exhaust system alternatives?
 

I have added a dp to my exhaust system, and just tried removing the stock cat-back to see how it would sound if I simply added a straight pipe instead of an aftermarket catback system. It didn't sound how I had wished. Sounds like a small displacement v-8, lots of rumble, and backfires.
I would like the Racing Beat dual tip cat back, but at $515, c'mon......I used to sell stainless pipe, tubing sheet metal, etc. At $515, there is at least a 200-300% markup.
I was wondering if anybody has tried any different alternatives and have been satisfied. Maybe a straight pipe with an XR-1 from Borla?? Have you guys had any luck with anything else?
thanks

You could go to a mufflershop and have them build you an exhaust. That's really your only alternative. Oh, and it's not 200-300% mark-up. There's more to an exhaust than the material. Such as the R&D, construction, packaging, etc. If people were charged for the cost of materials we'd be payin 8k for FDs now, if even that.

with what type of muffler though. there is a muffler shop I found with some type of magna flow muffler, but I don't want something to loud. They could do it for about 200 bucks. I know that there is R&D associated with many of these aftermarket exhaust systems, but exhaust systems have been around for decades. There hasn't been any late breaking exhaust system discoveries that I know of that would warrant thousands a thousands of dollars worth of R&D.

I'm not even going to try and explain the cost...

As far as a muffler to keep it quiet goes, I would think something like a magnaflow would get the job done, however, don't expect much as these cars produce a LOT of exhaust and create a lot of sound, especially at wide open throttle.

I called a magna flow dealer today, and he quoted me about 350 to make a custom 3" pipe, which is only about 2' long, it wouldn't even be stainless either, plus the magnaflow muffler. I am not to keen on throwing 350 down on a muffler set up that may or may not sound good once it is done and installed. I'll just wait until I can pick up a catback system used, or bite the bullet and get in on a group buy for the RB dual tip.
I was hoping someone had tried something different like the magnaflow, or even a flowmaster, and been satisfied, but no such luck so far.
You can try and explain the cost of R&D of an aftermarket exhaust system all you want, I'm not arguing with you, I simply enjoy the debate.

Engineers make lots of money. ;)

if you take a 85 dollar flowmaster muffler, add a chrome tip, and a couple of feet of stainless piping, is it all of a sudden worth 550?

This was going to be a really long post but I deleted my explanation of the parts distrubution markups. I don't want to get off topic.

I'd say for the best sound, go with an RX-7 company, whether it be Racing Beat, RX7.com, or CS. I know there are a few 2nd gen owners who have otherwise custom setups but I don't know how they sound.

I have a custom made exhaust. it only replaces the cats with a presilencer and it has a magnaflow with a chrome tip. I love the sound it is deep and it gurgles on deceleration the power improved greatly according to my seatofthepantometre and fuel economy went up. I believe that it cost about $250.00 cdn and it is about 2 years old. I drive my car 20 000 miles a year so I think that it was a good deal.

Vic

Double post. Ooops!!!!

Can't go wrong with Magnaflow. Excellent quality and great prices. I use one as a pre-silencer and it really made a nice deep tone once it was on.

If your going to own a sports car , regardless of it 's cost, expect to pay for the parts accordingly, comear that 550 to the $1000 or so for an HKS of Apexi quality part. You buy a cheap part , more often then not you get cheap quality, mandrel bends cost allot becuse the machines to bend cost allot and it's a captive market, of course if you make allot of them then the price gets allot che4aper, except now you have the huge overhead of $10 large or more tied up in stock that costs money. You can go the one or two off method but then your paying a premium for the cost to fabricate the bends and the flanges and the mufflers to go with it.

Anyway you look at lovemyseven, if your not willing to spend the money it takes to develop the product so it works then you might as well get buddie with a MIG welder and plasma cutter a couple of ractive mufflers and a hand bender, it's obvious cost comes WAY before quality.

I agree, if you think that cost is way too high then you're definately not in the right car market. You should re-evaluate what you think the proper cost of a part for a sports car (and somewhat of a rare one at that...) should be. I don't really think that anything we tell you you'll agree with so why post? First $500+ is too much (which is cheap), then $350 is too much (which is DIRT cheap), what are you looking for? If really really think cost is THAT important over quality and performance then why not check out eBay. They sell cheap mufflers all the time on there, just buy one and get someone to weld one up for you. That's the cheapest thing you can possibly do. As for how it sounds...we don't know...we don't have a R&D department to tell you otherwise we'd charge you to tell you. :(

I just have to laugh cause he thought he might want a Borla XR-1 as a muffler, and then complained about the magnaflow possibly being too loud!

And isn't the XR-1 $400 or so?

Blake

no the XR-1 isn't 400, research before you post.
second of all, I don't have a problem spending money on my car. I dropped 15k on my last FD, and I loaded it with good parts. Muffler systems aren't going to be cheap, especially with a rare car like the FD. A friend of mine wants a kit for his Boxster, and that will cost him 1100, for a cat back kit on a boxster! It's all about the captive market.
When you guys get married, and have a wife who is watching every penny you spend on your second FD, then you will see where I am coming from. I would love to order the RB dual tip right now, but she's not having it, and you'll learn the cheaper it is, the easier it is to talk the women into letting you purchase.

Ah, you are right, but no need to get snippy. I didn't say anything about having a problem with spending money, just noise. I was thinking of:

http://www.borla.com/xr2.titanium.universal.mufflers/

Thats the one I always looked at. It is $400.

sorry about that, I am getting a little heat here for simply asking if anyone has tried something that is more affordable and works just as well.

I remember reading a lot about using the XR-1 as a presilencer, and there was an audio clip of an FD with one. Think it had a PP or bridge port. Sounded good.

I've always been a big fan of Borla, and don't think you could go wrong. As far as a custom exhaust goes, ask around your friends that are into cars, or go to a car meet sometime and ask around there. Someone usually knows a person who does exhaust and can get you a good deal.

Blake

I am also a big fan of borla, and had once planned on using the xr-1 on my last FD in place of the midpipe, but then got a good deal on a midpipe. I am just a little weary on spending money for a custom job with a magnaflow or borla type muffler, because you never know with a rotary engine what it may sound like, and once it's done, there is no turning back, unless someone else likes the way it sounds and you can sell it

I have used a Flow Master, it is loud. I think because the thin walls dont keep the noise in the muffler. It does run good, actually ran better than any other muffler I have useed before. I am currently running the RB muffler, seems like restriction, but dont know yet. Iam breaking in the engine now and when fully broken in I will run it at the track with and with out the muffler? If it runs better with out the muffler I WILL be converting back to a Flow Master!

custom exahust isn't that cheap. If you get an exhaust custom made with mandrel bent ends and stainless steal it is going to set you back like 400 to 500. Then u still need ti find mufflers. And you can't use shitty ass mufflers. You have to use ones that don't melt.

IE apexi, or racing beat, or borla.

Say we use borla. Very good stuff... all staliness steel. The borla XR-1 costs 179.99 from summitracing.com

if you opt for dual setup. You would want three mufflers. one to act as presilencer, and two at the rear of the car.

that is 537 for three mufflers + 500 for the mandrel bent pipes and welding

new racing beat turbo back system is only 789 USD, 750 from most stores. You get stainless steel and high qulaity direct fit stuff already. No headaches no shitty welds.

So i don't see how people keep on saying bolt on stuff is expensive.