Oh 100%. I had a friend drive my car around the block in downtown Milwaukee just to hear for myself how loud it is and oh my god...the sound bounced off of buildings and alleys like crazy. I can't imagine how it is with my resonators gone.
I hear what you are saying. I leave for work at ~5:30 am and just that cold startup is already louder than I want it to be. My nearest neighbors are 75-100 yards away but I still feel bad for them every time I start the car.
Starting the car in reverse gear takes away the valve self-test and makes startup less loud.
Yes good to know. I have the corsa x pipe which deletes the factory resonators and puts in a nice flowing double helix crossover. Sounds great and not too loud in normal mode. In sport it definitely lets the crackle and pop come through which is great. I have been starting mine up with the garage closed in the morning at first to avoid that initial loud crack when starting her cold. I'll have to try the reverse gear before start.
I've also found I can get in the car and push the start button for ignition on without pushing the clutch in and starting the car. After 5 - 10 seconds I can then start the car and the exhaust valves are closed on start up.
Funny, right after my last comment, I found that if I just push the clutch pedal down for a few seconds prior to hitting the start button, the valve performs its test cycle and it will start in normal mode.
