Agency Power, Fast Intentions, or Ark CBE ???

[redline727]

There are a ridiculous amount of exhausts available for the 370z. I personally narrowed my selection down to 3.
Agency Power
Fast Intentions
Ark
Now I definitely am a guy that understands you get what you pay for. So my so problem is I like the sound and look of the Agency Power and I love the price bc its 400 cheaper then my next choice. My question is why? Back in my DSM days Agency Power made a great exhaust and were never the cheapest, did something change?
I love the way the Ark looks, least favorite sound
FI sounds great looks good except I don't like the look of the resonated tips from the back, you can see it to easy and to me doesn't look good.
What's your input ?
Clearly the Agency Power for me seems like a great buy but honestly the price compared to others has me wondering about quality and fitment. Any body have it?

[daisuke149]

Im not a fan of agency power myself due to the drone. The sound is deep but thats it

The ark is my fav. No drone. The tone is more exotic vs just a deep sound. It also looks great and is quiet for everyday and loud for when you gas it

[Romulus1]

just out of curiosity, have you looked at MXP? nice look and tone!

i personally dont like the split can look, just something about it.

[Econ]

i have the Ark, sold my first one to buy wheels, and missed it so much i bought a new one.

The sound is by far my favorite, and i have heard almost all of them in person.

I did add berk test pipes to the mix, so the sound has gotten raspier, however i still like it a lot

after

ARK Catback Exhaust w/ Berk Non Resonated Test Pipes (Vid)

before

ARK GRIP Exhaust Review Pics Sound Clip

[tsolin01]

Fast Intentions has my vote. Great power, great sound, 30,000 miles so far and going strong!

[Alto101]

I just had the ARK exhaust installed. Sounds great and a great price! You can see my install thread here:
ARK Exhaust Installed

I was tempted by the Fast Intentions as was my wife (she wanted the carbon fiber tips); however the wait combined with the higher price led us to look elsewhere. Compared to the OEM exhaust, any of the better selling exhausts are going to make you grin big time and I don't see how you could go wrong.

[XwChriswX]

Fast Intentions 'Resonated Tips'?? Explain this please...

[redline727]

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Fast Intentions 'Resonated Tips'?? Explain this please...

4.5" resonated dual wall slash cut polished stainless steel tips.

See the mesh looking steel on the inside of the tips? You can see that from behind the car and I just dont like the way that looks. Just my opinion though. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the way it sounds, Which I do like. I just dont think it looks good.

[redline727]

Originally Posted by Romulus1

just out of curiosity, have you looked at MXP? nice look and tone!

i personally dont like the split can look, just something about it.

I had a transverse muffler design exhaust on my 08 STI (hatch body style) And I just dont like the way they look when behind the car. The ones for the Z dont stand out no where near as much I just prefer a high twin muffler setup I think it looks clean. Thats why I like the agency power to me it looks the cleanest. The MXP does hide the muffler the best of all the transverse muffler setups I have seen I will give you that though and it was in consideration. do you have pics of yours?

[redline727]

I was using this site to help narrow my choices. 370Z Exhaust.com - Sound clips, photos + places to buy seemed to have most of them for comparison.

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by redline727

4.5" resonated dual wall slash cut polished stainless steel tips.

See the mesh looking steel on the inside of the tips? You can see that from behind the car and I just dont like the way that looks. Just my opinion though. I'm sure it has a lot to do with the way it sounds, Which I do like. I just dont think it looks good.

Interesting, I can't imagine being so anal about it that that tiny part would make you reject the whole thing... But to each unto their own.

I will say though that after you put miles on it and it starts to collect carbon deposits/rust, you won't even notice it that much. And honestly, if it gives me a good performance gain, and has the sound I want, then it shouldn't matter whats inside it. I mean that would be like saying I don't like Brand A exhaust because they use a different packing material that I can't ever see than Brand B. But Brand A has a better sound and gives me more performance...

Whichever one you pick, hopefully it meets all of what you're looking for because in the end it's what setup makes you happy on your Z that matters.

[redline727]

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Interesting, I can't imagine being so anal about it that that tiny part would make you reject the whole thing... But to each unto their own.

I will say though that after you put miles on it and it starts to collect carbon deposits/rust, you won't even notice it that much. And honestly, if it gives me a good performance gain, and has the sound I want, then it shouldn't matter whats inside it. I mean that would be like saying I don't like Brand A exhaust because they use a different packing material that I can't ever see than Brand B. But Brand A has a better sound and gives me more performance...

Whichever one you pick, hopefully it meets all of what you're looking for because in the end it's what setup makes you happy on your Z that matters.

Oh Im def not saying Im not considering it. Thats why its between those 3. The build quality of the FI seems unreal. The close up of the welds and fitment on there website is crazy. Plus it sounds awesome. There are just so many little things I like between the 3 and thats why I am having a hard time deciding.

[XwChriswX]

Originally Posted by redline727

Oh Im def not saying Im not considering it. Thats why its between those 3. The build quality of the FI seems unreal. The close up of the welds and fitment on there website is crazy. Plus it sounds awesome. There are just so many little things I like between the 3 and thats why I am having a hard time deciding.

Having heard all 3 I can honestly say that the Agency Power is the Loudest of the 3 if you want Volume. But that's based on the differences in F.I. setups. That's one thing I like, you can customize the exhaust to sound/look exactly how you want it. Non-Res/12"/18" CF/SS Cans. That ability makes it stand out and ARK makes a good product, but it just doesn't sound that great to me, and as cool as it may look, in all reality the extra can's don't really jump out at being amazing since HKS does the same thing, just at 3x the cost.

It just really comes down to what's important to you:

• Performance
• Looks
• Sound
• Cost

You have to be able to rank that list, then you'll best be able to decide. Easiest way to do that is start with price... Set the amount you're willing to spend, and then go from there.

[redline727]

Originally Posted by XwChriswX

Having heard all 3 I can honestly say that the Agency Power is the Loudest of the 3 if you want Volume. But that's based on the differences in F.I. setups. That's one thing I like, you can customize the exhaust to sound/look exactly how you want it. Non-Res/12"/18" CF/SS Cans. That ability makes it stand out and ARK makes a good product, but it just doesn't sound that great to me, and as cool as it may look, in all reality the extra can's don't really jump out at being amazing since HKS does the same thing, just at 3x the cost.

It just really comes down to what's important to you:

• Performance
• Looks
• Sound
• Cost

You have to be able to rank that list, then you'll best be able to decide. Easiest way to do that is start with price... Set the amount you're willing to spend, and then go from there.

Ok so I took your advice and I think I narrowed it down between the FI and the Agency Power (read the Agency power install and review thread on this site for help also). The FI setup I would get would be SS cans and 12" resonators.

Sound- I give sound to the FI

Looks- I personally like the Agency (smaller higher mufflers)

Performance- goes to FI if you go by whats posted online which they say avg. 20rwhp 11ft lbs of torque compared to the Agency 10 and 5 (but there are so many variables with dyno numbers who knows? I would hope the agency to be more but...)

Cost- goes to agency I found for 900.00shipped and the FI is 1360.00 shipped

Unfortunately cost holds a little more weight then I would like it to. But 460.00 is a huge cost difference. And assuming the build quality is as good as it is said to be in the thread I read on the Agency Power, I have decided to go with the Agency Power. Thanks for everyone's help with the decision making. Ill post pics once I get it and put it on.

[Romulus1]

Sorry for the crummy quality, its late and raining so this was the best i could do. The MXP is quite tucked up there and ive grown quite attached to the burnt tips.