so this weekend at GT live, in the car show there was a really well put together JDM crx with real mugen parts on it. i finally confirmed what i had a hunch on for a long time.

you can see from the pics, the muffler is actually designed to work with the rear bumper to create some kind of aero, either downforce or just create less drag. im not sure since im no expert, either way its apparent that theres some actual design thought going on in their product designs.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you can see from the pics, the muffler is actually designed to work with the rear bumper to create some kind of aero, either downforce or just create less drag. im not sure since im no expert, either way its apparent that theres some actual design thought going on in their product designs.
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But that's a bit disingenuous isn't it? I mean who's going to use a) a big honking sideways sitting (assume that isn't the best for high flow) muffler and b) all that length of exhaust tubing to take it to the back of the car and again, at a sidewards angle for a racing application AND if not for a racing application, what's the real purpose? And wouldn't that bottom out most anywhere but the track and at a car show?

Its visually neat to me but on the same token: "it [seems] about as useful as a poopy flavored lolipop!" - Patches O'Houilihan

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

car show

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The aero effects can't possibly outweigh the added exhaust tubing and backpressure for a racing application. I thinks its been well proven that most Hondas like pretty much zero back pressure (Heck, my exhaust fell off at the header at a race this year and my straight line speed improved by 100 rpms).

Maybe if you're at one of those tracks with a ridiculously low sound level... Yeah, OK. Otherwise its a street and show piece IMO.

 

mugen does what most well balanced tuners do and build packages and not just parts.

That exhaust is a sport design not meant for racing but they did what was reponsible and took a little bit extra time on the placement and dimmensions to reduce drag and wind noise and increase possilby vehicle stability

it may all be very minor but responsible tuning for the enthusiast

 

you know, my point is not that mugen is the **** and better than anything we do. i think it is mainly a street piece. but if you were going to make a street muffler, theres some obvious thought involved in the design, that really is not shown in any other bolt on ive seen. and plus, if you were required to run low sound limits and needed a muffler, where would you want the extra weight? as low as possible and to the back i would think.

by no means, dont stop doing what youre doing. its just for consideration, take it as you want.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sans &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">That exhaust is a sport design not meant for racing </TD></TR></TABLE>

Yeah, I hear ya.
But what kind of street speeds will you need to see before you get any sort of aero advantage from this? My guess is that its much higher than any posted speed limit on a twisty road in this country.

Sure, it may reduce wind noise. But how much does the average CRX "enthusiast" who runs kidney busting springs, 4" of ground clearance, loud exhaust and low profile tires care about wind noise?

I'm not saying its a bad piece. Its probably a very good piece. I'm just questioning its usefulness beyond "Wow!!! Thats an awesome Mugen exhaust y0!"
Or, put another way:

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by phat-S &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
"it [seems] about as useful as a poopy flavored lolipop!" - Patches O'Houilihan</TD></TR></TABLE>

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Tyson &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you know, my point is not that mugen is the **** and better than anything we do. </TD></TR></TABLE>

Nobody said that was your point.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
by no means, dont stop doing what youre doing. its just for consideration, take it as you want.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Can't we discuss the validity of the piece?
I'm sure its cost warrants a discussion of its true value as a performance part.

Or, we could just sling poo. I don't really care.

 

Yeah mugen is the only one to use a wind tunnel to actually test their aero parts.

oh and I think that was Leon's car. I met him Sunday night during the D1GP

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Solscud007 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Yeah mugen is the only one to use a wind tunnel to actually test their aero parts.

oh and I think that was Leon's car. I met him Sunday night during the D1GP</TD></TR></TABLE>

mugen only has had limited access to an actual wind tunnel for street parts for the last couple of years the CRX was based on a good hypothosis

"Sure, it may reduce wind noise. But how much does the average CRX "enthusiast" who runs kidney busting springs, 4" of ground clearance, loud exhaust and low profile tires care about wind noise?"

I think you are confusing "enthusiast" with "idiot". A real CRX enthusiast would'nt try to rewrite the car but make upgrades or things on a positive as a whole not just for race day, on the other hand a track day "enthusiat" may not care. but there are far more people that want an even sportier SIR ect that do track events ect where these minute details come into play, maybe what a really aggresive R version would have been like from Honda at that time.

About 8 years ago I got to ride around in a catalog car and I remember it felt very safe and sporty without being harsh.

 

i would say that the muffler helps direct air out under the bumper cover,preventing getting it caught in there and creating drag....but,seeing as how the bumper cover has the huge cutouts in it,they allow the air to escape anyway-similar to drag racers cutting holes in the rear bumper cover.
maybe it's a visual thing so that from the back of the car it appears to just flow right up under there?
Chris

 

cant really see the exhaust so here's a pics of mines

 

Well I'll be damned, that's pretty cool. While designing the exhaust, they could of done it purposely just as an extra "feature", even knowing that it wasn't a hardcore race part.