Having had a Meganne Coupe with an F7R engine with no cat and no baffles in my box, that was loud, in fact far too loud, but big flames came out the back! Even when I see/hear another car with a stupid loud exhaust I think to myself that guy must have no friends as there is no way in hell anyone can have a conversation in that car and there for he may as well be a chav that no one likes. But its just my opinion as I've had some silly loud exhausts and I am as cool as a cucumber wearing aviators and a driving veryon, but with my Clio I want people to see it before they hear it as it looks proper cool for a Clio.
p.s all of what I said goes out the window when you drive through a tunnel with the window down.