Exhaust shopping... louder is not always better

[pdiggitydogg]

Alright its time for me to get a new exhaust and I'm having some problems with all the different kinds.

I was looking at Apex'i WS but after talking to people I decided that it hangs too low for me (car is going to be lowered) and I don't want it to scrape one bumps..like my driveway

Some guy told me about nopi e-cat having a really good price on Tsudo catback exhausts. So I checked it out, and they say the retail is over $700 and they charge $300 something. Is this exhaust worth anything? Or is it just a pipe and no muffler; kinda like the OBX system which we all know is louder than hell. If anyone has some suggestions about what kind I should get, let me know. I'm not really into spending over $600 on it.

Cheap links would be great (just no group buy center please)

[nonovurbizniz]

dude go to mineke or midas and have them custom make one with whatever muffler/resonator/tip combo you want it won't cost more that 200-400 and it will be as quite as you make it with the dif. combos of muffler/resonator/tip

[pdiggitydogg]

ok that sounds like sweet deal, so...whats a good muffler then

[AzCivic]

If they make it, its not going to be mandrel bent they just use that cheap wrinkeled crap. Some of those places sell complete magnaflow cat back systems which are pretty good, but more than likey they'll tell you that they have to install it and they'll charge some rediculous price for labor when you could do it yourself in 30 minutes. I personally hate those damn places half the time they screw something up or try to rip you off, so if you decide on Midas or Mieneke don't say I didn't warn you. Just get a catback like Greddy, thermal or Apexi WS off the internet and install it yourself. Whats wrong with groupbuycenter.com alot of the times they have the lowest prices.

[94_AcCoRd_EX]

Originally posted by pdiggitydogg
(just no group buy center please)

Umm.... why? They often have the best prices. Its just a bunch of retailers, not like you're buying from "Group Buy Center"

[AzCivic]

Originally posted by 94_AcCoRd_EX


Umm.... why? They often have the best prices. Its just a bunch of retailers, not like you're buying from "Group Buy Center"

Thats what I'm saying, I got a quote from there for my exhaust and then i went to a local speed shop to see if they could match and the OWNER was like " I can't go that low thats about what I pay for it". So I went home and ordered it. I don't see how speedshops make any money selling products when everyone can get a way better price online. I also got a quote for my struts off there and then went to another shop around here to see of they could match and after 10minutes of "bargaining" they finally met it. I think shops are only good for looking at things or if you dont know what you're doing some of them can install your stuff.

[pdiggitydogg]

GBC: the whole thing just seems like a huge hassle to me. join in wait for a time period hope others join up...blah blah blah. Maybe just because ive never done it before. I'll look into it tonight again though.

[pdiggitydogg]

ok i looked more into it and its a hell of a lot easier than i thought it was...Im an idiot I worship you all now

thermal cat-backs rock ...until your girlfriend takes your car to the automatic car wash and fills your muffler with water

and fyi... if you install the exhaust yourself, it would be a big plus to lay your hands on an acetylene torch. use it to heat the nuts from the old exhaust and you'll save a TON of time.

Definetlly install it your self not to mention going to a speed shop isnt the best place to purchase anything unless your in need of the stuff right then ...........But some times the speed shop is the same price after you pay for shipping it usally comes out the same so no matter what your still paying the same unless you get free shipping then your in it to win it....The best thing I would recomend to anyone is try to get a dealer license,,,That has saved us so much money ......You would be suprised what the shopps actually by that stuff for ....
Oh and far as the exhaust either skunk2 or just custom build one ....Good luck

[AzCivic]

How much does it cost to get such a license, I was looking into that awhile back but it looked complicated and costly?

[pdiggitydogg]

Ive heard of people doing that too, how much does it involve?

[slowEJ6]

Originally posted by pdiggitydogg
GBC: the whole thing just seems like a huge hassle to me. join in wait for a time period hope others join up...blah blah blah. Maybe just because ive never done it before. I'll look into it tonight again though.

most of the groupbuys dont make you wait for others to join or make you wait till the groupbuy is over.....99% of them do not do that. i ordered almost every single aftermarket part on my car off GBC. no complaints

[nonovurbizniz]

Originally posted by AzCivic
If they make it, its not going to be mandrel bent they just use that cheap wrinkeled crap. Some of those places sell complete magnaflow cat back systems which are pretty good, but more than likey they'll tell you that they have to install it and they'll charge some rediculous price for labor when you could do it yourself in 30 minutes. I personally hate those damn places half the time they screw something up or try to rip you off, so if you decide on Midas or Mieneke don't say I didn't warn you. Just get a catback like Greddy, thermal or Apexi WS off the internet and install it yourself. Whats wrong with groupbuycenter.com alot of the times they have the lowest prices.

Yes it will if they have a mandrel bending machine like a lot of the midas/meinikee's around me (there are over 15 of them in a my area and 4-6 of them have mandrel bending machines)

Also if they don't just go up a 1/4-1/2 and inch in size and the crimps in the metal won't matter.

YES SOME OF THESE PLACES RIP YOU OFF. THAT'S WHY YOU TALK TO THEM FIRST GET THE PRICE WRITTEN DOWN ON PAPER AND BE SURE THEY KNOW B4 HAND ANY CHANGE TO THE BILL MUST BE APPROVED BY YOU FIRST.

Just a side note... mandrel bent isn't all that important. (do you really think a N/A 4 cylinder really has to worry about moving those exhaust gasses out that fast and smooth?)

Oh and to get a dealers license you have to be a business (ie have a tax id #) from there on im not sure but im planning on doing some looking into it. if i get any further i'll start a thread

[AzCivic]

I don't know where you live but I've never seen one with a mandrel bending machine. Obviously if they have one then they can do it, but I've never seen it at one of these crap whole places.

I don't know what you're trying to say in your second comment.

Right, but then they'll screw something else up, please belive me I've had way too much trouble with these pathetic auto "repair" shops. Or they will give you an "estimate" for one thing then once your there they'll be like "Well we don't have that exactly , I thought we did, but we have this product which would normally cost half of the estimate i gave you but we're going to go ahead and charge you the full estimate, Oh don't worry you'll get that cool sound you all want, an axle back exhaust is just as good as a cat back, blah, blah, blah.

If any engine needs mandrel bends in their exhaust its a n/a 4-cylinder, its already not making much power so its not pushing the exhaust gases out very hard so any little thing you can do to help it is a bonus, in other words turbulence in the exhaust piping is going to affect a weak engine more than it will a more powerful engine.

Yes get more info on this subject, cause technically I could run a "business" out of my garage. Any more info would be a great help.

Zigen!

[pdiggitydogg]

Too late....just got a Tanebe Racing Medallion


thanks for all the help

[Sivik]

thats what I'm goin for... good choice. How much you pay? Let me know if you like the sound.

[pdiggitydogg]

i got it for 310 after an extreme amount of bartering. Its not here yet it should be in a week or so. I'll let you know