Borla Stingers.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
From: Lake Placid Florida
Borla Stingers.
I know there are bazillions of threads on this subject, cause I just looked through almost 3 pages of them dating back to 2002. There is still one question I 'd like a definite answer to. I drive my '98 coupe daily, and since I'm in central Florida each time it leaves my garage is for 2-3 hours at a time at 60-70mph. Right now my stock coupe with automatic transmission is so deadly quiet I can barely hear it running and with the few simple modifications I've made, mostly exterior, such as lower bumper paint, extra air intake at the front license plate with the mesh and painted stock wagon wheels, want that hotrod sound but, don't want what I think everyone on here calls resonance or drone. That almost buzz going on at 60-70 mph that makes you crazy at times. I know lots of folks on here have the Borla Stingers, I'd like to hear what you think of the sound at 60-70 and wether it's acceptable for 2-3 hours at a time without having the buzzing still in your ears after you get out. Thanks folks. 
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,379
Likes: 1
From: MA
My car came with Borla Stingers and at first, I didn't mind the sound, that is, until I got on the highway or had to cruise at 30-40 mph. The drone or sound the stingers made drove me and even my wife, crazy. She said it was like being inside of a drum.
I took a ride in my buddies 2002 with the stock exhaust, then in a 2002 Z06 with the Ti exhaust and needed to have that nice, quiet Ti sound but with a great noise when accelerating or at WOT.
The Borla rumble was just not for me at all.
I took a ride in my buddies 2002 with the stock exhaust, then in a 2002 Z06 with the Ti exhaust and needed to have that nice, quiet Ti sound but with a great noise when accelerating or at WOT.
The Borla rumble was just not for me at all.
Bazinga!
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,162
Likes: 19
From: E-Town TN
St. Jude Donor '09
I think Corsa's are the only ones that don't drone. Corsa Extreme's with X-Pipe here and absolutley Zero Drone. I like the sound as well, it's a little more "raspier" than the Borla's.
Good Luck!
Good Luck!
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 4
From: Broward County Florida
I have borla's straight pipes and they do drone at 2500-3000 rpm but all you have to do is shift to the next gear and it's gone. Cruising on the highway at 60 there's a hum but no drone. Those with auto's, if it bothers you so much go faster or slower than where the drone spot is at. No big deal. 
The drone isn't even that bad. I have an x-pipe installed and was told that might help a bit too. Who knows. I'm 25, don't care, and love the tone and loudness of my exhaust.
The drone isn't even that bad. I have an x-pipe installed and was told that might help a bit too. Who knows. I'm 25, don't care, and love the tone and loudness of my exhaust.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 30,045
Likes: 4
From: Danville Virginia
Dennis,
I have an A4 01 coupe and one of the first mods I did was install a set of Borla Stingers. The drone was always there but most of my driving was short trips so I lived with it. I added a set of AR longtubes and the drone was unbearable. Some like it but I don't. Sounded like a trombone player in the passenger seat. I sold the stingers and put on a set of Corsa Pace Cars and the fun returned. Since that install, I have added a Paxton Novi 2000 Supercharger and I am putting down 500 RWHP and the Corsas still have no drone.
Chuck
I have an A4 01 coupe and one of the first mods I did was install a set of Borla Stingers. The drone was always there but most of my driving was short trips so I lived with it. I added a set of AR longtubes and the drone was unbearable. Some like it but I don't. Sounded like a trombone player in the passenger seat. I sold the stingers and put on a set of Corsa Pace Cars and the fun returned. Since that install, I have added a Paxton Novi 2000 Supercharger and I am putting down 500 RWHP and the Corsas still have no drone.
Chuck
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 19,304
Likes: 85
From: San Diego CA
I have an MN6 with Stingers and have gone on 2-hour road trips without feeling droned-out, but I have found that there are generally four choices when it comes to exhaust sounds:
Great 60s rumble with some drone at certain speed and load conditions
motorboat sound (at idle) with no drone
luxury car exhaust sound with no drone (OEM)
UPS truck sound with drone
Maybe you can join a local club or Corvette group to catch a ride in a Stinger-equipped C5 with A4 tranny. That would be ideal.
Great 60s rumble with some drone at certain speed and load conditions
motorboat sound (at idle) with no drone
luxury car exhaust sound with no drone (OEM)
UPS truck sound with drone
Maybe you can join a local club or Corvette group to catch a ride in a Stinger-equipped C5 with A4 tranny. That would be ideal.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 4
From: Broward County Florida
I have an MN6 with Stingers and have gone on 2-hour road trips without feeling droned-out, but I have found that there are generally four choices when it comes to exhaust sounds:
Great 60s rumble with some drone at certain speed and load conditions
motorboat sound (at idle) with no drone
luxury car exhaust sound with no drone (OEM)
UPS truck sound with drone
Maybe you can join a local club or Corvette group to catch a ride in a Stinger-equipped C5 with A4 tranny. That would be ideal.
Great 60s rumble with some drone at certain speed and load conditions
motorboat sound (at idle) with no drone
luxury car exhaust sound with no drone (OEM)
UPS truck sound with drone
Maybe you can join a local club or Corvette group to catch a ride in a Stinger-equipped C5 with A4 tranny. That would be ideal.
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Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 139
Likes: 0
From: New York
That's a pretty good way of putting it. I too recently took a long trip (3 1/2 hours to Orlando from Fort Lauderdale) and it wasn't too bad. Turn on your radio if it bothers you. I don't blast my music, in fact I'm cautious about not losing my hearing. Having music at an enjoyable decible is totally drowns out the sound of my exhaust. Good stock insulation I guess.
It sounds great when opened up, but for just around town crusing and highway commuting it was painfully obnoxious. Cranking up the stereo helped drown out the sound, but you're still just amplifying how much noise you're pumping into your head. I would get into work and feel like I just came out of a rock concert.
With some dynamat in the back - it may actually improve it, but other than that it was too much for me.