Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Magnaflow catback exhaust (15715) and Magnaflow direct fit catalytic converter (23684)
When I first drove home after this system was installed, I thought that I made a huge mistake. The exhaust was very loud and raspy and the drone at freeway speed was giving me a headache. I honestly thought that I ruined my car and was thinking of how I was going to come up with the money to buy a new stock exhaust system to replace this one. Well I reluctantly drove the car and to my relief, the exhaust toned down drastically after a hundred miles or so. It's now a lot more mellow. It's still quite louder than stock and at certain rpm's, a little raspy, but overall I am quite pleased with the sound especially when first driving off when the engine is cold. The exhaust is high quality, the fit is solid and it is beautiful to look at. It definitely gives the car a muscular look. I was reluctant at first to accept the 4" exhaust tip but I have grown to like it.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
Magnaflow brand 304 stainless cat-back exhaust system for NA MX-5 Miata (single exit)
Excellent product, high quality build. Great looks and wonderful sound (deep and smooth tone). The fit is top-notch and the installation was a breeze. Getting back to the sound, it sounds very complimentary to the motor, and accentuates its quality sound. Installed on a 1996, I imagine a 1.6L might sound a bit different, but I cannot imagine it sounding bad on either motor. Exhaust tip might be a bit large for some, but it does a good job of filling the bumper cutout. I decided not to go with dual outlet because A) I don't want to cut my brand new bumper and B) I've read it's a little bit tricky to align perfectly.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05 1.8 liter
I like my car, and in my mind I like to think of it as the best possible iteration of stock. To that end, I'm not planning anything extreme in the engine bay and thus overall displaced air mass will be largely stock, and therefore I didn't want to go larger than two inch diameter exhaust pipe. I looked a lot of out-of-the-box cat-backs on the market, and I noticed that all of them had piping that was at least two and a quarter inches. And they were all $350 or more. Long story short, I decided to have a shop build me one with 2" pipe. I found for sale on amazon Magnaflow's 11124, a fourteen inch long 7"x3.5" oval with center/offset in/outlets. And I even was lucky enough to find a genuine Magnaflow double wall stainless steel tip, 35122. The tip is a round straight cut with a 3" OD, and a 2.25" ID, and it looks even better in person.
When the muffler arrived on my doorstep, it was like Christmas in september. A few snips of the packing straps and the lid swung up to show off a stunningly crafted piece of engineering. Gleaming (non-mirror finish) stainless steel wrapped in a perfect oval, embossed with MAGNAFLOW on both sides, held in place by very industrial looking endcaps welded on with wonderfully sturdy robot-welds. The inner surface of the flow pipe was absolutely flawless from end to end. The core tube was exactly 2" and perfectly matched the in/outlet tubes and exhaust tubing for superior flow. I went with an offset core because I thought that it was going to be very loud and wanted to go as quiet as possible. I installed it center inlet, offset outlet with the outlet side on the engine end of the car for maximum muffling, so the gases travel in a sort of S pattern as they exit. Under the car, it looks rather small compared to the Auto Zone turbo special that was on it (4th owner here), b! ut also really, really, really awesome. The tip is almost too beautiful for words. Honestly, it the best looking exhaust tip I have ever seen, but I admit I may be biased. The double wall construction allows the outer (3") tube to float freely over the inner pipe, being anchored only on the outside end, giving the face of the tip a really cool knife edge where it folds over itself. All polished to a shining, mirror finish that glitters oh so seductively in the sun. But how does it sound, you ask? In a word, perfect. For starters, loud it is not. I can hear it perfectly and still have a civil conversation top up or down, and passerby aren't bothered. However, step in to it, and it's a howling beast pulling at its restraints. The sound can range from sporty and powerful to screaming nasty, all at a tolerable decibel level. The difference in sound between a cold muffler and a hot muffler is surprising and pleasing. On start up, it has more the flavor of a ricey tuner because the cold lets the air condense and slow down making it higher pitched and twangier. Good and hot, though, and the whole system breathes as one solid pipe, and it gets that classic Magnaflow roar as the pressure pulses travel to the tip.
Pardon my verbosity, but it really must be said that your exhaust need to match the type of car you want yours to be. Another reviewer mentioned that his Magnaflow was quieter than stock, and I can attest to that. His piping was stock 1.875" and mine is 2". Both are at least a quarter inch smaller than all the other aftermarket systems, and much quieter. I'm even running straight midpipe, the 11124 is my only muffler. Now, I am using a Jackson Racing header mated to the stock cat, so I haven't forgotten how that affects the sound. But I'm willing to bet the $50 it costs to make it that a 2" test pipe will be not that much louder and flow even better, and sound infinitely cooler. All in all, I just wish I could've done it sooner, really was the best 250 bucks I ever spent.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.6 liter
Since the new California Air Resources Board law went into effect in January 2009, very few catalytic converters are legal in California anymore. As an owner of an old pre-ODB I 1991 Miata, choices were extremely limited. At the time of this review, only this Magnaflow Direct-Fit 36000 series Catalytic Converter (and Universal Fit) could be found for purchase online. One other vendor was selling this direct-fit model for $550. AutoAnything's price was less than half of that ($213.95) so that's what I went for.
Installation of the direct-fit model was very simple. You simply remove 4 bolts, take the old one out, and re-attach this new one with those 4 bolts and you're done. I was able to pass CA SMOG after failing with my old cat.
This model does not come with any gaskets, but should you need replacements for those, you can get them at Kragen or another auto retailer for about $3 apiece.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 '99-'05 '06+ 1.6 liter 1.8 liter
This is an oval-shaped universal style Magnaflow muffler. It has 2.5" inlets and is quite a bit smaller/lighter than stock. It is the stainless version and is very solid, well build.
I got this for about 60$ of Ebay, shipped. It was used but had never been taken out of the box or plastic wrapping, so its basically new. Came with lifetime warrenty paperwork and a Magnaflow sticker!! I had a muffler shop stretch the stock pipe /after the flange/ and bend an outlet pipe. The whole job was 60 dollars + 15 for the parts (pipe, hangars etc.) I think they screwed me on the parts, but big deal.
The price was definatly right at a bit over 100 installed. I'm not so sure my feelings on the sound level as of yet. A few people have clips on youtube of their magnaflow set ups, and I was hoping for a loud sound such as that, but im not quite at their levels. The car is silent at idle, and it roars pretty good at wot, but im not sure how much is from the muffler and how much is from the new intake I put in (which is really loud in itself.) I'm hoping that the muffler gets a bit louder as it breaks in, but I think most people would be very happy with the sound. Its only been in 8 hours, however, so I'll get back later and report any changes. Overall a great deal, solid product, lifetime warrenty.
Difficult to remove without leaving damage
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
2.25" in/out diameter universal fit Catylic converter
Bought off ebay from dependonauto for $55 shipped. The unit is about 5" shorter than stock converter, but rounder and bigger in overall diameter.
Very good experience with it. Brought it over to a local muffler shop, they added 2" sections on either ends + flanges for $50. Immediately noticed how light the throttle response felt. The engine revs quicker, easier. Makes a slight rumble, but no annoying raspy or buzzing or droning noises coming out through the tail pipes.
Under 5 minutes to remove
Applicable to: '99-'05 1.8 liter
Magnaflow 4" round muffler in polished stainless. The muffler is a beautiful piece of equipment and definitely good quality.
It gives the Miata a great sound. Very bassy between 3k-4k rpms. I really enjoyed the sound but only for a few minutes. After a while it really starts to get to you. I've decided to try something different because I feel that the Magnaflow is damaging my hearing. This is probably due to me buying a 4" round instead of a normal size oval. Oh well, live and learn.
It costs less than $70 and is a great deal. If you want loud and aren't worried about your hearing or dont mind earplugs, you can't beat it.
Under 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '90 - '97 1.8 liter
Magnaflow muffler, part number 11225,"Aluminized Universal Muffler", plus hangars, clamps, and a stainless steel tip, professionally installed for $173. Lifetime warranty.
At idle, not much difference in sound: blip the throttle, and you immediately hear the difference. Quite "authoritative" sounding on hard acceleration, I think I do feel some performance improvement, especially between 5,000-6,500 RPM. I'd judge this as a bit loud for a daily driver, but my Miata is a weekend car, so it's fine with me. It does seem to "boom" around 3,000 RPM. Interestingly, this muffler is a LOT smaller than the standard Miata OEM muffler, it's a 14" wide oval. It's hard to see the muffler if you're standing behind the car.
I'm happy with the product. At less than half the cost of a Borla system (and this was professionally installed), I think it's a bargain.
Over 30 minutes to remove completely
Applicable to: '99 + 1.8 liter
The muffler is Magnaflow stock number 11225. Aluminized contstruction.
The overall experience is good to excellant. From the stock muffler flow is greatly improved. The only negative with the change is an occasional back-wrap pop on the upshifts. My research suggests this is common on some Miatas and may not be the muffler.
The muffler was installed on my 2002 SE with only 200 miles on the odometer. The muffler was recommended by a custom shop. The price was very good at $107 for the unit. Total price with 4" diameter tip was under $200. Now with about 1300 miles on the muffler, the overall sound level is more sports car like. At crusing speed not much different than stock. A little raspy when cold, but once heated up the sound is pleasant.
Not an installed item
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