I recently had a good scout around for exhausts - talked to a few of the dons down south, Swiftune and Maniflow in UK and local performance exhaust fabricator. Result:
Don't use RCM (reverse cone megaphone) on road car (Nick Swift) - increases mid-range torque but too noisy
ID of 1.75 inch OK for most engines, but 1380s+ can use 2 inch
Finish end of exhaust just shy of rear bumper - get some extraction effect from vortex behind car (!!!??) but too short and you'll gas yourself
Get better dispersal behind car with side exit than centre exit - less fumes in cabin
Twin box system (hot-dog with perforated - but not the old 'cheese grater' raised perforations - core and straight through oval box muffler widely recommended (RC40/Maniflow twin box)
Build your own with optional hotdog and oval Lukey Turbo muffler
Vizard rates Maniflow and another american system (not available here)
Some say Mini engine very sensitive to back pressure - need some for big overlap cams to help trapping - others say go for lowest BP possible within noise limits. I don't know.
For my money (and it was significantly cheaper to buy from Minisport UK) the Maniflow 2" twin-box side exit got the nod -plenty loud enough but haven't had it on the road yet - partnered with my Brownrigg headers makes a sweet growl with no mosquito buzz.
Looks good and just a bit lairy - 2.5" chromed tail pipe, but then I was never that fussed about concourse standard - run 'em scruffy and every damn day! They're not museum pieces....
