Why are the Invidia catback exhausts so much cheaper than others?

[JoeBoxer]

Originally Posted by enjoi23

That's why you don't buy Accelerated Performance stuff lol

I think you are confused with Agency Power...

[CrazyWookiee]

He is correct. Invidia is made in Taiwan.

Invidia use to make the exhausts for RS-R and then they had a falling out. Upon that falling out, Invidia went out and using what R&D RS-R had provided them, they started manufacturing their own line of exhausts. I'm not going to get into the America VS China/Taiwan battle, but a lot of people want to keep their car "really Japanese" and insist on only buying GReddy or HKS.

You guys trust GReddy and HKS Exhausts, don't you? They are top notch quality. Well Invidia matches it. Lots of people think that "made in Japan" stamp on those exhausts mean they were 100% made in Japan. In reality, the majority of the exhaust are made in Taiwan, shipped to Japan and then packaged up there. If they do that, legally, they can stamp made in Japan on it.

Even a lot of our premier tuning companies, Apex'i, Tomei or Toda do the same. Most of these exhausts are made in Taiwan.

The reason the Invidia's are cheaper, is that they priced them competitively. You can pay a lot more for an HKS or GReddy, but the quality is the same. They are all made in Taiwan. That's why I went Invidia. In the end, I was paying for what we perceived as "Japanese quality" (since even the top end companies were manufacturing theirs in Taiwan) but not breaking the bank because Invidia doesn't pretend their exhausts are made in Japan and hike up the price.
If you guys don't believe me, just do a quick google search. People have visited Taiwan and seen HKS and GReddy exhausts being pumped out of there.

I just wanted to clear some misconceptions about the quality of Taiwan made exhausts.

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

they are made in taiwan. and imported by jetworld/jetstar auto sports.

they are priced competitively. this does not mean they have cheaper parts. invidia stuff is very nice, i have been using them for a while and wouldn't buy anything else. they always fit perfect, look awesome, and sound great. it's a US company, but production is overseas for cost benefit. US born and grown products are going to cost more, because it costs them 10x more to make the stuff. look at killerbmotorsport, he makes his own products for the subaru wrx/sti, and barely makes a profit on each item sold. it took 2 years for him to finally break even after making his great header for the car, said my himself.

it's great to support the US with their products, sometimes they aren't the best. most of the time, some companies go the cheap route on parts in order to keep cost down while still building the part in the US. this is where you run into issues. i'd rather buy the quality stuff they build overseas, so it doesn't fall apart on me.

[VSGTS14]

dude, the HKS exhaust for the sti was crap. it sounded horrible, it rusted fast, and the carbon fiber was hardly carbon at all and faded. like you said, do we really trust their names because of that...the name?

[stratodyne]

This is a great posting, and answered basically all of my questions.

I'm still looking for a catback for my BR-Z, and have yet to decide on which company / product combination, but it does help me understand why the Invidia stuff is priced so well, in comparison to a majority of other products.

I do agree that while I would rather support national businesses, just because a product is coming from the US *doesn't* guarantee it is going to be quality. I also don't care if it is coming from some ancient Incan tribe, so long as the parts are quality. Still doesn't make picking an exhaust any easier :/

Originally Posted by CrazyWookiee

He is correct. Invidia is made in Taiwan.

Invidia use to make the exhausts for RS-R and then they had a falling out. Upon that falling out, Invidia went out and using what R&D RS-R had provided them, they started manufacturing their own line of exhausts. I'm not going to get into the America VS China/Taiwan battle, but a lot of people want to keep their car "really Japanese" and insist on only buying GReddy or HKS.

You guys trust GReddy and HKS Exhausts, don't you? They are top notch quality. Well Invidia matches it. Lots of people think that "made in Japan" stamp on those exhausts mean they were 100% made in Japan. In reality, the majority of the exhaust are made in Taiwan, shipped to Japan and then packaged up there. If they do that, legally, they can stamp made in Japan on it.

Even a lot of our premier tuning companies, Apex'i, Tomei or Toda do the same. Most of these exhausts are made in Taiwan.

The reason the Invidia's are cheaper, is that they priced them competitively. You can pay a lot more for an HKS or GReddy, but the quality is the same. They are all made in Taiwan. That's why I went Invidia. In the end, I was paying for what we perceived as "Japanese quality" (since even the top end companies were manufacturing theirs in Taiwan) but not breaking the bank because Invidia doesn't pretend their exhausts are made in Japan and hike up the price.
If you guys don't believe me, just do a quick google search. People have visited Taiwan and seen HKS and GReddy exhausts being pumped out of there.

I just wanted to clear some misconceptions about the quality of Taiwan made exhausts.

[CrazyWookiee]

Yes. That's what I mean.

Bottom line, you can't judge "quality" of an exhaust based on NAME & WHERE ITS MADE.
Sometimes a brand could have previously made all their stuff in Japan, and their later stuff is outsourced to Taiwan.
Sometimes an exhaust in made in Taiwan, you think its made in Japan and the quality is top notch.
Sometimes a brand makes their stuff in America, but the quality isn't as good as their other exhausts.

Don't judge an exhaust based on where it's made or what brand is stamped on it. Treat each system individually, and compare it just as it is. Quality of exhausts vary across companies, and vary within companies. If you have your eye on one, do your research on that one specific one.

In the end, if I want a handmade, quality, reputable company from America, then I pay the price for that. If I'm going to be buying a Taiwanese made exhaust, I want to pay THAT price. And that's why I went Invidia. I didn't wanna pay HKS/GReddy prices for a Taiwanese exhaust. To me, I can't pay double for something that's made in America. I can't pay triple for something that's ACTUALLY made in Japan. I pay for QUALITY and I feel that an American made exhaust is not DOUBLE the quality of an Invidia, and a Japan made is not TRIPLE.

If you are paying extra to support local companies or homeland companies. I'm 100% for that. But I won't blurt out that they are higher quality and trick myself into thinking I am paying twice as much for that quality by trashing a Taiwanese made exhaust. I'd simply be paying twice as much to support my local companies and if that put's a smile on my face, then it's 100% worth it.

[VSGTS14]

Originally Posted by stratodyne

This is a great posting, and answered basically all of my questions.

I'm still looking for a catback for my BR-Z, and have yet to decide on which company / product combination, but it does help me understand why the Invidia stuff is priced so well, in comparison to a majority of other products.

I do agree that while I would rather support national businesses, just because a product is coming from the US *doesn't* guarantee it is going to be quality. I also don't care if it is coming from some ancient Incan tribe, so long as the parts are quality. Still doesn't make picking an exhaust any easier :/

there are tons to choose from, it's hard. i have been eyeing them all up constantly.
i like perrin's. i like invidia's...i honestly want to do a full invidia setup. i won't pay a buttload for an exhaust, it's just piping. as long as it has the sound i want, the look i want, and the quality i expect, i'll buy it.

[meeks]

Originally Posted by wbradley

Sadly Canada doesn't have much on the mass market level since it's hard to compete with 300 million people just below us.

Lachute performance out of Quebec.

[Sony]

There are good companies and bad companies everywhere. It all depends on the companies quality standards. While yes I would love to buy everything made in america, if another company outside of america makes a better product then I will buy that.

For instance I bought a Perrin exhaust, which is Made in America vs. a the Greddy SP Elite I was originally considering. I paid more because the Perrin I believe is higher quality and built in the USA. However when it comes to the car itself...I bought a BRZ...which is made is Japan vs. say a Ford Focus ST, because the quality is better and it was more of what I wanted. It all depends on the company...honestly, not where its made. While I would love to purchase everything from an American Manufacturer... I'm not gonna pay for a shit product just because its made in the USA. I'm also not gonna pay less for a shit product because its made in china.

[zooki]

Originally Posted by catharsis

Actually yes.

Most US made designed and built exhausts/parts do perform better. Especially all the high end designers.

Also sorry I take pride in supporting locally owned production. To me that makes it better, knowing who's hands crafted it and that my money gave an american a job.

And this is why you bought an American made ca.....oh, wait, never mind. (:

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by fuddbutter

Hate to be the bearer of bad news, but out side of America, 'made in US' is usually a keep clear sign ;p
Esp with cars.. pretty much any US car sold in Aust has flopped apart from the Jeep Wrangler, and even then it's usually people who are prepared to pay the money to constantly fix it.
here are a few cars that flopped.. and broke
Taurus, PT Cruiser, Chrysler anything for that matter apart from the 300c

actually, put everything apart from the 300c :p

But yes, i would buy China over US most times, as long as the China stuff has been built properly.

Cars and goods are two different things.

[FT-86 SpeedFactory]

Invidia makes a quality exhaust. We put both the N1 and Q300 on our cars, tested them, did photos and videos because they are so popular and priced well. STI/WRX are popular platforms that they have been on as well as countless others. For an exhaust they are great.

Just look at all the data out there and decided which sound you like, and your budget and go from there.

[wbradley]

I think American cars are awesome...

Camaro, made in Oshawa Ontario Canada
Dodge Challenger, Chrysler 300C made in Brampton Ontario Canada
Ford Flex, Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, made in Oakville ONtario Canada

Canada produces more cars per capita than good 'ole USA.

We also produce Honda cars and SUVs, Toyota cars and SUVs, Suzuki cars and SUVs.

Buick originated on Canada.

One reason I always favoured Honda and Toyota is that they have contunued to invest in our country for many years.

Mazda? Pfffft. Nissan? likewise.

[VSGTS14]

toyota produces nearly every car here. so does subaru. and hyundai is joining them.


in fact, the most american made car is the toyota camry. every other car has a certain percentage of parts from different countries.

the camry is almost 100% american parts/american made.

[Smudgeous]

Originally Posted by VSGTS14

they are made in taiwan. and imported by jetworld/jetstar auto sports.

they are priced competitively. this does not mean they have cheaper parts. invidia stuff is very nice, i have been using them for a while and wouldn't buy anything else. they always fit perfect, look awesome, and sound great. it's a US company, but production is overseas for cost benefit. US born and grown products are going to cost more, because it costs them 10x more to make the stuff. look at killerbmotorsport, he makes his own products for the subaru wrx/sti, and barely makes a profit on each item sold. it took 2 years for him to finally break even after making his great header for the car, said my himself.

it's great to support the US with their products, sometimes they aren't the best. most of the time, some companies go the cheap route on parts in order to keep cost down while still building the part in the US. this is where you run into issues. i'd rather buy the quality stuff they build overseas, so it doesn't fall apart on me.

Pretty much the exact same view I have. And you're living in my hometown, to boot!