I’m in Orange County and got pulled over in Newport Beach with an Active Autoworks catted downpipe and an ARK Exhaust. Even though a couple Lambo’s drive past us who were WAY louder while we were off the side of the road. Honestly the burnt tips didn’t help which was the only thing the cop noticed. If you don’t do burnt tips and stick with a catted down pipe you should be fine.
I think catted + awe touring is safe, but not catless and awe track is not. I don't think you'd pass smog unless you knew someone who does smog.
Cops are so lame out there. I've had numerous friends get pulled over in Orange County. When I used to live in California, I avoided any extended time with loud exhaust in that area. And yes, they tend to gravitate towards burnt tips ? Meanwhile, exotics can fly by mostly unmolested. Also, as others have said, catless and smog will be an issue, unless you know someone.
I have no power mods -- just suspension mods. I was leaving Laguna Beach and avoided Laguna Canyon Rd, and drove into Newport to get onto the 73 from there. Guess what? I got pulled over with stock exhaust (was in sport mode) in Newport.
If track driving only, trailer to track, maybe you can get away with it? For an idea, my AWE track with catless dp can set off Tesla alarms at my work parking garage. It’s insanely loud. Now I only take her there on the weekends. Even when not in close quarters, say in quiet neighborhoods, I’ll turn off the sport mode. Which is even louder.
Probably the same motorcycle cop that pulled me over which has made me consider trading in my MKV for a used or older Porsche to be more under the radar. I am bone stock aside from the exhaust and catted downpipe. True story that adds more insult to injury: I take my 5 and 7 year old boys for golf lessons right off PCH and Jamboree at the Hyatt Newport Beach Sunday early mornings. The entire time I am there with them practicing, all you hear and see are loud Lambos, some M cars, some Porsche’s, loud burble tunes, etc., blasting down Jamboree and PCH. Have other idiots already ruined it for us enthusiasts in California? I think it’s too late. I had a friend who was a Costa Mesa cop for many years before he moved to Texas last year. He told me Newport and the coastal cities get residents who complain enough to the police department that then it becomes something they have to enforce heavily and in this case other idiots have already ruined it for us people just cruising. It also doesn’t help that on social media and tv you see street takeovers all the time.
Oof meanwhile I'm daily driving this thing to Redondo Beach during the work week with a boostlogic non-valved exhaust & stock downpipe... but I honestly love the way it sounds and I've ran into a few Downey patrol officers on the street that didn't bat an eye. I'm also always on the 105, 91 and 605 and CHP don't seem to care.
