B
Bounty Hunter 6
Guest
Okay, to preface, here's my car: 2002 A4 Coupe stock save for a CAI and now the Bullets. OH, and 3:15 gears..
There has been a LOT of discussion on drone and popping, not just on the Bullets but for other systems as well. I will talk about both. First, the Bullets produce the sound the C5 should have come with from the factory IMO. Holy Crap, those things are better than any horn!
I'm pretty sure you will have varying levels of drone in different systems you choose, drone being the term for when the resonance hits its peak and is at it's deepest/loudest. With that in mind, I think there are some truths to list:
1) I think it is safe to say that everyone has their own level of tolerance for drone
2) Not everyone on the CAC drives the same way; I've seen posts, for instance, in which people stated they never went over 3,000 rpm
3) You will get several different opinions about what sounds "best" for a catback. They're opinions, they are SUPPOSED to vary! It's a good thing.
With that said, I'll move on to my experience on the road trip. I was fully aware of the drone from Bullets having driven a friends MN6 with them installed. It was only for a short time, but I thought the overall sound was so much better than any little drone could ruin. When I set the cruise control and hit the highway, I gotta tell you, I just didn't get any annoying drone. Most of the highways were 70 or 75 mph limits so I cruised at about 4-5 over the whole way. With the RPMs in the 2100-2200 rpm zone, it just didn't resonate a whole lot. When I slowed down for those nasty construction zones 45-55 mph, there was a little bit, but not teeth chattering or anything to give me a headache. In fact, I did not have to adjust the volume of my book on CD (hey, 900 miles is a long drive!)
In town, there is a little bit of a difference. I live in a mountainous region, and the hills are really the only place I experience any drone. Under load going up hill and keeping the RPMs between 1600 and 1900, I get a pretty loud drone, but I'm never in that powerband very long. Cruising around at your normal 35-55 around town and I do not receive any noticeable drone at all. I do a lot of "manual" shifting in my A4 so I can hear the exhaust note through the rpms better, and will often leave it in 3rd which keeps the RPMs out of the "drone zone." I think having an A4 makes the difference in how much drone there is.
The issue of popping. I have not heard it "pop" persay. I have more of a gurgle, which sounds friggin awesome!! In fact, I would hate to get an x-pipe and that sound go away! Having said that, I have to MAKE it pop. Again, having an A4 makes it less likely and cruising around in DRIVE does not give me any pop on decel except right around 51-53 mph briefly. The same goes for 1st, 2d, and 3rd individually. 3rd will gurgle at around 43 mph, 2d gurgles around 33 and so on. If I drive in 3rd and go up to, say 65 mph, and then decel, it will NOT gurgle until right around that low 50mph zone. The rpms for the gurgle are right around 1600-1900 rpm. Before and after that zone and there is no gurgling going on.
All in all, I'm so happy with my purchase. It honestly feels like driving my car for the first time every time I start it up now. I'm sure other exhausts give their owners that same feeling, just wanted to share the Bullet experience with those that may be wondering.
Anyone in the Colorado area that wants to drive it and hear for yourself, just let me know! Any questions welcome.
Glen
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?p=752092#post752092
Oh, and here's the link to the thread with the video clip sound comparison between stock and Bullets. Doesn't do the Bullets justice, but still gives you a little idea.
There has been a LOT of discussion on drone and popping, not just on the Bullets but for other systems as well. I will talk about both. First, the Bullets produce the sound the C5 should have come with from the factory IMO. Holy Crap, those things are better than any horn!
I'm pretty sure you will have varying levels of drone in different systems you choose, drone being the term for when the resonance hits its peak and is at it's deepest/loudest. With that in mind, I think there are some truths to list:
1) I think it is safe to say that everyone has their own level of tolerance for drone
2) Not everyone on the CAC drives the same way; I've seen posts, for instance, in which people stated they never went over 3,000 rpm
3) You will get several different opinions about what sounds "best" for a catback. They're opinions, they are SUPPOSED to vary! It's a good thing.
With that said, I'll move on to my experience on the road trip. I was fully aware of the drone from Bullets having driven a friends MN6 with them installed. It was only for a short time, but I thought the overall sound was so much better than any little drone could ruin. When I set the cruise control and hit the highway, I gotta tell you, I just didn't get any annoying drone. Most of the highways were 70 or 75 mph limits so I cruised at about 4-5 over the whole way. With the RPMs in the 2100-2200 rpm zone, it just didn't resonate a whole lot. When I slowed down for those nasty construction zones 45-55 mph, there was a little bit, but not teeth chattering or anything to give me a headache. In fact, I did not have to adjust the volume of my book on CD (hey, 900 miles is a long drive!)
In town, there is a little bit of a difference. I live in a mountainous region, and the hills are really the only place I experience any drone. Under load going up hill and keeping the RPMs between 1600 and 1900, I get a pretty loud drone, but I'm never in that powerband very long. Cruising around at your normal 35-55 around town and I do not receive any noticeable drone at all. I do a lot of "manual" shifting in my A4 so I can hear the exhaust note through the rpms better, and will often leave it in 3rd which keeps the RPMs out of the "drone zone." I think having an A4 makes the difference in how much drone there is.
The issue of popping. I have not heard it "pop" persay. I have more of a gurgle, which sounds friggin awesome!! In fact, I would hate to get an x-pipe and that sound go away! Having said that, I have to MAKE it pop. Again, having an A4 makes it less likely and cruising around in DRIVE does not give me any pop on decel except right around 51-53 mph briefly. The same goes for 1st, 2d, and 3rd individually. 3rd will gurgle at around 43 mph, 2d gurgles around 33 and so on. If I drive in 3rd and go up to, say 65 mph, and then decel, it will NOT gurgle until right around that low 50mph zone. The rpms for the gurgle are right around 1600-1900 rpm. Before and after that zone and there is no gurgling going on.
All in all, I'm so happy with my purchase. It honestly feels like driving my car for the first time every time I start it up now. I'm sure other exhausts give their owners that same feeling, just wanted to share the Bullet experience with those that may be wondering.
Anyone in the Colorado area that wants to drive it and hear for yourself, just let me know! Any questions welcome.
Glen
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/showthread.php?p=752092#post752092
Oh, and here's the link to the thread with the video clip sound comparison between stock and Bullets. Doesn't do the Bullets justice, but still gives you a little idea.
4LT GS Roadster
. The sargeant major thinks I'm nuts :crazy . That said, however, when I replaced the stock exhaust with the Bullets she did say something like "Wow, they're 'kinda loud; but now at least it sounds like a Corvette should sound!" 
