I'm not sure what the case is in the states, but in australia, brand name exhausts are hideously expensive. A good example is the buddy club cat back my friend got for his dc5r, it ended up costing him $1400 AU, a custom job would have set him back around $500 AU. We now know from some dyno days that his car is not making more power than the other dc5r from our group with a cutsom system (courtesy of a dyno day). On top of this, the buddy club doesn't sound as nice as the generic no-name cannon style muffler. Needless to say, the guy with the buddy club isn't too happy. Most people i know who are into track work tend to go for the custom setups, as i did.

Is it because you don't trust custom systems, or do you believe brand names to be freer flowing??

The sounds certainly aren't any better (unless we are talking mugen twin loops), and i feel that the workmanship from a good exhaust shop is every bit as neat as the average apexi/spoon/buddy club system. Out on the strip there is nothing in it...
Are there laws regarding aftermarket systems?
I have noticed people talking about some apporval or something with certain brands, i really don't know what is going on there.

 

Never liked some of the full catback systems. Sure some of the mufflers were nice but I went custom for the facts that you mentioned (less expensive, same if not better performance)

 

In the states we have laws about what we can do to our car that might effect the exhaust level because we got smog problems n ****. Most japanese systems are carb legal there for it is ok to put on our car, custom is not.

 

Exhaust systems (anything after the catalytic converter) do not have to be C.A.R.B (California Air Research Board) legal as they only affect the sound of the exhaust, not the emissions. Keep in mind that any modification to your exhaust can get you a ticket in some areas, depending how strict your local laws are.

Brand name cat backs are usually more expensive because they are built with mandrel bent tubing and built to be a direct bolt on to your vehicle.

Custom systems allow you to pick what components you want, resonator/muffler/tip and tubing size usually at a much lower cost.

 

here in cali its basicly all about the noise when it comes down to exhaust...i even got a ticket for my greddy evo even tho it already been passed for thedeciple test by greddy so now i need to get the papers on my exhaust.. what a hasssel

 

God I dont know how many time I have to tell people this. Exhuast systems have NO C.A.R.B numbers and never will. Everytime I try to sell an exhuast I get like 100 emails asking if it comes with the C.A.R.B Sticker. NO! NO! NO!

To the subject.

Aftermarket catback systems offer an easy already dont bolt on approach. I dont think its the fact that people think that they systems are 10 times better but people love BOLT ON stuff.

You can buy a umm apex N1 for 400 some odd dollars and bolt it on in front of your house. So its just easy. For custom you have to find yourself a muffler you want, get some resonators, find a good muffler shop ETC ETC. SO think the catback systems are just easier. But Im going custom this time around.




[Modified by I am EneMy X, 4:30 PM 3/4/2003]

 

not to mention I don't know of any shops around my area that do mandrel bent tubing... they all just do crush or crimp bent tubing.

 

thats why i purchased a mandrel cat-back exhaust.

 

That was my main reason...no shops around that do mandrel bent. Plus, I didn't have to second-guess any weld problems.

 

I have an OEM ITR catback on my 95 LS and I'm fine with it. Not planning on dishing out extra money for an aftermarket name brand exhaust.

 

phatboy, how does teh ITR exaust sound??? any louder than a stock one?

 

ahh i see... yeah i could understand if you have trouble finding shops selling mandrel bent piping. fortunately i found an exhaust shop that does it

 

Well I have an AEM CAI, DC Sports 4-1 header, Carsound cat, and full ITR catback with the bottleneck cutout for a full 2.25" exhaust and the car isn't much louder than stock when driving at low rpms, but at full throttle, the car is DEFINITELY louder than stock. The car screams but not as loud as an aftermarket exhaust.

 

i used to have a 2.25" mandrel bent system going into an ITR muffler, it was no louder than stock to my ears

 

Hey i know alot of guys that use custom setups. The only thing is that they don't use those(generic no-name cannon style muffler.) Because they sound horrible. Most guys that do custom has like, just the Apexi muffler with custom piping. alot of people buy the brand name muffler with custom piping.

maybe it just me but i think generic mufflers like (3ARacing, Matrix, and OBX) sound horrible. I can hear guys 12 blocks away with those mufflers.
Generic muffler's all sound the same to me. One LOUD deep tone.

Anyone agree?

But your right on one thing Cat-Back setups are expensive. I think HKS wants 700 US Dollars for their Hiper Dragger Exhaust. That Crazy.