Hks Hi Power or Fast intentions
 

I have read tons of posts about cbe and have narrowed it down to
Fast intentions and hks.

I really like the FI but really worried about drone. Hks sounds excellent but not as deep as FI.

If I go FI I would so 18 inch resonators with hfc

If I go hks I will peon do hi power with motordyne art test pipes

Questions
-from what I read sounds like hks will be a bit quieter?
-sounds like with FI there is moderate drone even with 18 inch resonators ?
-if I do hfc, is that that quietest cat replacement I can do?
-no drone with hks?
-will motordyne art test pipes fit with FI cbe?

Oh please vote!

Also wanted to note. I don't want super loud. Just want a deep quality sound exhaust that will add power.

I have an Auto 7AT.

I have a 7AT and love my FI CBE with 12" res, so......

Fast Intentions without a double and no need to think twice. The craftsmanship and quality supersedes HKS.

:iagree:

I wouldn't go and call HKS bad or worse than FI - I have personally handled both in person, and I would argue that both are of fantastic craftsmanship. That being said, I personally think if you like a drone-less exhaust, and I mean drone-less: HKS is the way to go. :tup:

I'm not saying HKS is a POS, but I have heard A LOT more people ask/talk about F. I. than HKS. Seems that F. I. has a lot of options to chose from, but then I have never really bothered to look into HKS for exhaust. HSK is an all around good company, but their exhaust for the Z wouldn't be my top five.

My only gripe with HKS is the price - it's a very expensive system for just an exhaust. Otherwise, it's phenomenal. I would have gone FI if I didn't find a good deal on a used HKS system, though. Especially with how Tony@FI conducts business - you know you are in good hands.

I lean toward the sound just a tad better for FI. However I do not want drone. That's a big deal for me. Just done know how I could make a quiet setup with FI. Hks sounds quiet on interstate and good when you get on it with Minimal if any drone.

I'm sure most people would vote for what they have OP, I sure did. Really not a fan of HKS-equipped 350Zs so I didn't even consider it for my 370Z. They look amazing though.

FI has a drone?

FI w/ RHFC = No Drone

Sent from my Note 3 & Galaxy Gear using Tapatalk

Yep.

The only reason in my opinion to not go with FI is if you're not patient enough to wait.

Build time is a bit long, also price is up there. But all good things don't come cheap or fast.

HKS isn't a lot cheaper.

Hks is more I think.

F.T. !!!! PWNS THE #@&%^&^*@ OUT OF HKS.
Correct me if im wrong but... you will only gain 1hp from HKS ?
LOL someone told me this before...

FI CBE Carbon Fiber Non Res. after 1 year.... still love it. ITS SOUNDS SO GOD DAMN AMAZING. NO lie NO joke. Smash it going through a tunnel... you will know what i am talking about. FI hands down. I cant express enough lol.

^^yea FI non res w/ carbon fiber is a soundgasm. I originally had 18 inch resonators and never heard any drone though (everything else basically stock).

I'm running the FI w/ 18" res and I LOVE it!

Sound is a deep growl. Zero highway drone.

I have FI Non-resonated with FI RHFC's and the only thing i get are compliments haha. They sound amazing and are LOUD! I just got pulled over today for having them too loud actually...

I had both I would go for HKS if I had to do it again so I voted for HKS.

For those who voted FI. did you really compared it with HKS or its just because have it?

I too have owned both and for me, its FI by a landslide.

1. Much better made, fitment is miles better on the FI. The HKS was a bitch to fit and it was never really straight. I had just as mediocre fitment on my ARK. The FI, I slapped it on, left it loose, straightened the flanges and it was 90% straight, had my wife and brother hold each tip and bolted it down. Install took me about 45 minutes(remove HKS and install FI)

2. Sound..HKS has a refined sound, I will give it that. But it is typical of an exhaust designed around the HH resonator, very deep and very "lobular", very similar to a ford v8 mod engine(4.6). The FI exhaust has a deep, growl too it, it is very Nissan, it is a 370z sound headed towards a GTR in a way, people like to describe this as "exotic".

While these 2 sounds are subjective and up to opinion, I felt the HKS sounded "garbled" with RTPs. It lost its clarity and refinement and just sounded loud. The FI exhaust can take whatever you throw at it, it does not change its tone, just gets louder.

With the CF cans, the sound is bit higher and louder. Call me crazy, but i just am not a fan of that quasi-v8 sound..

3. Customer service. Not a knock on HKS but a praise to Fast Intentions. If you happen to bust, say, ONE muffler, ONE flange or ONE resonator, you are either a) buying a new exhaust, or b) having a shop scrape something together to get you by. With a FI exhaust, you can replace one end or change your resonator settings or what have you. The product is backed completely by the hands that built it, you will ALWAYS have that direct pipeline to them, with the HKS, you are dealing with vendor-distrubutor-customer service, you will not be talking to the shop where it is built, nor am I sure at this point if these are all built under one roof to begin with.

4. Made to order. Get your exhaust, the way you want it. CF cans? Sure! No res? Sure! etc. Ans if you think it may have a bit of drone and too much volume, bam get some resonators put in. Or are you running TT and need some HFCs put into the x pipe because you are afraid of blowing out your cats, or cannot install cats, sure! The sky is the limit.

The only con is the wait, and it is a small price to pay. I derped around and bough a ARK GRiP(HKS knockoff) and then the HKS HP, sure I liked them, but then I still had my order in with tony, and decided to go through with it. Glad I did 100%..

IMHO, the HKS is likely the b est choice if you CANNOT wait, but in the end I wasted my money buying other exhausts and now I am happy with my 2.5" 18" res CF FI exhaust and it will be mated to my Fast Intentions TT setup. That exhaust was easily my favorite purchase I had made yet.

In the end, it is about what you want. Just sharing my experience. Yes, the FI exhaust will usually make the most power, but there is a lot more to it than that and that is what I am talking about. Listen to clips, reviews, get some quotes from the vendors. The best decision is an informed one.

370ZYZFR1,

It was great meeting you today and going veer all of the options. Thank you for your order. We look forward to getting your exhaust to you.

To all,

Thank you for the feedback and continued support. These past two years have been very taxing for all of us at FI and we appreciate the support and business more than you know.

Thank you, Tony

I guess he went w/ F.I., great choice!

I posted it somewhere else and not on this thread also. Forgot.

So guess who is number 925!! Me! Tony did a good job taking the time to walk though options and explain everything to me. Probably spent 20 to 30 min on the phone. As of right now I am going with the full cbe I may add the resonated hfc, just don't know how loud it will all be. If I do add the resonated hfc I will definitely do the FI ones without a doubt after talking with Tony.

Went with stainless 18 inch resonators.

Can't wait!!

Congrats man. You're gonna love the exhaust!

FI is the choice of many on this site, for just reason. Both are good exhausts. I prefer the sounds of the HKS (and ARK) over the FI, but, just like drone, it's very subjective. I think you'll be very happy with your FI set up. I think I may be the only Chicago 370z owner that is not running an FI exhaust :P

Ark grip v2. Its a HKS exhaust with an x pipe and bigger piping. And its similarly priced to the fast intentions exhaust.

Think twice. HKS has all the power and none of the drone, scraping issues.

I agree. FI Is a quality exhaust, just not as good as HKS IMHO

People ask/talk about FI because it is cheaper and more readily available. HKS does nothave the options like FI, but different strokes for different folks. And for what it's worth, people that have HKS are the ones that looked into both...

This is true. People like what they bought. Most don't make an honest comparison beforehand.

I will correct you. HKS gains the same as FI. And I go through tunnels with my buddies with their FI exhaust and more often than not, mine is determined the best sounding system... from them too.

This. People are voting for what they bought.

I am sure you will be happy with your exhaust. FI is a great system and a lot of people love it. I just don't understand why people have to knock HKS in order to feel good about their FI purchase! Maybe FI versus ARK or CNT would be a fairer comparison...

my :twocents:


(flame suit on)

Define best sounding.

That is very subjective. What may sound good to you and your friends, others may think is too loud or too quite or too something. I am not flaming, just saying that beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

I am sure the guy driving a Honda that sounds like a lawnmower thinks that he has the best sounding exhaust. But we know better......

I have not received my FI, and I hope I did not make a mistake, but since I have not heard it in real life I won't know until it is installed. Personally I was looking for something that is under or at legal sound limit (96 dBA)and yet sounds like a sports car. Not ear shattering, just loud enough to know I am not driving a minivan.

I agree totally. The opinions of best sound were from people beside the cars and near the tunnel and the drivers of each. The HKS is just raw power (like the FI) but has a distinct rumble/burble on deceleration that is unique. Of course it's dead quiet at cruise and idle which is very nice and stealthy. FI is just raw power all the time and the drone is quite maddening on long cruises at 80kmh - 100kmh. YMMV

Would this be non resonated?

Resonated FI still drone but it is reduced. However, drone, like over sound, is subjective. The reason why HKS and the ARK Grip minimize almost all drone is due to having traditional resonators + Helmholtz resonators. The 18" resonated FI will reduce the drone vs the non-resonated version, but it is still present as you modulate the throttle at cruising speed....to me. To many others on this board they consider it drone free. Again subjective.

The lack of helmholz resonators on the FI is my biggest complaint. Otherwise, it is a great exhaust.

That is why I went with an ARK Grip V2 over the 18" FI. If you hold the throttle at 2-3k rpms it sounds 100% stock. Roll into the throttle a bit and it gives that distinct VQ/exotic(ish) 'wail'. I love the tips on the FI exhaust though.

Power and sound is what led me to FI. It would be nice to have a sound like Tomei and the power from FI, but I'm not wiling to spend $1300 to find out.

In the end, I went w/ tried and true.

In the end we are arguing over two great exhausts. Probably the best two for non track/performance cars. It's personal preference that decides in the end. No performance differences between them to consider really.

I picked between these two based on tons of research
Bottom line I think the FI has a complete unparalleled sound that is deep and unique. Everyone will have their own tastes. Hopefully I will love my FI as much as I think I will. I will give and honest report when received and installed in march-April

Saying one is better than the other is pointless until you have seen, touched, installed and driven both of them. OF which I have stated my case, the only objectivity I can lay down is build, weight, fitment and customer service are heavily favoring Fast Intentions.

I am thinking that Fast Intentions fitment is top notch due to the fact that they are made to order, not stored in any warehouse for x years, no stacking, moving dropping, rolling, the thing comes to you fresh out of the shop, in nearly the same shape as when it was built, not a knock on HKS but I bought my HKS in 8/2013 and it was built in 2/2011 for the front and axle back was 8/2011. Again, one of each kit is such a small sample size, but I am sharing my experience. My vendor did not care about this, Nor did the Japan distrubitor and HKS told me to contact my vendor, I was stuck with a franken-kit .

One thing about drone, EVERY exhaust will drone with TPs and no midipe resonators I run the CF 18" resonated kit with FI resonated TPs and have ZERO drone. Conversely my HKS with Motordyne ART pipes sounded like pure ****, raspy, more hiss, and had this garbled quality that sounded almost like detonation. Had the thing checked for leaks 3 times, nothing, no carbon leaks, nothing, had it for 2k miles.

Any exhaust will have drone, the HH phenomenom has it's limitations. Just like how any exhaust wil have hiss on this platform, any exhaust will have drone if allowed. Driving style is also a major factor of drone. While the HH resonator does do the best job managing this, it can still be overcome via test pipes, intake, driving style, engine load(ac/heat, accesory, stereo etc). The blanket statement "xxx exhaust has no drone" is almost as useless as "xxxx exhaust sounds better than everything".

Again, just sharing my observations as I have been lucky enough to own both of these great, and TOTALLY DIFFERENT exhaust systems.

People's opinion on exhaust noise are useless. One person will say there's no drone/rasp/etc. and another will say there is.

Therefore every post in this thread is pretty useless.