Milltek fitted today - first impressions
Posted: Fri Oct 01, 2010 12:39 am
Finally took the plunge and bought a non-res non-valved off the forum, and had it fitted (along with AVS2) by MRC today
In short I wish I'd done it 3 years ago, but to be a bit more specific (and all comments compare to stock setup with exhaust valve mod)
Motorway
Cruising at relatively constant speed, there's little difference - just a slight burble when feathering the throttle, which is probably more noticeable when easing off
Traffic was a bit heavy, and I found myself changing down when previously I wouldn't have - not just for the fun of the noise, but (I think) because I started to associate the noise with optimum RPM. Obviously there's stacks of torque in 5th / 6th, but without hearing it howl I strangely assumed it was struggling. Easy to get over this though...
Downshifts
One of life's great pleasures, but I've always felt that the standard setup somehow smothers it - almost as if it cant spit out the extra lump of gas so digests it on the way through. With the Milltek, you hear and feel it leaving the building
Noise under acceleration
Simply awesome. I know it's early days, but didn't turn on the radio for 100 miles (and probably registered my least economical drive ever) Words can't describe the difference - not mine at least - but I want to get back in the car more tonight than I have since the day I bought it. It's only there when you want it, but boy will you want it!
The downside
As others have mentioned, it's most intrusive at low revs. This is below even the slowest cruising - maybe somewhere around 2k - so mainly affects moving from standstill. If you spend your life stuck in traffic then valved might be the answer (or even resonated) but I don't, so am perfectly happy with mine. What I have noticed is that I need to drop a gear for roundabouts, as my revs were obviously falling into the boom range, although again it's probably an indication that I've been getting lazy
Overall, I couldn't be more pleased. Talk of the non-res, non-valved being a beast are true, but entirely subject to driving style. You just need to get used to the fact the your right foot now controls the soundtrack as well as the motion...
In short I wish I'd done it 3 years ago, but to be a bit more specific (and all comments compare to stock setup with exhaust valve mod)
Motorway
Cruising at relatively constant speed, there's little difference - just a slight burble when feathering the throttle, which is probably more noticeable when easing off
Traffic was a bit heavy, and I found myself changing down when previously I wouldn't have - not just for the fun of the noise, but (I think) because I started to associate the noise with optimum RPM. Obviously there's stacks of torque in 5th / 6th, but without hearing it howl I strangely assumed it was struggling. Easy to get over this though...
Downshifts
One of life's great pleasures, but I've always felt that the standard setup somehow smothers it - almost as if it cant spit out the extra lump of gas so digests it on the way through. With the Milltek, you hear and feel it leaving the building
Noise under acceleration
Simply awesome. I know it's early days, but didn't turn on the radio for 100 miles (and probably registered my least economical drive ever) Words can't describe the difference - not mine at least - but I want to get back in the car more tonight than I have since the day I bought it. It's only there when you want it, but boy will you want it!
The downside
As others have mentioned, it's most intrusive at low revs. This is below even the slowest cruising - maybe somewhere around 2k - so mainly affects moving from standstill. If you spend your life stuck in traffic then valved might be the answer (or even resonated) but I don't, so am perfectly happy with mine. What I have noticed is that I need to drop a gear for roundabouts, as my revs were obviously falling into the boom range, although again it's probably an indication that I've been getting lazy
Overall, I couldn't be more pleased. Talk of the non-res, non-valved being a beast are true, but entirely subject to driving style. You just need to get used to the fact the your right foot now controls the soundtrack as well as the motion...
I love mine 
Best thing I did to mine was fit the non res milltek 
