What is the best sounding exhaust system for the 8V S3?

[TheDude420]

I know "best" is subjective but what do you think the best sounding exhaust system is for the S3? I have an AWE 3" downpipe with the Audi enhanced resonator-delete, exhaust crackle tune, and Milltek exhaust tips. I like the sound but I'm considering a more aggressive sounding system but I'm not sure what to go with or if I'm just going to stay with what I have. People love or hate the pops & bangs tune. The good thing is that it's off when I start my car and only activates when I press the drive select button. I've watched videos of people with more aggressive exhaust systems and their exhaust crackle sounds less like popcorn and "deeper" than mine. If you can, please post a video of your exhaust system so we can hear it.

Here's mine (turn up volume and watch in HD if you're on a computer):

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Dp...g5sl3TU6oukyiJ

Thoughts? Prior to this Caronavirus situation I did have a 40 minute drive to work so I'd like to hear whether any of you regret getting your system due to drone or switched to something else. I know about exhaust systems with and without valves and that there are catbacks that are loud no matter what. I'm still learning. I've been working from home for a month now and will be for the foreseeable future until this pandemic passes. I'm only driving my car every 4-5 days now so that my car doesn't sit for too long.

[hpclayto]

Borla is the best I’ve heard IMO.

[Turbonegro]

After being around the vr6 motor for most of my driving experience, it’s hard to get an inline four cylinder to sound somewhat decent.
The vr6 delivers so much natural tone, that the exhaust just enhances that to a whole new level.
However, from what I’ve heard in person, our cars can sound pretty shitty with an exhaust. (this is subjective)I haven’t heard all the examples out there.. but I would definitely want to hear it in person on someone else’s car before pulling the trigger on my own.

Borla was mentioned above, and I was considering buying this just because of the cheap price, but without hearing it first.. I chickened out. Maybe someone here wants to give it a try?
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...101624857.html

[hpclayto]

Man if I was closer to that I’d be all over it.

[Turbonegro]

For what it’s worth, I have an APR catted downpipe, joined to the factory exhaust, including the resonator on my S3, and it sounds pretty decent. Definitely not loud, but louder than stock without being obnoxious.

[hpclayto]

I have a resonator delete with the factory exhaust. I’ve wondered what it would sound like if I ended up going stage 2 and getting a down pipe.

[texasboy21]

With the stock downpipes, a resonator delete sound really good. Its a nice OEM+ tone, and is very inexpensive. I also like the sound of the stock exhaust (muffler and resonator) with a catless downpipe.

[TheDude420]

I have a resonator delete with the factory exhaust. I’ve wondered what it would sound like if I ended up going stage 2 and getting a down pipe.

Watch my video to give you and idea of what it will sound like for you. I have APR Stage 2, AWE 3" downpipe, resonator delete, stock exhaust, and Milltek exhaust tips (cosmetic only).

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[Turbonegro]

I have a resonator delete with the factory exhaust. I’ve wondered what it would sound like if I ended up going stage 2 and getting a down pipe.

That is the setup that I had prior to going stage 2 & getting the downpipe.

A lot of it depends if you get a catted or non catted downpipe from what I’ve read..

After installing the APR downpipe & reinstalling the resonator, it now sounds very similar to the way it was from factory with just the resonator delete, just a tad bit louder.
I’m pretty happy with it.

[US3lessRooster]

I’m running an MBRP catback and have zero complaints. More sound, and it’s not too expensive. $800 I believe is what it’s running for unless they’ve hiked the price up since


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[TheDude420]

I’m running an MBRP catback and have zero complaints. More sound, and it’s not too expensive. $800 I believe is what it’s running for unless they’ve hiked the price up since


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Damn that's a good price!

[AlexQS]

For what it’s worth, I have an APR catted downpipe, joined to the factory exhaust, including the resonator on my S3, and it sounds pretty decent. Definitely not loud, but louder than stock without being obnoxious.

Am I getting old? This makes the most sense to me. I could go for a bigger down-pipe with 200 cel cats. I’ll keep the original resonator too. Just “a little” louder would be good for me.

When I was much younger, I was sure that “louder is better”. Looking back it seems like my cars made more noise than power.

I think today I could go for finding a sportier sound by way of modifying intake air too, possibly turbo muffler delete.

[aaronc7]

Old man status here. IE catted downpipe as only exhaust mod. Sounds decent enough for me. Cold start sounds like poo a little bit but otherwise a little louder and deeper than stock, but all in all, not a big change.

I see a lot of people who do resonator delete initially... then add downpipe......and come back later complaining about drone and don't like the end result. If you're gonna do a downpipe, do that first, see what you think and then you can go from there. Hard for me to ditch the stock dual mode exhaust on the S3, seems like a good compromise of keeping it civil most of the time, and can open up a little bit when you want to.

[hpclayto]

Watch my video to give you and idea of what it will sound like for you. I have APR Stage 2, AWE 3" downpipe, resonator delete, stock exhaust, and Milltek exhaust tips (cosmetic only).

Sent from my SM-G981U1 using Audizine mobile app

Where is your video?

[TheDude420]

Where is your video?

It's the Google Drive link I posted. Very first comment.

[hpclayto]

It's the Google Drive link I posted. Very first comment.

Ahhh. Clearly I’m smart, thanks.

[strtsol1109]

I’m running an MBRP catback and have zero complaints. More sound, and it’s not too expensive. $800 I believe is what it’s running for unless they’ve hiked the price up since


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+1 for MBRP, currently have res delete and stock muffler and this is not raspy or really loud at all. Will be going DP and stage 2 in about a week but cant forsee any issues there either. Text me if you want a sound clip 304-319-4581

[VA_S3]

I had the Remus non resonated catback with the apr downpipe on mine and loved it. I thought it had more tone than others, less rasp. Valves kept it tame when needed. Have a couple in cabin videos, cruising at 80 w/ no drone. Great setup if you want to go all in on s3 exhaust.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvvBxpvVE8o

[MikTip]

MRBP

[TheDude420]

MRBP

Do you have a video of what it sounds like?

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