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Cobalt cat-back review

4K views 5 replies 3 participants last post by  mrsuave 
#1 · (Edited)
Yes, I know that as of now there is a thread for the exact same product right below this one, but everyone has a different experience with a product so here's my review of it, on a 10 point scale. I have had the exhaust on since June so it is fully broken in by now. I also have a video of it vs. the stock exhaust (the video was taken about 1 week after it was put on, so it wasn't 100% broken in, but it is close).

My car:
Stock header
Stock Cat
Drilled airbox

Link to exhaust:
http://ecommerce.mossmotors.com/p/m.../performance-exhaust-system-by-cobalt/900-494

SOUND: 9/10
This is obviously the most important part of an exhaust system, so I will start with it. This exhaust honestly has one the the best tones I've ever heard come out of the back of a Miata. From a pure tonal standpoint (not volume), I would recommend this exhaust to every single Miata owner. It makes a truly amazing noise, like a 60's British roadster. It is never, ever raspy. It warbles beautifully at low RPM and really starts singing once above 4000. It burbles and pops quietly (but enough that you notice it) on deceleration. There is nearly zero drone at all. If it were to have drone, it would be around 3000 RPM. At that point it sort of has a warble/bassy sound to it, but I wouldn't call it drone since it is a good noise. It's just a bit more boomy at that point before it starts screaming.

QUALITY: 8/10
The exhaust is pretty well made. Nice, thick stainless steel piping, very good welds, and everything lines up nicely. I had no problems with fit or finish. The only thing that I'm deducting points for is the little Cobalt badge that fell off the side of the muffler after a month or so of driving. Didn't really matter to me as I didn't care for it in the first place.

VALUE: 9/10
This exhaust is very well priced for such a great part. It retails for $350 and there is always a sale at Moss Motors so a lot of the time you can snag it for under $300, which is a terrific price for a full stainless exhaust that isn't ricey and is very well made.

EASE OF INSTALLATION: 8/10
I had very little trouble installing this exhaust. Everything went on easily and fit well, except for the cat-to-midpipe gasket that Moss provided. My cat bolts were too wide so I had to file out the sides of the holes in the gasket to make it fit. Other than that it was all smooth. Hangers were in the right location, muffler clears the bumper well, no heat damage to the bumper, etc.

LOOKS: 7/10
The exhaust looks awesome except for 2 little quibbles: Personally, I think the tip is about 3/4" too big, and (this is just a personal preference) I don't really like the double walled look of the muffler tip. Other than that it looks great. If you're behind the car you can just barely see the bottom of the resonator in the midpipe peeking out and it looks aggressive.

VOLUME: 6/10
This is the only real thing that matters that this exhaust sort of let me down. Since I daily my car with a hardtop, the exhaust is just not as loud as I want it to be. With the top down, it is at 95% of the volume I would like it to be at, but with the hardtop on, I just wish it was a little bit louder; it's at maybe 80% of the volume I would prefer it to be at. Although keep in mind, I still have a stock header and cat, so when I plan to upgrade those, I will probably notice an increase in sound. If you have an aftermarket header or cat, it will be louder than it is in the video.

In conclusion, this is really just a great, not relatively known exhaust. I bit the bullet on this one since I found it for a great price during one of Moss' sales, and I am thoroughly impressed with it. Let me know what you guys think!

[VIMEO]52904901[/VIMEO]

Video by http://www.wotfilms.com/
 
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#2 ·
First of all, lets not rev the engine when there's still valves slapping and tapping.
Second, how did the camera sway back and forth in the beginning of the vid so smoothly? It's pretty cool.
Personally, I'd like the exhaust to be a little louder. I bit the bullet also and bought a not very well known exhaust recently. It's supposed to be pretty quiet but there seems to be raves about the exhaust. So I'm crossing my fingers here.
 
#3 ·
Eh? It's not valve tick, it's the hydraulic lifters. And believe me, nothing is wrong with revving it while it's ticking. Have you heard a row of Miatas at a hot day during an autox? "Tickticktickticktickticktickticktick"

The sliding was done by a sliding-rail deal. Not entirely sure what it's called since I didn't make the video but it's a smooth rolling setup on a few foot long rail that the camera attaches to.
 
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