I have a 2003 Hyundai Accent with 104xxx miles. It's clean too but runs like a slug. The only mod I've done is install a K&N cold air intake. I really want a good exhaust to make my car sound beefier but nothing that'll over exaggerate. Or even something that'll add just a little bit more HP! Anything please !

 

I would say that making sure everything is working right will be the best mod. Spark plugs replaced? Fuel filter clean? Ignition Coils in spec? Wires replaced at some point? etc etc.



Is it a 5spd or auto?

 

You could always do a beta engine swap also if you really want to take things to the next level, or go forced induction with a turbo.



But for an exhaust, your best bet is to do a cat back set up. Find an exhaust shop that will mandrel bend you 2" or 2.25" piping from the cat all the way back to a free flowing muffler. You can either get a canister style muffler or something more throatier, like a Borla, Magnaflow, Flowmaster, or some type of glasspack, like a Thrush.

 

If it's an automatic just have a shop replace your muffler with something sportier sounding. You will never make enough power to notice the difference but it will sound fine. The auto is a real slug and loses around 20hp to the wheels vs. the same Accent with a manual.



You can buy a full exhaust system from header to tip from Evofusion for a very reasonable price. Note that most people have said this system is very loud. "Loud" is a subjective term though. Header. Exhaust.



The only n/a mod that's a good dollar value is to do either a short ram intake or a cold air intake.



If you want to make real power you need to either do a Beta 2.0l swap or go forced induction.