WHY DO HONDAS SOUND LIKE TIN CANS?

May 11, 2022

Why do Hondas sound like a tin can?

You could say this is the main reason Hondas get so much "hate", along with the lawnmower nickname. Plenty of us love modifying Hondas, but are we really doing it JDM style?

STYLES

There are lots of styles you can build: JDM, USDM, Stance and more. But does putting an exhaust on your Honda mean it’ll sound like a tin can? Not at all. Depending on the sound you’re after, it can have a completely different tone.

USDM STYLE.

USDM usually covers Static, Stance, Bagged and so on, whatever you want to call it.

JDM STYLE.

On Civics, JDM style is heavily influenced by the Kanjozoku, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only way to do it. Here’s another take on the style, with this Accord Euro R CL1:

Now that the styles are a bit clearer, let’s focus on the sound. It falls into two categories.

MUFFLER-TYPE EXHAUST

This is the most common type, for both noise levels and looks. These exhausts have a rear silencer that shapes the final tone: think HKS, 5zigen and the like. They usually sound nice without being over the top, closer to USDM style, although they’re also used on JDM builds beyond Honda, like Nissan, Mazda, Toyota and so on.

One thing to keep in mind if you’re chasing a nice sound is getting the exhaust diameter right. A bigger-diameter line will always help you get a deeper note, while a smaller one will push it toward a higher pitch.

Here are a few videos so you can hear what this type sounds like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXv1RvVqGg&t=155s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhMqiyN6-Yo

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RGdnPpZbuoY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiv5FdWcpSA&t=7s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=melbFDwPHzU

STRAIGHT-TYPE EXHAUST

The straight-type exhaust is the one people argue about most, because it’s very loud and some people don’t like it, or even find it downright annoying. This is where the “tin can” sound comes from: a straight pipe from the headers all the way back. It’s very loud, and when it’s done right, it sounds beautiful. Some people keep the stock mid-pipe with a resonator so they don’t lose too much low end, or even keep the catalytic converter.

The best-known brand in Japan for a spectacular sound is ZeroFighter, which sells several straight-type setups. There’s also Buddy Club with its Spec II line, or handmade systems.