Active exhaust compared to standard on 5.0?

[LouG]

I have sport exhaust mode in the custom mode I use all the time. But if I'm just idling through traffic I'll pop it into track for shits and giggles. I do have quiet mode on the timer for early starts.

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[fishinrich]

I put it on Tack mode when I go past my favorite neighbor's house.

I might rev it a couple of times too.

 

[tktrain]

I alternate between the normal and sport modes in my '25 DH. I use quiet mode pulling out of the neighborhood, but I put on a Lethal double H pipe with twin high flow resonators so that kills the raspy sound completely, and that's with my Whipple.

 

[LouG]

I put it on Tack mode when I go past my favorite neighbor's house.

I might rev it a couple of times too.

I was backing out of my garage when two kids on bikes went past. I saw them staring at the car and they stopped just up the road to look. I gave it a couple of bootfuls in neutral for them.
You should have seen the grins and eyes light up.
There's still hope for modern kids.

 

[Westphal]

We have ours programmed to quiet start between 10 pm and 8 am and usually run the AE in Normal mode. If I'm in the car by myself or with one of the kids, I'll switch it to Sport mode, both for the exhaust sound and better trans shifting schedule.

 

[Alex381]

Hello, new here and looking to get into a new S650. Recently helped my son buy a new GT with performance package and love that car but want to get something for myself and cannot afford one with the PP on it let alone finding one.

Located a nice GT that does not have the active exhaust and was wondering besides the sound changes, does the active system actually give you more horsepower or make the car go faster or not over the single tube exhaust on the GT? Is it worth the 1500 extra bucks?

Thanks in advanced..

I test drove a dozen Mustangs before I bought my 24. For overall package the active exhaust is the only way to go. For normal driving I keep the exhuast in track mode because it sounds great. But for freeway driving I put it in quiet to eliminate the drone and excess noise. I also use quiet for when I leave for work so I don’t wake the neighborhood. The regular exhaust is fine. But it will never sound as good as track mode and it will never be even close to as quiet as the quiet mode.

Buy what you want of course. Just make sure you drive one with each exhaust type so you can be certain. To be fair I only like the track mode exhaust when I have the top down. I don’t care for it when the top is closed. I felt the same way in the coupe.

 

[MidwayJ]

Before I installed the H pipe I found myself using sport and track mode almost all the time. After the H pipe I alternate between normal and sport mode most of the time. Track mode is for when I'm in the mood to be loudest. It seems pretty loud until I'm around the guys with long tube headers on theirs.

 

[porterhousestk]

Everyone knows the coolest Mustang is the loudest Mustang. Just cut off the mufflers and go straight pipe bro.

 

[fredm666]

I think having Active Exhaust is worth it. Quad-tip looks way better than single, in my opinion. And sound is amazing in Sport mode.

Moreover my partner prefers the quiet mode when she drives it...

 

[Bassey O]

Here's how it goes:

1. Spend $1,595 to add Active Exhaust to your car when you buy/order it

Not loud enough. Buy $300 H/X pipe because a $2,500-3,500 AE compatible catback is too much $$$

Then either:

A) still not loud enough, spend $2,000 on active exhaust axle back

or

B) H/X pipe made it too loud, spend $300 on a Borla/Jones resonator or put the stock one back on

IMO get the non-active exhaust car, and put a quality axle back on it (not a Corsa Extreme or Borla ATAK). It'll sound good. If you want more, add an H/X to this. Save the $$$$

Just ordered a 2026 GT, non-active exhaust, w/ PP. After my car internet research, this seems like solid advice. It ultimately comes down to what sound you want. After all the youtube videos, I’ll probably start with a Borla S-Type cat-back with H-Pipe.

 

[Eagle1*]

Thanks gents, I am going to drive a premium with the standard exhaust and one with the AE and see what I like/sounds better.

 

[Alex381]

Here's how it goes:

1. Spend $1,595 to add Active Exhaust to your car when you buy/order it

Not loud enough. Buy $300 H/X pipe because a $2,500-3,500 AE compatible catback is too much $$$

Then either:

A) still not loud enough, spend $2,000 on active exhaust axle back

or

B) H/X pipe made it too loud, spend $300 on a Borla/Jones resonator or put the stock one back on

IMO get the non-active exhaust car, and put a quality axle back on it (not a Corsa Extreme or Borla ATAK). It'll sound good. If you want more, add an H/X to this. Save the $$$$

The active exhaust that comes stock is more than loud enough. After a full year with it, I can not imagine wanting a louder exhaust. It gets the job done and sounds incredible. Its already a nuisance as it is. Making it louder would be obscene for a road car.

Now if it was only for the track, well yeah I could definitely see wanting it to be louder.

 

[Alex381]

Even if it is true, 6 hp increase is nothing except for bench racing/brag sheet. I like the active exhaust for early am start ups in the driveway for my neighbors & so I can use quit mode if talking or listening to something. I don’t see a lot of difference in Sport & Track modes except with HARD acceleration. I usually run in Sport exhaust mode for my ears entertainment pleasure.

Absolutely! 6 hp is everything when you have 100 hp to start with. You’d need to measure in hundredths of a second to be sure anything changed at all when you already had 480 hp.

 

[Dave2013M3]

To be honest, Im not against getting the AE. However, I always change the exhaust and don't really care about being able to put in quiet mode. You dan get the Ford Performance Sport quad exhaust with the DH rear valance for under $1000.

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