What's up guys. I recently purchased the Bassani catback exhaust system for my '03 Z. The day i got it installed I was so pumped about the mod that i didn't take time to pay attention to the little things. The first notable dissapointment was that whoever designed the shape of this exhaust wasn't paying close attention to the layout of a z. Where other systems will bend out of the way, the bassani system lays right up against a rear sway bar causing this annoying rattle. That little rattle, imo, just makes everything feel cheap and not put together well. Another concern was the quality of the welds. Before installing the system the head mechanic at the shop i take my car too pointed out to me that the weld quality was not very good. He asked if i still wanted it put on because he predicted rusting in the next year and a half. That really bummed me out having just dropped 900 bucks but i had him put it on anyway. He did say i had a while before rusting would happen. My last gripe, which is strictly personal prefrence, is the sound. Online the thing sounds awesome. Not obnoxiously loud, not too quiet and to it's credit sometimes it does sound that way, SOMETIMES! When you first start the car up and rev it the car sounds really raspy, not good at all. Once it warms up though it gets better. The thing is i didn't want something too loud but i didn't want something wimpy either. At times the exhaust sounds so weak very airy, if that's a word. lol. I'm not really trying to bash the exhaust, it is after all what i'm riding around with right now. Just a word to the wise to someone who may be interested of my experience so far. I'd be happy to hear from someone else with the bassani system. It looks like and hks swap sometime here in the near future.

 

Sorry to hear about the disapointment. I've had it happen also. I purchased the Tanabe Medalion for my 1997 Eclipse back in the days. Loudest most obnoxious thing I've ever heard. Couldn't stand it. Big time waste of money...

 

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Thanks bud. Yea it sucks. feels like i just gave away a thousand bucks. But hey, ya live and learn i guess.

 

I don't understand why your mechanic would say the welds are weak therefore its going to rust... Its a stainless steel exhaust system. I did not notice that the welds were "weak". If they were weak, they would break, not rust.

I do agree they could have made some sort of adjustment to get the right midpipe off the rear sway bar, mine doesn't rattle, but it is basically touching the bar. I will eventually take it to a muffler shop to have it adjusted.

The sound, definatly personal pref. like you said. I love that this exhaust is quiet until 3k when it comes alive. I have never experianced any rasp...

sorry to hear you didn't like it, this was the worst review Ive read.

My only gripe is the midpipe on the sway bar, and it was very hard to get the double muffler assembly installed. Love the sound, and the gains (butt dyno), and I was satisfied with the build quality. I installed it myself.

 

MANY exhausts sound raspy when first started and being cold. Even the stock exhaust sounds raspy if you start it up when its cold and start revving. Sorry to hear that it wasnt what you expected.

 

How much spirited driving have you done with it? When the rpms are up, it sounds very meaty. Last weekend I recieved some compliments after a drive with my buddy through some mountain twisties. He had just modded his suspension on his BMW. Weez had some fun!
*spacer and high flow filter also increased sound

 

how much of a difference (in sound) is that spacer going to make?

 

It added a little depth, similar to a aftermarket intake. IMO, it sounds like you dont like the sound without the spacer, and I dont think you would like it with the spacer. Its not THAT much different. Like I said though, its a sleeper exhaust until 3k.

 

hfc's are on there way as long as intake and spacer. I am curious to hear that set up with the bassani system, thoughts?

 

At some point someone put HFC's w/ the bassani system and reported alot of rasp, I think they took them off. Maybe someone can verify that? Ive had mine installed for about 6 months or more, so Ive been following the threads.

 

Thats sort of how I felt with the nismo except it looks like its good quality. When I started it up I was like ok good sound, revved it a little and was excited it was louder. I took it out on the street and realized it only sounded a little different under 3k, passed it it got so quiet. I mean its sounds amazing when your on it and take it to redline under load but I'll be adding HFC's soon as I can afford it. Our engine makes such an amazing sound, so distinct.

 

OP just so you know. The HKS Hi power is not louder than the bassani. I can barley hear mine below 3k and when I get on it, its really not that loud, which is what I like. I like to accelerate without every cop on the street to look over.

And from what ive read. The Bassani seems to sound very mean with TP's. Never read anything about rasp. Look up the video on youtube.com of the Nismo Z with the TP's and the Bassani exhaust.

 

i was disapointed when i heard the soundclips.

 

This was my second choice for my 08. But I ended up ordering the Fast Intentions Intimidator instead.

 

I'll have to check that out, if that is so, I may have to get some TPs. Ive only read the one post from the guy that installed TPs...

 

Well in that case you should have spent 460 on a nice HKS clone...Great sound and great fitament. Check out the thread further down the list

 

Then when the bolts start rusting, and the tips start discoloring I guess you could just deal with that.

OP, try the HFC or TP's. That will def make the exhaust open up. TP's are going to be LOUD though. There was another vid of someone that had them and started the car in the garage and it was so loud that you couldnt really hear the tone of the exhaust because the mic on the camera couldnt capture it I suppose, but what you could hear sounded good.

 

There haven't been any reports of rust problems with the cxlighting HKS clone.

 

-1 on the hks knock-off suggestion..

OP if you dislike the sound, sell it locally for what it's worth and get something you will really enjoy..

hint: fast intentions, hks, nismo!

 

That mid pipe that you says rests against your sway bar, can and must be rotated about 75 degrees... there is plenty of room and clearance once you do adjust it... if you have other rattles, I suggest at lookin at your muffler assebly to check and make sure that it's not resting against the rear aluminum bumper/frame... ( mine did and it made a whole bunch of unwanted crappy cabin noises)... to fix that, make sure you pound the muffler and midpipes as far to the front as possible...

This exhaust does need a few adjustments, mine took 3, but once on, I wouldn't go for anything else...

Let it break in as well, it gets louder,

Just my 4.5 cents!