MBRP w/ Resonators vs. Stillen GT Catback

[DrRoboto]

I’ve decided to replace my Borla cat-back exhaust. It came with the car when I bought it, but for me, it’s just too loud. While it sounds great in the higher RPMs and when pushing the car hard, this is my daily driver, and the interior noise is just too much. On top of that, I’m not a fan of the overall sound it produces—I guess the loud V6 tone isn’t my thing.

For context, I sold my V8 Mustang with a catless X-pipe and Magnaflow exhaust (owned it for 25 years) to buy the Stinger. That V8 had such an amazing sound that I doubt any Stinger exhaust could come close. It’s not that I mind loud exhausts, but the Borla is just too overwhelming inside the car, especially at cruising speeds.

That said, I love my Stinger and have explored several options to reduce the interior noise. I’ve considered adding sound deadening, changing the tips, or welding in resonators. However, I believe the Borla will still be too loud even after those modifications (and the additional expense). At this point, I think it makes more sense to buy a new system and recoup some money by selling the Borla.

Which brings me to the title of this thread: I’ve narrowed it down to two options—the MBRP system with optional resonators or the Stillen GT cat-back. Other cat-back options are out of my price range. I’m looking for something that’s an improvement over stock but still mellow enough for daily driving.

I know sound is subjective and everyone’s preferences are different, but I’d appreciate any input on these two options. If you’ve had experience with either, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks!

 

[Snowwhite]

I've daily driven the MBRP, no additional resonators, stock downpipes, with tips for 3 years now and it's fantastic for me. Tips are *critical* on this car. the rear end just amplifies any sound produced down there and blasts it in the cabin. you have to get it out from under the car. the tips do that perfectly.

I tried a quiksilver exhaust before the MBRP, without the tips, and the drone inside the cabin at around 2k was awful. I wrapped the tips with exhaust tape to block the space between the exhaust and the tips, and that worked great...while the tape stayed in place. Clearly, the issue is the tips. I still changed out the whole exhaust, but the second time I went with tips, and no issues whatsoever since.

 

[DrRoboto]

Thanks Snowwhite.

Took a look at my Borla exhaust today to see if I could quiet it down in the 1500–2200 RPM droning range. Turned out the pipes were touching the frame in two spots. After loosening, some twisting, hammering, and swearing, I finally got it tweaked so it doesn’t rub anymore.

Then I bought four SureBilt 2" I.D. x 2" I.D. exhaust connectors from AutoZone and slid them on the end of the tailpipes, which let me push the tips out an extra 2" through the Stinger’s fake tips. Yeah, you can see the pipes inside the fake tips now, but it really helps push the sound out from under the car. It was a cheap $20 temporary fix to see if it worked before I dropped $250 on new tips and then ended up hating the Borla anyway. As many have said, extending the tips does help reduce interior noise.

Even though I reduced the sound level, the Borla is still too loud for me at lower RPM for daily driving. The low-frequency drone from 1500–2000 RPM makes Eco or Comfort mode basically unusable, though Sport isn’t too bad since it stays above 2000 RPM.

So I’m gonna pick up a new exhaust. I’ve been directed toward the MBRP with a resonator for the quietest option, but not many people seem to have any experience with the Stillen. Kinda disappointed nobody has opinions on MBRP vs. Stillen—maybe this forum is past its prime. I figured I’d get more responses on that.

Thanks.

 

[Plakchup]

As long as you use your stock secondaries the mbrp will sound good and will be louder than stock but not as loud as borla. What year is your stinger? I ask because the 2022+ borla active with valves is really amazing. Valves closed sounds way quieter. The mbrp active with valves has a MUCH smaller muffler and closing the valves doesn't make as noticable difference.

Just wanted to chime in from what I went thru. I had mbrp with stock secondaries, then borla, then ark dp with borla, borla active with ark. And finally i tried mbrp active with ark dp which was boom city headache inducing that tips couldn't even help. Went back to borla active with tips and ark dp and FARZ happier no headaches.

Of course my setup is FAR louder with the ark secondaries. As long as you keep stock secondaries you will be quieter. I had a similar issue with one of tips touching since one of my hangers kinda fell out of its place but i got that fixed today.

Mbrp non valved with stock secondaries was definitely quieter than borla. Most add resonators with mbrp if they have catless secondaries but rarely with stock ones. It will definitely quieten it down so I think you on the right path. Hopefully you'll be happier!

 

[Snowwhite]

Thanks Snowwhite.

Took a look at my Borla exhaust today to see if I could quiet it down in the 1500–2200 RPM droning range. Turned out the pipes were touching the frame in two spots. After loosening, some twisting, hammering, and swearing, I finally got it tweaked so it doesn’t rub anymore.

Then I bought four SureBilt 2" I.D. x 2" I.D. exhaust connectors from AutoZone and slid them on the end of the tailpipes, which let me push the tips out an extra 2" through the Stinger’s fake tips. Yeah, you can see the pipes inside the fake tips now, but it really helps push the sound out from under the car. It was a cheap $20 temporary fix to see if it worked before I dropped $250 on new tips and then ended up hating the Borla anyway. As many have said, extending the tips does help reduce interior noise.

Even though I reduced the sound level, the Borla is still too loud for me at lower RPM for daily driving. The low-frequency drone from 1500–2000 RPM makes Eco or Comfort mode basically unusable, though Sport isn’t too bad since it stays above 2000 RPM.

So I’m gonna pick up a new exhaust. I’ve been directed toward the MBRP with a resonator for the quietest option, but not many people seem to have any experience with the Stillen. Kinda disappointed nobody has opinions on MBRP vs. Stillen—maybe this forum is past its prime. I figured I’d get more responses on that.

Thanks.

I dont think the stillen sold very well compared to the MBRP or borla, which explains why there’s not a lot of opinions on it. I think the subset of people that had both the stillen and something else is even smaller.

The pipes have to come all the way out to eliminate the drone, but you get the point. Remember the mbrp tips are 2.5”.

 

[DrRoboto]

That was super helpful. Thank you so much.

I am going to drive around for a week or so with the new setup and see how it goes. If I keep it in sport mode, I don’t mind it as much.

It sounds great when you push it, that is the selling point for the Borla. It is tuned for an amazing sound when you are really pushing it in the mid to upper rpm’s. I do like that a lot. It puts a smile on my face every time when I go full throttle. Manually shifting to keep the rpm’s up is also very satisfying.

However, as a daily driver with the slow speed limits and hilly terrain here in Maryland, the Borla is annoyingly loud and poor sounding in the low RPM range, especially in comfort or eco. Just a loud resonating, bogging sound. It’s almost embarrassing sounding. I created a custom mode that keeps everything at comfort except set the transmission to sport. That is a good compromise for now as it likes to keep the rpm’s above 2000. Just annoying that you have to reselect it on startup everytime.

Thanks again for the help.

 

[Plakchup]

The borla sounds absolutely exptic when you manual shifting it is intoxicating. Very addicting to hear.

Last night I was driving back from the gym manuel shifting and the way the borla sound just bounces around between cars and buildings just amplifies it so well it makes it seem like some high end exotic car is flying through haha. You have a 2022+ stinger?

 

[DrRoboto]

2021 GT1

 

[ExtremePowerHouse - MIke]

not familiar with Stillen , but i really like MBRP