you guys think the break in period would have any effect on the base? without any active exhaust option? a couple more pops and cracks you suppose?

 

Just a thought, not contradicting anybody but break-in periods were for times when stuff was casted and manufacturing tolerances were not as tight. When burrs and imperfections had to be smoothed out with a break in period and an early oil change. Today things are milled with a CNC machine and then polished. Most cars do not even have an oil change in the first 5,000 miles. As for the exhaust, again most likely welds are done by robots and pretty perfect, nothing to be burned off to smooth out the exhaust flow. More likely then not an exhaust over time will mellow out because of carbon deposits which kind of work like a sound insulation and let the sound bounce less around in the exhaust. Just some food for thought ...

beyond that enjoy every crackle that comes out of that rear ...

 

Can only tell you what my personal experience was with my superbly engineered RS5, but if you think it was a figment of my imagination, I won't bother trying to convince you otherwise. Cheers, Oz