We've been writing a lot about how our 2008 Evo GSR sounds due to its aftermarket AMS exhaust and cold-air intake. Well, kind readers, I shot a bit of video yesterday for audio support. It follows after the jump.
Keep in mind that this is amateur video -- it was just me, my video camera and a McGyver'd camera mount. My apologies on the bounciness. But the main goal was to let you hear the intake and exhaust. Make sure you're wearing headphones or have nice computer speakers to get the full effect.
We plan to replace both the intake and exhaust with pieces of our choice in the near future. I think I'll actually miss the intake -- it gives the car some character. So does the exhaust, but on long drives it does get tiresome. What's the saying, "If it's too loud, you're too old?" Well, maybe.
Brent Romans, Senior Automotive Editor @ 14,352 miles
redliner says:
01:33 PM, 12/29/08
"If it's too loud, you're too old?"
I agree. I changed the stock exhaust on my XJR so now it has just a little bit more v8 sound. Not obnoxious, mind you, just a little more "thunder like" at high rpms.
huyracing says:
01:54 PM, 12/29/08
Changing the intake can really affect the cars state of tune, requiring you to get the car tuned again. Otherwise, the car can run too rich or too lean... even throwing a check engine light.
jriz says:
02:26 PM, 12/29/08
This is great. You can actually hear the "ghost" in the engine -- that high-pitched whooshing noise. Plus, all the jiggliness shows how beautifully supple the GSR is.
n_tesla says:
03:31 PM, 12/29/08
The intake sounds fine. But that "Fart Can" exhaust is rude. It sounds OK on full throttle but the hollow reverberant off throttle drone would cause me to wear Bose headphones on the highway.
allenychung says:
04:44 PM, 12/29/08
Just to make sure, the whoosh sound is the intake? Not the turbo? It sounds awesome, I'm about to install a CAI on my Mazda3, can't wait.
cwc1 says:
04:59 PM, 12/29/08
Strangely, that doesn't sound quite as bad or obnoxious as I thought it would.
huyracing says:
05:00 PM, 12/29/08
the whoosh sound is the the turbo's recirculation valve/ blow off valve, which is part of the intake. the factory intake tries to cancel out the whooshing and sucking noises associated with the turbo. aftermarket intake does not, so you hear it all.
carfreak8394 says:
08:41 PM, 12/29/08
That "whooooosh" sound is pretty cool. I still don't like the fact that it's a little bit "fart-can-ish." Ha ha. Overall, though, not too bad.
autoboy16 says:
06:15 AM, 12/30/08
Its not that loud. The wind noise was loud... But not the exhaust.
You guys should do this to the G8 and bring out that v8 sound!
greenpony says:
06:17 AM, 12/30/08
Sounds nice for a four banger.
felonious says:
08:21 AM, 12/30/08
I think it all sounds great.
tarmacdaddy says:
09:43 PM, 12/30/08
does "cold air" really matter for the intake of a turbo engine since the air temp is heated then cooled through the fmic anyways? as for the exhaust, i say go with a full turbo-back if you're going to change. word.
ctpax says:
02:24 PM, 12/31/08
the wooosh sound is one of the most ridiculous sounds ever. It's just stupid.
roadburner says:
01:37 PM, 01/ 1/09
"does "cold air" really matter for the intake of a turbo engine since the air temp is heated then cooled through the fmic anyways? "
A lot depends on the restiction of the OEM airbox. The Mazdaspeed 3 picks up @25 hp when the Mazdaspeed CAI is fitted.
MS3lvr92 says:
03:27 PM, 01/ 1/09
Sounds great. I love the unrestricted sound and nature of this GSR.
mdmaloner says:
02:52 PM, 06/ 3/09
Reminds me of my 1995 Eclipse GSX, only a little milder believe it or not. I had the exhaust mani and turbo ported, with a 3in exhaust from the turbo back (high flow cat, of course). That thing was pretty obnoxious, and gave me a headache after any drive longer than 20 minutes. I loved it.
Oh, and on turbo cars, even with a FMIC, cold air makes a huge difference. Here in DC, where we have seasons, I would long for the winter with its cold temps - quicker turbo spool, angrier motor. A CAI accentuates these reactions in my experience. I did pick up a ton of power after changing to the FMIC and getting it tuned though...