zachtyler

I have a 1989 Laredo. I'm going to replace my exhaust manifold due to a leak. However, I think I am going to get a new exhaust system in the coming weeks. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to exhaust parts.

What I want:

- Sounds good (duh!)
- Not too loud/annoying
- Not insanely expensive

One thing I hate is a VERY loud and annoying exhaust. This car is my daily driver so I would like something that sounds nice and clean, but not too annoying. I do a mixture of street and highway driving. I'm not trying to sound like a sportscar.

Any recommendations?

mudfrog

Look into a Turbo muffler, it will flow a lot better than stock, have a nice deep tone and they aren't real loud.

mschi772

Here's a setup I guarantee you won't regret for $150. I had a Dynomax on my last XJ, and after it breaks in, it sounds perfect--not loud enough to irritate anyone but just enough character to notice.

A simple cat from Performance-Curve.com http://performance-curve.com/410225.aspx

A Dynomax cat-back 17463 https://www.amazon.com/Dynomax-17463...=dynomax+17463


If you need a new downpipe/front pipe, Walker is the only premade one I'm aware of. I'd expect to find the best price for that to be around $60 +/- some from either Amazon or Rockauto.

extrashaky

Gibson has about the best sound out there. It's more expensive than the more popular junk people recommend, but I wouldn't consider it insanely expensive compared to the exhausts for other cars. You can certainly go cheaper, but you get what you pay for.

Fred/N0AZZ

I had a small muffler shop install a new cat back exhaust system with a house brand Turbo muffler for under a $100 out the door, it was custom fit and high and tight like from the factory.

Freerider15

I had a Flowmaster 40 on my XJ before it became a buggy.

It wasn't bad, but was still kind of loud and droned bad enough at highway speed.

I just recent put a Walker Quiet-Flow SS Muffler on my fiance's '96 XJ.

It's quiet, but has a little throaty-ness to it.

On my current build, I might look at ripping the OEM muffler off and putting this one in.

The "look at me" mufflers are over rated, and get old quick.

mschi772

Yep. I can't imagine anyone being OK with anything louder than the FM 50 I have (sound at https://youtu.be/imKGwoIGPnw). It's neat, but I kinda think I prefer the Dynomax's sound I had on my 96. I wanted stainless, though, and I think Magnaflows and Borlas sound "buzzy"

extrashaky

That's what I love about the Gibson stainless. It has a low rumble that lets people know it's not stock, but it's not loud. It also has no drone at all, nor does it have that buzzy metallic sound from the cheaper mufflers that make the 4.0L sound like a lawn mower.

mschi772

Ouch! Over $300 for an aluminized steel cat-back?! Unreal, Gibson.

At least their price for the stainless one is more fair...if you can afford stainless to begin with.

cbs_24

I paid about $300 for all new down pipe back from walker w/ walker quiet flow muffler and magnaflow high flow cat. Quiet, but decent flow.

extrashaky

LOL. Jeep people are so cheap. The "moderately priced" cat-back I have in mind for my Subaru is $1100. The Gibson is inexpensive compared to what people pay for other cars. You folks would scavenge your exhausts out of junk yards if they weren't rusting right off the trucks.

I have the stainless Gibson cat-back on my XJ, and it's worth every penny not to sound like an overgrown lawn mower. Plus it ought to outlast the cheap junk. I personally don't mind paying for quality.

mschi772

Cheap is relative. Gibson's aluminized cat-back isn't giving me $200 more product compared to Dynomax's aluminized cat-back.

extrashaky

That depends on how important the sound is to you. The enjoyment I get out of how good my Jeep sounds certainly makes it worth the extra money, especially considering how much time I spend in it.

cruiser54

Do you have the cursory "Visual World Peace", "Save the whales", "Audobon Society", "Co-exist", and "Bernie" bumper stickers on your Subaru?

mschi772

When we had an Outback, this was our only sticky addition.