Introducing my 2012 5.0 non-R-Spec

[aliveoutofhabit]

Hello everyone! I've been lurking for about a year and I've own my 2012 5.0 for almost 2 months now. Damn do I love this car. Here are some crappy pics I've taken over the last few weeks:

I'll post better pics later on. Here is the "mod" list:

Exterior:
60%F and 35%R Wincos Tint
Tinted Taillights

Wheels & Tires:
19x8.5 +35 Advanti HY Hybris Gloss Black
245/45R19 BF Goodrich G-Force COMP-2 A/S

Exhaust:
Dynomax VT mufflers at the rear
(pending) Magnaflow 12468 Dual-In/OutX-Pipe Muffler to replace stock center resonator

That's it! After the Magnaflow is in I think I'll be done modding the car other than eventually swapping in an R-Spec suspension package (long long term plans, probably a year or more down the road).

When I install the Magnaflow I'll post pics and videos of the whole system. I thought it'd be something better (or at least different) than the standard VTs + MSA X-pipe since it won't delete any cats and (hopefully) won't be a TON louder (just a little would be nice ).

Questions? If you search my screen name I used to be pretty active in many forums of the previous cars I've owned (Mazdaspeed 6, RX8, Protege5, Corolla, Passat 2.0T, and others...) plus I have 10 years in the automotive industry with most of those specifically in the tire industry so I'm a wealth of knowledge.

...so yeah. Hi!

 

[MathWiz]

I really like the tinted tails

 

[Sal Collaziano]

Welcome aboard! And thank you for FINALLY signing up! Nice R-Spec! Don't go terrorizing the neighborhood now - and go easy on those Mustangs.

 

[NYCkid]

Sweet ride. Welcome aboard!!!

 

[Huddleston]

welcome!

 

[aliveoutofhabit]

Welcome aboard! And thank you for FINALLY signing up! Nice R-Spec! Don't go terrorizing the neighborhood now - and go easy on those Mustangs.

I've always done my best to keep any actual racing to the track. I'll probably stop by Sacramento Raceway one of these Saturdays to have some fun. That being said, it is nice that probably fully 90% of cars on the road are slower than our Hyundais.

I love it. Also, I think you mean to say nice non-R-Spec, lol. I got such a crazy deal on this thing I can swap in a full R-Spec suspension and still be a few grand under what they're listed for in my area.

 

[Huddleston]

I'm happy someone other than me is modding! Love it!

 

[aliveoutofhabit]

I'm happy someone other than me is modding! Love it!

Minor mods, but it's a bug that never goes away!

I have decided I'm not totally happy with the wheel fitment so I'm moving up a bit.

19x9 +30.

I'll post pics next week when they arrive.

 

[aliveoutofhabit]

TSW Bathurst (Forged, Gloss Gunmetal)
19x9 +30
245/45R19

Better pics later. FYI I am not lowered and it looks awesome.

 

[Rloyola0426]

Those are the same wheels I have, except in 20"! Good choice!

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[aliveoutofhabit]

Got my Magnaflow 12468 installed in place of the center resonator on Saturday. Based on other sound clips I've heard of other cars I thought this might make it slightly louder and meaner without going overboard... I was totally wrong. Installed in front of the Dynomax VTs it actually quieted down the exhaust note almost back to stock! Outside still sounds better than stock but inside you can hear almost nothing except the engine in front.

All in all I'm very disappointed and have decided to just install a standard x-pipe in place of this. If you had some other louder mufflers in the rear such as a standard Magnaflow or similar this setup would probably sound great and would be a drone free alternative to the VT. With the Dynomax VT though it's just too quiet and too similar to stock.

Here are pics of the setup:

As a side note: I would not recommend installing this if you're lowered as it hangs down an additional inch or so. I'm stock height and don't ever plan to lower so it wasn't an issue for me.

Here is a diagram of what I installed:

Here is what I'm going to replace it with in the future:

I still owe you all better pictures of the wheel fitment. I'll have some time over the holiday to snap some decent pics.

 

[aliveoutofhabit]

Here are some updated pics of the fitment. They are (obviously) not very clean here, but the fitment is damn nice.

 

[iSOBigD]

Looks good! I'm surprised how clean the underside looks considering you have snow there. I guess your city doesn't throw salt all over the place like here.

 

[aliveoutofhabit]

Looks good! I'm surprised how clean the underside looks considering you have snow there. I guess your city doesn't throw salt all over the place like here.

Actually the underbody pics were from before I took it to the snow. Where I actually live we don't get snow -- those were taken up at my grandparents' house about 200 miles away. CA does not use salt on the roads, however.

So I cut out the Magnaflow X-Pipe muffler and welded in a regular X-Pipe in its place -- WOW. It sounds perfect! Absolutely no drone on the highway and gets super aggressive above about 3000 RPM.

I think the perfect, not-too-loud exhaust system for the 5.0 is:

Magnaflow X-Pipe in place of the suitcase resonator
Dynomax VT Mufflers at the rear

And that's it. I may try the MSA cat-deletes but I'm not sure I want it any louder and I'm sure there's almost no performance benefit to be had there.

I'll make some sound clips some day.