Best sounding Miata exhausts?

"MarquetteLa" (marquettela)
12/13/2016 at 13:18 • Filed to: None

I’m thinking about upgrading my 2002 Miata’s exhaust, but I’ve been somewhat unimpressed with the sound of what I’ve heard so far. I’m leaning towards the RoadsterSport 3 muffler with midpipe as heard in the video above. Are there better options out there? Different sounds? I’d also be interested in upgrading the header, too.

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DISCUSSION (32)

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:20

Probably the one you use when you stuff a V8 in.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:21

DO IT, GET THE RS3!!! I just installed the RS3 muffler and midpipe along with Cobalt headers. Finally finished the install today, no more exhaust leaks! It sounds so DEEP, I didn’t even know a Miata could sound this good. I will try to take a video for you.

EL_ULY > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:22

noice noice!

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:22

I’ve heard the RoadsterSport 3 muffler (on a stock everything-else) in person and it sounds pretty great.

I bought a $120 Flowmaster 60 Delta Flow (designed specifically for small engines) and had it welded in at a local muffler shop and I love it. If you’ve ever romped on your car (and of course you have) you’ve heard the engine through the intake. The exhaust sounds identical to that.

More info here, my impressions, video, etc.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
12/13/2016 at 13:30

Why did it need to be welded in?

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
12/13/2016 at 13:32

Hit up the link and take a look at the pictures. It was literally *just* a muffler. A universal-type fit, so it’s a muffler with two stubs of pipe designed to be welded in. The offset and size of the muffler is such that it doesn’t take much to weld it in place, though the outlet pipe is a little bigger than factory Mazda.

It’s louder than stock, but not louder than many other stock 4cyl cars. You notice the exhaust without getting annoyed by it, and it makes parking garages and tunnels a bit more fun.

MarquetteLa > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
12/13/2016 at 13:39

I was looking at those Cobalt headers too! Did you notice any power gains? I’d love to hear a video!

MarquetteLa > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/13/2016 at 13:41

If anything, it’ll eventually have a K-Swap. I like revving :)

yitznewton > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:43

DeLM > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:46

I have a borla catback, I like it. its pretty quit until about 3,500 rpm then it has a great racy sound, not very ricer either. I would really like to find headers that are unequal length to complete the sound but nothing yet..

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
12/13/2016 at 13:47

Never heard of doing that, that seems pretty cool. I will take a listen when I have speakers or headphones. I wanted to do the whole install myself so avoiding welding was ideal. Any reason not to just do a traditional exhaust?

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:49

Yeah, I prefer small displacement motors that rev to the moon too. Got a blacktop in my AW11 and just can’t get enough of that 8600 rpm redline.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
12/13/2016 at 13:49

This was cheaper than a RS3 and a bit more mellow. Didn’t want to plonk down $300+ for a full bolt-in Miata exhaust so I figured I’d try this out for $150 or so all in.

MarquetteLa > SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie
12/13/2016 at 13:50

I didn’t realize AW11s revved that high! Awesome.

MarquetteLa > yitznewton
12/13/2016 at 13:51

Budget solution!

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:51

I havent tested it enough to determine power gains. It might just be the extra sound makes it feel faster but it feels a little bit so far. Every little bit matters on a Miata though! If I had a choice, I probably would have went with Racing Beat or raceland headers though since I have heard great things about those. I just got these super cheap ($600 for the entire system plus some fog lights) so it was impossible to pass up.

SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:51

The original 16v 4A still revved to 8k which was stratospheric in 1984 when it dropped, but I blew that motor on track and have a newer 20v version of it.

MarquetteLa > DeLM
12/13/2016 at 13:54

Thanks for the great video! I do like the sound of that, but I’m not crazy about dual tips.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
12/13/2016 at 13:58

Makes sense. I highly recommend scoring sweet deals on the used market, but it depends on the local miata scene. I even sold my stock muffler for $50 the next day so it’s one step closer to free! Now I just need to sell my stock headers and then I will be like under $400 all-in on my system.

DeLM > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 13:59

I hear ya, i have an NA and mine is only one sided, they may make a one sided for the NB. I am not sure. but the sound is the same as mine.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 14:03

K swap miatas sound absolutely amazing. Only issue is that v8 swaps are easier, cheaper, and documented a little more. But kmiatas are not that rare.

DeLM > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 14:04

They do have a one sided. https://www.autohance.com/borla-11732-rear-section.html?gclid=COP1zZnu8dACFQ8vaQod3MMP5A

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 15:34

I have the RS and it sounds pretty good. Not super loud but it still lets you hear the engine. I like the Borla as well.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)
12/13/2016 at 15:45

“Local miata scene”

“NB2"

hahahahahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

daender > MarquetteLa
12/13/2016 at 20:01

Always RS3.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
12/14/2016 at 07:01

Haha this is true. There are quite a few people with NBs in Jersey. A lot more NAs of course but I am still able to find all sorts of parts when needed. Thats how I picked up a door, fender, bumper, all my exhaust stuff, tires, wheels, and some other odds and ends. But yeah flatland over there might not have very much!

MarquetteLa > daender
12/14/2016 at 11:01

Thanks, this is probably the best RS3 video I’ve come across. This is yours, right? Do you have the midpipe as well? Stock headers?

daender > MarquetteLa
12/14/2016 at 18:47

Yup, it’s mine! My setup is a stock NB2 header, RS3 midpipe, early-RS3 muffler (notice the tip isn’t rolled at the end), and a packed baffle insert because the drone is pretty bad between 2500 to 3000 if I have either the hardtop on or the softtop up.

MarquetteLa > daender
12/15/2016 at 11:15

Awesome info, thanks so much!

MPA > MarquetteLa
03/09/2017 at 09:16

Daken > DeLM
09/21/2017 at 10:10

I know this was 9 months ago, but if you’re looking for UEL headers, CXRacing makes one. They actually say they’re equal length in the title, but they are not even close to EL. Link: https://www.cxracing.com/products-by-car-mazda-miata/HD-MIATA18-1-1

DeLM > Daken
01/03/2018 at 17:49

Thanks man, I did get a cheap set for now. enngine will need a rebuild in the near future and I am going to go apeshit on it, need 225 hp NA.. bout to dump 5x what I paid for her but it will be goooooood.