SSV sportwagon exhaust drone query

[brougham]

Been reading older threads and trying to get a grasp on when it happens.

Is it predominantly an auto and/or an AFM matter, or are manuals just as susceptible?

[chillicatqld]

AFM will be obviously worse when it drops to 4 cylinders.
But the manual will drone badly also with the wrong choice of system.
Big problem... depending on how naive you are to drone!

I have HSV headers and rear mufflers on my wagon, and is fine - would rather it louder but I could not live with bad drone. At idle with the windows down the resonance is bad enough, really plays on your ears - hate for it to be worse.

[Wonky]

Auto or manual makes little difference I believe, just that with a manual you can choose a gear to avoid resonance, particularly going up a hill. As chilli said above, when an auto drops to 4cyl in AFM mode itf's usually much worse. Having said that, before my AFM was disabled in the tune (and later physically removed altogether) my wife could not tell when my ute went in and out of AFM mode even with full KPM 3" system. I could pick it, mainly by the change in vibration through the car more than through any change in the exhaust. KPM :goodjob:

[chillicatqld]

My mate has AFM Sportwagon (which the thread is about) with the only mod being HSV mufflers.... I can tell instantly (and so can he) when it goes to 4 cyl.... it is horrible!

[seasmi]

If its only a note and V8 sound you're after and no other mods then check these out!

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/COMMODORE-VE-PERFORMANCE-EXHAUSTS-SEDAN-S-W-/220978468673?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item337357d741

Here's a video (not mine) of them installed although now they have fluted (similar to stock) 3 inch stainless tips.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGVe_DY9Gtg

Hardly any drone and sounds good although there is resonance under load towing ect.

[brougham]

cheers for those.

i'm looking at buying one at the moment, and have not a lot to chose from in perth sadly.
there's a handful of AFM auto's, all without exhausts, so would have the option to get a good exhaust myself based on research.

there's also a few manuals, most without exhausts (almost every SSV sportwagon for sale here is totally stock!), but one has a nice sounding exhaust fitted (and that's all in the way of mods). it's sounds really nice at idle, sounds hawt at 40-60kms, nice burble when backing off, but as it's a inner city dealer i haven't been able to get it on the freeway to check it at 80-100kms to see if there's a drone. underneath it looks like there's a resonator fitted at the ends, so possibly it won't have the drone issue?

[Hos]

I have a SSV A6 wagon. In standard exhaust could hear and feel the AFM kick in and out. No big issue, never caused any problems or annoyed me at all, can just pick it through the 'vibration' change. No one else had ever noticed it.

I put on a KPM 2.5 inch catback. Sounds great, very subtle at idle, easy to drive around town without being noticed. Give it a boot and you can tell its a V8. My biggest issue with it is that it drones/booms under light acceleration and can be very annoying unless you drive around it. On the open road, crusing at 100/110 no issues at all. Slightly more cabin noise but i wouldn't call it droning. I have been tempted to remove it now for the sake of my 12 week old daughters hearing, but the Mrs reckons it is fine so it cant be too bad.

In my opinion, if you are going to buy a wagon and you are not in a strong mindset as to what transmission to go for, buy a manual. I had a manual VE SS ute prior to the wagon, and loved it. my wife wanted a more 'friendly/easier' car to drive when we bought the wagon, so the auto was the preference. I wish we bought a manual.

As others have said, what some call drone others wouldn't even blink an eyelid to. It is a very hard 'sound' to just determine if it is there or not. Auto or manual makes little difference in my book, if its going to do it it will. AFM can be turned off, but in my case when AFM kicks in it is just a transitional noise, doesn't make the exhaust note unbearable, just different.

Any other questions, just ask.

Hos

[azzss]

I have a 2.5" kpm system, high flow cats and pacemaker 4 into 1 headers and a cam in our ssv wagon. It's a manual and there is drone under load at 2000rpm but not too bad but is great otherwise. It's our family car with 2 young kids in the back it's easy to get around being a manual, just drop a cog or go up one and all is good but usually don't need to worry about it.
Cheers.

[DazzlerVE]

I am in a very similar boat so to speak. I have a VE II Calais Auto AFM... by the sounds of it I am stuck with the vacuum cleaner quiet stock exhaust.

I do 800-1000 km per week, mainly on highway, so a drone would drive me insane. I have made enquiries with Walkinshaw and JHP Exhausts- neither could guarantee 'no drone'

Not happy