Hello all. After reading through the recent posts on upcoming exhausts, I decided to look through Corsa's website over the weekend. Check out what I found...


Buyer Beware

As proud C6 owners we have been intently watching the dialogue and product introductions surrounding C6 performance exhaust systems. We admittingly have a biased opinion on what exhaust sounds are good and not so good. One thing that we watch very carefully is the in-cabin resonance or drone you hear in many systems when you are at highway cruising speeds (60 – 80 mph, 1400 – 2200 rpm depending on the gear). When we were kids, having noise all the time (including drone/booming/resonance in the car) was pretty cool - we just turned our radio up louder. Now that we have gotten a bit older, we still want to sound cool at engine start-up and acceleration, but have no need for the booming sound that upsets our ears (and needless to say, our spouses) at highway speeds.

Back in June we got a limited sneak peak at the C6 at GM due to our exclusive GM license. We quickly learned that the C6 is truly an all new vehicle, with a new motor, producing difficult harmonic characteristics. Right off the bat, the source level harmonics are 5 decibels (dB) higher than the C5. Five dB may not seem significant, but it equates to the difference between the buzz of an electric razor and a child's scream. The challenge of tuning this exhaust, making it sound cool, and having no in-cabin resonance, was confirmed by some of the GM engineers that worked on the stock system. The LS2 has a broader number of peak frequencies that result in booming. Said another way, the amount of attenuation needed is over a wider bandwidth, thus there are more frequencies to tune.

Our acoustics engineers* are painstakingly working to specifically tune these frequencies so all you hear is the deep, aggressive, and appealing tones when you want to hear them. The net result is the engine makes more horsepower and torque due to straight through design (you can roll a billiard ball through our system), and produces a great sound with no interior resonance. We have yet to see a manufacturer match our performance on these four characteristics (+ HP, + Torque, no resonance, great sound). Speaking of character, you will also experience some trailing throttle noise (or burble) on deceleration, so do not be surprised when your audience thinks you are driving a race car. We just think it sounds cool.

Many exhaust manufacturers use a baffled or absorptive muffler to create performance exhaust sounds. You may know these as glass packs or steel wool packed mufflers. The benefit is that they are easy and quick to build, and require little tuning, except for how much packing to put in. It essentially becomes a packaging exercise, and thus these manufacturers are very quick to market. We have made the conscious choice to spend the money, time, and other resources to specifically tune out the "bad" frequencies and keep the good ones. This takes extra time during the development process, thus it is rare that we are first to market. We do promise that we will be first to market a C6 performance exhaust with a non-resonating, cool sounding, horsepower and torque enhancing system that looks great. Our C6 exhaust system will be worth the wait.

* Our acoustics engineers are retired NASA engineers, so in a way, this could be called rocket science…

Knowing the quality of sound and fit from these guys in the past, I'm making it a point to get these.

 

Okay, sounds like some good marketing hype. But after reading all that, I am still unclear as to whether they have a system for the C6 or not. They have been advertising in the past two issues of Corvette Quarterly implying that they do. Do they?

 

I called Corsa 2 weeks ago concerning their C6 system..still being tested was their response..it would be nice to find out some more specifics as to release date and pricing..

 

I called their toll free number and spoke to one of the sales reps. As it turns out they are almost complete on one of the sound levels. (they're planning on a couple) The part numbers or pricing have not been released, but word is that they are close. The guess from the rep is 30-45 days before release, but the feeling on the other end was that they may be before that...

 

I agree with their write up to provide a quality system, however they should be able to tell us when they will be available for purchase via the forum since we are a "focused" audience....

 

I contacted Bassani-"Check back with us in mid December"

 

I wonder if the fact that there aren't many C6's around right now has anything to do with it? Might it make sense to hold off on the release of a system until there is a larger market? Maybe it's a sales and marketing decision.

 

David - you trying to send your competitors a message?

I think they are all working as quickly as possible. I just got off the phone with one of the very well known exhaust suppliers for Corvettes who expects to have two systems available in the next few weeks. They told me the C6 is a bit trickier than the C5 to avoid resonance. This seems to be a consistent message from all the major companies.

I think it's safe to say the Borla, Corsa, B&B are very well know on the Corvette forum and are working hard to make sure the systems are right when they hit the market. I for one would have no problem buying a system from any one of them.

Glad to see some friendly competition here on the forum.

 

You may want to check out this thread in the C6 General Forum

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/showthread.php?t=934072

for some additional info on this topic.

 

I know, we need BIG pictures!

 

I'm just curious like everyone else. There's so much posturing going on with this application that it's hard to read between the lines. As far as competition goes, Borla has been around for so long and been through this exact scenario so many times that it's just par for the course. As a result, we don't get reactive to competitive claims. It's actually kind of amusing to see the spins they put on their development issues. At some point they will have to release something and then the real comparisons will begin.... Until then, we wait and enjoy the press releases.

Borla currently (as in right now) has 3 systems available for the C6 with 3 more "S types" to follow in the next two weeks. I'm just as curious as everyone else to see what the competition comes up with. Let the games begin!

Thanks for your interest.

db

 

Borla has 3 (as in right now) systems for the C6? I just checked borla.com, and it doesn't even list the 6.0 for the Vette. So, according to that, there are none (as in right now).

 

[QUOTE=Snakiller]Borla has 3 (as in right now) systems for the C6? I just checked borla.com, and it doesn't even list the 6.0 for the Vette. So, according to that, there are none (as in right now).[/QUOTE

Thank you very much for your interest. We've been at the SEMA show for the last week and a half so I haven't had a chance to get these parts up on our website yet. Sorry for the mixed message. However, they are in fact currently available.

We had a great show and the response to our C6 system has been all very positive. We met with most of the major Corvette distributors and I'd like to inform you that you can purchase the Borla C6 systems at Corvette Garage, Ecklers, Mid-America, Performance Center Wholesale, LG Motorsports as well as other locations (sorry if I forgot anyone).

There are two different sound levels available ("Crusing" and "S-type") as well as three different tip styles. So actually, there are 6 different Borla part numbers to choose from for the C6.

The "S-type" system (what some of you guys call the "stinger") has a more aggresive sound than the "Crusing" system. Both make about 10-12 hp.

We will be offering a variety of high performance headers for the C6 in the near future as well.

 

If I might ask... are you aware of the recall that came out recently on the brake lines? It calls for a change in the manifold and exhaust on one side of the car as well as brake line work.

 

I talked with CORSA today. I was told the end of November the new exhaust will be out. Pricing is ging to be around 1,000.

 

Borla has some VERY nice products available for the C6. We will be adding those to our line-up shortly

 

I got a ride in a forum members C6 over the weekend and I was extremely impressed the the stock exhaust note. Even though the car is very quiet at idle, I am rather impressed how well it sounds under WOT and the sound level. GM definately has done some work to allow such a huge range of sound level from the stock system.

Todd

 

Please tell me about the recall your refering too? I heard something about this & called Chevy, & they had nothing on it???

 

Make : CHEVROLET Model : CORVETTE Year : 2005
Manufacturer : GENERAL MOTORS CORP.
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number : 04V525000 Recall Date : OCT 27, 2004
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Potential Number Of Units Affected : 5225
Summary:
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH ONE OR BOTH REAR BRAKE HYDRAULIC LINES THAT CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH OR BE AFFECTED BY HEAT FROM THE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE. THE BRAKE FLUID COULD REACH ELEVATED TEMPERATURES AND BOIL.
Consequence:
IF THE BRAKE FLUID BOILS IN A REAR BRAKE LINE, THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BE REDUCED WHICH COULD RESULT IN A BRAKE LINE LEAK AND LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID. IF ENOUGH FLUID LEAKS FROM THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM SO THAT BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION CAN NO LONGER BUILD PRESSURE TO THE REAR BRAKES. THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE WILL EXPERIENCE LIMITED BRAKING WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy:
DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE LEFT ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, THE LEFT EXHAUST PIPE, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING UNITS AND INSPECT BRAKE LINES FOR WEAR IN THESE RELATED AREAS AND REPAIR OR REPLACE WEAR-THROUGH ON THE NYLON OVERCOATING. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED WITH AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2239 AND CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438.
Notes:
GENERAL MOTORS RECALL NO. 04086. CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

 

Callaway Cars is developing AND testing their cat back exhaust - proven power on the dyno & racetrack, the right sound is just as important when selecting an exhaust - they have always made a pleasing and powerful sounding exhaust -

Look for it VERY soon on the market - If you are going to the Chicago Chevy-Vette Fest this weekend coming up, they will have the development C6 there on display along with the Honker Airbox, 14" Big brakes, Coilovers, sway bars, headers, on and on... It is a VERY cool car and after driving it, the power gain is noticable from when I drove it stock

http://www.callawaycars.com