Best sounding 550 Maranello..?

I know this may not be the first time this topic is discussed here but I want to know what is the "magic combination" of cats, center section and rear sections......

Had a 456M and spent almost 10.000 USD on various exhaust parts and tested out approx. 5 different set ups. Well I know exhaust is not cheap, but I should be able to get most about everything for another 10.000, but this time I want to do it right the first time and just cruise along being satisfied from the start.

(I am going to buy a 550, but I do not currently own one, for your information)

Ideally, the sound should be "entertaining" and and make a solid impression, least possible drone inside the cabin, scream high piched in high revs, and make clean sound without much "imporfections" in the sound and after burner explotions etc.

INPUTS GREATLY APPRECHIATED.

Thank you!

 

Here are a couple of video clips of my 550 with Tubi exhaust and a ceramic coated X-Pipe.

The first video is of my car leaving a C&C in Calgary at 3 minutes & 28 seconds.
(Note: I have no affiliation with this dealer, nor promotional interests, except to have the OP listen to my exhaust on video).

I can assure you that every person who has heard my car, LIVE, enjoys the sound of it.....even the attractive female officer that pulled me over this spring.....


[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VO6NJ5N3hpQ[/ame]


The second video is of my exhaust sound at start up and a few revs at the end of the clip.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpEWhUSS-Bo[/ame]

I know someone with a 575M, with the Kreissieg exhaust, and his car just shrieks!!!! It sounds awesome.

 

There have been multiple threads and multitudinous posts about this, but I don't think the matter of "best sounding 550 exhaust system/combination" has ever been settled due to the highly subjective nature of it, although the OP's criteria are much the same as mine.

 

I know Bobafett (where is he nowadays?) had a killer Pozzi blue 550 with aftermarket exhaust components - that thing had a manic exhaust. It was a bit too loud for my taste but I must say that it sounded wicked.

 

Thanks for the vidos, it sounds great. Is this stock catalyzers?

SAM: I am very keen on seeing/hearing that Pozzi blue 550. The one I am looking at is also Pozzi blue.... But it is located in Italy.

 

Yes, everything else is stock except for the Tubi's and ceramic coated X-Pipe(which I purchased from and was installed by Ferrari of Alberta.

 

I've never heard a 550 that sounds better than a 550 equipped with a Tubi exhaust. The first Ferrari I ever rode in had a Tubo Solo exhaust setup.

 

I heard a Quicksilver on a 550 in the shop at Wynn in Vegas, it sounded amazing. A bit like a 333SP/F50.

 

Maybe I am old, maybe I am boring, maybe i am just a wet noodle, but I have never gotten the exhaust thing. If a 550 or 575 is not subtle enough as a classy gentleman's cruiser as Ferrari intended, why does one need the attention of a loud exhaust? It, to me, takes away the purpose of the entire package. An incredible machine built to cross a continent and eat a fine meal refreshed in a nice way. Go ahead, flame away, I really do not care.

We buy these things for ourselves and can do what we want with them. I wonder if Honda expected their Civics to have fart cans for the undocumented?

If making a lot of noise and setting off car alarms is you gig, then fine. If driving it on a day to day basis, like me, then it is ridiculous.

I love the sound of your car if it was a toy, but if I had to deal with that as I use my 575, I would be embarrassed. My friends would make fun of me rather than slap my back, but maybe we run in different circles.

The best sounding Maranello to me, is one that slinks up next to you at a light unnoticed, and takes off like a cat before you barley catch a glimpse of the stunning woman in the black dress going to dinner with you that night. Stealth cool is what I like. Not the "look at me, hear me " factor.

 

damn...i need a 550 again!

 

for the stealth factor, or you like noise?

 

Exhaust note is mostly a personal preference.

I like my setup which is: stock cats, Bradan dual mid pipes, and modern Tubi "575" tailpipes.

I like the deep burble at low RPM and throaty roar while accelerating.

But the best part is how it quiets down while cruising on the highway at 60 - 70 mph.
Every aftermarket system makes more noise but some of them also have a loud droning noise while cruising.

 

Please, by no means take my post as wrong. We 550/575 guys are tight here. but for me, the cool factor is the stealth factor. Having a freaking red Ferrari is too much, having an exhaust that screams "look at me" is too much, and back to the Tigers winning this series

 

Cargraphics/Fuchs

/thread

 

....nor mine as wrong.
As Ron said, it is mostly a personal preference.

When I bought my Barchetta from Steve Harris, it came with Tubi's installed. I had to do the inspection at Ferrari of Alberta for our Gov't laws and they encouraged me to buy their ceramic coated X-Pipe. Well, it made the car louder and more responsive......but I still have the original mufflers and center resonator.....and if I ever tire of it or a noise ordinance goes into effect, I may change it back to stock.

My 05 575 on the other hand has the factory straight pipes and came only with the Tubi exhaust from Wide World Ferrari and I don't plan to go through the expense of buying factory 575 mufflers and change it back to stock......it is not as loud as the Barchetta.

Having a quality aftermarket exhaust system improves performance and fuel economy.....

 

Please, by no means take my post as wrong. We 550/575 guys are tight here. but for me, the cool factor is the stealth factor. Having a freaking red Ferrari is too much, having an exhaust that screams "look at me" is too much

 

None taken.
I was just explaining my own set ups and it does not make it better or worse than that of your 575.
It is neither wrong or right to have factory or aftermarket exhausts.
I am just trying to have a bit of camaraderie with this group.
I am glad & privileged to be part of this group.

 

Is this what Bobafett had? Or was it a Kreisseig?

 

For me, it is ideally somewhere in the middle, and the best if you can switch between the two extremes when you want. My 550 is a versatile machine. I don't want stealth all the time. My Tubi sounds great and it is not intrusive in the cabin at speed and when my car passes someone at reasonable speed it doesn't have the "look at me" thing going on, it is more a compliment to the V12. However, at idle, or burbling through a narrow street, sometimes it is much too loud, and then it is an attention seeker, which I'm not so happy with.

As fou said, all just personal preference.


Onno

 

He has the CG/F. Closest thing to the Daytona sound a 550 can have....

 

Thank you guys for the input. I agree, it is not the sort of car that should scream. I makes the car less attractive. But these days, most car is so quiet, you can't hear them... A ferrari is a beautiful car for car lovers. And a 550 does come with a 5,5 litre V12..... It is a shame to say that this car should not be allowed to get some attention, with all its horses. There is a big chrome horse on the boot lid after all!

Now, my question was which exhaust como you guys would prefer. Subject to personal taste of cours, but I ask here instead of spending thousands and having to spend more until I find the right one. It would save me a lot if I could find a set up that most board members think is a good one, find a video of that, and buy it if I like it.

The thread "has anyone ever" here is interesting, as we discusss ether it would be possible to use an original muffler with all its silencing capabilities, and to install a fllap and make it a straight throug muffler with one of the pipes. That would be a great system to me.

Come up with some more videos if you have one! Thank you.

 

Now, having said that, after going to Moroso, or any historic race, I have to admit, sometimes i get a little jealous of the sounds I hear. crank it up and play it loud if you want. nothing wrong with that!!!!!

 

I just keep coming back to this sound.....

It is just music to my ears!

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIdLWQ4uVjw&feature=related[/ame]

 

+1
Agreed!

 

More videos!! Is it possible to make a system that would make it sound like an F50?? They sound awesome.