Regular Hella horns VS Hella air horns

[Ponyota]

I've been wanting to change out my little beep beep horn for sometime now to something with a little more umph! Needless to say while I was at work today my wife calls me and tells me that someone just about took off the front end of the car. She said she hit the whimpy horn and the other driver didn't even notice her and said that it's time to get some louder horns. I've just read all the posts on the Hellas but I'm rather skeptical about Hellas after reading about all the problems with them. Lets face it, not to many have been working the way they should. Quiting, rusting, poor design, needing extra fuses and wiring, ect... For the price of these things you would think they would be alot better than they are. My question is, has anyone tried the airhorns that Hella makes. I was watching one of the Matrix members videos at a meet they were at, they sounded off their regular Hellas and afterward he sounded off his air Hellas. I actually like the sound of these airs. The db's are the same 118 db and the cost is slightly less. My thoughts are that the air horn has a unique sound and should draw more attention. What do you think? Regular Hellas or Air Hellas?

[B-dog]

Hey there. On a previous vehicle (1993 Mazda Miata) I had a set of FIAMM air horns, and I'd go with air horns on the Vibe, too - Hella or FIAMM, take your pick. I got them because some near-deaf Octagenarian backed up into my front bumper (no damage, thankfully) at a bank drive-through (why she was backing up only she knows). I was on the horn (old beep-beep style) and I even stood up in the seat while honking, but she kept on going. The best part was when her "boyfriend" came over from the other bank building and said "Now what'd you do!?" She tried to blame me because my car was too low to be seen!! Anyway, Air horns definitely get you noticed. The FIAMMs are from Italy (maybe the Hellas are too) and they sound just like Ferrari horns (if you've ever heard them - loud and obnoxious, like a horn should be)!! Get a set, and I think that you'll be pleased. I found mine at Pep Boys for about $45 a couple of years ago. I'll have to see what all needs to be done with a set for my "new" 2003 Vibe GT.Let us know what you decide!

[Mase]

I think that's my video you saw. Those air horns you heard were not Hella's. Hella air horns are very high pitched. The horns I have are the Nautilus series made by Stebel in Italy....139db each and I have two of them! They're about $50 each and require a relay. They eat up so much power that my headlights dim when I use them. They've saved my a.. a couple of times though. One time, someone tried to change lanes right on top of me...one honk scared him so much and almost sent him into the guardrail!If anyone wants to check out the video he's talking about, just go to my site and open up the album on the VERY bottom of my list. Then open up the "San Diego Matrix Meet" video. The horn action is near the end when we're all pulling out of a parking lot.

[Viben' round]

I had purchased the Hella Tripple Air Horns a few years ago for my old Nissan Pick-up, THey were loud as hell but rather high pitched. I would not buy them again for one reason though. They are plastic and they become quite brittle being mounted in the engine bay. They cracked often and had to be epoxied together numerous times. For the short term good idea but for the long term i would go with a regular horn. Unless of course you go for the steel air horns.

[UWAdventurer]

Just installed FIAMM air horns on our Vibe. HUGE difference! $14 at Harbor Freight. Bought a "T" bracket and removed the original horn and mounted the new ones where the old one was. Mounted the compressor on the center support where the hood latch is.

[Ponyota]

Another Indiana member, Nice to meet you UW! I've decided to go with the air horns just for the fact that they are louder and have that distinguishing sound over the original ones. Today is my first day off from work since the 1st. of Jan. I'm going to take advantage of the day off and go looking for some at the local shops. I'll let you all know what I decide on. Thank you all for the input! Rob