PSE - final thoughts after break in

More so for those who find this later in some search, it should really be kept in mind that how your PSE sounds the first few days to a week will be nothing like what it sounds like after broken in, or your car breaking in. I went from really not liking the sound at throttle to now really liking it. Not sure which applies here, or some combination of it, but my car was less than a week old when I got the PSE put on. And then it took another 3 days for the cosmoline burn off smell to mostly disappear. About a week for the sound to really settle down to what it is now. So was the sound change because my car was still breaking in? Or the mufflers? Or both? No idea. So, final impressions now? a) decibel level is a bit down at lower throttle, but about the same. Decibel level at more than low throttle was lot louder but it's settled down 15-20% or so. The part I really hated most before though is what I really like now - it wasn't the raw decibel level but the tone of the sound; it went from a sputtering, fast putt-putt riced up honda with weak motor sound to a more rumbly, deeper growl. way irritating to way cool. b) sound at idle stayed the same, nice and quiet and not even noticeable from stock c) sound at low throttle is noticeable, but not loud at all. easily drive around secluded neighborhoods at dawn with no problems. no real change to this from new to now. d) blasting through a tunnel is more satisfyinng because it's not only loud, but loud in the tone of sound I like better. Overall, the change in tone between new over a week ago and now is very dramatic. Keep in mind the time range may not mean as much - I'm in heavy break in miles mode and trying to get all 2k done as fast I can. So in 16 days ownership, I already have over 1640 miles on the car. So total miles I've broken in the PSE with is about 1100 miles. The change seemed to really be noticable as a good thing (to my ears) at about 800-850 miles of running it in. Alls well that ends well, but I sure was nervous the first 4-5 days after putting on the PSE. I had some SERIOUS thoughts of putting back the stock mufflers but decided to ride it out and see what happened after the break in others had referred to in past threads. Anyone who gets one new and reads this, before taking the plunge back to stock, give it at least a 1000 miles, then decide whether to keep the PSE or not.

Glad it worked out. You made the right decison.

Moz, that about parallels what I had with the PSE. In addition, the tone will continue to change as the cycle of heating and cooling goes on. The sound at idle will get more solid, and at WOT it will sound more "chest thumping". I've got about 5k miles on mine now. If you like it now as a driver, have someone drive it around the track or in a large parking lot while you listen outside. You'll love the sound that "other" people hear.

Glad you like it. PSE is awesome. As Palting said, have somebody drive your car around while you're standing outside and you'll get a full appreciation for what others hear.

I have had a similar experience with PSE, I used to think it too loud in the early a.m. but it has mellowed out, though still pretty loud at full throttle IMO...

I'm still grinding my teeth restricting myself to official 2k break in miles without going above 4k or engaging full throttle. Couple hundred more to go, then I'm going to scream down the manhattan beach tunnel at full throttle and hear my PSE scream like a banshee