Hey guys, I was wondering what the best exhaust system would be for a 95 prelude vtec, I am looking for high performace and a deeper sound.

Thanks

 

As great a source as the internet and these forums are for information and education, you pose one of the truely difficult questions. First off, I don't think there is any one system that is "the Best." There are many good systems out there, many of which the untrained ear and ey would have difficulty differentiating between. It has been my experience that the biggest change you will gain from an exhaust is the sound and the look. I honestly couldn't feel much of a change in power when I installed my Thermal R&D system. Maybe a bit, but I was so taken with the difference in sound that I was easily distracted from the fact that it may pull a bit harder. I suppose a dyno might show a few hp, but I don't know if you can really feel it that much. Anyway, everyone has favorites, and you can find pictures of exhausts online, but it's so hard to describe the sound and it's pretty subjective anyway. I hear cars buzzing around town all the time and think they sound like crap and are too loud, but obviously the owner isn't bothered by it much or he'd change to a different system. I can review my own system, for what it's worth...

I have a 4th gen VTEC with a Thermal R&D cat back system. For the 4th gen they made a classic system and a stealth system. My understanding is that the resonator was different and that the stealth system was a bit quieter. In the 5th gen system they offer only one, which is supposed to be comparable to the stealth for the 4th gen. My system is all stainless steel, has a mandrel bent mid pipe that has a stainless steel resonator. It follows the factory route so you have no lower than stock hanging pipe like some systems. It uses the factory hanging positions. The rear section is also all stainless mandrel bent tubing and has a round can muffler attached. The muffler is about 6" in diameter and tucks nicely up underneath the stock bumper. I don't have any idea how the fit is with an aftermarket body kit. The muffler has a single tip that is round and is about 4" outer diameter with about a 3" hole in the center. It is double walled and the inner wall tapers from the tip inward towards the muffler. It's all highly polished and very nice construction. I think all the pipe is 2.5" It is my understanding that the 5th gen system has smaller dual tips and looks quite a bit like the factory system to the untrained eye. I haven't seen one personally and I don't know if they have an oval or round can. I bet they are well made though if they are anything like mine.

The sound - As I said this is very subjective, but I'll just try to stick to facts rather than solely my opinion. The sound is definately louder than stock. I've heard louder aftermarket exausts... this system seems to be a bit quieter than some or about the same as others. It does not have any of the bees in a can sound that I hate so much. The sound seems to be a bit lower than some of the systems that I hear and about as low as others. I like the tone. It has a droaning sound, which seems common to most all systems, when you slow down or shift. When accelerating it seems to be loudest from 2800 to 3500 rpm. This is cool since I usually drive down the highway with the cruise set and the rpms are higher, so it's actually quieter on the highway than off often. I don't have to blare the stereo to cover the sound of the exhaust. There are times when I think it's a bit loud... Like when I'm trying to sneak out of some girls house without her parents knowing that I stayed til 4 AM, or the time I was late to a funeral and had to drive by my family all standing there with the priest was talking. Otherwise I like it a lot.

As far as increase in power - I honestly can't say as I noticed much... then again I got the system because my factory system was falling apart. T pretty much had it leaking straight out the cat so I am most likely more restrictive after than before the exhaust. I don't think it added much power. Like I said, an exhaust is good for looks and good for sound, but doesn't seem to do much for power, at least by itself. Maybe in combination with intake, headers, cams, cam gears, etc it might help, but not on an otherwise stock car. My AEM CAI did seem to actually add power I can feel and added a cool mean growling sound. I wish that I had gotten this as my first mod, but I needed the exaust since the original one was trashed. My guess is that an amazing exhaust might give 5 to 7 Hp more than the average aftermarket system. I doubt that you could really feel that difference in power so I'd go with whatever looks and sounds like what you want.

Sorry to be so wordy, but I hate those posts that say "get a Thermal... they are da bomb"

What the heck does that tell you about the product anyway?

BTW - I've had it about 6 months and the finish still looks new. The owner of the shop I got it from had the same type on his ITR and said in the 2 years it was on it didn't discolor or rust at all. That's in Indiana where we get decent snow and salt on the roads.

The thermal looks like these. mine is the single tipped one in the link to the rear sections, though mine is a catback.. it just looks like that can and tip. The 5th gen looks like the can and tip shown on classic system and stealth system links I think. http://www.thermalrd.com/product.htm

I've seen them sell for somewhere in the neighborhood of $500, give or take $30, including shipping.

[Modified by BryanS, 10:38 AM 1/7/2002]


[Modified by BryanS, 10:40 AM 1/7/2002]

 

get a greddy PE... they are da bomb

 

You could buy my Apexi RS exhaust for $280 . I used it on my '95 VTEC. It has a deep sound but it is very quiet. Pics can be seen here, http://www.hondaprelude.com/setups/s...y.asp?id=13784

 

Word, Greddy SP. It's a good quality system, although there are othe quality systems. Personally I like the sound. I like the look of the 5Zigen and N1 more, but I'm not the one who has to look at it so. If you want the best NA exhaust get mugen.

 

no words to say positivly for greddy due to the rust bucket that it became in 3-4 years. I have dc now and I really like the system, like the guy said before I'd definantly go with a fully stainless system like the dc or the thermal. My greddy sp was completely rusted out, also it had a hole the size of a 50cent piece right before the actual muffler. I don't see why you would even risk spending your money twice, go with a fully stainless system the first time around. Just my thoughts though.

jared

 

**Laughin smiles remembering why he stores his lude in the winter**

 

If it were up to me, I would go for something clean and simple but yet benificial. I like Comptech or DC. They have some really nice stuff and it's not too overboard. I just like the cleaner JDM look personally.