Exhaust options - eliminating the drone!

[Ross]

OK, so I've fought to keep the Avant, enjoyed it for a year, this summer is time for "Project Daily driver"... for the mean time, I'm keeping my TDi. This gives me chance to sort the Avant without rushing over the summer, and I intend on sorting the following niggles:

-Electrical gremlins (dodgy fan relay, K-pin mod, wipers coming on automatically)
-screen wash pump not working
-Occasional coolant leak from turbo return + change thermostat
-Replace front strut-chassis brake lines, fuel lines
-Replace AC hoses, refit compressor and radiator, re-gas

Those are all relatively straight forward but I do have one dilemma - what to do with the exhaust? It's great except the boominess that has to go; it's not the stealth / family friendly performance Avant I intend it to be. I think these are my following options, if anyone has any better ideas I'd be interested to know!

1. Replace the exhaust 2.75" complete, twin boxes and sports cat (should sort boom, and offer performance). Sell the old 3" turbo-back to someone who wants a weekend avant.

2. Keep the 3" downpipe, sell the back portion and have a new 2.75" twin box with sports cat (Miltek?). I think this should keep the performance but I'm concerned it'll still be a little loud with the 3" downpipe

3. Try and modify the 3" system by replacing the silencers with something quieter - probably cheapest, but could still be too noisy which would be a waste.

My intention is to minimise the impact on performance, the final phase of the project will be to go RS2 hybrid (~350hp) and i want a 'miltek rumble' but no drone on cruise and stop setting car alarms if i blip the throttle when it's cold

Cheers
Ross

[A80Avant]

im running 3inch downpipe and twin cats (200cell) with 2.75 cat back. Its is not boomy at all and use it everyday.Wife aggrees that it is not loud. Only reason i havent changed it to 3inch cat back is the noise.

I would suggest that the 2.75 catback and keeping the 3inch downpipe is the best deal, so long as you have the max length and type resonators to keep it quite.(mine still have romm to become quieter)

[Rusty]

Mine has a 2.5" rear section with custom box, it's not at all boomy and is actually quite quiet, even with the car in the state it is. I'd do that. (I also have a 100CPI sports cat but just 1 box).

[Big Lee M]

I wouldn't mind a nice 3" for my avant ,wink,wink...............

[jade]

OK, so I've fought to keep the Avant, enjoyed it for a year, this summer is time for "Project Daily driver"... for the mean time, I'm keeping my TDi. This gives me chance to sort the Avant without rushing over the summer, and I intend on sorting the following niggles:

-Electrical gremlins (dodgy fan relay, K-pin mod, wipers coming on automatically)
-screen wash pump not working
-Occasional coolant leak from turbo return + change thermostat
-Replace front strut-chassis brake lines, fuel lines
-Replace AC hoses, refit compressor and radiator, re-gas

Those are all relatively straight forward but I do have one dilemma - what to do with the exhaust? It's great except the boominess that has to go; it's not the stealth / family friendly performance Avant I intend it to be. I think these are my following options, if anyone has any better ideas I'd be interested to know!




Thanks

1. Replace the exhaust 2.75" complete, twin boxes and sports cat (should sort boom, and offer performance). Sell the old 3" turbo-back to someone who wants a weekend avant.

2. Keep the 3" downpipe, sell the back portion and have a new 2.75" twin box with sports cat (Miltek?). I think this should keep the performance but I'm concerned it'll still be a little loud with the 3" downpipe

3. Try and modify the 3" system by replacing the silencers with something quieter - probably cheapest, but could still be too noisy which would be a waste.

My intention is to minimise the impact on performance, the final phase of the project will be to go RS2 hybrid (~350hp) and i want a 'miltek rumble' but no drone on cruise and stop setting car alarms if i blip the throttle when it's cold

Cheers
Ross

What I recommenced Is a RS4 cat back system, easy fit & 75mm and sounds very nice, not nosey at all and cheap

[nip]

Ross i have a 3" turbo back, straight through 2 tiny boxes and its boomy, but only i think between 3 to 4 thousand revs, on motorways best to hit about 80mph and its ok, but driving around town can p!ss ya off a bit. But must add, sounds awesome on full chat

[Dingo]

I run a 3" dp with no cat, reduced down to a standard milltek center & rear and its not boomy at all,
I think it sounds lurvvvvly

[Ross]

Thanks for the comments guys! I am glad to hear about others not-so-boomy experience with the 3" downpipe, sounds like that is the way to go. Andy did you get your custom box done at prospeed in cardiff?

I run a 3" dp with no cat, reduced down to a standard milltek center & rear and its not boomy at all,
I think it sounds lurvvvvly

Is this the 2.75" Miltek?