I have run a 3" downpipe back exhaust with only one silencer and a race cat. I can tell you one thing, the engine rips through the rpms. Whatever you lose in actual low rpm power, you make up in the ability to fly through the rpm range, to get to where it does make serious power.

The only reason why I'm not running that exhaust anymore is because the drone was ridiculous! BUT, when you got on the go pedal, it sounded absolutely gorgeous. Nothing like a DOHC turbocharged I5 under WOT.

Now, I'm running a 3" downpipe back exhaust with a 3" race cat, a silencer, and a resonator. The noise levels are not very high at all with the silencer and resonator. And I just absolutely love the sound of the car, inside and out.

To give you an idea of what the exhaust sounds like, stock kinda sounds like a quiet drone. The 3" downpipe back beast was like a roaring race prepped engine. The current system is like a tuned, highperformance, but very streatable/livable sound. Basically, it sounds VERY refined and tuned, I guess it kinda was since I played with a couple exhaust setups before finally settling on this one.

BTW, all my exhausts were custom made. I know there are a few 3" and 2.5" downpipes out there, but they are all in Sweden and weren't worth it for me to ship to Canada.