Alright, I'm looking to get my cat-back soon. This will be the final step (for a while) to open up my air flow. 9" filter, 3" intake, TB, and header are done. Other mods as well but you get the point, everything has been upgraded and opened up except the 2nd half of my exhaust.

I plan to stay N/A for about 2-2.5 more years before rebuilding the motor and going turbo.

Given that info, what do you all think about these questions:

A) I love Thermal R&D exhausts, but I don't want to get the gst exhaust and lose my torque with the 3". Does the non-turbo thermal exhaust look the same as the turbo ones with the angled tip, or is it a dual straight tip like the pic on their website? If so i don't like the look of that. Also, is their non-turbo cat-back 2.25", 2.5", or what? 60mm is common too, like 1.38"... anyway, what does the thermal look like and what size is it?

B) I like the look of the Apexi WS, and I found that it is 60mm piping. Looks good also, chambered muffler rather than stright through so it looks more sleeper-ish, or more subtle rather. Apparently it sounds good also, nice and quiet until you pound the throttle. Is my info correct?

C) Is anyone interested in selling either of these in the Northern VA area to upgrade for a turbo exhaust or anything???? or, do you know where to get them cheaper, because I have a lot of expenses and 500 bucks is too much for an exhaust right now. I saw an apexi ws for 375ish shipped last week on ebay but was too late.

D) Any other ideas? I like the look of the apexi N1 also, but it's extremely common, and expensive. Also, the greddy evo line looks good, but also is in the same price range, and i don't like the look of the SP.

please let me know what you think or give me any help if you've used any of these. thanks, chris

60 mm = 2.362 in

I wish I would have got a turbo (3.0 in) exhaust to begin with. I love my GReddy EVO catback, but it's too small now (N/T size) and I gotta sell it, which is hard as hell to do, and buy ANOTHER one (3.0 in), because it's killing my top end.

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

oops, i meant "like 2.38" which is close to what you said. anyway, what mods do you have done? i'm curious if i should skip the smaller NT exhausts meant to build the entire power band and go straight to the 3-inch and risk lost low end for more top end hp.

also something to keep in mind, the downpipe off my header is still a choking 2.25" and i still have the stock cat. i planned on having a custom downpipe/cat combo fabricated to bolt directly from my header to my cat-back exhaust. if i keep that section 2.5" ya think i'll still have enough back pressure to hold on to the majority of my low end and get the rewards of free flow top end?

A turbo wants a 3" exhaust, if you plan to ever go turbo truthfully, I'd get the 3".

Joel Baldridge, ASE Certified Master Technician, Audi Certified Expert Technician

i'm keeping that in mind, but i don't want to sacrifice my NA performance for the next couple years. i'd rather go with a smaller exhaust now and face buying a new exhaust + selling the old one in the future IF the 3" on my talon at this current time will be less beneficial than the 60mm ones. I'm not trying to be confusing, and i appreciate the help, i'm just trying to understand how my performance with the two sizes will compare.

you said you have a non-turbo cat-back right now, and it's too restrictive. It'd get a smaller one if all i had was an intake, but like i said at the top i do have the major points covered for opening up more air flow. Also, I just thought about this - i'm not sure which brand and which model it was, but just earlier today i saw a catback meant for the gst that had 70-80mm piping. I assume that means 1.75" off the cat and opens up to 3" later. Perhaps this is a good in-between idea (it may have been the apexi-ws for the gst).

i also just noticed you already are turboed and rebuilt. i had been thinking all along that you were still N/A but unhappy with your performance with the 2.5" greddy exhaust.

how did it perform back when you were N/A??



and does anyone else have any advise for me, or experience with any of the above?

Chris
95 Talon Esi Turbo

I contributed to the Wiki!
http://www.2gnt.com/index.php?d=Full_Talon_to_Eclipse_Conversion