Just to clarify......tips do not affect performance whatsoever.

There are extremes where they do.

They do affect sound a bit though!

I want the same for my '01 SSEi...I love the soft rumble of the Flowmasters myself, but the thing that scares me is that the same set up sounds different on different cars...you never quite know what you're going to get. I'd be terrified I'd get a loud, raspy sound if I changed anything. What I really want though is the performance gain...once I get the CAI I want to open the exhaust up a bit...really let it breath. Some new tips too...for sure...like those gorgeous dual tips on the GXP.

The sound will be affected by the CAI, resonator, cat (hit flow) and possible resonations from the exhaust tips.

My exhaust tips and dual mufflers create a pulsating rumble sound at idle and quite smooth sounding at 2500 RPM, get up to 5000 and its a whole new ball game . For a V8 application, Magnaflow is great, for V6 I would go Flowmaster, but decide what you want to do first.

Personally, go Flowmaster or MagnaFlow, high flow cat, and leave your stock res. If you want a nice look, Hedman or Ractive dual tips x 2 will give a nice look.

If I find a clip of my exhaust from the outside, I will post it.

although a bit expensive I have Borla on my car and they sound great. Unfortunately the microphone I use for recordings isn't great so the recordings don't do it justice. I was following behind my car this fall and when it takes off from a stop sign it sounds GREAT!

I'd suggest for the 00+ guys to go over to www.clubgp.com and get some soundclips as your exhaust systems on the 00+ SSEi'* are pretty close to the GTP'* (minus the u-bend on the SSEi).
I like Magnaflow because at idle it isn't extremely loud, and when you give some love she livens up with a nice deep tone -IMO Flowmaster'* tend to sound a slight bit more tinny than the Magnaflow -not bad but noticable. I have heard 2 GTP'* parked next to each other with the same exhaust setup, but one had Magnaflow'* and one had Flowmasters -everyone there (about 15 guys) gave the Magnaflow the thumbs up for the sound, but all agreed that the Flowmaster was not to be disliked.

I got the "80 Series" on my car......Definantly gives that "OIld muscle car" tinny sound......It really sounds great though at idle....and when you give'er the onions she sounds mean as hell......Only real issue is that you're completely different from us......

does anyone have a 40 series flowmaster on there car if so could you please post a sound clip. i still havent got mine installed but i would like to hear what it sounds like.

http://www.rmcgp.com/exhaust/

I think Will touts the virtues of the Magnaflows, and personally I agree. I have a Magnaflow single 2.25" inlet to a single 2.25" outlet in conjunction with a high-flow cat and CAI, and I couldn't be happier with my exhaust note. I need to get a clip posted for people to hear. I've had V8 guys compliment the sound of my car, and it thrills me every time I hit the loud pedal. I forget the Magnaflow part number, but it'* their Wide Open Performance series with a center inlet and offset outlet (or the other way around; their WOP series is reversible). The overall length of the muffler is quite shorter than the stock unit, so we just attached small pieces of patch pipe on the inlet and outlet to compensate. After doing this we just welded it in to the stock muffler location, using the existing tailpipe piece that already had a hanger on it.

I realize the configuration of the 2000+ models may be different than my '97, so I guess my point is that you can keep a relatively stock setup and substitute in an aftermarket unit with a little elbow grease. But that brings us back to the original question of which brand to buy! I'll recommend Magnaflow simply because I really like mine. Just know that you can choose almost any brand and find a model that will work.