yea I think your right, but I decided for my setup 2.5in side exit would be too loud, so I'm going to stay with the stock 2.25. I have heard 2 other 03-05 neons with NO muffler (2.25 in stock exhaust with straight pipe out the back) and no resonator and they weren't as loud as you would expect. No they weren't side exit but it gives you a general idea. If I keep the stock cat or even a high flow cat it should reduce the sound significantly. In the long straight before the first 90 degree bend, say a magnaflow or maybe the new 'hushpower' muffler from flowmaster welded in there, its the same shape as the resonator so I wouldn't have to worry about fitment. Either the magnapack or hushpower would keep the sound at bay and make it sound really mean I think... I just need to do a lot of cutting/welding to get the right angle for the side exit... which might take a little trial and error. like I said I'll post some pics when I'm done.. and hopefully I don't chicken out and just get and srt-4 'axelback' from someone... Don't get me wrong that looks good too. anyway I'm done rambling

 

A Flowmaster 40, IIRC, sounds pretty good on Neons. Just a thought...

 

Hey darthroush, in your garage it says you have a 03 neon 'se', but on your signature, it looks like the side moldings/handles found on the sxt (as opposed to the unpainted black plastic found on the handles, etc of the 'se'. Did you paint or get the moldings somewhere or did you have an sxt and then delete the spoiler? The reason why I ask is I'm considering a spoiler deleete on mine after I lower it.
Thanks for your input. I've had the 40 series on an 05' gto and they werent loud enough so I switched to magnapacks.. but I know there diffrent cars. I'll try to hear a neon with a 40 and see how it sounds though.. bound to be someone somewhere in orlando with one on there. I don't trust just listening on the internet anymore lol...

 

If you do your side exit and get a glass pack which does way better than resanators seeing I have tried two with the srt stock exhaust and the glasspack tamed it down more than they did and gave my borla a really cool roar . I think ses look like the sxts somewhat and they dont come with spoilers like darths. If you want to go wingless get yourself some trunk plugs like at an autoparts store or lowes. They are under 10bucks at both places

 

The handles are unpainted plastic. They are just shiny from being thoroughly cleaned and dressed Spoiler deletes aren't all that uncommon either.

I have a friend with a Neon, and he has a Flowmaster on it (40 series I'm assuming) and it sounds nice. I do agree about listening to things on the internet though.

EDIT: May check this thread out; they are saying Flowmaster 80 is an option too. Of course, the 3rd popular option is getting a Camaro muffler, which was done in this thread:
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?t=30465&highlight=

Here's a quick one about the Flowmaster 40. It's short and to the point:
http://forum.2gn.org/viewtopic.php?p...777178cd4433d5

 

Wow thanks a lot man. After seeing/hearing that camaro magnaflow muffler I will have to do some thinking... Flowmaster isn't my favorite BUT I do think that a 40 series would sound good on a neon. I have heard the 44 series on a few trucks and they sounded great. Man I was all set on the side exit too, but since I'm not buying a kit that means a fair amount of fabricating, and even after I do get it on if its too loud then all that time would go to waste. I've also considered keeping the 'stock' exhaust configuration (With 2.5in piping on the rear section for the muffler of course) with a single tip out of the right side of rear bumper angled down, which would give me more flexibility as far as choosing the brand of muff I think will sound the best. Haven't heard of many people running Borla, so I will check them out as well.. see if maybe they have a camaro/f-bird specific muffler as well. Needless to say I've got a few things to think about.

 

Not many sxts run borlas seeing they are expensive and in my op one of the best exhausts out there . I got my borla from a srt4 guy for 150shipped and I have never seen them that cheap ever. Srt4s run the borlas alot . Most neons run the stock srt or magnaflow or flowmasters .