Looking for low cost approach to louder exhaust without spending big money.

 

As a low cost option, removing the center resonators and replacing them with straight pipes would be my first thought.
Third cat delete and swapping the Y junction for an X pipe would help the flow too.

 

Resonator delete does deepen note moderately but you will also get some in cabin drone at city street speeds. I did mine ages ago. I found my delete to be overall positive but took a while to get used to the drone

Next week I’m changing to a Magnaflow cat back while they are still available

 

I did the resonator third cat delete on my 2002 first, was happy and wife was happier, then I picked up the 2007 for her, first thing she said, it is too quiet, LoL, picked up a magnaflow and it also sounds great, a little louder actually.
I have not noticed a drone on either mod.

BTW, did you purchase the Magnaflow yet?

 

That's interesting, after the third cat delete and after the PPE header install, I ran mine with and later without the centre resonators. Either way no annoying drone at all. I believe the theory is that merging and separating the pipework from both banks not only improves the scavenging effect but smooths the flow. Perhaps the Magnaflow exhaust will help.

 

Shipped and hopefully here later this week or early next week.

With regard to drone with resonator delete, mine is from about 1200 RPM to 1500 RPM. It's almost a humming tone, that would be OK if it were deeper toned. Instead the drone is a bit higher pitched than bass, maybe 120-200 hz. It's not a loud drone, but definitely predominates the cabin if no music is playing. If music is play, it's not as noticeable. Outside of the car, resonator delete definitely sounds deeper an very slightly louder than stock.

Depending on the the shops in your area, the cost of a delete is anywhere from $150 to $500. Unfortunately, shops in my area are pretty limited and I paid closer to the top end of the range 15 years ago. Not happy with the price, but happy with the delete. I did not delete my 3rd cat.

The cost of going to a full cat-back Magnaflow is more, but should provide a better tone and hopefully less drone.

 

How loud do you want to go?

My final exhaust setup is true dual after the stock cat converters, with the third cat and resonator deleted, going to flow masters... I get comments all the time that are positive, but are usually the same "I have never heard any Lexus sound like that before." Its a little ridiculous so I may put a resonator back on, or I may just swap out the flowmasters for the one piece muffler from Megan Racing, or the same style that Magnaflow has. I originally had 2 separate magnaflows on before updating the exhaust again, and they sounded good but there was a resonator at the time. I probably would have been better sticking with the magnaflows and pulling the resonator. These flowmasters are too loud, and whenever I am on the freeway, I get people trying to race me when they hear the exhaust.

FYI - my first time doing the full cat-back on my first 2009 SC (totaled) cost about $650 at a good exhaust shop using magnaflows. But one thing I noticed, if you get individual mufflers, you may notice they are not as straight as you would like and it takes a lot of screwing around to make them match and look straight at the back of the car. An easier route, would be to buy the magnaflow rear muffler assembly by itself, since that will be as straight as can be and will look stock, and then have them setup the rest of the catback system.