Fabspeed bypass for daily driving?

Anyone out there using the muffler bypass pipes for everyday driving. On the website, the sound clips do not seem outrageous for daily driving. Thinking about saving a few bucks and skipping the mufflers altogether. Any input from experience would be greatly appreciated. Jeff

If you search there are a couple threads about how people have taken very cheap "pep boys" parts and basically done the same thing as the fabspeed bypass mufflers, for a much lower price ($12??) A friend of mine had a nice set made up and I tried them on my 996. They are much much too much for me on the street. Years ago I used to run my 1986 Z28 with the muffler disconnected, and I thought it sounded cool as crap. The 996 bypass is just crazy loud. Anyone who tells you otherwise either doesn't have a girlfriend/wife or never drives through residential neighborhoods at night.

I put the bypass pipes on my 02 C4S, they lasted 2 days. I use the car as my daily driver and found that the bypass pipes were way to loud on the highway. I thought they sounded great at idle, and during downshifts, but at all other times on the gas they were just too loud. I have a superformance cobra putting out 550HP and can honestly say that the bypass pipes were almost as loud as my cobra.

I have a set of bypass pipes on my 2001 996 but use my car when the weather is acceptable. At first I thought they were loud but now I love them, the sound to my ears is a symphony. It all depends on the individual, I prefer driving with my radio low and my windows open. When they were originally installed I was nervous driving by police, due to noise pollution but now I am not concerned. I would find someone locally who has them installed and go out for a test drive or like Darren stated�go the pep boys route. PS�happily married living in the suburbs on NJ�LOL (Darren I had to throw that in)

I have a set, I only use them for the track, waaaaay tooooo loud for daily driving. I usually install them at the track, recently I mounted them and drove to the glen, man was that miserable. When I was 18 my '55 had open headers on the street, that was great, but I'm not 18 anymore. Open exhaust have no place on a street car. What are you trying to prove? jmo

Thanks for the honest advice. Surgeon, not trying to prove anything. Just want the same things you obviously do.(GHL)

Sorry man, the 'you' was a generic one, I like a good exhaust tone, but no mufflers is rediculous.

I will skip the "pipes". Since we are on the subject, and i know this has been discussed extensively but i have yet to do a fresh searc; GHL vs Fabspeed? Are they very close in sound? GHL doesn't have a sound clip on their site.

My .02, Fabspeeds are about 60% louder than stock with minimal resonance, very throaty roar with good build quality. GHLs are probably 30-40% louder with no resonance, raspier bark, also very good build quality. Can't go wrong either way. FWIW regular GHLs on a 3.6 996 sounds just about perfect.

I think you guys need to remember....it's all subjective. I've had my bypass pipes on for nearly a year and a few months, I love them. (oh and just in case there is any confusion...I am a girl! ) Although since August my car is no longer a daily driver...when it was, it wasn't all that loud. But, that is my impression, not everyone will agree, and that is cool. But I suggest you find someone with them for a test drive, or willing to trade for a couple of weeks with you and try them out. (they are easy to remove and replace) (I think the "what are you trying to prove" is a bit harsh )

Oh lighten up Robyn, don't take it so personally.

i went the pep boys route and wow was the exhaust loud. i went on a date with the ugly $12 tips on the car (luckily she did not notice the look, only the sound) and though the exhaust didnt send her running for the hills it did make for interesting conversation. definetly not something to put on a daily driver. ...especially when i had to drive from georgia to texas! 12 hrs would've been unbearable!!! couple things i noticed: you're alot lighter on the throttle b/c even the slightest touch is noticable. i guess it inadvertently helps gas milage also, it feels like i lost some low end grunt, but i'm not sure whether it made any upper rpm gains. anyone want to chime in on that one? i originally took the mufflers off for a track weekend, but i couldn't tell a difference. if anything the 60lbs i saved that hung over the rear axle was helping me more. Robert

It's all good, Doc...like I said, we don't all have to agree, but we don't have to insult either. No worries though...really. Have a pleasant evening.

Isnt there some issue with the O2 sensor when using bypass pipes?

For daily driving the Fabspeed bypasses are fine... ...if you're Bon Scott.

Does GHL still do the Rennlist discount? If so, I recommend them, as they are a good deal at the price I paid with the discount about a year ago. Nice sound under throttle, but nothing interesting at idle. Ub

negative. that is with the cat bypass pipes i believe, they might trigger a CEL. Bypass pipes are quite loud. think 67 GTO or old skool american muscle..and then at a bit more for the high redline

I have a full Cargraphic system on my GT3.I tried their muffler bypass pipes.When the engine was on cam the noise was brilliant,I was told by somebody they could hear the noise a couple of miles away. However for everyday driving I couldn't live with the resonance. Shane

Call Brian at GHL, he'll take care of you on the exhaust . I can't believe you could run the bypass pipes everyday, it's basically open headers, too loud for me. To each his/her own.

you can do a simple test to see how loud the bypass pipes will be. just remove the mufflers and go for a drive. no need for a trip to pep boys. as far as which muffler is louder here is my experience having owned them. in order from the loudest to quiet. 1. PSE - very nice tone, more of a bark than a growl. heavy 2. fabspeed maxflow - these mufflers growl and vroom rather than bark. nice construction and light. 3. GHL loud - they purr. nice constuction but not as nice as the fabspeeds. you can still hear the sewing machine back there 4. GHL regular - just ever so slightly louder than stock. need to have the windows open to really hear it. all observations are "in cabin" based since you won't be on the side of the road listening to your car