Wife is unconvinced on CGS intake.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2006
Posts: 2,507
From: New London, CT USA
Originally Posted by courthousedeb
Ok...maybe I can help here a little since I'm a female and can relate to where Sally is coming from.
I've never done mods to a car...no less a new one, so at first I was very skeptical about changing anything that came from the factory. You must also keep in mind that my boyfriend has been even more skeptical than me when it came to changing things on my car. So...I not only had to convince myself that I was making a good decision, I also wanted to show him that I had not totally lost my marbles.
Well...once I heard all the hoopla about the IMCO T924, I figured what the hell and put it on and I haven't regretted that decision one bit. In fact, I noticed the change in performance and the nice sound and am pleased that I did it. I also did notice an increase in gas mileage...about 2mpg.
Then...there's been all the hoopla about the CGS. Again, I was skeptical about that as well and didn't do that until about 2 weeks ago. The final decision that I wanted to do that was made after I rode in CJ's 2.2L with the CGS...and I definitely felt the difference riding in that as well. Once again...boyfriend thinks I've gone crazy again...but once it was installed and he drove it...I got the thumbs up for yet another great mod to the car. Since it's new on the car, I can't really say much about how it affects gas mileage...but if it goes down, it's because I'm driving it differently than I did before the CGS because I'm so happy with its increased performance.
As far as noise...yes it's a little louder from the outside...but I don't really notice it much from the cabin with the windows rolled up. The HHR seems to me to be pretty well insulated from outside noise in my opinion.
Good luck with whatever decision the two of you make. It's a matter of preference and only the two of you can decide what is best for you. Just thought you would like to have a female point of view.
I've never done mods to a car...no less a new one, so at first I was very skeptical about changing anything that came from the factory. You must also keep in mind that my boyfriend has been even more skeptical than me when it came to changing things on my car. So...I not only had to convince myself that I was making a good decision, I also wanted to show him that I had not totally lost my marbles.
Well...once I heard all the hoopla about the IMCO T924, I figured what the hell and put it on and I haven't regretted that decision one bit. In fact, I noticed the change in performance and the nice sound and am pleased that I did it. I also did notice an increase in gas mileage...about 2mpg.
Then...there's been all the hoopla about the CGS. Again, I was skeptical about that as well and didn't do that until about 2 weeks ago. The final decision that I wanted to do that was made after I rode in CJ's 2.2L with the CGS...and I definitely felt the difference riding in that as well. Once again...boyfriend thinks I've gone crazy again...but once it was installed and he drove it...I got the thumbs up for yet another great mod to the car. Since it's new on the car, I can't really say much about how it affects gas mileage...but if it goes down, it's because I'm driving it differently than I did before the CGS because I'm so happy with its increased performance.
As far as noise...yes it's a little louder from the outside...but I don't really notice it much from the cabin with the windows rolled up. The HHR seems to me to be pretty well insulated from outside noise in my opinion.
Good luck with whatever decision the two of you make. It's a matter of preference and only the two of you can decide what is best for you. Just thought you would like to have a female point of view.
I suppose since We are half way there, I should put the muffler on and see just what the hoopla is about.
Sally did get a surprise when she hit the cruise control and it downshifted
The CGS came into play big time
She sometimes commutes a hundred miles each day, so the whole package come into play.The nice ride, reasonable gas mileage, and decent handling combine to give both of us something we like. Still I have to respect her decision to allow us to get the HHR. She REALLY liked our Vibe which I never warmed up to and allowed us to trade it for the HHR. Though she would have been happy staying with the Pontiac, Sally likes the HHR .
The HHR doesn't quite get the MPG that the Vibe did, so I'm trying to get some better MPG out of it, hence the mods. The Vibe was much noisier though , but I do not want to make the HHR as noisy trying to make it "better".
I figure a bit more in the stereo dept could not hurt here.
My priorities are first handling, then MPG, then performance.
As others in the thread have said though, my wife is the real first priority
Senior Member
Joined: 04-22-2006
Posts: 415
From: Mansfield, Texas
Try it with the 924, it pairs up really well with the CGS. If you try it and don't like it you can always convert it back to stock. Be sure to tell your muffler shop you intend to keep the stock muffler so they don't hack it up, dent it, etc. while it's being removed. 
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2006
Posts: 2,507
From: New London, CT USA
Originally Posted by TX-HHR
Try it with the 924, it pairs up really well with the CGS. If you try it and don't like it you can always convert it back to stock. Be sure to tell your muffler shop you intend to keep the stock muffler so they don't hack it up, dent it, etc. while it's being removed.
Good idea. I'm wondering what to do about the tail Chrome. I may as well move it onto the new muffler as I have no other. I suppose I could look for chrome tips.........
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: 05-01-2006
Posts: 2,507
From: New London, CT USA
Originally Posted by SoCalHHR
A nice chrome tip will run you more than the muffler.
Expect to spend $60-80 just for a well-made stainless tip.
Many owners simply swap the stock tip over to save $$$ (or for personal preference!)
Expect to spend $60-80 just for a well-made stainless tip.
Many owners simply swap the stock tip over to save $$$ (or for personal preference!)
Thanks. I'll do that.
A champion idea The last mufflers I changed were on my SHO and they were around $300.00 each ( duals ) installed where ever I went.
That car ate mufflers every two years
SO it was twelve muflfers in twelve years of ownership Onto the experiment; add the muffler to the intake and see how we like it. Might as well, all the folks here are excited about the combo, and we have both.....
Member
Joined: 07-25-2006
Posts: 42
From: Texas
Sound Great with the T924 muffer
Originally Posted by Harpozep
Anyway, Sally thinks it is too noisy as is, so I'm not sure changing the muffler too would be a good thing at this time.
I just got my HHR 2LT 13 days ago. And I knew the first things I wanted to add to the HHR was an Intake and muffer. I ordered the CGS from Mike last Friday and installed it on Monday (great shipping Mike!!!
), and I heard the sound increase, and not the GOOD sounds like my Harley-Davidson with stage 1 and nice pipes. It was screaming more then I liked 
. I ordered the Imco muffler T924 from Full Line Exhaust and had it indtalled today, and man what a difference 
. It sounds more deeper - closer to my bike. The T924 made the difference. My HHR can breathe 
Later
Last edited by SindyDix; Aug 3, 2006 at 09:46 PM. Reason: fixed tag
Member
Joined: 07-25-2006
Posts: 42
From: Texas
Sound Great with the T924 muffer
Originally Posted by Harpozep
Anyway, Sally thinks it is too noisy as is, so I'm not sure changing the muffler too would be a good thing at this time.
I just got my HHR 2LT 13 days ago. And I knew the first things I wanted to add to the HHR was an Intake and muffer. I ordered the CGS from Mike last Friday and installed it on Monday (great shipping Mike!!!
), and I heard the sound increase, and not the GOOD sounds like my Harley-Davidson with stage 1 and nice pipes. It was screaming more then I liked . I ordered the Imco muffler T924 from Full Line Exhaust and had it indtalled today, and man what a difference . It sounds more deeper - closer to my bike. The T924 made the difference. My HHR can breathe Later
Last edited by SindyDix; Aug 3, 2006 at 09:43 PM. Reason: fixed tag