I'm getting ready to purchase a VAP quad exhaust for my V6 F-type. Trying to decide which version to go with.

I'm leaning away from the valved exhaust for a few reasons:
1) w/ the stock valved exhaust, I think I've only ever closed the valves maybe once in the whole time I've owned the car
2) as far as I can tell the 'open' mode is a full on straight pipe, which is gonna be more than I'll ever want I suspect

What I'm looking for:
1) Primary thing I'm looking for is a better idle. The loud DI system and quiet exhaust on this car makes it sound terrible standing next to it at idle, might be my #1 dislike about the car
2) Want to get rid of the part throttle rasp in the mid range
3) Would like to hear/feel the overrun a little more, but not be obnoxious
4) In general would like it to be a bit louder / more dramatic, but I want it to sound like an uncorked supercar, not like a open header race car

All this being said, I'm assuming this lands me w/ either the Sport or Supersport exhaust system from VAP.. but I'm having a hard time finding info differentiating the two.
Anybody have some insight on what to expect from these? Firsthand experience?

Thanks!

 

Have you asked VAP? Maybe they can detail the differences.

 

I plan to, but I'm keen to know about anybody's firsthand experience with them as well 👍

 

I've got the valvetronic. One thing I would caution about is that in obnoxiously loud mode or extremely obnoxiously loud mode (its version of quiet mode and loud mode) it gets a bit of drone at about 100 - 110kph. Sitting at that speed for a long time the sound gets a bit tiring. If you do a lot of commuting at your 55 - 60mph, personally I would think twice about getting it done.

Driving around town and mountain drives arent really a problem because the revs are changing all the time, also you can always put it into sport and drop it back a gear or two to cut the drone.

i know you said you wanted thoughts from owners of the other exhausts, but I think only the valvetronic has been fitted to v6's (as far as I am aware). So I'll answer the questions anyway:

What I'm looking for:
1) Primary thing I'm looking for is a better idle. The loud DI system and quiet exhaust on this car makes it sound terrible standing next to it at idle, might be my #1 dislike about the car. Still ticky/rattly at startup in the morning, but much gruffer and deeper.
2) Want to get rid of the part throttle rasp in the mid range Yes, not as raspy, much deeper. Still a bit raspy though. Completely different note to (say) my Mustang which is throbby deep.
3) Would like to hear/feel the overrun a little more, but not be obnoxious one out of two aint bad - plenty of overrun, f#@ing obnoxious in dynamic, it's like a drive by shooting
4) In general would like it to be a bit louder / more dramatic, but I want it to sound like an uncorked supercar, not like a open header race car Well its a LOT louder and more dramatic, quite over the top. I prefer its deeper tones and would struggle to go back to stock, but a proper quiet mode would be nice for cruising and when your missus is giving you that unhappy look

 

VAP also told me this when I enquired, much deeper and not nearly as raspy.

In fact, this is what they said: (I had the same goal about removing raspiness)

"I understand what you’re saying on the exhaust. A lot of our customers are super happy with the downpipes on the V6 and more power to them, but I agree with you for my own personal tastes.

I think you would really appreciate our valved exhaust. While it doesn’t sound like a V8, it definitely produces a much deeper tone, especially when the valves are open and without the same raspiness."

https://www.velocityap.com/product/j...c-sound-level/

 

That's true. But there is still a different tone to the euro engines than a US or Australian V8, it isn't throbby, and the sound carries much further. Put it this way, when I am on the phone in the F Type people cant hear me talk when I am accelerating, but when I do the same in the Mustang min it's track setting (which is a fantastic, loud note) people have no problem hearing me on the phone.

 

This is a thing about the aftermarket exhausts - just all of them I have ever heard has drone or rap somewhere. Manufacturers says how are they tuned, users how are they great, and when you experience it yourself with open mind you find more or less of this. Kudos to you to acknowledge this. My personal red flag is when manufacturers are unable to provide any video of the exhaust behavior in all RPMs. How hard can it be to take 1 video, when they are all above the roof how many effort they spend in designing the exhaust? Ha!

 

You obviously can't grin and talk at the same time!

 

I actually don't commute much in this car. Spend about 20min a day in it besides weekends where I'll take it out for a spirited drive or two. Drone isn't a primary concern.

How would you compare the valved exhaust, closed, to the stock exhaust w/ the valves open? Are your responses here in reference to it being closed? My worry is/was that the valved version would be too quiet when closed and too loud when open.

Is this w/ the valves closed? Idle might be the thing I want to improve most tbh. The car just lacks presence standing still to me.

I actually prefer the typical smooth V6 sound over the typical burbly V8 sound tbh, I think I just want more of it haha.

I can only imagine w/ the valves open it sounds like a warzone, what about t/w them closed? Right now I can typically only hear much of it in dynamic mode, sport shifting, w/ exhaust valves open, and driving pretty aggressively. I guess I can also turn to VAP to help dial it in via the ECU tuning when I get to that point as well.

Again, interested to hear your thoughts about stock valves open vs VAP valves closed.. sounds like it's more dramatic than I expected.

More than ok w/ it not sounding like a V8, but a deeper tone I can feel a little more would be fantastic.

Drone I can handle. Rasp I'd rather not have to.

 

How would you compare the valved exhaust, closed, to the stock exhaust w/ the valves open? Are your responses here in reference to it being closed? My worry is/was that the valved version would be too quiet when closed and too loud when open.

Naaah the valved exhaust is far louder in quiet mode than stock is in dynamic/valves open. I used to drive the car with the valves open with the stock exhaust, I only do now if I am running the car in dynamic mode for driving purposes, or if I want to annoy someone, eg if I see someone flicking ash out their window, I will pop it into loud mode, drop it down a few cogs then give them a taste of what bad manners are all about.

Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceTheQuail View Post
Still ticky/rattly at startup in the morning, but much gruffer and deeper.
Is this w/ the valves closed? Idle might be the thing I want to improve most tbh. The car just lacks presence standing still to me. Yeah, that's with them closed. I also put BMC air filters in mine which gave it a bit meatier tone at the front end. But the standard idle has a nice grumble, sounds more like my XKR did. when I picked the car up after I had it done I nearly panicked at the sound at idle coz I thought I'd get pulled over

Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceTheQuail View Post
Yes, not as raspy, much deeper. Still a bit raspy though. Completely different note to (say) my Mustang which is throbby deep.
I actually prefer the typical smooth V6 sound over the typical burbly V8 sound tbh, I think I just want more of it haha.

you'll get that in spades

Quote:
Originally Posted by BruceTheQuail View Post
one out of two aint bad - plenty of overrun, f#@ing obnoxious in dynamic, it's like a drive by shooting
I can only imagine w/ the valves open it sounds like a warzone, what about t/w them closed? Right now I can typically only hear much of it in dynamic mode, sport shifting, w/ exhaust valves open, and driving pretty aggressively. I guess I can also turn to VAP to help dial it in via the ECU tuning when I get to that point as well.

Still grumbly with them closed, not as much though. I should mention I also had the pulley and tune done to my car, which probably affects note as well.

Quote:
Again, interested to hear your thoughts about stock valves open vs VAP valves closed.. sounds like it's more dramatic than I expected.

It is really dramatic. I had a paramount exhaust on my 4.2 XF, this is twice as loud.

Quote:
More than ok w/ it not sounding like a V8, but a deeper tone I can feel a little more would be fantastic.

it definitely does that.

 

It can solve this for you, as I had the exact same concerns when selecting a vap exhaust. -get the sport version. Period. We have a vert and the sport version center pipe exhaust is amazing. Sounds like a symphony - deep down low, and like an opened up f1 car up top. It’s exhilarating. Also, the overrun is more pronounced but not ricey or stupid sounding at all, the pops and burbles have tonality to them. You’ll want to drive the car exclusively in manual mode to get the full experience, which is really the only way to drive it unless you have a real clutch pedal.

why are you going with quad tips? The larger center pipes are a more unique look, every Camaro, bmw M car, and more and 4 small pipes. Two big center pipes is a much more unique look.

there’s no reason to get the valved exhaust if you don’t already have the valves built into your car. And even if you did, I’d get rid of them for a quality and consistent sound. Our car with this exhaust sounds better than our friends S v6 with stock valved exhaust open or closed. VAP made an awesome product the the install is a piece of cake.

 

This is more and more what I'm leaning toward.

Mostly because there's better options for rear diffusers this way.

I do have valved exhaust stock.. I'm mostly concerned the valved VAP exhaust will just be underwhelming closed, and overwhelming open.