Bang for buck exhuast: gruppe s uel & works abm

[Bluefire98]

I just installed this setup, and I gotta say, for those who are looking for a good sounding, inexpensive, not too loud/droney, exhaust, this is a great option. The Gruppe S headers are of excellent quality with smooth welds. With a tune they really help fill in the midrange torque dip and add some top end as well. With the stock exhuast, it adds some rumble out back but overall volume stays about stock.

Now, enter the Works axleback muffler. There are a couple of drawbacks I'd like to point out first. Not all of the muffler is stainless steel. What isn't is coated in a matte black paint. The roads aren't salted where I live so rust isn't much of a problem, but this might be a dealbreaker for some. I'd imagine you could add some rust protective coating or something. Next is the overall design. Only one side of the axleback is muffled. Despite the "tuning" Works say they did, the sound is still unbalanced. This is most noticable at idle. Dipping in the throttle sort of evens out the sound.

So the sound, it's pretty darn good considering the price point. Paired with uel headers, you get the lovely subie rumble at a reasonable volume. I kinda wish the in cabin sound was a tad deeper but the sound out back is perfect. It's never raspy, it's never boomy, it's just right. Absolutely zero drone. With cruise control set to 70 on the freeway, you can't even tell your car has an exhuast.

Fit and finish for both products is excellent. Both were easy to install and bolted up with no issues. The Works abm looks particularly good and fills out the rear diffuser perfectly and evenly. For the money, this combo is hard to beat. I highly recommend this setup to those looking for a not too quiet/not too loud exhuast with some rumble. Don't have any pics yet but I should be able to post some later. Y'all have a good day!

[RToyo86]

This thread needs sound clips!

[BRZyJ]

I agree, I've got the same setup except I had a resonator welded in to the midpipe to tone it down a little bit...very happy with this combo

[jflogerzi]

I find it hard to believe that you have no drone at 70mph and windows up. Even my current setup can get pretty loud with the windows up on the freeway... But if you are happy it's all that matters. Agree we need some sound clips.

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[Bluefire98]

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1Zy...EUMVtvjx5pt9VO

Here's a clip. My phone doesn't give the best audio quality and clips easily. So of course the in-person sound is gonna be better.

[Bluefire98]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MjCI4EGkIc"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MjCI4EGkIc[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGU5A2clZtM"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGU5A2clZtM[/ame]

Here are a few vids I pulled from youtube that have a similar setup to mine. I used them to help me decide on what exhaust to get. Both are a bit higher quality lol. But yes, jflogerzi, no freeway drone. A friend of mine had an n1 on her brz, stock everything else. Now that thing droned.

[Tristor]

Originally Posted by Bluefire98

Here are a few vids I pulled from youtube that have a similar setup to mine. I used them to help me decide on what exhaust to get. Both are a bit higher quality lol. But yes, jflogerzi, no freeway drone. A friend of mine had an n1 on her brz, stock everything else. Now that thing droned.

Dude in that first video needs to work on his steering wheel grip and movements, is that you? Both in his track shot and on the street he's manhandling that thing and has his thumbs hooked in rather than positioned on the pads to get good steering sensation. It makes way more difference than you might imagine, especially at maintaining good momentum through corners and approaching the edge of your tire limits on track.

[Bluefire98]

Nope not me. Just some other people's youtube videos. But yes I would agree with you on that first one lol

[Tangizdope]

Wish I would've known the works axleback didn't drone when I was doing my exhaust setup. I run gruppe s and q300 and I feel like it doesnt have that deep Subaru rumble that I was looking for. Those vids make it tempting to switch my setup again.