I’ve been looking for an exhaust for my 350z for a couple weeks now. Is there any good sounding exhaust, or can sound good, that are on the cheaper side? I’d really love to keep dual but I don’t really have $1500 to put into an exhaust. I don’t track drive my Z, just street drive. My two choices right now is the Z1 m-spec and the megan racing drift spec, not locked in just what I’m looking at getting right now. I love the sound of the motordyne TDX2, but again I don’t have the money to spend that much. The only mod that I’ve done is a JWT pop charger intake.

 

Good is pretty subjective. You don't mention a budget - just under $1500. There are lots to choose from in that price range. As far as quality, you get what you pay for when it comes to welds and construction. The Invidia Gemini is a pretty popular choice. It's not very loud though, so if that's what you're looking for, the Z1 M-Spec would meet that goal with only one resonator/muffler.

 

So should I wait and go with something in the $1500 price range? Is the quality that poor on the cheaper exhaust?

 

I'd suggest saving for a Borla. Best sounding exhaust I've heard on a Z.

 

I had the Borla and had to throw it away because I couldn't sell it for $200 lol. I'll vote for the Invidia as well, it sounds nice, unless loud and obnoxious is your thing.

 

Nah, you don't need to drop $1500 on an exhaust to get good quality. It just depends what you're looking for.

I ran the Gemini on my Z for a while and then switched it to my G since I was looking for something a little more aggressive for the Z and went with Motordyne. A friend of mine had the borla on his Z. It wasn't crazy loud. Similar to the Gemini in sound level. Not completely trashing on Megan as a brand, but they're usually on the lower side of things price and quality-wise. I bet if you went with Z1 and had any issues, they would help you out down the road. Really good group of guys.

 

Why would you need to get rid of it? It sounds great and I made 281 whp with it along with some other bolt-ons in an '06.

 

Is the Z1 dual any better than the single? Right now it’s like $700. I can’t seem to find very good videos on the dual Z1.

 

I feel like if I were to go Gemini price point I might as well get a little more $$ and get the motordyne stuff.

 

The thing is it came with the car and I was tired of the leaks, so I wanted something different. I didn't have a place to keep it indefinitely and couldn't sell it so I threw it away. Most people only car about the loud and obnoxious singles now.

 

Again, it depends on what you mean by "better." Aesthetics? Weight? Performance? Affordability? There's a video of the dual on Z1's website:
I hear you. If you get the motordyne, you won't regret it! I think it's the best sounding exhaust for the Z and makes decent power (after a tune, of course).

 

nvidia gemini and art pipes


art pipes and tdx2

 

Yeah TDX2 is too boy racer for my taste I like the VQ howl, so I prefer stuff like the Gemini which is really similar to my HKS exhaust.

 

My HKS has been on for over a decade only required minor repairs. I agree, you get what you pay for...

 

I love my original Nismo S-Tune - not loud, just a deeper "VQ sound" (it was sound tuned to do that). It's no longer made (and sadly, neither are the newly released - 2018 - R-Tune and re-released S-Tune, both now discontinued).

Interestingly, I heard (and saw when I broke neck to look out the window) a Z go by my house one day that sounded amazingly good. Turns out he's a neighbor. Asked him what exhaust he was running. HKS.... knockoff. I was floored and shocked. Really sounded good. His words were "Hey, for 400 bucks, how could I go wrong?" Now, granted, it might need rewelding (or scrapping) at a premature date - laff - but for the sound only, not a bad thing.

And related to these knockoffs, I'll say this, a Tomei Expreme (and all of the related singles) sound good in the right environment BUT, that "right environment" is away from people. Ugggh. Annoying in urban traffic. (IMO)

Honestly, there are people here that have everything from these HKS knockoffs (on EBay) to Nismo S & R-Tune, Motordyne TDX2, Gemini... and everyone seems to be OK with what they have, even the cheap ones. Not suggesting you cut corners and rush out to buy a knockoff; but the way I look at it, an exhaust system does little for the power band and is mostly for looks and sound UNLESS you have the full complement of bolt ons, HFCs or cheater pipes, FI, and/or tune. And you did say you don't track the car so maybe saving a little bit of money up front allows for more day-to-day meaningful stuff like good tires and sway bars.

Just my $.02 in devalued dollars.

EDIT: Been a while since i checked out any new Z vids so this time I looked at exhaust clips and found this comparo (pretty good with wide range of perspective):

 

I personally have the Nismo S-Tune and I love it, although I bought mine used and the dumbass cut part of it off to make himself a homemade single. I ended up getting a shop to custom made the missing part of piping with a basic tube style Vibrant 3" resonator.

 

I like the HKS and Motordyne (and other similar) exhaust designs since they utilize a Helmholtz resonator at the rear sections. This design cancels out a lot of drone, but if you want to get on it at WOT, it doesn't disappoint.

I guess I'll always be part boy racer.

 

I won't even try for that look. Too far gone. [He says, preemptively.]

 

The mullet avatar plays. I'll allow it.

 

Why thanks! It was either "me in the 80s" or a current shot of me choking my chicken.


Sorry, my bad, took this off topic. The topic is exhausting.