CoolGuy094

Do you have an aftermarket header? You need to fit the stock cat back on. It will help to tone down the volume a bit but may result in a bit of drone at 3-4k rpm. I ran my Q300 with stock header/stock cat, stock header/test pipe, plm header/test pipe, plm header/stock cat, and finally plm header/Berk high flow cat. Of all the combos the quietest in volume was stock header/stock cat, but it did drone a bit. The "best" sounding combo was the plm header/Berk high flow cat; no drone but the volume was pretty loud. The exhaust became raspy over time but I discovered that was due to the flange connection between the Berk high flow can and the first pipe of the Q300 coming loose.

However, I do agree that this setup can be very loud for my taste. Other autocrossers told me it was the loudest S2000 they had ever heard. I switched to the "quick disconnect" OEM exhaust and ran without mufflers at events after that, and honestly the sound difference between zero mufflers and the Q300 with plm/Berk hfc weren't too far off in volume. I pinged 106 dB from 50 feet with no mufflers. I would wager that my Q300 setup would have been over 100 as well.

I now just leave the mufflers on all the time. Still have PLM header and Berk hfc. I think it sounds excellent this way. Perhaps you should sell the exhaust and buy a new Berks hfc and header.

joefish1298

Thanks for this, never seen it before and it's looking like the likely path I will take at this stage. I think modifying the Q300 will just reduce the value of it for when I ultimately sell it, I doubt a centre muffler would reduce the volume enough.


No, I'm running the stock header. Thanks for your input, it helps me to think I'm not insane, because this exhaust is way loud for me with a high flow cat.

jh4db536

Pic of your q300?

Either put the stock cat back on or get a new exhaust. Sitting in someone's car to demo the exhaust is probably more effective research.

I don't recall the q300 that bad (and I am very picky about noise), I drove my friends ap1, but his car is all stock other than the catback. After trying many different exhausts I think hfc + catback is the droniest combination vs stock cat/testpipe.

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joefish1298

You are right, viewing the actual combination of parts you like in person on another car is the best research. I didn't know anyone with the Q300 so I took a chance.

kerm1t

are you talking loud as in DRONE, or outside?

and im sure s2k exhausts will be louder in everyway compared to any other car youve probably been in. 4 seaters cars done drone quite as much

Manga_Spawn

I think you need to let it break in a little more. The q300 is one of the quietest exhausts out there. Just to be clear this is the exhaust you have right?

joefish1298

Yup, this is the exhaust I have, with stock header and high flow cat.

Manga_Spawn

Wow. And are you talking about highway drone or the sound when your accelerating? My buddy had that exhaust and it was dead quite. I have a berk dual and it is very loud.

joefish1298

Not talking about drone, I'm talking about extreme volume. I explained to a friend how ridiculously extremely loud it was, a friend who used to own a pretty loud Celica with a 3" exhaust. Then I took him for a drive and opened it up. Then I asked, "it's way louder than you thought it would be even after I explained isn't it?", he said "yes" with a stunned look on his face.

joefish1298

Cruising flat highway, there's no drone, a nice deep burble, exactly how I imagined it and wanted it. It's when you get on the gas, even a little it's loud, when you get on the gas more than a little, it's insane. I've been in plenty of modded cars at track days and this is easily the loudest car I've been in save for a couple of fully stripped caged race cars with basically straight through exhausts.