Aftermarket exhaust decisions...

[busterbrown]

I want to add a few horsepower and a little exhaust note to my LTZ before I tune in. I've watched enough youtube "Sonic exhaust" videos to burn holes in my retina's. I'm looking for subtle; NOT loud/obnoxious/ricer. I have no after-market exhaust experience so I'm looking for opinions.

From all I've been reading, aftermarket choices I have are:

ZZPerformance Turbo back system: $749.
ZZPerformance O2 Housing/Midpipe package for Cruze 1.4L: $475
Borla Catback: $650
DDM Works: Catback exhaust with muffler and w/o resonator: $624
MPFab: Anaconda 3-inch Down/Mid/Catalyst pipe combo: $599
BNR: Chevrolet Sonic 1.4T Magnaflow Catback Exhaust: $750

I've been reading that aftermarket catbacks won't have any positive HP gains as the Sonic's stock setup isn't really restrictive. Are most of the gains from the turbo to the cat?

My objective would be to add the HP (in conjuction with a tune) without all the ricey rasp. Just a nice endnote out of the exhaust tip. Would love to hear all the above applications in person. Any suggesions/opinions are appreciated.

 

[laborsmith]

I have the DDM cat back ut with resonator and not with muffler. Very nice sound. OEM is 1.75 from the cat back where DDM is 2.25 therefore the freer exhaust movement should deliver several HP. Mine showed 150HP on stock tune but using premium fuel, which itself adds 7 to 8 HP.

ZZP is 2.5 which I believe matches the OEM turbo exhaust. It has a slightly deeper sound when compared to DDM. You do not need a muffler but I hihjly recommend a resonator, particularly if you want to avoid the rasp associated with aftermarket exhaust upgrades.

I am not a fan of Borla anymore and long time members will attest rgat I am a fan of Camaro/Corvette and their attendant aftermarket upgrades.

Given your stated purpose I recommend either the DDM or the ZZP using a resonator and not a muffler.


Laborsmith

 

[Brad Ferrell]

If you would allow me to chime in, I'm having my mechanic/fabricator remove my 2nd cat and replace it with stainless pipe and then removing the muffler and replacing it with stainless pipe. The whole operation has a budget of $150.00 and most of that is labor. You may be able to save yourself some money going this way.

I've heard the sound from a similar setup and its a nice low rumble.

This car will pass emissions in Texas. From what I understand, the 2nd Cat is for California.

Notice that I am keeping the resonator. No freeway drone for me.

 

[ChrisRS]

Does this mean you're keepin the Sonic?

 

[DaBlackapino]

I'm actually getting the Magnaflow since My dad has one in his Honda an he's told be their are one of the best.

 

[AndrewGS]

Whatever you do, don't get anything designed for the Cruze. The midpipe for the Cruze is different than the Sonic.

The MPFab Anaconda and the DDMWorks cat-back with just a resonator would be a beautiful system.

I'm going to just pull the muffler off of mine until, and if, I get serious with performance mods.

 

[KlassKlown]

PLEASE NOTE: the $750 for the ZZP is the entire exhaust starting from the downpipe - the tip so it's a bang for your buck instead of all the other exhausts which are primarily catbacks(which is the exhaust after the second cat)

order of the exhaust in the Sonic.
Downpipe (main emission control)
Midpipe (Has that mesh looking flex pipe under your car)
Second cat ( to filter what the downpipe did not)
Resonator if you choose to have one(quiets the sound of the exhaust)
bended tube that connects the Res to the Muffler
and finally the muffler which is the main sound component.

Since you're new with exhausts, its great to lift your car and give it a look to understand what everything looks like

 

[Brad Ferrell]

That is stock on left I believe. ZZP turbo-back on right.

 

[Sneakerfix]

I would do the MPfab and then just a muffler delete.

 

[DaBlackapino]

I have a Question, I'm Looking to add a BIT of performance to my Sonic which is just a LS, I'm looking to install a Magnaflow system, and I'll be lowering it and was wondering since it's none-RS & Turbo Model, what else can I do to get a Bit more HP out of it? what are your thoughts on Magnaflow Exhaust?

 

[Brad Ferrell]

I would do the MPfab and then just a muffler delete.

I'm going MFab and muffler/2nd cat delete with a tune.

 

[Sneakerfix]

I have a Question, I'm Looking to add a BIT of performance to my Sonic which is just a LS, I'm looking to install a Magnaflow system, and I'll be lowering it and was wondering since it's none-RS & Turbo Model, what else can I do to get a Bit more HP out of it? what are your thoughts on Magnaflow Exhaust?

Tune

 

[davethecota]

I have a Question, I'm Looking to add a BIT of performance to my Sonic which is just a LS, I'm looking to install a Magnaflow system, and I'll be lowering it and was wondering since it's none-RS & Turbo Model, what else can I do to get a Bit more HP out of it? what are your thoughts on Magnaflow Exhaust?

You won't get any more HP until you tune it so... tune it is your answer.

 

[KlassKlown]

Headers and tune are the power changers for the 1.8l

 

[Blue Moon Sonic]

Gotta definitely say this. Even with a muffler the sonic can still be heard for a long distance with the anaconda added in. My friend calls me up 30 seconds after I had started it in the garage and tells me he can hear me from his house and after that he pointed out exactly when I stopped or made a turn and said which direction. Now here's the fun part. That is about 5 miles from my house and he's at the top of the hill. The sound from the exhaust on these cars carries and I never expected it to carry that far even with a muffler.