Customer Reviews
I thought the ability to change exhaust tone seemed a little gimmicky. Now that I have that capability, I love it. Civilized and polite (but still with a definite sports car tone that can be heard over the engine) when desired, and able to sing that satisfying sound at the driver's command. It doesn't trumpet or drone in either mode. There's a lot more resonance in loud mode, in a good way.
Exhaust is excellent, not too loud and the noise is good and not typical Japanese 4 cylinder. Was a bit confused by the vacuum hoses but the after sales team help me out and everything is great now. If you are thinking about buying, do it!
I'm not a tuner, not a racer, not a car tinker guy. Hell, half the time I'm lucky I know where the gas tank is. I scored a 2018 ND Club, Brembo/Recaro Edition with 15K on the odometer. I swear, it still had the new car smell. Not kidding. BUT, of course a guy just HAS to mess with his new car, right? Thanks to FM for putting up with my weekly orders! So, LED's all the way around, to include sequential rear turn signals, sequential blacked out side markers, I'll be mounting blacked out corner markers and super bright front turn LED's this week, compact antennae, white LED interior and trunk lights. And, you can see the little red devils on the rear quarter panels! (not from FM) I also replaced the rear spoiler, with the larger one from Moss Miata.
What was missing, is that cool, beloved, classic Roadster rumble sound, made famous ever since the first MG and Triumph hit the streets of London. American factory pipes are just too quiet (thanks for nuthin, EPA), and I didn't want loud road racing/Auto-cross pipes CCRAAKKKKKIIng out their irritating noise that just, you know, irritates.
So, that's when I found the Flyin' Miata "Hush-O-Matic" muffler. It has two chambers...well, really just one chamber with two routes for the exhaust to run through. One route goes through the standard muffler baffles to quiet the noise and exit normally. The other, has a butterfly valve built it, that operates on engine vacuum pressure (it can also be wired up to be on or off, by a switch on your wiper switch). At idle, it's just barely louder than factory (Mom and Dad would approve), but when you stomp on the gas, the extra vacuum boost will pull that valve open, letting about 90% of the exhaust and sound to bypass the baffles inside, to leave the muffler, you know, unmuffled. It's so sneaky! This not a cheater valve opening in front of the muffler, essentially opening the headers. It's all internal within the pipe.
Better yet, the sound is a deep, harmonic growl, rather than the cute little...ahem... "zoom zoom" of the factory can, because the sound resonates inside the muffler before escaping. Driving in town, if you don't speed light to light, is a nice, rumbly (is that a word?) roll with all the beautiful women chasing me, begging for a ride. Getting on the highway, is a lesson on not taking the nice rumbly for granted. With a nice guttural purr that keeps increasing in volume as you run the shifter through it's paces, you almost forget to drive, as you look in the rear view mirror for the bad ass Roadster making all that nice noise! At speed, the sound is noticeable, but not in any way obnoxious. Heck, it's rather soothing! Make sure you gulp a 5 Hour Energy before driving, or the soothing will put you to sleep 🙂
Yeah, if you're on the shelf about adding a new muffler, but don't want the Raspy Rocket Racer noise from the tail pipe? Trust me (you really can), and grab a Flyin' Miata Hush-0-Matic for your MX5. You will enjoy and appreciate the 230 extra horsepower.
*** i'm kidding about the extra horsepower and women begging...or am i????***
Recently received the Hush-O-Matic. Was debating waiting until I could also get the can controller and mid pipe in as I liked the concept of one time install. I installed on a 2020 RF the night before a autocross and could not have been happier, even with the standard vacuum control. I was concerned the lack of user control compared to the can approach would be something I might regret. That was not a issue at all and sounds great at all throttle levels. I still dip into the throttle in the same way, now there is a more satisfying curve to the exhaust note. Even the Mrs was impressed with the sound and finds it a much more appropriate sound for the car.
I expect I will still add the can unit and mid pipe but is quite addicting as it sits.
Outstanding
First, I want to mention, that those are a second week impressions and if something will change or go wrong in future - I will update this review or submit a new one. Another fact - in my opinion, the stock exhaust is one of the worst things in this awesome car (the next one is roof open/close speed limitation, which I am currently solving).
I bought this exhaust with midpipe and CAN integration (and other stuff such as hangers, heat shield, donut gasket, etc.) and sound became much more juicy!
When valves are closed - the sound is just a little bit louder than with the stock exhaust, so no worries for your neighbours at night.
With valves open it is actually quite loud with a nice vibrato, so you can turn some heads for sure.
So, this exhaust appeared to be exactly what I wanted - and it was installed in local car service in just a day.
Thanks for an awesome product, greetings from Latvia! :)