It is rather funny when people realise they should do headers first for both gains and sound, rather than wasting money for no gain on cat backs that were designed/matched to stock headers.

Break in periods typically take the harshness out of the system, making his already quiet exhaust even quieter.

My main tip (tho it is too late for you) want a good/loud exhaust? do not buy Invidia

Keep it!! Buy some headers, it will make the exhaust loud but it won't be annoying. You will love it!

My Tsudo got louder after break in, but I installed CB and FP together so they may have been the cat breaking in.

I have the Q300 with the invidia catless front pipe.. After breaking it , its loud on cold starts and when your WOT, but it has a nice rumble.. I would get that its pretty cheap.

The Q300 is definitely the Gentlemen's exhaust. It's quiet while cruising but you can still hear yourself when you're at WOT.

My buddy has the Borla Header, HKS Front Pipe, DC Sports Over-pipe, and Invidia N1 and it's a pretty loud setup. I personally am not a fan of how it loud it is now and neither is he. He's going to be picking up the Q300 as soon as he sells the N1.

S2D4 is definitely correct about doing the headers/front pipe/over pipe first. That's where you're going to get most of your power and a fair amount of sound. I did a Kwaftwerks SC already with no exhaust mods. I'll be working my way front to back to see how much louder those 3 parts actually make the stock exhaust.

Having used both the Q300 and the N1, it depends on what you want. The N1 will give you a deeper, louder, more defined UEL rumble than the Q300 will, but you will have some drone and interior conversations will be a bit louder. The Q300 more of the sound will be out of the back of the car.

The Q300 is very civil inside. You can hear the engine over the exhaust till you're WOT.

There's things I love about both exhausts. If I get tired of the N1 ever, I will certainly go back to the Q300. Good news is they can be swapped so easily because they use the same midpipe.

Even a catted front pipe will increase the exhaust volume. Header (catted or catless) + front pipe (catted or catless) will definitely make the Q300 a good amount louder. Will it be loud enough for you, that's up to what you want.

im also debating between these 2 exhaust and the greddy elite sp. How does the greddy sound wise compare to the N1 and Q300. Is it louder than the Q300?

The Greddy Elite is an Axleback so it's going to be the quietest of the three. It has a great tone but don't expect much in the power gain department. I think the Greddy Elite is great if you want something that's a touch more aggressive than the stock exhsust.

what i dont understand is what is in the mid-pipe, people are telling me that it is a resonator and others are telling me its a cat that is not read by the computer, which one is it? and if i decide to take it off will it void my warranty?

I have a Q300 and a Perrin CAI. The cold air intake really makes up for the quiet exhaust, but it still is nice and quiet on the highway, but gets louder at 4k rpm.

Midpipe is separate from the front pipe. Front pipes are catted, some resonated, and catless. Midpipes are either resonated or non resonated.

This might help you visualize it:

http://blog.perrinperformance.com/wp...am-550x271.jpg

The order of the parts is:

header --> overpipe --> front pipe --> midpipe --> muffler

- The header contains a cat.
- The front pipe contains a second cat and a resonator.
- The midpipe contains a resonator.

When people say catback, they're really talking about everything behind the second cat (i.e., midpipe and back).