Exhaust too expensive?

[twistystraw]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of buying a new exhaust for my car and was wondering if I could get some input. I'm looking at an AVO catback for my 08 impreza non-turbo and the guys says he would give it to me for $850. Is this worth it cause that's a lot of cash to me.

Here's the page
http://www.avoturboworld.com/avoshop/product_info.php?cPath=267_237_247&products_id=610

And here's how it sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX4QmhSS-IM

Thanks
Straw

[KevinWelker]

you will have to better define "worth it".

Will it cure cancer?
will it get you more chicks?
will it give you car better mpg?
will it sound better?
will it make more power through the entire power range?

[twistystraw]

Hahaha, well

No it won't cure cancer.
Yes it will help me get chicks, hopefully.
With improved flow i'm going to assume yes to the mpg.
Sound is 10000% better.
I'm not sure about the power.

I see what you mean by "worth it" now lol. I'm gonna ask for more info, see if he's gotta any dyno proven facts on it.

How much would you typically expect to spend on a dual muffler cat back though?

Thanks

[MConte05]

Honestly when it comes to exhaust, I'd just buy used. You can find lots and lots of people selling their used exhaust systems on NASIOC and other websites. Everything from axlebacks, to catbacks, to full turbobacks.

[KevinWelker]

I'm not a good person to ask. I would go with a single $30 Hooker turbo muffler, 3" steel pipe with an off the shelf high flow cat welded by a fab shop or myself. Total cost around $120, it doesn't have a melon shooter or anything carbon fiber or polished, but then I don't try to get chicks with my car, although the did get sound recorded for Dirt2 and it gets lots of compliments on the street from the ricers down to the Harley and muscle car guys......

[twistystraw]

Thanks for the input guys. Yeah I have some more thinking to do.

Thanks again.

[TylerSti]

DIY!

[409industries]

Yep, there are two trains of thought on the subject and i have gone down both roads.

I bought a used Vishnu signature series stainless TBE for the STi and it sounds insane and looks fantastic. New they were going for over $1000. Thats just a crazy price. I picked it up used for around $800. So a NA exhaust for $800? I think thats just ridiculous.

The RS, i acquired a magnaflow muffler and had Millennium Motorsports weld together some piping for it, and it sounds awesome. All for under $200 easy.

I'd say go the cheap route and if you're looking for more punch spend the money you saved on something worthwhile like cams or some headers?

[Vaughn Performance]

Just do a home brew set up from a reputable muffler shop if your concerned about the money. A good shop will be able to get different radius pre-made mandrel bends, they can cut/weld together to give you a mandrel bent exhaust, for a fraction of the price your looking at. It won't have a super nice finish on it, but you can rattle can it high temp flat black (pretty sweet in my opinion lol!!)

And to be completely truthful, I personally think there are other much better places to invest money if your just starting off. The power (or more importantly torque) gains you will find are are going to be seriously minimal. I'd say drop your coin on something more worthwhile. Just my opinion though :)

-Anthony

[twistystraw]

And to be completely truthful, I personally think there are other much better places to invest money if your just starting off. The power (or more importantly torque) gains you will find are are going to be seriously minimal. I'd say drop your coin on something more worthwhile. Just my opinion though :)

-Anthony

What would you recommend? Suspension mods?

Yeah after reading through all your guys input I'm pretty sure I'm gonna go the custom route. I was talking to some guys at my school that did that with their trucks and they seemed to be happy with it. I got a pretty good muffler shop down the street so I think I'll check them out sometime later this week.

ps 409industries are you the dude on the rally armor mud flap install?!

Thanks
Straw

[Jordanh]

what do you guys suggest as far as a home brewed design? i like the magnaflow idea, any other good mufflers you guys reccomend? also, what about a cat(new cat/no cat) , and piping size?

[Rally OBXT]

what do you guys suggest as far as a home brewed design? i like the magnaflow idea, any other good mufflers you guys reccomend? also, what about a cat(new cat/no cat) , and piping size?

If N/A, I would go 2" - 2.25". If turbo, you can go 2.5" to 3", anything more is overkill unless you are pushing 500+ WHP.

Mufflers?? Yeah, mangnaflow is good.

Cat?? It really depends on what class / series you want to race in.

[KevinWelker]

http://www.cartype.com/pics/410/small/hooker_headers.jpg

comes painted flat black already and is typically smaller and cheaper than Magnaflow, which is also a fine choice, or the Flowmaster 40 series is always good.

Use a high flow cat from Carsound (Magnaflow) or other brand if you need to, should be well under $100 for the cat. Then have a shop weld up the piping, 2..25" for NA is fine 3" for turbo is typically plenty.

[UP2MTNS]

Hey guys,

I'm thinking of buying a new exhaust for my car and was wondering if I could get some input. I'm looking at an AVO catback for my 08 impreza non-turbo and the guys says he would give it to me for $850. Is this worth it cause that's a lot of cash to me.

Here's the page
http://www.avoturboworld.com/avoshop/product_info.php?cPath=267_237_247&products_id=610

And here's how it sounds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fX4QmhSS-IM

Thanks
Straw

'in general', that's not a bad price for a retail turbo back system, assuming AVO is a good brand (I personally don't know).

My Cobb downpipe and Borla hush catback ran me about $750...but since then, Borla has raised their prices....I think I can sell my used Borla for about the same price I bought it off ebay new 4 yrs ago.

Had I been a little more 'in the know' about custom exhausts and other options at the time, I may have done something differently, but I certainly don't regret the purchase. Cobb and Borla have great suby products


Which reminds me, I need to start a thread over in stage rally prep about what I should do with my exhaust set up....


Anyway, just do your research.....$850 is still a lot of money, and is a big chunk of change you can put towards suspension, tires, 2nd set of rallyX rims, whatever.

then again, a new exhaust IS fun. decisions, decions, decisions ;)

[pcowan]

I bought a used Vishnu signature series stainless TBE for the STi and it sounds insane and looks fantastic. New they were going for over $1000.


That's probably a Taipan XP exhaust, most of Shiv's trick bits were Austrailian. I just dropped mine off with my fab guy yesterday to make me up something custom from it and my fujitsubo.

So to add to the thread: get something built, it'll cost less, be just as effective and you'll be able to tell everyone you have a custom designed and built system. You'll also feel better when it's getting all dinged and scraped by rocks that you didn't spend $800 on it. Of course you'll have to find some other way to impress the ladies... maybe mad driving skilz yo.
--pete

[urmomhasvtec]

Sorry, but I have to say, any exhaust over $400 for a n/a suby is NOT worth it. Especially if you think $800 is alot of cash... With that said, if you got $800 to spend, make the exhaust your last item, why do you want to draw attention to a stock vehicle? (assuming it is stock) lol, gotta love them ladies who drop panties when they hear an exhaust rev hehehe

[robbins18_89131]

2 Bad I have a 3" turbo back 4 sale DAM DAM (100$)get a turbo LOL... And it's yours!

[Vaughn Performance]

What would you recommend? Suspension mods?


It really depends on what your plans are for the car (class etc. you'd like to run in). A harness and a harness bar go a hell of a long way in helping you control a car though.

You will be amazed at how much more connected you feel with a car when your not sliding about in your seat, or sliding into the pedals when you brake. It will also keep you from having that feeling like your "hanging onto" your steering wheel, and make all your steering inputs into the car feel way better!!

Get a harness bar though, or make sure it's installed properly!! A improperly installed harness is far more dangerous then a stock belt. There is a product out there called Cg Lock as well, (a vendor on here actually I believe) that also makes something to help make the normal belt act more like a harness. I haven't personally tried one yet though.

-Anthony

[pcowan]

One might also say that any harness regardless of a bar is dangerous without a roll cage. Stock seatbelts allow your body to move in the case of a roll-over allowing you spine to avoid getting crushed, not the case with a harness sans cage.

The CG lock is a pretty neat device, however it can be a pain in the ass during daily use. Mine kept falling off and eventually fell apart, but I really liked using it.

Another cheap alternative is to swap the driver's and passenger's seatbelts. The passenger side seatbelt has a 1-way lock that activates once the belt has been pulled all the way out, this can be used to keep you very snug in the seat while keeping you marginally safer than the harness bar option. Bonus: your seats will still recline.
--pete

[409industries]

ps 409industries are you the dude on the rally armor mud flap install?!

Thanks
Straw

Yeah thats me.

gotta love them ladies who drop panties when they hear an exhaust rev hehehe

Don't think these ladies exist. They are a figment of leghumping subaru owners' imaginations!



The CG lock is a pretty neat device, however it can be a pain in the ass during daily use. Mine kept falling off and eventually fell apart, but I really liked using it.


Get $5 off ordering a GC lock by using our "dirtyimpreza" promo code. See here: http://www.dirtyimpreza.com/forums/showthread.php?p=90178#post90178

[twistystraw]

alright guys. i got a catback from a muffler shop, with 2.25" piping and some magnaflows.

all that for $550. since i have duals it cost me that, but i'm happy.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[wanvaldez]

alright guys. i got a catback from a muffler shop, with 2.25" piping and some magnaflows.

all that for $550. since i have duals it cost me that, but i'm happy.

Thanks for the suggestions.


Sweet sounds like a good choice, you should post a video or sound clip :D

[Gnome]

i strongly agree, i have a new cat, and a flow master on car and its as loud as it was when it was straight piped and sounds way better