Ok, 2009 HHR ss, bone stock auto. Planning on a tune soon, but I'm also wanting a little more sound. I don't want to sound like a rice burner, but I want to be able to hear my car. What are your recommendations. Trying not to spend $800 on a turbo back exhaust when I could be satisfied with the sound of a $100 muffler.

 

I like my setup. (it's in my sig )

A little more noise than stock, but no snap, crackle, pop or fart noise sounds.
Plus. No drone noise at cruising speeds.

 

New stock muffler for SS costs a lot more than $100.

 

Try a qtp exhaust cut out with a straight pipe going back to the front of the rear wheel, did that to mine sounds great keep it closed for stock sound or you can adjust how much you want to open to get different sounds wide open or 1/2 or 1/4 did it for about $550 more power than a cat back system for a lot less money.
Tim

 

Wouldn't that mess with the ECU, going from stock to wide open instantaneously? Would a tune fix that?

 

You would probably be happy with a stock muffler from a 5 speed, they have half as much baffeling and sound good.

Or I would agree with Fireman.....but double it.............

 

With stock auto exhaust, adding a catless DP should give you best subtle sound for the $ (from a performance perspective) and it's a simple bolt-on. You will most likely need to turn off the rear O2 codes when you get it tuned. Catted DP wouldnt add much more sound with stock auto muffler, and catted DP are more $$.

Or you can do the free mod and drill a 3" hole in the rear cat of stock DP.

 

No it did not through any codes, It was $550 INCLUDING INSTALATION!
You also bi pass the cat and muffler so you will pick up more hp in theory and get better gas milage and it sounds really great!
Works great on my car :)

 

Any video/audio clips?

 

Not sure why ever answer isn't a downpipe!! I love my 5spd with a just a catless downpipe its like stock cruising, cant hear it at all then WOT is LOUD!! Sounds great and really goes silent on command.