When Ford brought out the redesigned Mustang in 2005, people were ecstatic about the modifying potential.
With the 4.6 liter V8 GT, 4 liter V6, and eventually the 5.4 liter supercharged GT500, the aftermarket
world shot forward with new upgrades. The new design allowed for classic body styling, the interior
brought back the muscle car feeling, and most importantly all new exhaust upgrade opportunities to fit
the classic body language. These new exhaust setups were throaty, expressive, and complimented the
styling of the S197 well, and today the S197 is one of the most customizable Mustangs ever built. Today, there are hundreds of different exhaust options available to these earlier S197 platforms for each
of the engine options that all get different results regarding volume, appearance, “wow” factor, and
style. With so many options to choose from, it gets difficult to pick what the best options for your
S197 Mustang could be in order to get the right sound from your car. We have compiled a list of the best
sounding and looking exhaust options available for all three different engines in exhaust setups which
all change the quality of the exhaust note dramatically.
Axle Back
Cat-Back
Resonator Delete
Side Exit
When it comes to simply wanting some increased sound, an axle-back exhaust is guaranteed to get the job
done right and for not much money. A good axle-back exhaust makes any of the S197 Mustangs sound great.
For the base 4.0 V6 Mustang, you can still get a deeper and more aggressive exhaust through an upgraded
exhaust. The best sounding axle back exhaust for the V6 S197 is definitely the Flowmaster American
Thunder setup. The Flowmaster
American Thunder axle back is subtle in look but gives a nice
aggressive-sounding exhaust note that sounds much bassier than many other V6 exhausts which is difficult
to set up. The system looks stock from the outside except for the larger exhaust tip and helps keep a
subtle profile until you hit the gas hard. If you move up to the 4.6 V8 GT model, the options increase. After checking the sound quality of each
axle-back exhaust, the best exhaust we could find was none other than our own Steeda
Axle-Back setup. We
developed an exhaust that would give you a deep rumble to the exhaust that doesn't drone or get annoying
on longer driving stints. The Steeda exhaust gives a nice burble at idle and sounds like a serious
performance car at high RPM that you can't find in many axle back exhausts. For the highest performance GT500, the best sounding axle back exhaust would definitely be the American
Racing Headers' Pure Thunder exhaust which also works on the GT model. This exhaust is much
louder than
the other options on the list, and is definitely on the loud end as far as any exhaust for the S197
goes. The exhaust is less bass-heavy and instead pushes more towards sports car territory in tone but
also sounds as aggressive as you could ever want from an axle-back exhaust option. If you want a more aggressive tone as well as performance increase over the axle back exhaust option, a
cat-back exhaust is exactly what you need. Cat-back exhausts are proven to increase horsepower while
increasing the volume of your exhaust system dramatically. If you have a V6 Mustang but want that added performance, a cat-back is a great way to do this. In
addition to the power increase, many V6 cat-back exhausts actually require slight body work since they
have dual outlets. The best option on the V6 would be the Flowmaster Force 2
dual exhaust which does
require modification on the rear bumper. This dual exhaust setup both looks great and sounds great with
a more sports car tone to it as opposed to the more stereotypical muscle car tone found in Mustangs. As
far as cat-back exhausts go, this Flowmaster is the best option available because it improves the look
of your car as well. On the GT model, the best cat-back exhaust available is the Flowmaster
Outlaw. The Outlaw system has made
a name for itself as one of the more aggressive sounding exhaust options on the market and there is no
exception on the S197 GT. This exhaust brings back some old-school exhaust sounds that have been absent
from factory exhaust for years on the Mustang. On the GT500, the best sounding and performance cat-back exhaust is the MBRP XP
Series cat-back. This
exhaust, similar to the AHR one, brings the car more towards high-performance cars rather than the pony
car sound expected in the Mustang body. The MBRP exhaust is one of the best for a high-quality build and
sound that you will love on your Shelby GT500. If you want a horsepower increase without making your car dramatically louder, a resonator delete can
easily do this. Simple installation and lower price make this a great option as a first modification for
increasing your car's exhaust and horsepower. Resonator deletes can change the tone of your exhaust
without increasing the volume too much. If you want to install an H-pipe, the best option for the S197 Mustang GT is definitely the Pypes H-Pipe.
This H-pipe helps bring a lower exhaust note out without making your car much louder. Realistically, it
makes the Mustang sound how it should have from the factory. The H-pipe helps you recapture some of the
old school muscle sound for your S197 to match the retro body.
If you want to use an X-pipe resonator delete, there are multiple options to do so. After comparing the
sounds of the X-pipes, the best option for the GT model is the Kooks Catted X-Pipe. This delete upgrades
the catalytic converters while adding an X-pipe for a more high-pitched performance sound. On the GT500,
a similar option uses the Corsa
X-Pipe which increases the volume more than other options. The Corsa
pipe is not catted and can be fitted before the catalytic converters with extra cutting to fit.
Nothing screams classic design quite like side exit exhaust. Made famous in racing, side exit exhausts
made their way onto the “Eleanor” and since then it has been a styling cue for the Mustang. When Ford
brought retro styling back to the Mustang, Cervini's took full advantage of it and created the Eleanor
body kit. With this comes one of the best sounding S197 exhausts ever built into their side skirt
design. Available for every engine option, the Cervini's side
exhaust gives your car a racy and almost
violent sounding roar from idle all the way to redline and looks amazing the whole time.These Are The Top 2005-2010 Mustang Exhausts
2005-2010 Mustang: Best Axle Back Exhaust
2005-2010 Mustang: Best Cat-Back Exhaust
2005-2010 Mustang: Best Mid-Pipes
2005-2010 Mustang: Best Side Exhaust
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