200: Akropovic system - far too loud?!

[AndyBMX]

Hi All,

I purchased a 200 a while back which came with a full Akropovic system fitted. Whilst I like the noise it makes on up/downshifts, for just pottering around town and particularly long journeys it's just far too loud. It's so much louder than any other aftermarket exhaust I've had, its almost embarrassingly loud around town! The drone on the motorway gets so bad when cruising at 70/80 that you can barely have a conversation in the car.

I've seen people reference the system on this forum, saying that it's perfect as it's quiet when driving normally and no drone on the motorway, but just makes a nice noise when on heavy throttle.

Does anyone have any experience with one of these systems being louder than it should be? It's only been fitted for 2-3 years so I would like to think there's no blowing or anything like that. Does the exhaust have baffles fitted?

Thanks in advance,

Andy

 

[harey]

They are REALLY loud and obtrusive. I'll take it off your hands and even give you my standard exhaust as a swap.

 

[petercronin]

That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone complain about one. Have you got an aftermarket manifold on too maybe?

 

[lewishunter98]

I will up that offer^ and take it off your hands in exchange for a ktr system and ktr decat haha! Surprised at that though! i've only ever read exactly what you said about them being quiet until you go for it

 

[hawker22]

Ive had no issues with mine being too loud mate i thought it was surprisingly quiet around town to be fair

 

[AndyBMX]

They are REALLY loud and obtrusive. I'll take it off your hands and even give you my standard exhaust as a swap.

I will up that offer^ and take it off your hands in exchange for a ktr system and ktr decat haha! Surprised at that though! i've only ever read exactly what you said about them being quiet until you go for it

I did think this thread may result in a few offers for it!! Haha. I really would like to keep it as I love the actual noise it makes, it's just unnecessarily loud even when driving it normally around town.

That’s the first time I’ve heard anyone complain about one. Have you got an aftermarket manifold on too maybe?

Ive had no issues with mine being too loud mate i thought it was surprisingly quiet around town to be fair

This is why I think there must be something different/wrong with it. As far as I'm aware it's just a standard manifold, but I will try and have a check soon. I wasn't sure whether there's some sort of baffle from factory that wasn't fitted or removed?

 

[matt9566]

I've had my Akrapovic a year or so now and wouldn't say it was overly loud around town at all, it's certainly not quiet in comparison to a normal everyday car but definitely not verging on 'embarrassingly loud'

On the motorway at 70 it does get a bit droney, but I do have a 197 with the slightly different gear ratio's so it's to be expected more with mine - however I don't think these cars are exactly quiet even with standard exhaust system.

I'd definitely look at the manifold/cat to see if the manifold is aftermarket, meaning you would be running no cats (if a toyosport or similar is fitted)

I'm sure there is baffles in the exhaust and I'm sure I've read of one person having their system swapped by Akrapovic because theirs went, however I would definitely be checking the manifold first as running full decat would make it pretty loud.

 

[AndyBMX]

I've had my Akrapovic a year or so now and wouldn't say it was overly loud around town at all, it's certainly not quiet in comparison to a normal everyday car but definitely not verging on 'embarrassingly loud'

On the motorway at 70 it does get a bit droney, but I do have a 197 with the slightly different gear ratio's so it's to be expected more with mine - however I don't think these cars are exactly quiet even with standard exhaust system.

I'd definitely look at the manifold/cat to see if the manifold is aftermarket, meaning you would be running no cats (if a toyosport or similar is fitted)

I'm sure there is baffles in the exhaust and I'm sure I've read of one person having their system swapped by Akrapovic because theirs went, however I would definitely be checking the manifold first as running full decat would make it pretty loud.

Thanks for the reply mate.

I've messaged both the seller, and the place he bought it from (as they supplied and fitted the system when he bought it) to see whether there was anything different about the system, and whether a different manifold or decat has been fitted. I'm fairly certain it isn't right as I don't think people would rave about them if they were this loud, just need to get to the bottom of it!

 

[-Eddie-]

I went from a KTR system on my 197 to an Akrapovic. I hated the KTR system, too much drone, too boomy, would have made your ears bleed especially on the motorway.

The Akrapovic was very quiet in comparison and a welcome change from the KTR system so I’m surprised to read that someone’s is too loud. Even if the manifold has the cat removed I wouldn’t expect it to make that much difference over a standard manifold in terms of sound as the Akrapovic still has it’s own centre silencer.

Is it definitely the Akrapovic evolution system you have as it could be a slip on system with the second cat removed or something like that? @matt9566 is right about the baffles, i have read before about a system being replaced due to the baffles failing. Seems a very rare occurrence though.

 

[AndyBMX]

I went from a KTR system on my 197 to an Akrapovic. I hated the KTR system, too much drone, too boomy, would have made your ears bleed especially on the motorway.

The Akrapovic was very quiet in comparison and a welcome change from the KTR system so I’m surprised to read that someone’s is too loud. Even if the manifold has the cat removed I wouldn’t expect it to make that much difference over a standard manifold in terms of sound as the Akrapovic still has it’s own centre silencer.

Is it definitely the Akrapovic evolution system you have as it could be a slip on system with the second cat removed or something like that? @matt9566 is right about the baffles, i have read before about a system being replaced due to the baffles failing. Seems a very rare occurrence though.

Thanks for the reply, it just backs up that there must be something wrong with mine...

I've had a response from the place that fitted it confirming that they remember fitting the system, and that there was nothing different about it, it wasn't modified in any way. They've also confirmed that it was the full evolution system.

I'm going to have a quick look over the exhaust at some point this weekend just to make sure it's not blowing anywhere or anything like that (I'd be very surprised if it is given it's only a couple of years old). When you're in the car you can tell that all of the noise is coming from the rear, it completely overpowers the engine noise.

 

[matt9566]

Thanks for the reply, it just backs up that there must be something wrong with mine...

I've had a response from the place that fitted it confirming that they remember fitting the system, and that there was nothing different about it, it wasn't modified in any way. They've also confirmed that it was the full evolution system.

I'm going to have a quick look over the exhaust at some point this weekend just to make sure it's not blowing anywhere or anything like that (I'd be very surprised if it is given it's only a couple of years old). When you're in the car you can tell that all of the noise is coming from the rear, it completely overpowers the engine noise.

I think your best bet would be get it up on a ramp and then you can check everything from manifold to the rear.

Let us know how you get on.

 

[youngarthur]

My Acro, for me, is not noisy, does not drone on Motorways either. It does burble/pop/bang on the over run, but being old, my hearing is not what it was. The system is well built, and I have never had a problem with it.

 

[-Eddie-]

Few photos of the system while the car is on a ramp should help (unless of course the fault is internal). They really are a brilliant system, expensive yes, but it’s worth paying the extra for one in my opinion.

 

[turkie172]

Absolutely no way is the akroprovic that loud I only have the back box but it was so quite that when the manifold was fixed I felt happy to and that I could not find the mid section to make it a full Akroprovic system that I put a Miltek mid section with the decat as the pipes are 2.5" but real-world the Miltek is 64.5mm and the Akroprovic is 65.5 outside diameter. Now the Miltek has to be cut back a little as the joint is on the rise over the back axle and not at the OEM position before it rises, but all considered absolutely no drone before or after the mod.
But I will ask this just check if your system is a full evo or the back box slip-on and consider this if there is an induction system on the air intake and is that what your hearing my car came with a K&N Apollo system on a standard exhaust well I was that impressed I took it off and bought a brand new standard air box I cant believe how expensive the K&N are and I had a drone because the cat had been removed and the welding job and step was so bad. I'm going into the garage to take a picture you got to see it anyway take a look at yours and double check what you got if it does not look like below you don't have a Akroprovic.

 

[turkie172]

Here is the welding job I guess what a waste of a Miltek decat pipe they must have thought it welded to the middle box and then found it too short. Enjoy

 

[bedoef]

Honestly, I agree with you. I have the Evo setup and I find on long highway drives it can be a bit annoying. You would have to raise your voice to talk with anyone in the back seat. I downloaded one of those sound meter apps on my phone and the interior noise registered at like 76 dB (using as an estimate obviously) on the highway @ 138 kph (85 mph), which is fairly loud.

 

[petercronin]

Did you manage to get anywhere with this? Reason I ask is I’ve just had one fitted and it’s not as you describe yours. I have a standard manifold with the Akra evo exhaust and it seems fine to me.

This is all in 6th gear. 60mph I can barely hear it, 70 can just hear it, 80 a little intrusive but could have a conversation without raising your voice. This changes a bit (louder) if the engine is under more load such as going up a steel hill and trying to maintain the speed.

 

[petercronin]

Edit for the above - that should be “steep” hill not “steel”

It’s also just occurred to me that depending on what gearbox you happen to have fitted the engine rpm could be higher and therefore it’ll be louder. Mines got the latest gearbox (can’t remember it’s code right now) so in 6th it would be a bit lower rpm than an early box would be.

 

[ec123]

I did think this thread may result in a few offers for it!! Haha. I really would like to keep it as I love the actual noise it makes, it's just unnecessarily loud even when driving it normally around town.




This is why I think there must be something different/wrong with it. As far as I'm aware it's just a standard manifold, but I will try and have a check soon. I wasn't sure whether there's some sort of baffle from factory that wasn't fitted or removed?

Check the manifold, I got a toyo after OEM broke and it’s louder now...

 

[AndyBMX]

Honestly, I agree with you. I have the Evo setup and I find on long highway drives it can be a bit annoying. You would have to raise your voice to talk with anyone in the back seat. I downloaded one of those sound meter apps on my phone and the interior noise registered at like 76 dB (using as an estimate obviously) on the highway @ 138 kph (85 mph), which is fairly loud.

After seeing this the other day I also downloaded the app and tested it out. With the phone mounted in the front of the car, it registered around 75 db whilst cruising at 70mph on a flat motorway, rising to 81 db when accelerating. Going uphill on the motorway is almost at a constant 80 db. Just pulling away normally around town and going through the rev range/gears, it registers up to 80 db. It would be interesting for other Akra owners to download the app and see what their's registers at as I think this is excessive.

Did you manage to get anywhere with this? Reason I ask is I’ve just had one fitted and it’s not as you describe yours. I have a standard manifold with the Akra evo exhaust and it seems fine to me.

This is all in 6th gear. 60mph I can barely hear it, 70 can just hear it, 80 a little intrusive but could have a conversation without raising your voice. This changes a bit (louder) if the engine is under more load such as going up a steel hill and trying to maintain the speed.

Edit for the above - that should be “steep” hill not “steel”

It’s also just occurred to me that depending on what gearbox you happen to have fitted the engine rpm could be higher and therefore it’ll be louder. Mines got the latest gearbox (can’t remember it’s code right now) so in 6th it would be a bit lower rpm than an early box would be.

Yeah that does sound as though it's quieter than mine. Mine is a late 2011 model which I believe will have the later gearbox?

Check the manifold, I got a toyo after OEM broke and it’s louder now...

The car is currently in the garage having the swivel joint done so I will ask the guy to check the manifold whilst it's up on the ramp. I can't see anything in the service history to suggest that it's had a replacement manifold though.