Sorry I wasn’t that clear with my post. I had a CTS catted downpipe and a HKS exhaust and it was too loud with and without the catback. This is probably a dumb question but I thought I’d ask what’s the quietest option.I don't see how you're going to find one quieter than stock? If nose is the issue in Sport mode then configure exhaust to stay in comfort in either mode. That or you're going to be spending a lot of time below 3500 rpm.
I should clarify that the more you open it up, the more the AA downpipe is noticeable--especially in Sport mode on more aggressive downshifts, so yeah my experience is basically same as yours there. Around-town driving and on the highway, I don't even notice it. To me, that's the perfect balance.I'm having a bit of a different experience with the AA catted on the stock exhaust. If you keep it below 3k RPM, then sure, the only difference is a deeper note on idle and in general, but plenty of burbles and pops past that (much more distinctive than OEM), and they seem louder as well.
Given, I have been downshifting earlier for the pops and upshifting later for the "farts", and all my observations are in sport mode. Can't speak much to normal mode.
Couldn’t you just hold the BC button on the turn signal stock to force close/open the valve?if catted dp with stock exhaust is too quiet for you time to get a new car... lol but for real you aren't gonna get much of a difference between different CTS catted and any other catted dp, your best bet is just do stage 1 and get the valve controller to have the valves closed permanently, Idk why anyone would want that, but hey different strokes for different folks. especially since you can still close the valves on stock exhaust may as well just drive it in normal when you don't want to be loud, and sport when you are fine with it. I don't love obnoxious eithers on most cars, I have catless dp with an AWE touring plus larger 18' vibrants where the normal resonators from awe would be. still loud, stock this car is louder than 95% of the cars on the road.
Fair enough, it's quiet when just cruising. Probably also doesn't help that I like driving with the windows down and that city acoustics can amplify the sound a bit.I should clarify that the more you open it up, the more the AA downpipe is noticeable--especially in Sport mode on more aggressive downshifts, so yeah my experience is basically same as yours there. Around-town driving and on the highway, I don't even notice it. To me, that's the perfect balance.