Okay guys, this is my first attempt at doing some Performance Mods on my ride. I'd like to get an exhaust but don't know where to start. First off, are aftermarket ones legal?

Bat™

 

I believe they all are. I have Stillen and its awesome. Great sound!!!

 

I have the borla, it works great. Drawbacks are that it is probably more difficult than most to install and is somewhat difficult to get straight. Also I looks close to stock. (good for some people, bad for others) It sounds a little louder than stock and has a nice deep gurgle. It sounds even better with kinetix cats and a vortech

If I had to do it again, I might get the straight tip injen exhaust. It wasn't out when I got the borla. But it's a little louder and more raspy, I believe, than the borla.

 

i have the injen, its really nice and deep.
If ur thinking its loud...eh..not really.
it really depends on wats considered loud to u

 

I also have the stillen dual catbacks. They sound really good, much better than the stocks.

 

What are you looking for in an exhaust? Loud or soft? Stock look or aftermarket? From what I've read most systems net just about the same gains. So its whatever looks/sounds the best to you.

 

hardly worth the gains. Get a tilton street flywheel and a 5 zigen torque dampener and call it a day. Might as well get a plenum while you're at it. I hear kinetix cracks.

 

Kinetix doesn't crack anymore, I have 6k on mine and it fine.

Tilton Street Clutch/Flywheel $1400 + $600 install ... not really exhaust pricing there OP ...

Andy,

Kinda judging you from all the times we have hung out, I don't think you would be interested in the Injen or any loud exhausts like that, plus I dont think it would go real well with your cars "theme". I would suggest Nismo, Borla or Fujitsubo ... Having been in a car with all of these, I can say they are all nice sounding and have "ok" gains. Gains aren't great on any exhaust really, but the simple cosmetic change of a 3/4" bigger tip, the nice growl, and lil' extra kick make kinda fun to have.

I may be getting rid of my Borla here soon ... maybe you'd be interested. I can install it for ya

 

I was leaning towards Nismo or Borla.

Bat™

 

Easy - - Nismo - - great sound, awesome quality - -

Exhaust Shootout notes:

They used two cars (2% Hp difference).
Car 1 Baseline = 233.2 Hp - 222.6 ft/lbs torque
Car 2 Baseline = 237.5 Hp - 224.0 ft/lbs torque (stronger engine - lighter wheels)

All manufacturer's systems Hp and torque numbers were lower than advertised. Not a surprise.

Borla (car 2) = 8.2 Hp - 2.7 ft/lbs torque (peak values)
A top end system. Little HP increase until the 5600 rpm to 6500 rpm range. Lost HP & torque below 1800 rpm. 60mm (error actually 58mm). Weighs 52lbs. 1 million mile warranty. Installation - Hard (17 pieces)

5Zigen (car 2) = (-3.4) Hp - .02 ft/lbs torque (peak values)
Lost Hp, no real torque gain. Most expensive. Loudest. 58mm pipe. Lightest @ 25lbs. 1 year Warranty. Installation - Medium

Stillen (car 1) = 8.1 Hp - 7.3 ft/lbs torque (peak values)
Hp and torque increase starting at 3000 rpm to redline. Lost a little HP & torque below 1800 rpm. 60mm pipe. 74lbs - 10lbs heavier than the stock system. Lifetime Limited Warranty. Installation - Easy

Injen (car 1) = 7.6 Hp - 5.1 ft/lbs torque (peak values)
Small torque loss at 2800 rpm. Torque gain starts at 3300 rpm. Small Hp increase starts at 3300 rpm, max Hp from 5800 rpm to redline. Major loss in Hp and torque below 2200 rpm. 49lbs.
1 year Warranty. Installation – Easy

Nismo (car 1) = 6.3 Hp - 4.5 ft/lbs torque (peak values)
Torque increase starting at 3000 rpm. HP increase 4800 rpm to redline. No power losses below 1800 rpm. 54lbs. 3 years, 36K miles id installed by Nissan dealer. Installation - Easy

 

I really like my nismo nice and deep sounding untill you get above 4k

 

Since you live in San Diego, I would have to say NO. None of the exhausts are legal. The cops will pull you over and if you don't have the CARB paper work and a CARB number stamped on the exhaust where you can show the officer you will get a ticket.

 

BORLA!

 

Well, not to jinx us ... but there are about 15 of us in our group in SD that have aftermarket exhaust/cats ... and no one is going around crazy-revving their engines trying to draw attention. Besides, if you do get pulled over, its a fix-a-ticket.

Leo got pulled over for speeding one time, he had Greddy Evo w/ test pipes (read LOUD) and the cop let him go for window tint violation ... just shows that not all cops are ****'s here ... dont worry about the law ... there are plenty of fart can hondas that will draw more cops attention than the Nismo or Borla

 

I had Borla on my car, its really not that much different than stock. Ive heard nismo, they sound good. Of course i would say go with Injen, thats what i got now. But if it was between borla and nismo....Go Nismo.

 

go nismo..borla has too many parts (could spring leaks in the future)

 

Another one for Borla. Install is not bad. If you are scared of leaks have a shop weld the joints for cheap.

I put one on for my dad's Z, the sound is thoaty to me and the power gains are definitely there.

Victor

 

Although I have NISMO .. and love it for its quality, sound, and performance ... you can't go wrong with either NISMO or Borla, in my opinion.

Now hook that up with some sports cats ... and throw in a flywheel of your choice -- that is a great start.

 

NISMO sounds amazing! get it.

 

Bat,

Go for the Injen SES. It looks awesome and sounds awesome. I will post pix of mine but I am at work now. ill post pix later if I remember.

Zach