Really thorough comparison of aftermarket catback exhausts - 2015+ STI

[just smurfy]

From dsport magazine. Compares power gains (while attached to stock downpipe), noise levels, weights, materials, and has numerous pics of the exhaust systems. Seems to be an incredibly good resource when researching catback exhaust systems. Click on the manufacturer name to get more detailed info. I had no idea a simple catback could actually provide a gain of up to 20 WHP when attached to a stock downpipe, but the numbers don't lie.

https://www.dsportmag.com/the-tech/2...aust-shootout/

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[killadawg]

No invidia exhaust systems? No AWE? No Nameless? Kinda missed some of the top names not even on this.. the sound is prob. The main reason to get or avoid any said exhaust.. I ran one from that list in the article.. who cares about #s when u get ear bleeding drone!! Interesting read none the less :-).. thanks

[just smurfy]

Originally Posted by killadawg

No invidia exhaust systems? No AWE? No Nameless? Kinda missed some of the top names not even on this.. the sound is prob. The main reason to get or avoid any said exhaust.. I ran one from that list in the article.. who cares about #s when u get ear bleeding drone!! Interesting read none the less :-).. thanks

Yeah, ideally they'd include every one on the market, but their 10 or 12 is a pretty good start. They left off Perrin as well. Personally, I'm really curious about how Cobb's new titanium exhaust would fare, but it came out after this article.

Invidia would have been a really good one to include - popular and a very quality system from my previous experience. Greddy as well. But at least this article could help narrow the field a bit.

[YungBoba]

Something seems fishy about that article.

[Cesar_h07]

Originally Posted by killadawg

No invidia exhaust systems? No AWE? No Nameless? Kinda missed some of the top names not even on this.. the sound is prob. The main reason to get or avoid any said exhaust.. I ran one from that list in the article.. who cares about #s when u get ear bleeding drone!! Interesting read none the less :-).. thanks

I agree. At the very least have Invidia in here. Aren’t they one of the largest producers of aftermarket exhausts?

[SPDE RA]

Originally Posted by just smurfy

From dsport magazine. Compares power gains (while attached to stock downpipe), noise levels, weights, materials, and has numerous pics of the exhaust systems. Seems to be an incredibly good resource when researching catback exhaust systems. Click on the manufacturer name to get more detailed info. I had no idea a simple catback could actually provide a gain of up to 20 WHP when attached to a stock downpipe, but the numbers don't lie.

https://www.dsportmag.com/the-tech/2...aust-shootout/

Thanks for posting the link just smurfy! I've started looking at CAT Backs and this was a really big help! For me it's about the gains in HP, quality, weight, fitment and sound. I like the COBB titanium because it ONLY weighs in at 24 pounds while the stock ones and other ones don't even come close....... I'll be ordering one up this week! Thanks again!

[GlarryHoodDIT]

Its BS tests like these that give good manufacturers bad reps and terrible ones good reps.

They dont bother to tell you in-depth testing methodology, likely meaning things like IATs, DAM, oil/coolant temps, etc, were not rigidly standardized, completely skewing any potential reults.

Really Dsport? Were supposed to pretend a different cat back will give 30whp- even just between brands? Were supposed to ignore the fact that the same car makes different peak numbers at drastically different RPMs in half the runs? Were supposed to pretend an untouched 2017 STI makes 280+whp? Were supposed to accept that SubiSpeed manufactured anything beats a Cobb, ETS, or GS part?

In the words of Michael Irving, "C'mon man!"

[SPDE RA]

Originally Posted by GlarryHoodDIT

Its BS tests like these that give good manufacturers bad reps and terrible ones good reps.

They dont bother to tell you in-depth testing methodology, likely meaning things like IATs, DAM, oil/coolant temps, etc, were not rigidly standardized, completely skewing any potential reults.

Really Dsport? Were supposed to pretend a different cat back will give 30whp- even just between brands? Were supposed to ignore the fact that the same car makes different peak numbers at drastically different RPMs in half the runs? Were supposed to pretend an untouched 2017 STI makes 280+whp? Were supposed to accept that SubiSpeed manufactured anything beats a Cobb, ETS, or GS part?

In the words of Michael Irving, "C'mon man!"

I would tend to agree with you. That's why I went with COBB. They've been around for awhile and make quality parts. I ended up ordering the COBB titanium cat back, weighs in at 24 pounds! Half the weight, sounds good and makes a little more power. Also purchased the COBB Tuning Stage 1+
Now I just need time to install everything.

[GlarryHoodDIT]

Originally Posted by SPDE RA

That's why I went with COBB. They've been around for awhile and make quality parts. I ended up ordering the COBB titanium cat back, weighs in at 24 pounds! Half the weight, sounds good and makes a little more power.

This is exactly what a cat back purchase should be based on IMO. Brand quality, weight, and tone.

If there was really a difference in cat backs like Dsport tried to claim then tuners would consistently be recommending one over another, which none of them do.

[Tawme]

Good read!