Quote:
Originally Posted by SS_Firehawk
F.I.
Motordyne
AAM
Tanabe
Meisterschaft
Tomei
5Zigen
Plus a lot more... They all use different designs. What type of resonators you put on, where, where your X or H Pipe is, pipe diameter, merge points, etc. That knockoff product copied someone elses successful work and Hired a China company to build it.
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I will concede this - you are probably correct. In my personal opinion though, I don't really think there is all that much engineering that goes into the design of an exhaust in most cases... I know FI has provided a lot of dyno numbers, but really that just shows that they did the testing. Most companies don't seem to bother testing at all, or just dont seem to publish numbers that are worth anything.
I would be surprised to see much difference in performance between the majority of exhausts that are built with the same tubing diameter, general style (aka HKS style or OEM style), style of components.
I also don't think you can definitively say that the cheap exhausts ripped off any of these - they could have prototyped their own but saved testing/dyno and manufacturing cash to keep the costs down along with using inexpensive components... I believe GarageLine has stated that they designed their exhaust but outsourced the manufacturing, and that is a $500 exhaust.
Further, I am not sure you can definitively say that the brands you listed didn't rip each other off to some degree.
Again, I am conceding that you are likely correct - just making a little more room for error compared to a blanket statement.
I am sure the FI piece is quality, but the price seems bonkers to me. That being said, if one popped up used for $700-$800 local to me I would hop in my truck with a stack of cash in a moments notice. Why? 'Cause I want the prestige of it.... and my coworker has one and it sounds like sex.
Quote:
Originally Posted by JARblue
Not to mention the value some of the more reputable brands hold. A $1500 Fast Intentions exhaust can easily sell for $1000 several years later. Having to replace a $300 eBay exhaust once due to rust or something can end up costing more than the investment in a FI exhaust.
That's not to say that all eBay exhaust are terrible and will fall apart in a couple of years. Clearly some are better than others.
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This is true... but we are really just comparing that $500 loss against a $300 gamble. In my experience, the cheap chinese exhausts have held up - but it just depends on what you want.
(Edit: I do live in Florida... so corrosion is not that big of a problem. Northerners may have more meaningful experience.)
I did buy some ebay test pipes and will say that they did not fit all that great. I ended up giving them away and buying a second hand pair of GTM pipes that fit much better... so sometimes you do gamble and lose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chuck33079
On a lot of these ebay exhausts, the mufflers will blow out and they'll end up sounding bad.
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I think this is the most likely scenario where the differences really show up.... but as JAR said... some may be better than others.
Edit: A little story snippet I just thought of... When I was getting tuned at JTRAN - I mentioned that the exhaust was a little ill-fitting (because of the ebay test pipe gamble) and Johnny gave it a dismissive wave and said "That's just the exhaust man..."
I guess it matters more if you're NA and trying to breath every whp into your car.