[dmkolb]

I have a 2003 PT Cruiser Turbo GT auto stick. I just recently got it and the more I read the forums the more I want to do to it. been looking at the catback exhaust systems. Most run close to or over $500.00. Now I know the SRT-4s didn't use a muffler. They use the same engine as ours so I needed to find out what my GT sounds like without the muffler on.

The nice thing about the stock exhaust system is, it is the muffler is bolted on to the exhaust pipe with a clamp from the factory. One bolt and a little push and pull and the muffler is off the car. Plus if it sounds awful it'll go right back on and nothing has changed.

So I pulled the muffler off and started it up. I was shocked at how it sounded. I figured it would have been ungodly loud. It's not. You can carry on a normal conversation with someone standing behind it. It not loud but if you didn't know any better you'd swear there is an aftermarket exhaust on it. It's a really nice low deep slight loop at idle. Sitting reeving it up a little still isn't that loud and actually seemed like it got a little quieter at higher RPM. Letting off the gas you get the RPMs coming down and that performance gurgle most of us like.

So I decided I need to test drive it. Windows up you can hear the engine and turbo spool up easier. But even wide open throttle isn't that loud and still has a very performance sound to it. It also doesn't have a irritating drone I have read people talking about at HWY cruise speeds.

So I drove it home and decided I just saved about $500.00 because it sounds great and I'm happy with it.

I then took the muffler and cut the pipe entering the muffler off. I reattached the pipe from the muffler to the exhaust pipe still on the car with the factory clamp. I had a exhaust shop $20.00 cut a straight pipe that fits snug over the stock exhaust pipe and it now runs to the rear of the car. I installed an aftermarket tip for good looks and now you can't tell there it's a muffler on it unless you crawl under it.

It sounds great. It's looks good, and I just freed up so exhaust restriction removing the stock muffler.

In my opinion is sounds better than many expensive exhaust systems I have heard. It sounds closest to what a deep sounding flowmaster on a 4 cylinder engine sounds like. Not exactly but very close. Plus with no muffler no one can tell me a different muffler would have less restriction than none at all. Being as how turbos love free flowing exhaust my cars sounds happy.

So if you curious how your PT would sound with out the muffler, unbolt it and find out. If you like it you just saved a butt load of money. If you don't your not out any money because you can reinstall it.

Mine being a turbo, I'm not sure how a naturally aspirated PT would sound. But this turbo-ed PT sounds great.