O.k. I figured I would start a new thread on this.
I have had the Corsa installed for 24 hours now and have placed 200 varying miles on the car.

I guess I can say I am a bit disappointed with the Corsa. Going to the Corsa from stock I am sure many would be pleased. If you are going from an already aftermarket exhaust, like myself, you will probabably be disappointed unless you are purposely looking for something more tame.

Personally, I was looking for as much loudness as my Magnaflows, if not a bit more, but with a slightly different tone. The Corsa once warmed up is definitely quieter than the Magnaflow axle-backs.

Interior- you don't even know you have an aftermarket exhaust. It was kinda nice to have a bone quiet car at 80 mph last night. I had the stereo at 8 !!???

However, I feel when one shells out $1300 they are probably going to want to be impressed. To me, the $1300 bought an exhaust which sounds like a factory performance car exhaust. Now our cars do not have that from factory. But, when I was hearing stories about it sounding like an old Chevelle and stuff...I was envisioning it would sound balls to the wall upon hard acceleration yet then tone down a bit during normal driving. With your windows down, you will not hear the exhaust above 30 mph. When just plain cruising, you will not hear the exhaust. In fact once the car is warmed up and you step out of it with the engine idling, you can barely hear the exhaust.

So, for me, I would liked to have seen something definitely louder yet controlled with minimal drone.

Plus the extra 3" in tube length has been mentioned several times. But that needs to be done or the tips are left stuck under the diffuser as are the factory muffler tips. A $1300 Corsa exhaust needs to have the tips poking out to display the $$$ you just spent. ;)

I would give it a 6/10 for overall impressiveness. 7 if it gets louder.

Please let me know what you guys think.

It is quieter than I thought it would be. At wide open throttle it sounds european/exotic. I don't think it sounds muscle carish, but it certainly sounds like you have something under the hood. The Corsa I had on my Sierra was much louder at WOT, and I hoped this system would sound more like that. Fitment was good but I needed 1 more inch on the drivers side to match the passenger side and not to touch the heat shield. Installation was super easy. I wish there were not dark spots where the hangers are welded to the back of the muffler. I've polished them since the install picture I attached, but it still shows. I am happy overall. I would recommend the system. Having no drone is exactly what I need since this is my daily driver. I think they could make a good thing better, and maybe with our input they will.

PROS: No Drone, Great Looking Tips, Great Quality, Nice sound

Cons: Weld spots on the back of the muffler, Need another inch so mufflers don't touch heat shields, Colud have been a little louder

To me the sound is a 9.5, quality of components is a 9.5 but fitment is a 5.

I wanted the car to sound how it should have come from the factory. (like my previous Grand Prix GXP).

Corsa delivered on this. The sound on startup and heavy acceleration is perfect yet it's not a loud "in your face" exhaust at other times. Corsa also delivered on their claim of no drone. Sound is subjective but it's exactly what I wanted.

Quality of components is excellent. (no complaints)

However my beef with Corsa is fitment. This system is too dam short for our cars. The X-pipe assembly needs to be about 2-3" longer so all three sections can be fit together with plenty of overlap and so that the muffler doesn't hit the front of the heat shield. It seems like Corsa never bothered to actually install one on a G8 or they'd see what I mean. I made that suggestion to them but the only response I got back was to "save my receipt"???

It sounds like Livernois shop has installed penty of these Corsa's on G8s. I'm curious what Andy's comments are on fitness?? Maybe they weld them on. For a $1300 system, fitment should also be a 9+.

If Corsa could fix their fitment problems and reduced cost to hit a $995 price point I think they'd hit a home run.

most of the guys here that get the corsa are looking for quieter. they are daily drivers like mine and go like 100ish miles a day at 70 or so on the highway. I like the way both of them sound though. If it was not my daily beater I would have the magnaflows they sound very throaty. borla i'm thinkin is the same way. want loud, you can go with SLP LOUDMOUTHS.

I'm curious if anyone has mentioned these fitment issues to Corsa. For $1300 plus, this exhaust should fit like a dream. There should NOT need to be any modifying to get the mufflers/tips to fit properly.

On a side note, I'm sure it does sound great though!

Have to agree on the welds. The tips are nicer than the Mflows. However, the mufflers look better from the rear and sides on the Mflows.

I can see what you guys mean by no drone. It definitely does deliver in that aspect.
BUT, so does the stock system. And, wouldn't you think for $1700 retail a system could have been designed that gave more volume yet still no drone?

And yeah, fit is kinda ridiculous for system that cost this much.

*Also, if re-designing the system- I would make the tips a bit larger in diameter. There is plenty of room for say a 3.5-4" tip. ??????

I guess I can say I am a bit disappointed with the Corsa. Going to the Corsa from stock I am sure many would be pleased. If you are going from an already aftermarket exhaust, like myself, you will probabably be disappointed unless you are purposely looking for something more tame.


I would give it a 6/10 for overall impressiveness. 7 if it gets louder.

Please let me know what you guys think.

I'll give you $900 for it.:wink2::gr_jest:

I'm curious if anyone has mentioned these fitment issues to Corsa. For $1300 plus, this exhaust should fit like a dream. There should NOT need to be any modifying to get the mufflers/tips to fit properly.

On a side note, I'm sure it does sound great though!

Any system needs alignment and adjusting, especially 304 stainless systems since they move a lot with heat. As far as fitment goes it takes getting it just right, but since 304 does expand so much they purposely make the system just long enough, if they didn't every time the system got hot it would bottom out in the connectors causing the system to put more force on the clamps and eventually would take itself out of adjustment.

Also, me personally, I don't want to hear the exhaust on the inside of the car unless under WOT. I would pay more money to keep it stock levels in the car and sound bad ass outside. This is what Corsa has always been and always will be famous for. I agree someone that switches from a magnaflow will think the system is much quieter when in reality its usually louder, just not inside ;)

I would also state that adding 3" to the pipe will subtract some of the DB from the system as well. Also, I can attest to Corsa test fitting the system on a G8 since they used our GXP for fitment checking on the manual trans cars. Along with this we have installed and sold more systems then just about every other corsa dealer combined and fitment has always been great. We had to move the heat shield on one car but this was because the shield was damaged prior to install...

That being said i have let Corsa know to double check everything on their end.

Eric,

I completely understand where you are coming from... I have listened to dozens of audio/video of the different exhausts. I've also felt it is not the same as what I grew up with. Yes, the "european" sound is what it is, not sure how we arrived at that though, but as a label, ok?

I guess I am missing the deep deep sound of mid-60s to early 70s sound. My '81 Z-28 had a deeper sound with a true dual custom exhaust. I added a 2-chamber Flowmaster exhaust to my '88 Fbird 350 and it was deeper. With both, I heard the exhaust constantly. Perhaps many who refer to drone is what I know and remember as just audible exhaust that was constant.

The current systems do have a higher note, plus as one member stated, a raspier sound.

Perhaps it also has to do with how the newer V8 rev faster with the new trannys than what I am used to. My three previous 350s were lower revving types, LM-1s I recall, all with 190 to 225 stock hp with TH350/400s.

The closest thing I have heard in a new car to what I am used to is a Youtube video that a member posted of a GTO with an LS7/427 installed. Everybody thought it was loud, one member got "scared" yet I thought it was normal. It actually sounded like my old '69 Camaro with a 454 that had been installed.

I guess I will have to get used to the new sound. It is tempting me to skip the catback systems and go with a full header, a typical mod I used to do.

What I find interesting is the sound of our 6.0s and compare to a Mustang GTs that have aftermarket exhausts. Their's sound noticeably deeper. Again, I go back to the design/setup of our 6.0s.

I suppose some of the members who did not grow up with 60s-70s cars like I did might not be able to relate. I still remember to this day the event that turned me on to cars. It was in Lawton Ok in 1972. I was at a public pool and heard a loud car. I look over to see an orange Plymouth Superbird (wind and all) drive by. I was hooked... still remember sound and looks.

Maybe that's what you are hearing/feeling.

when you at LT kooks headers with no cats with corsa cat-back...you will get the deep mucsle car tone ..:driving:

Anyone looking to sell theirs?

when you at LT kooks headers with no cats with corsa cat-back...you will get the deep mucsle car tone ..:driving:
ok... but some of us don't want to run without cats...

More and more I am realizing that on this car, cut outs are the way to go.

I could spend $500 installed and have the sound when I want to and then when I am cruising I could close them or even leave them slightly open.

Then with the left over $800, I could get sound deadener for the entire car......





Then on second thought, I could get axleback straight pipes and have it loud on the outside and then spend the rest on deadening materials....I could buy a crapload of deadening, ensolite, and luxury liner with that much leftover and have the interior as quiet as a frickin casket under ground with six feet of dirt over it...


But I'll be damned if I spend $1300 and have something that is as quiet as stock and not fit correctly.

More and more I am realizing that on this car, cut outs are the way to go.

I could spend $500 installed and have the sound when I want to and then when I am cruising I could close them or even leave them slightly open.

Then with the left over $800, I could get sound deadener for the entire car......





Then on second thought, I could get axleback straight pipes and have it loud on the outside and then spend the rest on deadening materials....I could buy a crapload of deadening, ensolite, and luxury liner with that much leftover and have the interior as quiet as a frickin casket under ground with six feet of dirt over it...


But I'll be damned if I spend $1300 and have something that is as quiet as stock and not fit correctly.

What I keep repeatedly seeing is people thinking the exhaust is as quiet as stock..., I want to point something out. The ONLY time this should be as quiet as stock is INSIDE the car at idle, and cruise. Outside of the car it's always louder, and at WOT or even part throttle it is louder then stock.

Corsa is purposely engineered to have stock or near stock DB rating inside of the car under these conditions, it is also what they are famous for, and sought after for. That being said, sound preference is probably the most subjective part of a car there is (next to appearance) so it would be crazy to think every body wants the same thing.

Corsa is for those who want a great sounding exhaust when, and ONLY when they want it. It is directly controlled by their driving style, if they want it quiet, they drive it normal, if they want it loud they beat on it... I would rather have a quiet system I can make louder then a loud system I have to permanently modify the car to make it liveable...

Finally, with all of that being said, do your homework, if at all possible listen to cars in person, and choose for yourself...

Corsa is for those who want a great sounding exhaust when, and ONLY when they want it. It is directly controlled by their driving style, if they want it quiet, they drive it normal, if they want it loud they beat on it... I would rather have a quiet system I can make louder then a loud system I have to permanently modify the car to make it liveable...


Exactly. The Corsa system is definitely not quite as stock, unless it at cruise and no load.

I just took a trip this past weekend, 5 hours on the intersate each way, and it was great. No drone at all. But, when I got the family in the car for a cruise, it definitely was not as quiet as stock!

The system sounds great to me. When I want to get on it, I get a nice sound to go with it. When I just want to cruise, it as quiet as stock.

But I'll be damned if I spend $1300 and have something that is as quiet as stock and not fit correctly.

You can make it fit correctly but you have to balance the overlap at the front to middle and middle to back couplings and then position the mufflers up against the front heat shield. (you can't just put everything together and tighten it).

Each coupling has a slit and the male section of pipe needs to go in the full length of the slit but no more.

I can see what all you guys are saying.
And I want Andy to know that I am in no way trying to diminish his Corsa exhaust sales. This is just one person's opinion which means about as much as a drop of water in an ocean. lol

We were at a friends house last night and here is what we had: my car, 2003 Mustang GT, 2008 Charger RT, and 70 Cuda (OH YEAH!).

These guys knew more than I about cars. But they all new when I remotely started my car, 'That's a Corsa exhaust!' And that was meant in a Holy Grail type of way. The Stang had a Magnaflow full exhaust and it sounded so different than my MFlow sounded. But, as many have said, a Stang sounds likes a Stang.

But we were all comparing cars and they all unanamously agreed that the Corsa really gave my G8 an $$$ sound. The sound, with the wheels, with all the other G8 uniqueness makes it appear to be a very expensive car.

After doing my standard tire smoking burn out as I left, I did realize that to go from screaming banshee to quiet as a hum down the road (guy with the Cuda got a ticket for reckless driving on his second burn out- lol) is really a nice thing with the Corsa.

Agreed, it is a lot easier to simply make a loud exhaust than it is to make one loud at WOT and quiet while cruising. I'm starting to enjoy this exhaust more after nights like that.

I still say though that an additional 2-3" would be nice in the exhaust. I feel it only looks best with the tips out 2". This cannot be done with the current set up. But, that is why they make sleeves, eh? ;)

.

*Also, if re-designing the system- I would make the tips a bit larger in diameter. There is plenty of room for say a 3.5-4" tip. ??????[/quote]

Reason why I went with Borla...nice 3.5 tips ...makes the GXP rear diffuser
look even nicer

If you want louder out of the Corsa, just put the car in the manual mode and shift manually and rev it up more between shifts, then you'll get louder. Like was said, the exhaust can be loud when you want it to be and when you dont the quietness is nice.

I'll give you $950 for it.

Sounds exactly like what i'm looking for.

Yesterday afternoon I owuld have said yes.
Today- my 6 rating has gone up to a 7.5. lol

$951?:sneaky:




;):gr_jest:

I have about 600 miles on my Corsa and we re torqued after the first heat and now at 600 miles at my State Inspection and Emissions Service. We had to readjust the passenger side since the muffler hits the rear heat shield, what a pleasure to work with. I am sorry I did not take advantage of the factory install, they are higher priced, as they should be, and their factory is close to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nice sound, idle and throttle. I wasted my money on the MF, still have the stock system, and when I trade, they may want that back on. Corsa gets my vote.

Corsa is the perfect wife set up! Quiet under normal driving conditions, and it lets people know a V8 is lingering when you get on it!

I must say..it is now growing on me.
I went for a solo drive tonight through the hills. I drove the car mostly in manual mode and man the exhaust really sounded nice. It does have a very nice 'exotic' sound(you should know by now how much I need a new word for this!) and reminds me of almost how a Viper sounds. Granted it is no way near the total volume of a Viper. But it does have the same tonal qualities.
The Corsa does have a very nice 'burble' while holding gears and does display much different sounds than that of the simpler MFlow. My F150 with the Flowmaster 40 sounds very similar to the MFlow.

This exhaust is really starting to grow on me. Who'd a thunk?!

O.K. its been 1.5 weeks now.
I must say, I am really liking this exhaust!
As I stated before it is obviously different from the MFlow I had.
Now that I have been driving around with all 4 windows open you can really hear the sound of the Corsa. Andy was completely correct in that the sound actually ejects through the rear of the car and not up through the car as the MFlow does.
It definitely has a unique sound that cannot be confused with any other exhaust. It still kinda reminds me of how a Viper sounds as compared to other cars.

So I do need to increase my take on the Corsa cat-back to an 8.5/10 or a B+ which speaks volumes compared to the high expectations I have out of an exhaust.

Once Livernois gets a video out on the Corsa/Kooks package I can see headers being my next move.

I ordered mine through my local dealer last week. They gave me a much better price on it than I expected. I guess it helps to create a little rapport over time with the parts guy.

I'm hoping to get it installed later this week. This is the last mod i will do to this car, honestly...:bs:

I ordered mine through my local dealer last week. They gave me a much better price on it than I expected. I guess it helps to create a little rapport over time with the parts guy.

I'm hoping to get it installed later this week. This is the last mod i will do to this car, honestly...:bs:


What did you pay?

I want Long tubes and Corsa.
Please post if anyone out there has done this.

Once Livernois gets a video out on the Corsa/Kooks package I can see headers being my next move.

I got some video of it today, but the mic on the camera is super sensitive and it sounds much louder than it actually does in person. In my opinion, it's perfect. It's still quiet inside the car and sounds excellent from the outside. I'll try to get it posted tomorrow.

I want Long tubes and Corsa.
Please post if anyone out there has done this.

The Corsa system can't be used with longtubes. We had Kooks make a set of custom 1 7/8" shorty headers to connect to the Corsa system and it sounds great!

-Rick

Eric,
How close are you to Valley Forge?
I would love to hear your car, as I am thinking of getting the same thing.
Also would love to see your wheels in person.
Any chance of that??


Jeff

I got some video of it today, but the mic on the camera is super sensitive and it sounds much louder than it actually does in person. In my opinion, it's perfect. It's still quiet inside the car and sounds excellent from the outside. I'll try to get it posted tomorrow.



The Corsa system can't be used with longtubes. We had Kooks make a set of custom 1 7/8" shorty headers to connect to the Corsa system and it sounds great!

-Rick
What kind of gains did the headers give you as compared to OE with the Corsa cat-back?!

Eric,
How close are you to Valley Forge?
I would love to hear your car, as I am thinking of getting the same thing.
Also would love to see your wheels in person.
Any chance of that??


Jeff
I'm probably west of you by say 2-3 hours.
I am 20 minutes west of York if that helps.

Not trying to thread jack here. Eric, are you going to the meet in Westchester on Sunday. I would love to "hear" the Corsa in the parking garage. :ftw:

Not trying to thread jack here. Eric, are you going to the meet in Westchester on Sunday. I would love to "hear" the Corsa in the parking garage. :ftw:


What meet in Westchester?? Link??

Thanks!!

I've got the Corsa CB system on mine, and I love it! Fitment was a little odd, and took some adjusting, sound is perfect. The tips look stockish from afar(if that'd what you want, NBD for me), but up close, they are nice - especially with the logo. Idle has a nice tone, nothing crazy, but at least noticeable over stock. Drone is minimal if not non-existent. The mufflers did hit the heat shields in the rear, though a little bending and adjusting with a pry bar fixed that. I have no complaints against this system, and would recommend it to anyone. The system is a little pricey but is worth it. I will be installing my Kooks LTs with catted mid-pipes in a few week, with the Kooks AB. I will keep you guys posted.

Corsa is a great system!

Meet link is:
http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=16291

I really do want to hear the Corsa in person.

Let me check with the wife. We have friends coming over that afternoon.
Would get some lunch be at a local pub by chance? ;)

I'll try and get a video uploaded tonight if I have time, no guarantee tho.

What kind of gains did the headers give you as compared to OE with the Corsa cat-back?!

We haven't had a chance to get it back on the dyno yet. Customer cars come before our own car, so as soon as we get some free time we'll get it up there and get numbers.

-Rick

We haven't had a chance to get it back on the dyno yet. Customer cars come before our own car, so as soon as we get some free time we'll get it up there and get numbers.

-Rick

Sweet, I'll be watching/waiting!

Not trying to thread jack here. Eric, are you going to the meet in Westchester on Sunday. I would love to "hear" the Corsa in the parking garage. :ftw:
I'm in! I'll go to the link now and join in.

I've got the Corsa CB system on mine, and I love it! Fitment was a little odd, and took some adjusting, sound is perfect. The tips look stockish from afar(if that'd what you want, NBD for me), but up close, they are nice - especially with the logo. Idle has a nice tone, nothing crazy, but at least noticeable over stock. Drone is minimal if not non-existent. The mufflers did hit the heat shields in the rear, though a little bending and adjusting with a pry bar fixed that. I have no complaints against this system, and would recommend it to anyone. The system is a little pricey but is worth it. I will be installing my Kooks LTs with catted mid-pipes in a few week, with the Kooks AB. I will keep you guys posted.

Corsa is a great system!

Please keep me posted. "Kooks AB"??? I'm ready to do this combo.
I'll probably call Rick at Livernois for more info. Hangtime, how much customizing must you do to make this work??

Please keep me posted. "Kooks AB"??? I'm ready to do this combo.
I'll probably call Rick at Livernois for more info. Hangtime, how much customizing must you do to make this work??

Kooks AB - Kooks Axle-back. Customizing? As in for the Corsa system? There was virtually no "customizing" it was just finding what fits, and adjusting the pipes... The only part that was tight was the rear mufflers. The are quite big and was contacting the heat shields, that was fixed with a pry bar. I just bent the heat shields so they weren't contacting the mufflers. I also torqued the clamps to 45 ft/lbs, as stated in the instructions - just as a side note.

I didnt read the whole thread so this may have been brought up. You do realize you could of basically bought some longtubes for the price of the Corsa Catback. Im sure some LTs and and Magnaflows would of given you the sound you were looking for :). Not to mention you would of picked up some good power.

I didnt read the whole thread so this may have been brought up. You do realize you could of basically bought some longtubes for the price of the Corsa Catback. Im sure some LTs and and Magnaflows would of given you the sound you were looking for :). Not to mention you would of picked up some good power.
How would the drone be on that? Plus the MFlows have a completely different sound.

Once Livernois gets a video out on the Corsa/Kooks package I can see headers being my next move.

Here you go! :)

The video can be found here (http://www.g8board.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17733)

-Rick

I didnt read the whole thread so this may have been brought up. You do realize you could of basically bought some longtubes for the price of the Corsa Catback. Im sure some LTs and and Magnaflows would of given you the sound you were looking for :). Not to mention you would of picked up some good power.


Except this isn't the "my take on the LTH and MF" thread. :wink2:

nice review, i'd like to hear this thing for myself before making another purchase i'm not happy with like i did with the Borla...

i have a corsa sport system on my z71 rcsb 5.3.. you have to get everything kinda loosely togather.. then start tightening in a sequence.. it is in the manual.. fits right if you take the time then re-tighten after a few miles

We haven't had a chance to get it back on the dyno yet. Customer cars come before our own car, so as soon as we get some free time we'll get it up there and get numbers.

-RickWe know you guys bust ass with all the work, any dyno #s yet?:wink2:

How would the drone be on that? Plus the MFlows have a completely different sound.

Hey Eric. Trust those guys at Livernois. They know what they are talking about. I just finished my Kooks mid length headers, Race Cats, Full Corsa Exhaust and Roto Fab intake with Livernois X-treme Cal. And it has the most incredible sound! The video that Rick posted gives you some idea but that is nothing compared to how is sounds in real life. This coming from a guy that had big muscle cars back in the early 80's. 442 and 400 Formula. My car brings me back to those days. Next is the TVS blower. :driving:

So money == noise? WTF? So many folk saying "for that much money it should be louder."

It's not an amp nor is it a sub woofer.

Making an aftermarket exhaust loud is easy. Making it quiet at the right times is not. And I think that is what corsa has achieved. I certainly get the impression they actually tested it some, you know, did some "engineering" rather than just slapping some parts bin pipe work and mufflers together and calling it good.

Build quality could be a bit better, that I agree with.

Andy, what is install time for the headers and exhaust system? I'm an out of towner and would like to know. Also...wouldn't long tubes be a better option?

So money == noise? WTF? So many folk saying "for that much money it should be louder."

It's not an amp nor is it a sub woofer.

Making an aftermarket exhaust loud is easy. Making it quiet at the right times is not. And I think that is what corsa has achieved. I certainly get the impression they actually tested it some, you know, did some "engineering" rather than just slapping some parts bin pipe work and mufflers together and calling it good.



couldn't agree more...

Andy, what is install time for the headers and exhaust system? I'm an out of towner and would like to know. Also...wouldn't long tubes be a better option?

The headers and exhaust can be done in a day, I'll let Andy chime in for more specific timing.

Longtubes and Corsa aren't compatible without modification.

Thank you

Regards,

Rick LeBlanc
Livernois Motorsports

I got my Corsa (Pontiac dealer) installed last Friday and took a nice little road trip over the weekend. Overall it sounds great but...

It seems like the sound is going up through the car and hitting the 'brown note' at certain lugging RPM's and w/DoD active; it is quite, not sure what the right word is, ...fatiguing. I wonder if they installed it correctly. WOT, windows down cruising, standing outside and listening it is quite impressive.

Is there anything I should look for fitment wise?

I got my Corsa (Pontiac dealer) installed last Friday and took a nice little road trip over the weekend. Overall it sounds great but...

It seems like the sound is going up through the car and hitting the 'brown note' at certain lugging RPM's and w/DoD active; it is quite, not sure what the right word is, ...fatiguing. I wonder if they installed it correctly. WOT, windows down cruising, standing outside and listening it is quite impressive.

Is there anything I should look for fitment wise?

What did you dealership charge you, Corsa + install? I spoke with a local dealership, they want full list price for Corsa :(

What did you dealership charge you, Corsa + install? I spoke with a local dealership, they want full list price for Corsa :(

$1240 + $150 installation

Not too bad. They spent a whole day installing it, driving it, adjusting it, to get it right.

$1240 + $150 installation

Not too bad. They spent a whole day installing it, driving it, adjusting it, to get it right.

Damn, that's a pretty good price considering the cheapest I see online for just the system is around $1300. Not that I'd trust my local dealership to install an air filter correctly.

The Corsa system can't be used with longtubes. We had Kooks make a set of custom 1 7/8" shorty headers to connect to the Corsa system and it sounds great!

-Rick

I think this is no longer the case as Kooks offers the 6711 Corsa high flow cat to go with the 6711 LT headers.