Best Exhaust System?
January-23rd-2003 | 12:45 AM
#4
Protege Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 240
From: Orange County, CA
no prob, just giving you a hard time 
Lots of people use the Racing Beat cat-back. On the dyno it added around 4-5 wheel hp. Skunk2 makes a system, it's a little on the noisy side but Skunk2 stuff seems pretty good - they race it, after all. Greddy is developing a system. The guys at FMProtege sell a thermal exhaust system. There are a few others as well.
Keep in mind, most of these cat-backs are only offering you the benefit of slighty larger than stock piping, a more aggressive sound, and better material (aluminized steel or stainless steel). You might pickup a couple of hp on the top end, but usually you lose a couple of hp on the low end.
A larger exhaust really only makes a significant power difference when you have forced induction.
Most of the systems available are $500+. I don't think that they are worth it.
If all you care about is power, I would buy an APEXi N1 muffler (around $250) and go down to an exhaust shop that mandrel bends tubing. Have them custom fit 2.25" tubing to your car with the APEXi muffler, and you will have an exhaust system that makes the most power for the least money. The APEXi N1 mufflers are loud, but the best for making power.
You might be lucky enough to pickup up 6-8hp with that setup.
Lots of people use the Racing Beat cat-back. On the dyno it added around 4-5 wheel hp. Skunk2 makes a system, it's a little on the noisy side but Skunk2 stuff seems pretty good - they race it, after all. Greddy is developing a system. The guys at FMProtege sell a thermal exhaust system. There are a few others as well.
Keep in mind, most of these cat-backs are only offering you the benefit of slighty larger than stock piping, a more aggressive sound, and better material (aluminized steel or stainless steel). You might pickup a couple of hp on the top end, but usually you lose a couple of hp on the low end.
A larger exhaust really only makes a significant power difference when you have forced induction.
Most of the systems available are $500+. I don't think that they are worth it.
If all you care about is power, I would buy an APEXi N1 muffler (around $250) and go down to an exhaust shop that mandrel bends tubing. Have them custom fit 2.25" tubing to your car with the APEXi muffler, and you will have an exhaust system that makes the most power for the least money. The APEXi N1 mufflers are loud, but the best for making power.
You might be lucky enough to pickup up 6-8hp with that setup.
January-23rd-2003 | 12:27 PM
#6
Protege Newbie
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 35
From: Columbus,Ga
check out www.teammoonexhaust.com I have thier cat-back and I love it great sound ans great to end gain and it sells for $369!!
January-23rd-2003 | 05:33 PM
#9
Registered User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 155
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
So I got a generic n1 style muffler installed today, sounds pretty sweet, just a bit more than stock, and it's real deep.
Here's the another question, the guy at the shop said he could get me mandrel bent pipes, 2 -1/4 from the first cat all the way back to the muffler. Taking out the second cat and the resonator, here in Canada I believe it's legal as long as you have the first cat on.
Will I trigger a CEL with the second cat off? Since the 00's dont have it i'm pretty sure it should be ok right?
Here's the another question, the guy at the shop said he could get me mandrel bent pipes, 2 -1/4 from the first cat all the way back to the muffler. Taking out the second cat and the resonator, here in Canada I believe it's legal as long as you have the first cat on.
Will I trigger a CEL with the second cat off? Since the 00's dont have it i'm pretty sure it should be ok right?
January-23rd-2003 | 05:57 PM
#10
...master of the obvious.
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 197
From: Indianapolis, IN
you shouldnt get a cel (i never got one)
i thought it felt like i lost A LOT of low end when i had mine out ( it felt like it anyways...)
and the girlfirend hated the sound-it gave her headaches (but i think she was faking it
), so i just went and welded it back in.
i thought it felt like i lost A LOT of low end when i had mine out ( it felt like it anyways...)
and the girlfirend hated the sound-it gave her headaches (but i think she was faking it
), so i just went and welded it back in.
January-23rd-2003 | 06:53 PM
#11
Protege 5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 351
From: Mass
....I wanted to stay with Mazda parts and got the Mazda Speed exhaust (axle-back) for my 01 PRotege ES. Sounded great. Just purchased a 03 PR5 jan 1, and swapped it to the new car. Had to get 5 inches chopped off the pipe aftter the muffler then re-welded together ($20 at a local aftermarket exhaust place) to make it fit the PR5. They offer a version for the sedan and PR5. It sounds great while the engine is under load between 2000 and 4000 rpm's.....girlfriend HATES it, and was pissed when i put it on the new car. Oh-well. I love it for the $240 I spent last summer installed on the sedan.
