In my case I wanted the flow without too much sound. I wanted everything flow through. No chambered exhaust. I also told him I wanted no rasp! I hate rasp in the exhaust, that's why he put the biggest resonator that he had. I don't remember how long it was. I think around 36 or so inched. maybe more. Here is a video. You can see the first run with my friend car only. Then the second run Is my against him. So you can compare the sound difference. But you really can't get sound from you tube. Maybe it will give you an idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3QhA...2&feature=plcp

here is the stock exhaust.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuOx8...lcp&playnext=1

 

You are describing the type of exhaust I've been wanting. Can you get a video of a close drive by?

 

Isn't that the catalytic converter? I havnt really looked under my car so I can't be sure.

 

Wow good stuff. How much did it cost you?

 

No the cats are located on the first piece of pipe that drops from the turbo, the resonator is around the center of the car. I got the catless down pipe used, but for the install of the cat less down pipe, and then new piping all the way to the back with the muffler and resonator, I think was around 6 hundred. Honestly I don't remember.

 

Oh ok. Dang that's a lot of money. That's my problem I was hoping to be able to change the sound and not spend a lot of money by just swaping out the stock muffler for a Magnaflow. But I don't want to waste my money if its not gonna change anything. Seems like if I want to change the sound I'm gonna have to do more than just swap mufflers huh?

 

swapping mufflers will indeed change the sound. i wish i had a good clip of my exhaust. it isn't raspy at all, has a clean sounding rumble, and you can hear it's bass note as i cruise up the street to my house (my dog knows i'm coming home when I'm still about 8 houses down haha). i have the stock catted downpipe, and a 3" catback, the prototype piece from ADM back in the day (LNF stuff seems to have disappeared from their site) with a Magnaflow muffler and no resonator. i would say it's a safe bet you'd be relatively pleased with your sound by swapping out for a Magnaflow muffler, then you can tweak and enhance from there, once you hear where you're at. if you want a bit more volume, ditch the resonator, things like that, ya know? it can take a lot of money to get the perfect sound, but a new muffler is certainly a good start.

quick side note: to the best of my knowledge, the transmission you have doesn't effect your exhaust note...back when i bought my SS, I test drove an auto my dealer had, and told them to find me a manual...they sounded exactly the same. really the only difference you'd find is how your rpms rise and fall with a clutch vs torque converter, in a manual you hear a bit more of a "gurgle" upon engine braking, but the sound itself isn't affected by which trans you have. also, any exhaust parts marketed for an HHR SS should fit auto and manuals.

 

sweet thank you so much. Great advice. I really appreciate it.

 

I agree with you on getting a 3" cat back to see where to go from the sound you get. But I have to disagree on the exhaust difference between the auto and 5 speed. I have owned both. I had the auto first and when I went to test drive the 5 speed, salesman started up the car and I thought it had an aftermarket muffler. Driving down the road they sound similar but upon cold start the 5 speed has a LOT more rumble.
Next for me, "3 stainless steel catback w/ magnaflow muffler. Good advise.

 

perhaps at cold start, but i still don't see how the transmission could make any difference really. i drove the auto a second time the day before my manual arrived at my dealer, and i didn't hear any difference. and that was with about a 5 minute walk around with the car idling both on the auto, then mine the next day when it arrived before signing paperwork for it. there are any number of things that could cause a difference in sound from car to car, but i just can't see how a transmission would have any influence. exhaust comes straight out of your engine...the trans has nothing to do with your exhaust.

not trying to start an argument or anything...just saying i really can't see it doing anything. if you could explain how it would change anything, like maybe if the different transmissions necessitating different downpipes or something, i'd love to hear it, and we could put this one to bed.