Best Sounding Stock Exhaust for 10-11K

[SnapCracklePop]

Im looking for a fun second car with an amazing sound track for around £10-11K in the uk.

Doesnt have to be fast but can't be too large (as the misses needs to be able to drive it) so old v6 / v8 barges are out.

It doesn't have to be super practical or have a good MPG but I'd prefer it to not be stuck in the garage all the time getting repaired.

I know I could slap any number of exhausts on something but I'd like to keep it stock and O.E.M if possible.

Very tempted by a Mercedes SLK but not sure any of them sound any good.

Smaller v6's like the Golf R32 seem to be the sweet spot.

My shortlist so far includes:

Golf R32 - Ticks all the boxes apart from the huge tax bill
Audi TT 3.2 / Audi TTs - Again ticks alot of boxes but unsure if it will sound as good as the R32
Mercedes SLK - I like the look and they are great value but the only one that might sound good is the SLK55 which I cant afford
Vauxhall Monaro - Maybe too big?

What others have I missed out?

[ChocolateFrog]

TVR and a Rover V8 if you really want the best sounding but I'm going to assume you don't really want the best sounding.

[SnapCracklePop]

I would love a TVR but I don't think any are within budget, I think I saw three with huge mileage that I wouldnt want to risk

[Jordie Barretts sock]

ChocolateFrog said:

TVR and a Rover V8 if you really want the best sounding but I'm going to assume you don't really want the best sounding.

Kids are off school. Teachers on strike.

[SWoll]

Cant afford an SLK55?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209290...

You'd get close to budget on this one as well with a bit of haggling

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208229...

Jag XFR sounds epic but might be a bit big?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301042...

BMW M3 V8 are getting close to budget in convertible form. Again, worth a haggle.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301213...

[jamesbilluk]

350Z can be had for that price, sounds, and looks great, in coupe of convertible form

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211241...

Also the 2.5- 5 cylinder Focus ST, lovely sounding car!
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301263...

[SnapCracklePop]

Oh the 350Z is a great shout

[coldel]

The 350z in stock form sounds very muted and very underwhelming. I ended up going sports cats and aftermarket exhaust on mine.

[SnapCracklePop]

Ah!!! Maybe not then, muted I do not want, If an exhaust can give me a sound ASBO that would be ideal ha ha

[bodhi]

How about a 130i Hatch or 125i Coupé? Similar performance to an R32, lower tax, relaible and sound fantastic - especially with the Performance exhaust (if you can find one).

I've had my 125i nearly 9 years now and I still find myself seeking out tunnels

[C5_Steve]

Whilst the 350z in stock form is quiet you need to be really careful swapping to the aftermarket. IMO most of the options make it sound like a trombone and take away the deep bass-y sound you get stock. (We have one and made that mistake!)

There's one of these I see drop his mrs at the station every morning, private reg to hide age and stock wheels but clearly some kind of aftermarket exhaust. Sounds absolutely glorious. I have a deep want for an XK and I'm surprised by how good even the stock ones sound.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303145...

Buy this, enough left over for an exhaust!

[coldel]

To be honest OP you are going massively around the houses on this.
Car makers 99% of the time do not want great sounding exhausts on their cars. They are catted to the nth degree with fully stuffed back boxes.
I find it rather odd that soundtrack is important and you are discounting certain cars just because you wont work on the exhaust and will probably end up with something inferior.
Just get the car you like the look of, that ticks your boxes, then take it to a custom exhaust centre, tell them you what you want and they will make one OEM like but with the sound tailored to your needs.

[SnapCracklePop]

I dont think I am going round the houses at the R32 ticks all the boxes I mentioned with the car maker not stuffing the boxes. Also the TT 3.2 sounds great and the TTs aint bad either. Again OEM cars that the car maker wanted to sound nice.

Im just trying to see if there are any other cars that I've missed.

[georgeyboy12345]

coldel said:

The 350z in stock form sounds very muted and very underwhelming. I ended up going sports cats and aftermarket exhaust on mine.

I disagree with this. They sound good stock. Sometimes messing about with the exhaust can make them sound worse, very boomy/blarey/droney.

[coldel]

I guess ultimately it comes down to what you deem to be a good sound. Most on the forum swap out the stock exhaust, as it is pretty quiet for a V6 performance car. Its about as loud as my wifes Qashqai Most swap into something like a cobra, miltek etc. or a true dual (thats a proper sound) which wont boom (like a cheap ebay option) but are a well engineered refined sound befitting a performance car.

[Roboticarm]

An Abarth 595 competitione ?

[coldel]

SnapCracklePop said:

I dont think I am going round the houses at the R32 ticks all the boxes I mentioned with the car maker not stuffing the boxes. Also the TT 3.2 sounds great and the TTs aint bad either. Again OEM cars that the car maker wanted to sound nice.

Im just trying to see if there are any other cars that I've missed.

But why discount so many other cars based purely on exhaust note when a few hundred quid with a custom exhaust gets you exactly the perfect sound you want on a much wider range of cars.

[georgeyboy12345]

One of the VW group 3.2's might be a good idea. Just watch out for water ingress.

Here are 10 other cars I can think of, not sure if they have been mentioned yet


What about some Busso V6 goodness?

Alfa Romeo 147 GTA
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106294...

Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 V6
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212222...


Or a snarling 5 cylinder? - Volvo C30 T5
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202301163...



Boxer 4's sound decent

Subaru Impreza WRX blobeye
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202203304...

Toyota GT86
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303155...



BMW 130i
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202211081...


9000 rpm sounds good - Honda S2000
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302174...


or if you want a bit more practicality, forego 1000 rpm and go for this low mileage Honda Civic Type R
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208198...


Rotaries sound great - Mazda RX8's are fundamentally reliable, they just have specific needs. This won't need an engine rebuild for at least another 50k
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303064...


I've saved the best til last - here's a TVR Chimaera. Looks like it has a later front end on it
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202210100...

[SnapCracklePop]

Abarth is a great shout, an amazing sounding car, alot of other things about are questionable hahaha but this is a perfect shout

Coldel I know Im being pedantic and a bit of an arse, I really should just get an aftermarket exhuast but I like the idea of an untouched classic sitting on my drive in 10 years time...still annoying the neighbours everytime I start it up

Georgie Im gona spend today going through your suggestions, thank you

[Yorkshire_LY]

georgeyboy12345 said:

I disagree with this. They sound good stock. Sometimes messing about with the exhaust can make them sound worse, very boomy/blarey/droney.

I agree they sound good stock - although it does feel a muted,like youre listening through ear defenders. Id like a bit more growl but i can see your point you could easily ruin it. I suppose the more expensive exhausts would get it just right..