Sports exhausts - Are they legal?
Sports exhausts - Are they legal?
Author
Discussion

Robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Saturday 18th May 2002
quotequote all
Having recently purchased a 4L Chimaera in Desert Moondust, (accoring to Simon at Fernhurt, the only one ever produced in that colour, unless anyone knows different?), I'm totally hooked on the whole TVR experience.

The only thing missing is a bit more noise, and I'm thinking of having the sports exhaust conversion done the next time the car is back at Fernhursts. Having looked back at previous comments about the sports exhausts, no-one has mentioned whether or not they are legal, in terms of the amount of noise produced.

Does anyone know if there are noise limits of this type? Whilst I don't mind upsetting the neighbours, I don't want to get pulled by the bill too often.

By the way, the car is only used as a fair weather toy, so I don't think the noise level on long journeys will be a problem.

thirsty

726 posts

280 months

Saturday 18th May 2002
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Congrats !! That car was sitting in the showroom when I bought mine a few weeks ago... Giallo Fly yellow Chim 450.

I thought the car was a looker, but I was afraid of being able to keep it looking good (touching up road chips, etc).

I will say that in the process of looking for a car, I did drive a couple of them with sports exhaust. They sound great on a test drive, but I can't imagine having to listen to them all the time. The regular exhaust sounds great, but sometimes even it is a bit intrusive on longer drives.

Mine is also just a weekend car, but we have taken it out for a couple of long drives (down to south coast, etc) I considered it at first, but am now glad I didn't change the exhaust. There is plenty of grunt when I want to get someone's attention, and my neighbors can all hear me coming down the street.

Corin Denton

8,762 posts

284 months

Saturday 18th May 2002
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Do it!!!
I had my exhaust sorted by Peninsula in January , straight through sounds absolutley fantastic , 104 db at 3000 revs , I thought TVRs sounded fantastic until I heard a friend of mine's 450 with a sports exhausr , put it this way , I never considered it but within two weeks mine followed suit .
It does not come into MOT either , that's only for bikes.

5MUG

734 posts

280 months

Sunday 19th May 2002
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Our Chimaera has a sports exhaust and nothing beats the noise, not even the Cerbera we've got to replace it (Chimaera is for sale)! I have already ordered a sports exhaust for the Cerbie, as it's just not the same without that beautiful rumbling sound. Do it, you won't regret it!

pedestrian

1,244 posts

282 months

Sunday 19th May 2002
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The law about noisy exhausts (on the road - different laws for track) only applies to Motorbikes. Within reasonable limits

>> Edited by pedestrian on Sunday 19th May 21:17

robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Monday 20th May 2002
quotequote all
Thanks for the info. I'll have a word with Simon when I'm back at Fernhursts and see if he's got anything with a sports exhaust that I can drive, before I take the final decision.

ap_smith

1,999 posts

282 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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As hinted at above, if you want to do track days youmay find that 104 Db rules you out of quite a few of the tracks. For example, I was at Goodwood this weekend where the required figure was 98db, and they were testing, and they were strict.

You can get add on cans that reduce noisy exhausts though.

Just a thought.

.mark

11,104 posts

292 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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Robert,

That colour is something else mate! I was waiting in there to pick mine up from a service and saw it. My gob just hit the floor! Stood staring at it for ages.

Simon told me it was the only one too - you are going to get so many look.

Congratulations you'll love it.

robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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Mark,

You're not wrong. I get almost as many comments about the paint job as I do about the car itself!

GingaNinga

390 posts

293 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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I can't picture the colour...have you got any photos on-line?

What about CATs on the Sports Exhausts, should they come out or will that definitely fail an MOT?

robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Monday 20th May 2002
quotequote all
The colour is mostly red/gold, with a touch of green, depending on where you view it from.

It looks better than it sounds!

I've got copies of the pics from Ferhursts advert. I'll see if I can post them somewhere and let you have the address.

shpub

8,507 posts

288 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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quote:



You can get add on cans that reduce noisy exhausts though.


They will take about 5-7 db off. 104 at 3000 is probably 110 at 4500 and that means no Goodwood and most other tracks even with an aftermarket can.

Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

shoggoth1

815 posts

281 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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Desert Moondust, on a Cerbera.

www.o-boyle.com/colour/images/t9tvr~1.jpg

GingaNinga

390 posts

293 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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Wow, that's most different! I'll stick with my purple though!

RolexBlue

199 posts

280 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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Robertm, first things first nice motor – spotted it the other week waiting to pick my Chimaera after a broken engine mount stopped play on a recent track day . Anyway, I have a ¾ sports exhaust which sounds awesome it peaks at 106dBa @ 4500rpm and I have had to invest in some mufflers (thank you Tower View Racing) which have knocked things down to a more track day friendly 98-100dBa. My advice is do it, but put a little extra aside if to want to take her on a track.

Enjoy
Paul


>> Edited by RolexBlue on Monday 20th May 16:43

robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Monday 20th May 2002
quotequote all
GingaNinga,

If this has worked, then a link to the pic of my Chimera should be below, (fingers crossed!).


www.fotango.com/p/eba00204287f00000001.jpg

GingaNinga

390 posts

293 months

Monday 20th May 2002
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It worked, very nice

I'll give you a double wave if I see you out and about (once I get a new starter motor...)

robertm

Original Poster:

253 posts

279 months

Monday 20th May 2002
quotequote all
GingaNinga, here's another picture, just for good measure.

I must get the camera out and take some decent photos soon.

www.fotango.com/p/eba00204287f00000002.jpg

By the way, what is the difference between a sports exhaust and a 3/4 sports exhaust?

>> Edited by robertm on Monday 20th May 17:27

REV-EREND

21,587 posts

300 months

Tuesday 21st May 2002
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For info - you dont need to remove the catalist
with a sports exhaust - they just cut a hole (H shapped) in your silencer (it's directly under the
middle of the car) and they replace the internals !

It's quite a quick and cheap job !

I did it and it sounds great.

Do it - then find some tunnels !!!

Rev

richb

54,275 posts

300 months

Thursday 30th May 2002
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quote:
quote:
You can get add on cans that reduce noisy exhausts though.

They will take about 5-7 db off. 104 at 3000 is probably 110 at 4500 and that means no Goodwood and most other tracks even with an aftermarket can.
Out of interest I tested 107db/4,200 revs at Goodwood with my "sports exhaust" and 100db with Merlin Mufflers fitted. The guy seemed happy enough with this, and seems to bear out what Steve said. Rich...