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Old 12-20-2013, 09:56 AM   #13
krulux
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Join Date: Oct 2013
Drives: 2013 Scion FRS
Location: Middle, Ga.
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When I was looking at the off-the-shelf solutions for a nice cat-back exhaust every kit I looked at was about 2-3 times more expensive than what I felt they were worth.

When you get down to it... most are just mufflers and pipe, not exactly expensive items.
( I realize you are paying as much for the time they spent designing the kit, and in some cases name branding, as you are for the parts and profit by the seller)

So instead I went to a local muffler shop that offered custom exhaust services and spent some time telling the shop guy what I wanted... He offered to build a stainless 2.5" cat-back with a Magnaflow muffler and tossed in a set of tips as well, installed for $300.

Once he got started it took him about an hour to remove the old exhaust, custom bend the new pipe and weld/hang the new muffler and tips in place. The guy knew his stuff and wow it made a hell of a difference in sound and flow.

While he was doing the work I looked up the parts he was using and guesstimated he had maybe $200 in parts and likely could get it cheaper than what I found online. Even so... for about an hours work he netted at least $100 in an hour.

After driving the car for a few days I noticed more drone than I wanted during highway driving @ 70-80mph... so I went back to the muffler shop and had him add a 24" resonator for $100 installed. After all was said and down... I now have a custom Magnaflow cat-back for $400... and it sounds fantastic. Excellent rumble for a decent cost.

(btw - I am waiting on my Open Flash Header so I can get more flow and that classic Subaru burble! My exhaust guy quoted me $100 for the header install... soon!!!)



For you $100 you may be able to find a local muffler shop to swap your muffler for something with a little more flow. You may be surprised at how good a deal you can find if you look around... just make sure the shop is reputable.

Also - I got a significant sound change from simply buying a drop-in K&N air filter... nice and throaty growl under the hood over the stock sound...
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