[Aoyagi]

Is there some good recording of interior and exterior stock sound of the Northstar V8 STS? I was searching for some and as usual with STS, results were too few and too unsatisfactory

 

[curtc]

If it was nicer outside right now I'd record one for you. That aside you can't really hear the exhaust from the inside, it's all motor/intake in there and she screams plenty if you're pushing her. As far as outside, at idle there's a nice, subtle rumble if you're close by the rear, sounds real nice. With a little throttle it opens up a bit but isn't all that loud, GM kept it tasteful.

 

[Submariner409]

Because the cars in which the Northstar was installed were primarily upscale sedans and coupes, built to appeal to a broad market, the exhaust note of ALL of them - stock - is ............ most unobtrusive.

STS - and you have no Cadillac - do you want a recording of the FWD Seville Touring Sedan or the later RWD STS ??? Two very, very different cars. (and the exhaust note of a later STS is quite different from the later STS-V.)

 

[Aoyagi]

At idle there's a nice, subtle rumble if you're close by the rear, sounds real nice.

That's the thing, from the few recordings I heard it didn't seem all that nice, but they were all done with some rubbish microphone or with a lot of background noise, hence why I have to ask here, heh.

Two very, very different cars

Well, we're in a 2005+ STS subforum, aren't we . Besides, we've already had a chat here. I should prolly pick some icon...

 

[91RS]

Are you worried it will sound bad? The N* has a nice a sound but the stock mufflers will keep it VERY quiet. I would describe it as European since that's what this car was to compete with. If you want a little more sound, the Corsa mufflers are the way to go.

 

[Aoyagi]

Well, as I said, all the videos I've seen so far didn't make it sound very impressive even though the camera was placed right behind the back of the car and like I said, I believe it was mainly due to background noise, terrible acoustics or low-quality microphone. Just making sure, heh.

 

[Ludacrisvp]

Stock has a good sound and I think GMPP sounds even better.
By the time you find a "quality" recording you will have had plenty of time to go test drive a real STS and hear it first hand. The stock sound is mostly just engine and intake noise. When you change the exhaust out to something else is about the only time you'll actually hear it in the car well.

 

[ECha3]

Stock - Classy & Quiet
Corsa - Forum member consensus for upgraded exhaust sound w/o drone
Borla - Full system stainless replacement but spendy & some report exhaust drone at cruise
Others (Magnaflow, Gibson, Walker, custom mods, etc.) - Higher potential risk & cost for questionable benefit

I've read all the Forum threads and never felt the need to change. The STS designers were able to optimize the N* performance while achieving a very smooth and strong yet refined sounding exhaust. Don't expect more power; but if you want it louder under throttle, the Corsa seems to be the popular choice.

 

[turnne]

Because the cars in which the Northstar was installed were primarily upscale sedans and coupes, built to appeal to a broad market, the exhaust note of ALL of them - stock - is ............ most unobtrusive.

STS - and you have no Cadillac - do you want a recording of the FWD Seville Touring Sedan or the later RWD STS ??? Two very, very different cars. (and the exhaust note of a later STS is quite different from the later STS-V.)

if you like the sound of the northstar
a 2001-2003 Aurora V8 will give you that
It was "tuned :louder than the Cadillac's

I actually owned both at the same time...and the Aurora had more of that traditional V8 "growl"

per haps because Olds was supposed to be the import fighter got GM

Warren