Suggestions for stealth performance exhaust

[peepsalot]

I realize that quiet and powerful don't exactly go hand in hand when talking about car exhausts, but I would like to get some more power out of my exhaust while still keeping it around stock volume levels.
I am thinking about getting a custom job done at a local shop and I have a couple questions:

1) How well does the stock MSP muffler flow? If I don't care about the looks of the muffler, do I still need to replace it? Would it work if i went with a 2.5" custom exhaust?

2) I have seen many exhausts that have silencers optional for them. Do these negate any performance increases by restricting flow? How much of a diffrence (noise and power) do these make?

Also, for those of you with aftermarket exhausts, is the ground clearance any lower than stock? I drive over some horribly bumpy roads, ridiculous speed bumps and the steepest of driveways(anyone that has driven around Austin lately could probably back me up on this), so I don't want to buy a new exhaust just to have it break off when it bottoms out.

[Black Majik MSP]

exhaust cutout, nuff said

[acidbbg]

exhaust cutout, nuff said(mswerd)

Turn it on and off as you like. But it's loud as fuck when you open it up!!

Chas(drunk)

[CommieSpeed]

Apexi just started making mufflers that are quiet at idle and partial throttle, but open up wide and scream when you go WOT. They look cool, check the Apexi site.

[gboromsp]

Greddy SP2, not even loud with a catless midpipe.

[njaremka]

Actually, you can have quiet and performance, you just have to deisgn it right.

I was browsing the Miata board a while back and Keith from FM said they had to change the exhaust on Track Dog becuase the other comeptitors thought they were wusses becuase the exhaust was VERY quiet. They took out the resonator, gained no more hp, and made it a bit louder.

[Aaron]

I have heard if you are stock and just replace the midpipe (no cats) the sound is not too much louder than stock. I will be doing this soon.

[ping]

Stock with a straightpipe in palce of the rear muffler isn't even really that loud...

[FSDET]

change the midpipe, get custom piping from midpipe to stock muffler... ull gain like 15-20whp and it will be stealthy and quite...

[Bhamsan]

2.5" Catted DP + GReddy sp2 resonators + Stock axel-back muffler. Should get good results with stock look and sound.