I was in a similar dilemma earlier this year. In my case, I bought the car and, this past November, I picked up a Billy Boat PRT exhaust directly from Billy Boat during their Black Friday sale. Great exhaust with great sound. No drone and not so loud as to be obnoxious. No regrets. Love the car and the new exhaust.

 

Nope, get an aftermarket one!

-Josh

 

Wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. Plenty of very good aftermarket exhausts out there.

 

I bought it for the looks also-the stock pipes look puny to me.

 

I don't think there is that big of a difference in the look of the stock tips vs NPP tips. Main visual difference is the space in the middle, but they don't really look "puny"

 

 

See if you can get them to drop $2K from the price. This will allow you to drive it for a while and if you want to amp up the sound, you'll have the $$ to buy a cat-back.

 

I was in the same boat when I bought, but I bought thinking I would go aftermarket. After awhile with the car I found the standard exhaust is fine for me. It actually sounds better than the Borla Touring exhaust on my previous C6. As stated above if it's what you want, and the deal is to your liking I say buy her. You can find several used systems on the forum for sale here, or you can buy new for not much more money.

 

Had a C6 with NPP (and I added a toggle switch to open when I wanted, but on the highway had to shut the butterflies or there was an objectionable drone,) a 2014 with NPP and now a 2017 Grand Sport with NPP that I have set at always Track.

My street rod with Bola exhaust sounds better as did my modified S10 pick up truck with Flowmasters!

Go to the Borla website and listen to the options they offer for a C7. The other aftermarket folks probably offer the same sound info and there are lots of YouTube videos.. A bit more expensive than the NPP $1100 but worth it IMO.

A buddy who didn't have NPP bought a Borla system and it sounded better then my NPP in my C6 with the butterflies open with the swich I added. Borla and others are in the business of engineering a good sound. Tenneco, who I believe makes the NPP system for the C7, is a good automotive supplier and makes things cheap GM and others demand! Get one made from 304 (18% chrome, 8% nickel) not cheap 409 (~11% chrome-no nickel) stainless (which is what the C7 exhaust is made from) and it also won't rust, particularly around the welds which you'll see on all C7s when you get it home!

 

I had no plans to modify so the NPP was the one option I had to have. I like that I can control the sound from the menu in the car.

 

According to 2017 production stats, there is a good reason that 88% of 2017 Corvettes have the performance exhaust.

In my opinion, it should be standard on all C7 Corvettes.

 

 

 

 

$2K more for a car you don't like the looks but sounds nice or $2k Less for a car you like the looks but can spend $2K to add Borla or Corsa. I would take the looks and add the exhaust later. Those two brands also have nice looking tips that are just a nice as OEM NPP tips.

Oh and as said previously, best to go to Carlisle or Mid America at Effingham gatherings and have them install the system right there. Thats what I did on our C5, added a Corsa. Less hassle and a fun weekend to boot

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but as I understand it the standard exhaust has a valve that opens up at about 3000 rpm. I think it's pretty cool just being able to feel all that power through the end of my foot.

 

You should be able to find a car with the perf exhaust. I'd rather have the factory system than add an aftermarket system just to make sure Chevy has no argument to void my warranty.

 

<br /><br />Didn't realize you could get an exhaust installed at Carlisle...was thinking of going this year.

 

another poster said Carlisle. I can't say for sure. I got mine done at Mid America show

 

for about 1.5K installed but not switchable.......