Choosing an exhaust system. Performance/Noise

So i think it's time to start modding the STi. The first thing i would like to do is upgrade my exhaust system. I've done a good bit of looking around and am sort of familiar with the popular ones, cobb, invidia, etc.... I'm pretty sure I want to get a turbo back system. I like the idea of the cobb stage 2 because it comes with the access port which i would be getting anyway and it is already pretuned for that exhaust but for cash purposes i'd rather just go ahead and get the exhaust now, the get the AP a little while later. I found a page that has pictures of a ton of exhausts so i know what most look like and can hear what some sound like but you can't really tell how loud an exhaust is on a computer.

Here is what i want:

1) Good performance (of corse)
2) Looks good. I like a decent size tip so the actual can doesn't stick out the back of the car.
3) Sounds good. I like the deep clean rumble. I like it to be a little loud but not real loud. Something that might compare to my old gredy evo2 on my integra. I know our cars are going to be louder and meaner sound ing (which is good). The evo2 was clean, it wasn't too loud in the cab, but sounded awesome when you craned it and when getting on it. I want to be able to hear my music in my cab and stuff and not get a headache when just crusing on long trips and such.
4) Cost - Trying to get something around 500-600 turboback. Is this possible? Used but well taken care of is ok...


Thanks rolling_trip for the image...



If anyone knows about where others would stand in the runnings with these let me knwo and i'll add them in...

 

Yeah that does help. I really need to get some of you guys to take me for a ride so i can hear it from the inside. I've never ridden in a wrx with an exhaust... Almost every one i've heard with exhaust sounds great so i guess it boils down to inside cab noise.

Alex, will you be at the varsity meet thursday?

just pm'd sakari...

 

well if the price wasn't as much an issue i would highly recommend a prodrive system. nice and quiet in regular driving, but i've been told it sounds pretty sick when it's opened up (sounds good to me in the cabin too, but reasonable even when opened up) alex could probably elaborate, he's heard it at the track plenty now.

however getting back to the price, i believe the UP alone was something like 600$ or something like that. it's a real solid setup though, and covered by sog if purchased and installed by them.

 

you may want to consider Borla "Hush" series for catback, and go with a highflow catted downpipe, also this might help

 

im going to have the blitz nur spec-r catback installed either today or tomorrow.... hopefully in time for the varsity meet... this is probably one of the loudest exhausts available but i absolutely love the tone... i had it on my WRX and i ordered the exact same thing for my STi... also it wasnt too loud in the cabin cuz i could still hear the crappy wrx stock stereo fine...

one word of adice though... if u are going turbo-back, be prepared to drop some money on engine management... a decent number of STi's with free flowing exhausts tend to run into boost creep issues... most of these can be fixed with EM but some require porting the wastegate... since its starting to get warmer, i doubt u will run into this problem much but just something to be aware of

 

SCOOBYSPORT! sounds like a group N rally car at high rpm. good rumble at low-med rpm but not too loud. I think it was only 87 db. check www.rallyperformance.com or www.haywardandscott.com there is actually one for sale on nasioc right now, up-pipe back for a great price.

 

I will most likely be at the Varisty on Thursday. I have one of the few Scoobysports on the board. At idle, you can't really tell there is an aftermarket Exhaust. At WOT, it sounds like a Group N Rally Car. At half throttle, it sounds good, not overly loud, but loud enough that you can clearly hear the boxer rumble. If you want to go for a ride thursday, I would be more than happy to take you.

 

rolling trip , mchan and myself all have the Perrin Single Tip. very very nice sound and looks purty to

 

bump for Invidia! :banana:

 

My HKS Hiper cat back was fine until I switched from the B&B cat DP to the Perrin DP. I think it's too loud now. Anyhow, I'm looking to sell the B&B cat DP if you're interested. (<$200)

 

I have the HKS hyper catback for the WRX. Its not what I would consider loud unless you have eliminated all cats, but any exhaust would sound loud at that point.

 

Not necessarily, it all depends on the Diameter of the piping. I am running a fully catless Exhaust, straight pipe all the way, even took out the Resonator and my car is not overly loud and more importantly doesn't drone at highway speeds which would drive me nuts on a long ride. If you have a 3 in diameter, it will be loud. The Scoobysport is a 2.5 inch and it is not very loud unless you really step on it.

Milos car was/will be loud even at idle, but again that is a 3 inch or at the very least a 2.75 if such size actually exists.

 

I agree with wrxfan420, I have the same setup and I'm very pleased with it. no droning and mean at full throttle

 

What if, A good downpipe with a cat, a muffler from E-bay or somethig and get a 3 inch cat-back made @ a muffler shop????????

 

I always loved my Stromung. Its about $430 at www.boxer4racing.com. I also had the Stromung 3" divorced wastegate DP on my car.

I can't wait to get another WRX and put another Stromung on it.

 

I like my APS exhaust a lot. The downpipe design is kinda wierd and I get some boost creep. It's a fairly quiet exhaust but with my shorter gearing it does tend to drone a little bit, but I'm young so I turn up the music

 

I think the HKS Hi Power sounds GREAT. My B&B catback with the ERZ downpipe has gotten compliments. Somewhat subtle with a mean growl at WOT.

 

freakin perrin man! it sounds awsome and you will get good gains.

 

I have HKS hipower and Invidia v2 downpipe.

Invidia products just impresses me everytime I see it. The welds and the design is just the best quality I've seen.

I have my old downpipe from Nopi that I just replaced with Invidia v2 with turbo install. I was shopping for a TBE when I first bought the car and Nopi had their own brand "Number 1" which was bellmouth design so I chose that over the HKS that they had in stock. Paid ~$180 + tax (Note that this was before I started Sakari). I will throw in the Number 1 downpipe for free with the purchase of the exhaust system so you can have your TBE setup for $5-600 budget. The nopi one isn't bad for the time being... but I suggest you switch it out later on with Invidia or other brands that you prefer. Let me know if you are interested.

Also, Joe (JL889) has a Fujitsubo 3.5" exhaust with Invidia v1 downpipe... I actually thought about switching to fujitsubo. I still might... just have other things to buy before that

 

i'm running with greddy evo II AND IT'S THE QUIETST ever head..

 

wrxcrazy, you put the invidia catted dp on?

 

why yes sir.. and it's still quiet..
have to put that up pipe in and see how quiet it stays tho it's a little deep now but way quiet then before

 

random tech....FTW ....not as nice looking as angled cans (in my opinion) and it has to be de-rusted every month but I love the sound....

 

I have Invidia V2 w/ Invidia G200 Catback and it sounds great... in low rpms not much louder than idle... but terriffic at wot.... bought for 550 used... but Excellent coundition... where you live at???

 

i just got the blitz nur spec-r installed today
http://www.wrxatlanta.com/forums/showthread.php?p=71907

 

I might have to take you up on that...

I don't want stock looking i do like the can's because they are streight through. I like both, streight and angled. i've had both and loved both on my old integra... I think i'm leaning torward streight tho, but if i find one for the right price, sound and performance then it won't really matter .

Very possibly. I don't know much yet about piecing a system together yet. Can anyone give me tips on that? Does it mater which you get with the other? What are the advantages and disadvantages of a cat/no cat on the dp? is it just emissions vs better flowing? I don't want to go buy parts then find out i put them together incorrectly and just have to buy new stuff .

That is what i'm looking for . I don't like the coffee can sound at all. I like deep clean rumble...

i'm off of bells ferry in north marietta...

I REALLY lke the look of that and how you describe the sound... I do want loud but want it clean and don't want the droning...

One other thing, does catback for us mean DP back? I've been under my car but can't remember if there was a seperate cat...

I'm full of questions tonight... If i get say an exhaust that is not cobb, can i get the cobb AP and use any of their stock maps with the different exhaust or is it tuned strictly for their exhaust??

 

I had a ScoobySport setup on my '02 WRX and really liked it a lot. With my '05 WRX I wanted something with 3" piping and more volume, so I sold the SS :wtc: and got a Helix turboback for a great price. Loud and deep. I've got a video from a dyno day but no way to host it......

I'm leaning towards another ScoobySport for my STi cuz I miss it so much :wtc:

 

droooooool.....perrin

 

You can host videos and images on darkrume.com

 

You can use AP with any Exhaust. The map for the Cobb Components is probably a little more fine tuned, but will work equally as well with any other brand exhaust. Or their are other maps available depending on the exhaust you choose.

Milos exhaust on his WRX was the nicest sounding exhaust in my Opinion, however, on a long car ride it may be too much, however it came with a silencer that I don't think he ever used. That would definitely help with thr drone.

Catback for us is from the midpipe back. We have a cat in the midpipe along with the up and downpipes. It is more of an axle back then a catback. Your best option, if you want to keep your car emissions legal would be to, get a catless up and downpipe, keep the Midpipe cat and get an Axle Back or Muffler.

 

Milo where you get your exhaust?

 

here is a pic of the blitz
http://www.sakarimotorsports.com/sakari/product_info.php?cPath=23_35_114_289&products_id=1606

i cant believe how much better it sounds on the STi... heres a clip from inside my WRX at an autocorss
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7907573602237665149&q=wrx+scca&pl=true

 

I have had the Blitz and the silencer does make a huge difference in the sound levles. But, the silencer also really cuts into the low end of the car. Very noticeable reduction in power at the bottom end with the silencer in.

 

I would like to get just the canister and make it fit my custom midpipe.....that thing sounds wicked!

 

really all the exhausts on the boxer sound amazing imo...especially on a sti. Perrin has the best roar other than the blitz, althuogh they are both diff sounds. I have a normally overlooked exhaust the GP moto catted. I like it and got a good gain.

 

Yeah i like the video, and the exhaust sounds awesome. I think i've decided to do that. When i get time i'll try to toss in some sounds for all the exhausts on my first posts along with some pics for the more popular ones... Maybe it will be helpful to someone else trying to choose...

 

hey, watch your mouth! them there fighting words!:thumbsdow

 

well post it up mr.alex

 

milo's car sounds great

 

Priorities? Haha there better be a mountain cruise video posted before an exhaust show.

 

That's what I'm talkin bout....:ddirty: