I know this is a personal choice of which system (cat back) is best for me, but my list is :
1. No drone - been there done that, don't want it and my wife will hate it
2. Want good sound when you put your foot in it, but cabin quite cruise trips
3. Performance pick up of something
4. Price

Stock A4 C5 vert
I'm an old guy who wants to make noise but only when I want it to

Looking hard at the Corsa probably leaning to the Touring v. the Sport (pace car)....going to Carlisle to see and maybe get me one

Thoughts ......Thanks

 

 

the Stock Z06 Ti set up

 

Corsa Pace car with a X-Pipe.

 

Well,,,,,,, to keep from having to spend money on five or six CAT Back systems,,, your going to have to actually ride in a car and listen to several systems. REMEMBER!! Different modifications make cares sound different. EXAMPLE.

The C5 ZO6 sounds a LOT different than the basic C5. Yes it has a different TI Exhaust system. I have a 02 C5 ZO6 and a 98 Coupe. I HATED the ugly poor sounding exhaust on the 98

So,, I purchased a Ti CAT Back system for $400 and installed it. Well,, it made a difference but NOT anything as good as what a C5 ZO6 sounds like.

The reason it sounds different is the engine is different. The engine has a more aggressive cam, and more compresion.

The Ti system is about 25 lbs lighter, tips look 200% better, it flows very well and it does sound better. ZERO DRONE, not too loud and comes alive at WOT! Just what your looking for. They sell for 300-400 bucks.













See you at Carlisle!!!!

 

Yep, I have the Ti system. One of the first mods to the car. It was a little louder. Then headers, it was louder still. Now heads and cam, it is quiet at cruise but it screams at WOT. I can't imagine what other systems would sound like. The Ti system is easy to find and reasonably priced. And if you don't like it you can recover most if not all of your money.

 

You'll save weight, they look much better but they won't sound much different. But they are inexpensive, what you really ought to do is find your local Corvette Club and go a hear a variety of different systems and decide for yourself.

 

Please excuse this guy below, there are lots of people here that have no clue about this forum and what we do here. Some people do not have the sense they were born with.
So for you doughfresh, this guy has been here less than a week... the topic has not been beat to death for him. He came here looking for some answers not some childish remark as if you were a seasoned veteran of this forum.

Now back to the question... I too am an old guy.. A former GM engineer involved in the development of the C5 , including the addition of the official GM part known as the Corsa Indy Pace car system.

Corsa guarantees this system for life. It will wake up your car, put a smile on your face, and wont annoy you if you take a trip. There is no drone at any RPM range. That was very critical in the design of this system for GM, and Corsa delivered. If you are an old guy and own a Corvette, you can reminisce about the 50's and sixties. But have matured over the years but still want you car to sound healthy. I would not suggest the Touring, because I think you will be disappointed.. most of the people I talk to here want to be conservative in their exhaust tone because they feel that many younger people like that cherry bomb sound, so they think they better go touring... But I can tell you that you will thank me for understanding who you are and what you want. Ive had my Corsa Indy Pace car system on my car for ten years, and 80,000 miles. They look as good today as the day I bought them.They owe me nothing and over the last ten years, I've heard them all.. I can afford to buy anything I want, but simply love this system. The addition of an Xpipe will also enhance the sound, not in decibel increase but is smoother sound and better idle, because it will balance the savaging of the exhaust pulses from each bank, evenly.
The sound can be controlled by your right foot.. Get on it hard, and you will feel like a kid again.. On the highway, you can carry on a conversation without any issue and listen to the radio in a low tone...very few other exhaust systems can say that.. If someone is beside you or behind you, they can here the sweet tone from this system. Drone occurs in the 1800 to 2200 RPM range with most exhaust systems. This is the RPM you are usually in while cruising down the highway. There is no drone from this system and it's guaranteed. Again good luck with your choice and welcome to the forum
Bill aka ET

 

I have a C5 A4 coupe. Installed my Corsa Xtreme about 2 months ago and it wasnt any louder then stock at idle and cruising speeds. It was really loud at WOT. Installed long tube headers, hi flow cats, and a x-pipe. Louder at idle and cruising speeds (not too loud just right) and at WOT it SCREAMS. Only downside on the setup with the headers is there is some drone at around 95 MPH. I dont know too many people that drive that fast for long distances anyways.

 

Your description is spot on ET. Nice idle tone, awesome at WOT, and no drone at cruise. I love mine!

 

Thanks for the great write up you just made my mind up for me (Corsa Indy Pace car system with x-pipe). Great to have well educated people like you on the forum.

 

Thank you for the kind words, I do have to say one other thing.. Corsa now has an newer system and its louder than the Indy Pace car... its called Extreme... its not for me, but if I was 30 years old again it would be.

 

Thanks Evil-twin, that was great and I really appreciate the information. That helps a lot. Last question, I don't need the X pipe now, could add later if I wanted,and could be installed later without a big deal?? Thanks so much again.

 

Welcome to the forum, No, the Xpipe is not need to add the system, but if you can afford it down the road, it's a good thing to add. Some times you can negotiate a deal when buying both at the same time.
Bill aka ET

 

Thanks again!!

 

I have a 2000 with the corsa pace car setup, x-pipe and factor manifolds. very little drone at any speed, sounds great driving around - authoritative without being abnoxious and can be heard when you lay into it... I'll let you know about how it sounds with long tube headers later this year...

 

What do you mean , "Very little drone"????? there is no drone at any RPM range.. its guaranteed by Corsa, they spent almost a year developing this system specifically for the LSX engine. NO drone was the primary directive we placed on Corsa, followed by the throatier sound, they delivered, and the rest is history.

 

I'm fairly new to modern corvettes but have dealt with corsa products for boats on my other toys - they're among the best out there and I'll sing their praises all day long and continue to purchase their products. If I needed an exhaust for gthe car, I'd write a checlk for the corsa set-up today. It has EXACTLY the right combination for a street car - deep throaty sound, fairly quiet idle, and when you when you get into it it is a good bit louder, authoritative, note that is just plain music to the ears. It's not obnoxiously loud anywhere (obnoxious to me is straight dry headers and 4" pipe out the back of my boat...). I'm betting / hoping that when I add long tube headers and maybe a top end upgrade that it will be a little louder, but i like things a bit louder than many people do.

The exhaust sounds great to me and I've no complaint at all. My car does make a slight but unmistakable drone in a narrow rpm range (ie a couple hundred rpms) somewhere between 2500 and 4000 rpms or so iin if i remember correctly when in 4th and 5th grear. It's not a problem or even annoying enough to me that I've paid careful attention to where it is. WHen it happens i just shift, speed up a little or slow diwn a little. I would also note that it's not a gear / rpm range where i find myself driving very often either. I would personally say it is NO issue at all...

Just my personal experience.

The engine is stock aside from the cold air intake, the car has been lowered on the stock bolts and I'm running 4.10 gears.

 

Shame....GHL is a better choice. Cant go wrong with either, but Im partial

 

Then that makes it a "better choice" for you....besides, if I'm not mistaken....GHL does not make a cat back for the C5 anymore.