I’ve heard so much each way about removing the resonator from your exhaust that it was very difficult to know what was what. Everyone has their own perceptions, their not wrong, just different. I figured I should throw in my opinions as well.

I just had it done about two hours ago and am posting my first impressions.

Car: 2005 350Z Base
Mods: Just a JWT Popcharger and resontor removal.
Driver: 36 Years old.
Cost: $40 at Midas

I thought this would make the exhaust a lot louder. In reality the added sound is noticeable but it’s a lot more subtle than I thought it would be. I did immediately notice the new sound when the muffler guy started the car up, it sounded great.

I was a little disappointed at first though, I wanted it to be louder, but the added sound does mix nicely with the sound from the Popcharger once you get going. It’s actually a little difficult to distinguish the Popcharger added sound and the removed-resonator added sound, they mix so well and complement each other very nicely.

In fact the difference in sound is about equivalent to the difference in sound I noticed with the addition of the Popcharger.

Many people warned of a “raspy” sound. Raspy means harsh, grating, irritating; it’s not a very descriptive word, it just means you don’t like it. I would not say the sound is “raspy” at all. I would say it sounds crisper, sharper, more like a race car. In fact that is exactly what it sounds like but to a much lesser degree. You have more of that raw, angry motor sound; it’s much less stock sounding.

Don’t think this is going to make your car sound like an SCCA 350Z, it’s not even close, nor would you want it to as that would just be too much. You know how a race car has that “blap” exhaust sound. Well you hear more of that in the exhaust note when accelerating and when you first start the car. It sounds really nice but again it’s not super loud.

It does NOT sound like someone welded a coffee can onto your exhaust as some have suggested. I’m not sure how anyone could say that as the sound is no where near that loud or annoying. Possibly they got a bad weld job and exhaust gasses are escaping before they hit the muffler.

Maybe those people have not really heard a loud, annoying 4-cylinder POS like the one the courier at my work drives. His car is so loud we thought someone was idling a Harley outside our office window, it literally shakes the windows. THAT is loud, and annoying, this doesn’t even come close to approaching that kind of sound or volume.

And finally many have said they notice a little difference in performance, many say they don’t. The “butt dyno” is about as reliable as a politician’s promise. I seriously doubt too many people can actually tell the difference in a few horses, other than a highly trained professional driver maybe. I noticed no real difference in power but the car is so powerful compared to my old car it would be like telling the difference between 287lbs crushing my chest and 290lbs crushing my chest.

So in conclusion I am very happy with the mod and the price is right. I will be replacing the exhaust anyway so it was worth the gamble for me.

 

I finally heard what some people have complained about, the Ricey exhaust sound. I heard it after letting my car sit for a full day so it was total cold. It was a jarring sound, didn't expect that, but it was gone by the time I got to the end of my street.

I noticed a nice difference yesterday when I started my car in the garage where I could really hear the sound bounced back at me. It sounded great, again like a mini-race car.

So, I can attest to the annoying tinny, ricey sound within the first few seconds of engine warm up. I live in Florida so I'm guessing my engine warms up much quicker than in the colder states. I would definitely not want that rice sound all the time, it's grating and a bit annoying, but it goes away almost immediatly and is only heard when the car is very cold.

I would also like to add that I can hear the exhaust note better now that I have had more time with it and I really like it. Generally just makes the engine a little louder.