Have read every cat-back exhaust thread multiple times and narrowed it down to Borla Stingers vs GHL Magnums vs GHL Magnum Plus (2 tip).

I have a stock 2004 vert and want the muscle car sound without excessive cabin drone while cruising.

The 2 tip Borla Stingers look different (better & larger) than the GHLs Mags and Mag Plus' in the pics...are they the same tips, if not how do they differ?

Understand the GHL quality is better and allows the tips to be adjusted. Can the Borla Stingers be adjusted? Do they stick out a bit excessively?

Finally, what are your experiences with a STOCK verts cabin drone between the three exhausts?

 

I'd go with the GHL Magnum.

The Borla does have bigger tips but it also resonates more than the GHL. Both sound pretty similar. The GHL unit looked it was much higher quality.

 

Not to throw in another system, but I would go with LAPD's new system that should be available in a couple weeks. I have Borla Stingers, and got to drive around with a prototype of their system for a weekend. The LAPD was a deeper sound, WAY less resonance, but overall not as loud as the Stingers. The LAPD system would be more like the GHL rather than then Stingers. There is a thread that shows a video of my car at idle and a couple drive buys, if you have read most of the threads then you probably saw it.

 

I have borla stingers w/ quad tips on my a4 coupe great sound bad resonance at certain rpm's

 

What is LAPD calling this new system? Any info/data available?

I've read that the GHL Magnums (5" can) and Stingers should have the same resonance...true?

How much larger are the Stinger tips (sales info says 4")?

 

I believe GHL is making the system for LAPD. There was an advert in the C5 Parts forum that titled "GHL (LAPD) 4" Quad Tip Exhaust". Just a guess. LAPD should be able to confirm.

 

I have a Yk2 vert vet with 4 tip GHLs, its a nice sound. I dont have any drone. When I have the top down at 60 plus MPH, I cant hear the person next to me because of the wind, and I cant hear the exhuast because of the wind. The exhaust has a nice rumble from idle through 35-4000 RPMs, Then it gets muscle loud.

 

If LAPD is announcing their own new 4" tip system, is it actually different than the GHL product they have been selling for years?
I bought my 4" 4-tip GHL system from them over 2 years ago. The 4" tip system was always an LAPD-exclusive product, this "news" just seems to parallell the description of that same system.

Is there a new system being released by them? If so, based on their tight relationship, I have little doubt GHL is building it for them...just wondering what's different/new/better/special, etc about it.

 

ghl magnum plus = no drone

 

Phils C5 Vette...do you have bullets, mags, or mag plus?

 

LAPD's system is their own, and not a take off of a GHL system. It is has twin 4" oval tips. Here are the videos of it:

www.bttechnologies.com/corvette/mov1.mpg

www.btttechnologies.com/corvette/mov2.mpg

 

just installed the ghl mag + on my vert

no noise problems at all

it may be a little too quite

you never know that you have an exhaust system untill you get on it and even then its not all that loud untill 4k then it gets with the program.


More Than Zero

PS if you install it yourself get the 2 over the axel pipes in place before bolting the first one up.

 

From what I recall, the LAPD system will be a true 3 inch system. That's the biggest difference I would guess. We'll have to wait and see what Shawn springs on us in a couple of weeks.

 

I just had GHL Bullets with quad 3.5" rolled tips. Had them installed at the GHL facility in Mesa, AZ. The sound is awesome and they look great. Nice at idle (definitely won't be mistaken for stock) and it really roars at WOT It's what a muscle car should sound like. At 75 MPH there is no drone or resonance. The drone is only noticable at about 1500 RPM.

 

Are you getting any popping or gurgling on deceleration and between shifts? Is your car an A4 or MN6 and are you also using an x-pipe?

 

Since we are fortunate to own both a coupe and convertible C5, I can say without hesitation that there is definitely a difference in drone/rsonance levels between the two cars. The coupe's rear hatch area acts as a huge sounding board that amplifies the mufflers directly beneath the rear storage well. The convertible, on the other hand, with its much more confined rear storage area, produces much less noise. Both cars have aftermarket systems and x-pipes so this is a very accurate test. Just thought I'd share.

 

thats what even the people at GHL told me but its not true

the ghl has less resonance than the Stinger

 

Everyone knows Borla's have headache quaility resonance.. Those who don't recognise this are just in denial..
here is a testimonial from a New GLH user who is being honest about the drone (resonance ) this is before he learns to live with it.
The drone is only noticable at about 1500 RPM. This is your cruise rpm 60 70 MPH..
There is no exhaust sytem out there that will give you
1) Great Idle
2) Terrific WOT
3) And No drone at Cruise.
Exhaust sound engineers know they can give you two of the three but not all three,,
All exhaust sound Great at WOT.
The choice is yours, either you have a great Idle with resonance at cruise rpm
or you have to compromise some idle for no resonance..
GHL if you want great idle with no where near the resonance of Borla's
but still resonance and at the worst rpm level, 1500.
Borla's have better Idle than Corsa or GHL, but far worse resonance at cruise.
Corsa Indy's if you want better than stock idle, but not a nice as Borla or GHL, but absolutly no resonance at any rpm..
All Thee sound great at WOT.

 

Running GHL Bullets (same 6" can as Mag Plus, just different tips, over-axel pipes polished as well); Interior noise on cruise control at 65-75mph (2004 A4 w/ 2:73, no other mods) no more than stock, that is, tires are still main road noise. Idle is very cool and rumbly, WOT is a hoot. Alignment, fit, finish are excellent. Very happy with it, got about 500 miles on it now, tips still aligned, getting even a little throatier in sound. Even GHL will tell you Magnum w/ 5" cans may resonate, but it's a personal thing, some people notice it, some don't. Another thing that swayed me was the Borla's (don't know which type, though) get a little higher/exotic sounding at high rpms while GHL Bullets/Mag Plus just keep the low, throaty tone, albeit it louder; has a nice consistent climb through rpm's. Consideration for me as well is possible addition of long-tube's next spring, so more mellow than stinger was OK to start as headers/high flow cats will make a bit louder. Probably gonna insulate the cabin with Dynamat anyway this winter (as some have done on the forum) cuz I'm tired of tire noise.

Knowing what I do (which is, well, not much and only my opinion) after, like you, reading every cat-back thread over past two months, your quest for:

Would lead me to say GHL Bullets or Magnum Plus are what you're looking for; it is definately NOT a stock sound! Another thing that swayed me, however ridiculous it sounds, is that when we went to 500+ Corvette meet in Oct. I saw bunches and bunches of Borla, Corsa & B&B systems, but very few GHL's; I wanted something a little different and everybody who has seen and heard has said they are really nice, highly polished (almost chrome looking, including cans) and, most importantly, sound great. Good luck with whatever way you go. It's not easy choosing...believe me I know.

 

I did Corsa Indy's and x-pipe, on a 2004 six xpeed vert. They are great, and I chose Corsa because of the RSC technology. They have a nice rumble at idle, NO resonance at cruise, and great roar at WOT.

I really think, however, that exhausts are like ice cream...what's your flavor?