OK, so I've realized that an exhaust upgrade is a cheap way to get some good improvements in terms of torque and hp. I've been looking around this forum for a little while now though and I'm pretty confused. The mix-and-match of parts to create a very customized sound and performance is a lot to handle for a newb.

What I'm asking then is that someone with more experience help me find the right parts to get what I'm looking for:

A boost in performance in the low to mid-range (preferrably low) of the powerband.

Relatively inexpensive (take that as you will...)

Not excessively loud or eye-catching -This is a daily driver and I don't like being pulled over haha.

Cat-Delete is NOT an option as I live in Chicago and it is illegal.

I already have the AEM CAI, so a system that would work well with this would be nice.

Easy installation would be nice but doesn't matter THAT much.


Thanks so much to everyone who responds to help.

-Aaron

 

aspec header and either an apexi world sport 2 or tanabe touring medallion axleback and you're done. quiet enough to stay below 100db and you can find these items used in the classifieds forum relatively easily

 

thanks, chaaree. do you think you could elaborate alittle bit on your selections, in terms of why you chose? thanks

 

no problem dude! the aspec header because their owners seem very happy about it and the gains sound on par with the t1r response header [mainly mid range] but costs much less.

as far as the exhausts go, you can't go wrong with either version. i have the world sport 2 and it's nearly silent at idle and still under 93db even at WOT - i actually hear my engine more than the exhaust itself LoL. same goes with the tanabe touring medallion - except this exhaust is packed and the world sport 2 is a chambered exhaust.

 

what are the differences between a packed and chambered exhaust? Also, WOT?

 

WOT = Wide Open Throttle. essentially, pedal to the metal

the difference between a packed and chambered exhaust is exactly that. a packed exhaust uses packing material to muffle the sound output and a chambered exhaust has a series of walls inside the muffler body that dampens the sound.

 

thanks for all your help chaaree. I think I'm probably going to end up going with this set-up. Thanks again!

 

glad to have helped

 

Ditto for the T1R 50S exhuast, B-pipe and header combo. Sound was very reasonable and not loud when I ran this setup. I kept the scilencer in, lots of people complimented how nice it sounded when I really opened it up on the autocross course.

 

you will lose torque if you do a catback/axleback

 

you will only lose torque if the diameter of the exhaust pipe exceeds the amount of exhaust gas the engine can produce. a 50mm diameter pipe on an NA L15 is just right IMO