ARK Exhaust vs. Fast Intentions
 

What is everyone's opinions on these two exhaust? What are the pro's and con's of both? And Which do you feel is the best? I am tied between the two and all of your opinions will be very helpful! :tup:

quick reply be back later: FI

7 letters and a space in between: FI FTMFW

FI. But you cannot go wrong with Berk's either.

im the process of getting my ARK exhaust. the design and quality looks top notch! and it sounds great...

yeah but what kind of gains are you gonna be seeing?

I don't think there have been any before and after dynos for the ark, so unfortunately it's an unknown. I like my ark, but I like everyone else in this thread, am biased. Your best bet is to hear both locally and decide.

idk about gains. dont have it yet. and there havent been any dynos numbers at all...
its looks comparable to ths HKS as far as design goes tho. HKS uses an H-pipe while ARK uses their X-pipe. differences shoudlnt be enormously different...

Someone really needs to dyno after this CBE install cause it looks beautiful but I really have always been a Performance>Looks type of guy lol

someone does need to lol. piping diameter is identical at 60mm i believe. and both use additional canisters to drown out any additional drone. but the ARK is a lot cheaper!

whoops i forgot we're talking about the ARK and the FI. not the HKS hahaha.

lol while were mentioning other brands the GT Haus Meisterschaft Exhaust is pretty nice but if i where to go that route i'd probably get a muffler shop to fab me up some custom y and mid pipes for sure It would be like half the money i would spend on their y and mid pipes and still consist of the same SS materials cause TI is waaaaaayyyyyyy too much cash! what do you all think?

I have the ARK exhaust and love it. While I love performance, sound/drone/rasp, were the major contributing factors when I was choosing my exhaust. Do I really care if I get 12HP over 9HP if the exhaust drones like mad on the highway and I can't stand driving it? The ARK has no drone on the highway and sounds great with no rasp at all (with stock cats), which is exactly what I wanted. Fit and finish on the ARK was excellent and there are a few vendors here on the site that will give you a very good price on it.

Bump!

I should be getting my ARK Exhaust delivered next weekend, I will do a before and after Dyno. But It will be with Berk Test Pipes aswell, But atleast it will give you an Idea on what type of combo will get you certain HP


DAN

If you are going to get ARK exhaust, I thought I had read in some thread that ARK may be willing to cover some of the dyno costs for you.

They should anyway as this small investment for them could mean MANY more sales. I honestly think this would be one of the more popular exhausts if they had this data, as the design, materials, weld quality and overall value are excellent. As someone pointed out, they have Helmholtz resontors like the HKS, but with larger 2.5" piping (>60mm diameter) and a very smooth x-pipe piece. The flex pipes are an added bonus too.

+1

I don't yet have the exhaust, mines still on order, but that was a big thing for me. The performance MAY be lacking in the exhaust but than again almost every exhaust has shown the same gains within +-5 HP between different dynos and different conditions, which is what? A 2% difference in WHP? Personally I can't feel a 2% gain or loss(just like I couldnt really feel when I added i/e and tune to my bike) so sound and looks are dbig factors to me.

Course like others have said, almost no one has tried more than one exhaust so its going to be VERY difficult getting an unbiased opinion on this.

That is correct. If you provide us with a before and after dyno, we will cover the dyno cost. Just provide us with the shops # before you do the dyno. There has been some cases where the shop said that they would charge 250 for 3 runs...

Alex

ARK all the way. Sounds amazing, no drone, did I say no drone?

Even if I do the Run With a Set of Berk Test Pipes does a before and after count, If so that would be amazing :)



DAN

I do not know to much about the ARK. From what I can see it looks like a well built system. I can only tell you about mine.

1) Over 200 systems have been ordered through us in the last year! Over 190 are shipped and installed.

2) We have 5 different variations because everyone wants something different.

3) When you call us you will deal directly with the manufacturer. I designed it, prototyped it and still build it in house to this day.

All of the reviews speak for themselves. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call me directly...

Thank you, Tony
Fast Intentions, Inc.
(818) 882-2788

Can't go wrong with either one. I am extremely happy with the FI system on my G37xS sedan. :)

PM sent.

I have the ARK and I love it. The fit and finish was excellent, the sound is perfect with ZERO drone. The place I had install it said it was breeze to put on and was impressed with the quality, the dealership where I get my oil changes were impressed with the quality and the guy behind the service desk came running outside to tell me how awesome he thought it sounded. I love the exhuast. It hangs low, but I have never scraped the exhaust, and i've been on some hairy roads and driveways with no problems. There arn't as many people with the ARK as there is FI, so of course you will get more responses from that group. But I have never heard anyone with the ARK complain, and the one issue someone had ARK worked with them on it. Go with the ARK and I can tell you that you won't be disapointed.

I have to say, after numerous meets in SoCal and hearing numerous exhausts, Still in this day I am in love with FI, I'm currently #200 on the waiting list and I tell you I CANNOT WAIT no longer, their not like an exhaust that you have to wait because vendor can't put out the product, they're on back ordered because of popular demand and Tony wants to make sure EVERY single exhaust that he sell is in perfect condition. Great customer service, very very friendly. And fellas, we didn't buy THIS car so we can not hear our exhaust, little drone does not mean end of the world. I'm not trying to turn this into a VS thread but honestly I think once it's installed on my car I will not regret it at all. That's just my 2 cents.

:iagree:

I'm sure the FI is a great exhaust and from the vid clips I've heard it sounds very nice as well. And you can definitely hear the ARK exhaust when you want to. Under load it is one of the cleanest exhaust sounds that I've heard. And no, a little drone isn't the end of the world, but if I'm just cruising on the highway and would rather hear the radio, my wife, someone one the phone, etc. rather than the exhaust, the ARK fits the bill.

I'm sure you would be completely happy buying either exhaust, it ultimately just depends on which one you end up pulling the trigger on. Both are great, the FI w/ 18" resonators was my second choice.

I don't understand why everyone is so up in arms about dyno numbers on an exhaust. How much more can one exhaust make over another? Seriously? Not to mention how easy it is to exaggerate gains on a dyno and have people just eat it up. I've seen it, done it and have watched people on other forums go crazy over gains that were basically lies. The common answer from the manufacturer, "Dynos vary so much depending on location and type of dyno. It's completely possible you may see smaller gains based on these facts". It's a larger diameter bent pipe with a muffler/resonator. That's it. Neither have crazy 90 degree bends and both seem to have a decently unobstructed flow path.

But myself, I think paying $1000+ for a simple cat back is just stupid to begin with. I've been around plenty of exhaust manufacturers and can honestly say, they are making quite a killing by charging that much. Once the jig is made, it's simple for them to reproduce in house (hopefully they invested in a mandrel bended or have a supplier) or send it out to China, India, Taiwan or where ever to have it reproduced for dirt cheap. Not knocking any or the listed manufacturers products, because I can tell a lot of work went into to both mentioned exhausts and the quality they produce might be worth it to some consumers.

A few friends of mine did a test once on their cars and noticed something weird. One had an Evo IX with the HKS hi power exhaust and the other had one with a cheap as hell Megan Exhaust. They were bored one day at their shop and did a few pulls with the HKS and then swapped the Megan exhaust on the SAME car. You want to know how much more power the HKS made? NONE. They both were within 1-2hp each run. Sure, the HKS is probably constructed better and may outlast the megan, but really how many people are going to keep their cars long enough to really find out?

It should boil down to sound. Which one you think SOUNDS better and more livable for you. Personally, from what I have heard, the ARK exhaust takes the cake for me.

We are getting real close to your exhaust! I am sorry if I have not gotten back to you. As you know I have been so slammed here at work. Give me a call directly if you need anything...

Thanks, Tony

lets go go go Tony!!!!

40 sets coming in this within 3 business days

I'm just curious why you're not a Vendor?

I'm seeing it to be fair to the paying vendors. :tiphat:

When I get an exhaust I will be getting which one sounds the best for the best price with the shortest wait time. The ARK's do look nice. Nice price as well.

You guys still haven't recieved them yet even? Jeeze, maybe the weekend after next is a more realistic time frame for the dyno session.

We actually set aside 2 days for organizing the warehouse before it ships. We will get these out as soon as we can

Alex

Since your not a vendor are you offering a special discount off the price to help intice us?

Shouldnt be advertising on here unless you're a paying sponsor

Is everyone going to jump down the man's throat now? Hes been posting here for months now about the exhaust and has had no issues, apparently Ark has worked out some sort of deal to be able to post their products.

I agree, if your going to put "40 sets coming in" I'd say that's advertising!

I would rather hear my exhaust over my wife...and she knows it:tup:

As far as which exhaust to go with, to each their own. FI offers/offered free installation and for those located somewhat close to them it was a no brainer. As far as Ark, they are located on the East coast, Jersey area I believe. I personally will eventually have the FI CBE installed, might use it as an excuse to drive to Cali and put some miles on my car.