skinnyb
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2022
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- Knoxville TN
- First Name
- Alex
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- 21 Mach 1. FJG, Tremec
I had the Touring setup on my F150 with the Gen 3 Coyote and I agree it was very mellow and unobtrusive in normal driving but would really bark if you gave it the beans. I did go S type on my Mustang and it is a bit more in your face all the time but still manageable, of course I can flip to quiet mode if I really need to quieten downAfter posting the musical sounds of the XR8 last week, I wanted to document how a different exhaust setup changes an otherwise similar engine architecture.
My 2017 Mustang was fitted with a Borla Touring cat-back within months of my ownership. I had never modified an exhaust to that point, but the thing was too dam quiet, even the grandpa burgundy XR8 was louder. For an American muscle car, it wasn't living up to its reputation of a loud and proud pony car.
I ended up looking at both Roush and Borla systems, mainly because they had an OE looking tip design. I wanted extra volume but didn't want to be "that guy" with the noisy car. I settled on the Borla Touring in EU spec, which includes a resonated H-Pipe to eliminate rasp and drone.
Even with the resonator, this exhaust is not exactly legal in terms of noise emissions. However, below 3000rpm, the car is quite stealthy, just a natural V8 burble. However, clear 3000rpm and all hell breaks loose!
I still have the original exhaust taking up space in storage. That thing had very little time on the car, but look how manky it looks covered in the hideous black paint they spray export cars with.
Anyway, the reason for this post.
Cold Start (I love cold starts, so much noisier than a hot start) -
Hot Start & Revs -
The Borla Touring produces a much deeper and more traditional V8 tone. In hindsight, I think I would have preferred a little bit more snap-crackle-pop in the same vein of the XR8. In which case, I should have chosen the Borla S-Type with the X-Pipe.
But I do love how subtle the Touring can be when needed, while still being obvious unlike the OE exhaust. On the other hand, it properly howls when given a boot full, without drowning out the delicious induction note. Surely this is the best combination, allowing the engine itself to bark back through the firewall, while providing just the right amount of exhaust noise to permeate through the cabin.
I hear a lot of Mustang exhausts and while they are loud, they are just that, loud. In that I mean they lack any tonal tuning, so you get ALL of the noise, be that the good or bad noises. I think this is where choosing a brand like Corsa, Borla or Roush comes into the equation. I remember when I was asking the local shop about exhausts, they wanted to sell me some off the shelf mufflers and tips. To me, that would have been potluck and I didn't want to be messing around with different combinations at my expense. At least with choosing a system like this, there are plenty of online sound clips to gauge what it will sound like. Not to mention the simple, straightforward install.
As it stands, I'm not sure what I will do with the S650 when it arrives. Ford nailed the brief with the Active Exhaust on the later S550 and new S650. However, it looks like the S650 has been toned down to meet ADR laws. In which case, I may just swap out the resonator for an X or H pipe and leave the rest.
Sponsored
. I also have adjusted my tips since the picture. The right one was sagging a little and driving me nuts.
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