Capristo - Cali T

Have had the Capristo exhaust system (back pipes and remote control module) fitted to my 2016 Cali T for about 4 weeks. Thought I'd do a quick write up here for anyone who may be thinking about doing the same to their cars.

For reference, my comparison is against the standard exhaust system whose valves were permanently opened by the dealer. I never drive in Auto mode. I only use the paddles and down shift to 2nd gear manually when coming to a stop.

Build quality of the system and material used is excellent. The fit was also great with no issues during installation. The original muffler boxes came out no problem and the Capristo pipes fitted perfectly to the rest of the exhaust. The original tips also fitted perfectly. The rear bumper did not have to come off for installation, and it took just over 3 hours to do the job. The original muffler boxes that came out were bigger than I thought!!! The Capristo does not have a muffler box in front of the tips - it's basically a pipe with two outputs that fit onto the original tips. The pipe has the actuators for opening and closing the valves and the little pipe to attach the vacuum lines.

The remote control has 4 buttons numbered 1 through 4.

Pressing number 1 puts the valves in automatic mode, where they open based on the ECU control, just like the standard system, when revs reach certain levels. This is what I call stealth mode and is wife 'friendly'. Relatively quiet at start-up. You can drive through your neighborhood early in the morning without waking everyone up.

Pressing button 2 keeps the valves open. More on that later.

Buttons 3 and 4 allow you to set what you want as your default mode when you start the car. For example while the engine is running press button 2 to open the valves, then press buttons 3 & 4 together to set as default. Every time you start the car it will automatically start with the valves open. On the other hand pressing button 1 then 3&4 together will change the default to start in 'stealth mode' with valves closed and controlled by the ECU.

I've set my default to option 2. Only time I press button 1 is when my wife is with me, or when I'm going through a drive-through Starbucks and have to place my order at their intercom system. With valves open I have to repeat my order multiple times as they simply can't hear me. Once order is placed I press number 2 again, and enjoy watching people behind me in my rear view mirror, shouting at the intercom over the exhaust sound. I suppose I should stop doing this, but it's the only entertainment I get stuck in that line, as I catch up on emails.

On to the sound..... In auto mode the car is not noisy at start up, once you get past the initial growl. It's quieter than the standard system with valves open. Once the valves start opening you get the volume increase.

In valves open mode....Whooooaa!!

I'm back in Maserati Granturismo S territory in Sport mode (I missed that so much). I reverse my car into my garage. Behind the wall at the back of the garage is my master bathroom. My wife has informed me with a tone of disdain that all her cosmetics and photo frames vibrate on the marble work tops when I start the car. Start up from cold is BRUTAL. A lot louder, and that's just idling. As I pull out of the garage just feathering the throttle, I can only describe the noise as a loud 'ripping' sound.

The audible feedback giving cues to change gear between 1st to 2nd and on to 3rd are much more pronounced. The pitch changes distinctively letting you know when to change and bringing a smile to my face. Gently driving along at 45 mph in 5th while the engine is warming up the volume is louder, and has an underlying rumble. Not an American muscle car rumble....it's hard to describe...exotic, it definitely turns heads of those you are approaching from behind. Where I live pretty much everyone gets their exercise jogging, apart from me I have noticed that even people with earbuds in their ears listening to iPhone music (or whatever) hear me before they see me as I approach them from behind...turning their heads and giving me a thumbs up as I pass. Going into 6th gear, the sound goes quieter and it feels like you are back in stealth mode, but as you go into 7th, the car sounds like it breathes a sigh of relief, and the volume comes back with the bass rumbling. So all this is while getting the car warmed up to above 175 on the temp gauge.

When the car warms up and you can start driving 'properly', it's very different. In the past between 1st & 2nd and between 2nd and 3rd my factory exhaust improved from a loud crack when I first had her to a starting pistol as the exhaust settled in (mentioned on a different post). Well the starting pistol noise has changed. Best way I can describe it is that the ordinance has changed. It now sounds like a grenade going off. I almost s**t myself the first time I heard it. I thought I'd well and truly broken something.

I can get this noise between each gear shift from 1st to 2nd all the way up to 4th to 5th (on the right road in the right conditions of course - safety first). I change up as the 3rd LED illuminates on the steering wheel. The more LED's the louder the noise, though less difference in volume between 4th and 5th. One recommendation is don't do this as you come along side another car or approaching a car from behind. On two occasions I had a car swerve on the road, one along side me swerved the opposite direction (away from me), and the other which was in front of me hit the kerb. This noise seems to have the same effect as driving quietly up behind a car and letting off a fog horn for no reason The beauty though is that you are in total control of the noise. If you are not pushing, the car just sounds stunning and as you drive harder it turns demonic.

As a side note, the sound is great even with the roof up. Previously with the roof up the car was very muted? With the roof down....you're in car-porn land.

I wanted a system that was tame enough for my wife to actually enjoy driving the car while at the same time give me the best sound and excitement I could get from such a gorgeous car. I believe I achieved what I was after. Very well behaved when I want her to be, and a monster for those few seconds when the time presents itself.

My wife drove for about 20 miles with me as a passenger the other day in Automatic and stealth mode on. I have to admit that even that sounded awesome, frequently bringing smiles to my face. I just can't bring myself to drive and not use the paddles.

Hope this is helpful for anyone wondering what an after market system can do for your Cali T. I could go on and on, but have to head out for dinner.

Edits for terrible grammar and typos

 

Will do Tom....I'm late getting ready but my wife is still slower than me

 

My wife's car tonight, only a couple of mins late ;-)

A local company fitted it for me. Had a running commentary along with photos. Attached a couple....
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.....and again I can't post more than 1 photo at a time :-(
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Your absolutely right DK. I know I shouldn't.


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Everything fixed OK Mario?

I know that chicken skin feeling


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Hopefully they get a solid diagnosis and remedy soon. At least they can see error codes, as opposed to everything working perfectly when the techs are trying to replicate the issue.....hate it when that happens. I'm sure there's a lot of folks on here that have had that experience.

Keep us posted.


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Oh yes, and with the roof down, real early one morning 2 weeks ago. If there is a way of getting an aurally induced orgasm, this was as close as it gets

Went through from airport side towards the Tollway. I got carried away it was so good, that I kept pushing through the gears not realizing how fast I was going and shot out the other side a 'bit' higher than the speed limit! There was zero traffic in either direction, but I had to contain myself for the second run as I turned around to go back through.

Was fantastic....I love that tunnel.

 

I've learnt so much on Fchat and forums like it. It's nice to be able to contribute back. I bet it's a great feeling after all this time, to know that Capristo didn't just add two extra buttons to have the owner thinking 'why'? Have fun....