The exhaust on my SE needs some work, so I'm just going to replace the entire system. I've been reading a lot of threads, and to be honest, I'm a bit confused on the right path to take.

I plan to keep this car relatively stock (except for wheels and exhaust). The SE is going to receive street use -- no real racing. I'm looking for a street performance boost and better tone but without a ton of volume. My questions:

• I had always assumed that the Racing Beat system is the way to go, but I've seen a few comments that the system is "too restrictive." What's reality here? Are there better choices?
• What do I need to get to insure that the 6 port engine continues to run as designed (extra ports triggered by exhuast pressure)?
• Is the RB muffler the best option or will a Magnaflow provide better tone and performance?
• Finally, cat or no cat? If no cat, what do I replace it with? Straight to muffler will be too loud for my needs... too many neighrbors with babies!

 

In my opinion Racing beat is the best way to go,it won't be too restrictive on a stock engine,it also sounds the best and will last the longest.about the cat that will depend on if you have to pass emissions or not.

 

^^ agreed. Plus the most restrictive part on the RB system from what I hear is the muffler, but replacing that with another kind of muffler will louden it considerably. Also, the presilencers work wonders if you are not running a cat. If you have no emissions in your state, why run one?

 

Racing Beat is the best street exhaust system, no question.

Because of that compromise, it is too restrictive for a full-on race car, but the difference is really not enough to get excited about in your situation.

Additionally, it sounds exactly like sex and will last forever.

Go with the RB system. You won't regret it.

As for your 6-port operation, the RB system has a provision to ensure that those continue to function as they do in stock form.

 

I must interject something. You should get the header from Mazdatrix. They sell one that has the backpressure tube going from the header to the aux ports and appearantly works better than the RB presilencer with the backpressure tube in it.

 

I thought the header Mazdatrix offered was the RB one! Interesting. I would think it would work better on the header itself, anyway.

 

+1

 

It is a Racing Beat header. They just add a bung or something to it.

By the way, I have a GSL-SE presilencer sitting here and the sensing tube looks like a big ugly restriction inside. No thanks. It's far better to get the header from Mazdatrix and a normal presilncer.

 

Thanks guys. The feedback is appreciated.

So, if I go with the Mazdatrix header, what sort of pre-silencer should be used? Do I need something specific to rotares or can I just get anything (Magnaflow, etc)?

P.S. The Mazdatrix cat is like $450!!!! damn!