Akrapovic Evolution

[Hivand_M]

Hi All,

I've probably read every single thread/post on here and watched every single video on Youtube about this exhaust. Just want some more up to date feedback.

Those of you that have this exhaust and love it:

- How much louder is it than the stock setup?
- Does it smell when someone's driving behind you?
- Do you wish it was louder?
- Does it rumble the cabin or drone driving around town?

The performance gains are nice but that's not why I'm interested in this setup it's more for the sound. I'd prefer a throaty sound over a higher pitched one and haven't found another setup on Youtube that sounds throaty but people don't complain about it droning. (I know you shouldn't go off Youtube videos).

If you're going to say this exhaust sucks please say why and if you've heard it in person or actually had it on your car. If you're going to say it's too quiet, please list what setup you're running.

Personally not a fan of the overly loud/F1 style sounds. But OEM is WAY too quiet.

Thanks!

[The-Traveler]

I'm in the same boat as you. The OCD dude (obsessed garage I believe) just bought one and hates it, but I'm not sure if he's crazy or not. Hard to dump 7K and then be unhappy.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by The-Traveler

I'm in the same boat as you. The OCD dude (obsessed garage I believe) just bought one and hates it, but I'm not sure if he's crazy or not. Hard to dump 7K and then be unhappy.

So tough to pick an exhaust, you have people that think OEM drones then you have people who think fully straight piped isn't loud enough.

OCD guy complains about anything he does but he has floating center caps so I'm not sure if I value his opinion

[Blindside_137]

This is my dilemma.

Akra has the most perfect tips and weight savings of all setups. In fact I think it looks great even without a diffuser.

However the EVO is commonly complained over having a lack of volume. I have only heard YouTube videos though which seem to show that a catless x pipe (akra evo has HFC I believe) really helps get the volume to a reasonable level. The GT4 x pipe has no cats or resonators. My concern with that catless route is smell.

My next preference is Eisenmann race but with a HFC x pipe. Although I fear that setup might be too loud.

I realize I'm not really answering your question but would like to follow this thread for answers as well.

[Davisca455]

My Akra Evo system was installed in 2009, now has 60,xxx miles.
So far it has been bulletproof.
I change back to OEM for a few days every two years, so I have a few back to back data points to compare.

I don't know HOW much louder it is than the OEM system, but from inside the cabin, it is louder than OEM, but not what I would consider loud.

If I'm standing behind the car when it's running/warming up, it doesn't smell.

When I'm at the track, windows down, helmet on, yes I wish it was a little louder.

It doesn't drone or rumble the cabin once I'm rolling.
At idle, it has a sound quality that I would describe as "deep", and can rumble the cabin. Not like it's loosening the interior fasteners, but you can tell there is an exhaust on the car.

I take the car on plenty of long trips (6hr, 10hr), and it's never bothered me, I think it's just about right for my taste.
I don't know how loud it is from outside the car, but friends have told me "It's kinda loud."
There are a couple of forum members that have passed sound at Laguna Seca with the Akra Evo system. I'm heading to Laguna on 7/1, and hoping I can add my name to the list of exhaust systems that pass sound at Laguna.

[joe6mt]

I love mine. Its a mature sound with a wide dynamic range and I love the sound under load. Stunning build quality, welds, fitment and sound. No drone, When the car it's running, warming up, it doesn't smell. Very livable for day to day use with the addition of a fantastic growl at higher RPM's.

Sounds like stock at idle and gets progressively more aggressive as you crank it up. If you are curious about the weight of the Akrapovic Evo exhaust weighs about 47.4 pounds. Stock weighs about 95.4 pounds. So you cut your weight in half.

It's worth the money. You won't be disappointed.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

This is my dilemma.

Akra has the most perfect tips and weight savings of all setups. In fact I think it looks great even without a diffuser.

However the EVO is commonly complained over having a lack of volume. I have only heard YouTube videos though which seem to show that a catless x pipe (akra evo has HFC I believe) really helps get the volume to a reasonable level. The GT4 x pipe has no cats or resonators. My concern with that catless route is smell.

My next preference is Eisenmann race but with a HFC x pipe. Although I fear that setup might be too loud.

I realize I'm not really answering your question but would like to follow this thread for answers as well.

Totally agree with your first point. IMO that GT4 xpipe ruins the sound by making it way too raspy but then again it could be the mic they used. The second video sounds pretty good but we don't know if he still has primarys or how it sounds under load/in cabin etc.

Originally Posted by Davisca455

My Akra Evo system was installed in 2009, now has 60,xxx miles.
So far it has been bulletproof.
I change back to OEM for a few days every two years, so I have a few back to back data points to compare.

I don't know HOW much louder it is than the OEM system, but from inside the cabin, it is louder than OEM, but not what I would consider loud.

If I'm standing behind the car when it's running/warming up, it doesn't smell.

When I'm at the track, windows down, helmet on, yes I wish it was a little louder.

It doesn't drone or rumble the cabin once I'm rolling.
At idle, it has a sound quality that I would describe as "deep", and can rumble the cabin. Not like it's loosening the interior fasteners, but you can tell there is an exhaust on the car.

I take the car on plenty of long trips (6hr, 10hr), and it's never bothered me, I think it's just about right for my taste.
I don't know how loud it is from outside the car, but friends have told me "It's kinda loud."
There are a couple of forum members that have passed sound at Laguna Seca with the Akra Evo system. I'm heading to Laguna on 7/1, and hoping I can add my name to the list of exhaust systems that pass sound at Laguna.

Appreciate the time you took to write that, very helpful! One question I forgot to ask and your comment about the track reminded me.

Can you hear the exhaust windows down on the freeway?

Originally Posted by joe6mt

I love mine. Its a mature sound with a wide dynamic range and I love the sound under load. Stunning build quality, welds, fitment and sound. No drone, When the car it's running, warming up, it doesn't smell. Very livable for day to day use with the addition of a fantastic growl at higher RPM's.

Sounds like stock at idle and gets progressively more aggressive as you crank it up. If you are curious about the weight of the Akrapovic Evo exhaust weighs about 47.4 pounds. Stock weighs about 95.4 pounds. So you cut your weight in half.

It's worth the money. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you sir! I'm definitely after that "mature" sound haha.

[GeorgeA]

Originally Posted by Hivand_M

So tough to pick an exhaust, you have people that think OEM drones then you have people who think fully straight piped isn't loud enough.

OCD guy complains about anything he does but he has floating center caps so I'm not sure if I value his opinion

Weren’t you telling Tomas to get floating center caps recently???

Get the Akrapovic - if you don’t like it - I’ll buy it from you.

[Bubbles]

No drone, although subjective. Highway cruising speeds no drone.

Cold start it’s loud and smells (which makes sense due to the sport CAT). I like the sound but do not like backing up into the smell, but that is the only compromise. Just programmed a cold start delete today and it’s whisper quiet, shockingly quiet but still roars on throttle but not in the annoying “look at me” way.

Best mod I’ve done on the car. The sheer benefit of holding the entire unit with one arm is awesome, especially when you need to remove it to fix everything else on the damn car.

Bought it at a tire shop as a take off for $1,600, nine years ago on a whim.

Warning, every mustang, challenger, Camaro and burble&pop M4 will roar by you. Not sure why they do it, but it’s a consistent behavior that I’ve experienced over the nine years of ownership, Pontiac participation has decreased significantly year-over-year.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

Weren’t you telling Tomas to get floating center caps recently???

Get the Akrapovic - if you don’t like it - I’ll buy it from you.

Hello Mr George I indeed did, however that was a joke

I think if one pops up closer to us I'll pull the trigger. Would also be nice if I could hear one in person. How sick are you of hearing about my exhaust dilemma

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by Bubbles

No drone, although subjective. Highway cruising speeds no drone.

Cold start it’s loud and smells (which makes sense due to the sport CAT). I like the sound but do not like backing up into the smell, but that is the only compromise. Just programmed a cold start delete today and it’s whisper quiet, shockingly quiet but still roars on throttle but not in the annoying “look at me” way.

Best mod I’ve done on the car. The sheer benefit of holding the entire unit with one arm is awesome, especially when you need to remove it to fix everything else on the damn car.

Bought it at a tire shop as a take off for $1,600, nine years ago on a whim.

Warning, every mustang, challenger, Camaro and burble&pop M4 will roar by you. Not sure why they do it, but it’s a consistent behavior that I’ve experienced over the nine years of ownership, Pontiac participation has decreased significantly year-over-year.

$1,600 wow....

Weird how your video doesn't show up in the comment but I can see it quoting your comment. Sounds really nice from the outside but how much of that do you hear from inside with the windows down/up?

Is the smell only during cold start or have you noticed it once the car is warmed up too?

[Bubbles]

Originally Posted by Hivand_M

$1,600 wow....

Weird how your video doesn't show up in the comment but I can see it quoting your comment. Sounds really nice from the outside but how much of that do you hear from inside with the windows down/up?

Is the smell only during cold start or have you noticed it once the car is warmed up too?

You hear it in the cabin, but it’s not exhausting . It’s relatively easy to manage the volume with pedal finesse. Cold start runs the car rich, so you get the smell. The latest software 241E reduced it quite a bit (I was running 200E for a while), cold start delete nearly eliminated it.

[Davisca455]

…yes, I can hear the exhaust, windows down on the freeway.
But the wind noise might be the dominant sound in that scenario when cruising along at 80mph?

[The-Traveler]

I find this one to be really loud but it has valves so it might be worth ordering instead of Akra. Just worried about longevity.

https://bomizshop.com/collections/e9...for-bmw-e9x-m3

[Blindside_137]

I would take a lot of other exhausts before bomiz

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

…yes, I can hear the exhaust, windows down on the freeway.
But the wind noise might be the dominant sound in that scenario when cruising along at 80mph?

Got it! I think that sounds like it’s enough volume then. My concern was I wouldn’t hear it on the freeway windows down.

[Hivand_M]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

I would take a lot of other exhausts before bomiz

100% agree with you.

[tbuck]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

I would take a lot of other exhausts before bomiz

I was just thinking that as well. Definitely think the akra would be well ahead of that one.

OP, I had been doing much as you, trying to decide what exhaust to go with. Beyond almost any other mod, exhaust it totally subjective as sound preferences are unique to each person. For me, I loved my MPE with the stock x-pipe. It was much better than stock, just a bit louder and a good deal more throaty with zero drone. For me, that is exactly what I wanted. Now I will be putting on an SC and have to get rid of the primaries, and so I will now have to replace all of that with a new exhaust. I want to retain as close to the MPE levels of sound and throat but not go crazy, and from all the research I have done (since it is impossible to listen to every different combo unless you live in LA, lol, you have to go by comments and often lackluster videos) it seems that the Akrapovic system will do just that. While it is high cost, you get a lot for the money in terms of build quality and superior longevity. I have already picked up the Evo x-pipe and am about to get the rear section to complete the set.

On a side note, if you decide you don't like it, you will have zero problem selling it later, likely for the same as what you got it for.

In any case, good luck!

[Davisca455]

I was behind 6 M3s this morning, one with an Akra.
When he was getting on it, it was much louder from outside the cabin than I realized.
I'm a little worried about Laguna Seca now…😬

[IB M]

Did you consider the full Akra vs cat back MPE ?

[tomm3y]

Originally Posted by GeorgeA

Weren’t you telling Tomas to get floating center caps recently???

Get the Akrapovic - if you don’t like it - I’ll buy it from you.

Wow, i thought you guys were just messing around with me. But no, my fame follows me.

I wasn’t gna get center caps. I don’t think ill ever get them. 100 gram weight savings sir, That’s all that matters.

[tomm3y]

Originally Posted by Hivand_M

Hello Mr George I indeed did, however that was a joke

I think if one pops up closer to us I'll pull the trigger. Would also be nice if I could hear one in person. How sick are you of hearing about my exhaust dilemma

I think your username shows how sick YOU are. Wear a mask before you login sir.

Just get the GTC and be done with it.