Fixing My GTI’s Exhaust

When I got my 2012 Golf GTI Edition 35 there was a list of things to put right, and the exhaust was near the top of it. The car had exhaust leaks that affected both the sound and the performance.

With the leaks fixed and the original exhaust back on, the first thing I noticed was how quiet it is in town. It is about as quiet as any normal car now, and there is no drone at low speed. My commute is 45 minutes each way on the highway, and for the first time I could do it without the noise wearing me down.

Push the pedal and it changes. There is a deep growl you do not get from a standard car, and it stays on the right side of loud. Enough to tell you what you are driving, not enough to annoy anyone.

That is what I like about the original exhaust. It stays quiet until you are on the highway or pushing a bit, and then it has something to say. People who have ridden with me, or just heard it go past, have said the same thing without me asking.