first timer...exhaust and Cold Air Intake help
 

First timer to the forum.....

I just got my first Mustang. An '03 Centennial Edition with 4K miles, and bone stock. I would like to add a little growl to the exhaust, without a numbing drone when the top is down. Somewhere between obnoxious and stock would be nice.

Also, which if any Cold air intake is the best?

Any help would be appreciated. I apologize in advance if these questions are common. My search didn't pull any obvious threads.

thanks,
J

any number of aftermarket exhaust systems will make your GT growl....the sound is all personal taste...all basic cat-back system will make similar power gains.

CAI's are all basically the same...but everyone has their favorite one. none are really tons better than the other really.

If you are going to spend about 400-600 dollars on those items...If I had to do it again I would get rear end gears first.

I'm thinking about getting some rear end gears, but i just don't know right now. but from what i've heard they are the best to wake your stang up.

wow you got some LOW miles man. yeah exhaust is all preference on what kind of sound you like.

If you don't want drone, stay away from Flowmasters. Also, SLP LM1 are on the obnoxious end so pretty much, all others fall in between.

I guess it depends on what type flowmasters you get. I got dual chamber and I love them. There is a very short RPM range that will have a little drone but it's not annoying. I can pretty much make them sound like I want them to with a flick of the gas pedal. But I admit I have heard better stangs, but I was looking for an affordable sound. I have heard some SLP's that are really way loud, but I'm sure there are different SLP's to choose from. I guess just look at what you want to spend vs. how loud you want it. I paid $400 for mine installed with 3.5 in. rolled stainless tips. I'm happy for now..

CAI are worthless, just pull the intake silencer off the stock airbox. Its the little plastic peice that goes from the airbox to the fender. It just pulls off. Once you do that grab a K&N filter and you are good to go. Exhuast is all prefference muffler wise. I think something like a MAgnaflow or mac catback would suit you fine.

I have them too and I use to love them also up until I had to drive home almost every weekend from school w/ my seats folded and of course, when I maintain 80 on the NY Thruway, that is in the rpm range when the drone is the worst. However, it sounds great on the streets, but it'll kill you when you have to listen to the drone for 2 hours straight. Either that or I just lost my balls.

i had flowmaster cat back and it sounded nice. i bought a new mac catback for 300 bucks and it sounds much much better than the flowmaster. i am very happy with my exhaust tone, not obnoxious either

i would buy a magnaflow magnapack catback. and if you want it a little louder get a catted h pipe

as for cai...its worthless...i just got a GT as well and a CAI was one of the stupid mods i did to my v6...200$ for nothing really...just buy a drop in filter or a really really cheap cai...but like i said i am not wasting my money this time around since i do plan on a supercharger down the road