get rid of the trash cans.

-Russ
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 08:46 AM
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New guy here. Been a memeber over at the CAC for a while, but it's been down, and I just figured out this site existed. Very glad to have found it. Anyway...

I'm about to pull the trigger on some new catbacks, and was pretty set on the two tip Stingers, but this thread has me thinking. The XR-1's are much less expensive, but I've never heard them live and was told they are much louder than the Stingers.

I want loud, but I don't want to be deaf and have a numb a$$ from the resonation if I take a little road trip (plus hearing the radio would be nice when on a longer trip).

Are these louder than the Stingers? Do they resonate more? For the difference in cost, is there not enough difference in sound and resonance to justify the extra expense of the Stingers?

Thanks.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 09:31 AM
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Xr-1 with factory manifolds and cats love the sound . I agree with C5kidd does almost sound exotic with a touch of America V8.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 10:07 AM
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After going out to the Borla website, I realize I've made a mistake. I was thinking that the XR1 was the two tip straight pipe system. Anybody had any experience with those? WAY loud? Vibrate your teeth out? Tempting for 350 bucks versus 650 for the Stingers....

Thanks.
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 10:10 AM
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I had the XR1 Resonator system AND the straight pipes on my mild mod C5. They DID resonate and I was extremely happy to get rid fo them. I didn't realize HOW loud they were at a certain frequency, until I moved on to LGM headers and an Xpipe setup.

Also, Side note on the power... The XR1 and straight pipes didn't do ANYTHING for power gains on my 99 M6 Coupe.

I now have LGMs, SLP 3inch cats, a Bassani Xpipe and Z06 mufflers on my heads/cam car and other than the minor amount of lope in the cam, the car sounds like a stock Z06 until you step on the fun pedal! I also picked up 11HP and 10Ft.# torque over the same setup with Borla Stingers!

Mike
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:31 PM
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Originally Posted by eblue2002
After going out to the Borla website, I realize I've made a mistake. I was thinking that the XR1 was the two tip straight pipe system. Anybody had any experience with those? WAY loud? Vibrate your teeth out? Tempting for 350 bucks versus 650 for the Stingers....

Thanks.
Well, you weren't completely wrong. I believe the two tip straight pipe system Borla offers is just the back section of the XR-1 system. So the "XR-1 system" includes both those straight pipes that you're talking about AND the forward section (including the resonator).
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Old Feb 1, 2006 | 02:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Mikelly
I had the XR1 Resonator system AND the straight pipes on my mild mod C5. They DID resonate and I was extremely happy to get rid fo them. I didn't realize HOW loud they were at a certain frequency, until I moved on to LGM headers and an Xpipe setup.

Also, Side note on the power... The XR1 and straight pipes didn't do ANYTHING for power gains on my 99 M6 Coupe.

I now have LGMs, SLP 3inch cats, a Bassani Xpipe and Z06 mufflers on my heads/cam car and other than the minor amount of lope in the cam, the car sounds like a stock Z06 until you step on the fun pedal! I also picked up 11HP and 10Ft.# torque over the same setup with Borla Stingers!

Mike
Wait, so did you dyno your car after adding the XR-1 system? I don't understand how you didn't get any power gains with that setup. Borla claims on their website that you'll get 10% HP increase with the XR-1 system but you're saying you got nothing? I'm not saying you're wrong but how can Borla claim large power gains like that if it's not even remotely true?? I am really taken aback by this info since one of the main reasons I was interested in the XR-1 was FOR the power gains I thought I would get.
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