I was reluctant to make the call as I assumed it would be significantly more expensive... but I did anyways. I called the local custom exhaust center here in Boise Idaho and was pleased to find out that he can build a custom exhaust, from scratch for the RX-8 for cheaper than nearly all of the pre-made systems.

His quote was:
Catback - $500-550
Full system (including cat) - $750

I don't know much about exhaust systems but it seams a custom built system would be nicer than a kit.

Has anyone out there done this? Or do you all go with kits?

 

Well, mine's custom built, but it was a lot cheaper (although, that depends if you count 3-4 hours of my labour...)

Depends what the quality is like.

 

Those prices included professional installation.

 

like phillip said it all depends on the quality of the parts used....could be better could be worse

 

I had my exhaust built for $130. No cat and no mufflers just straight out

 

professional installation huh...do they use special gloves or something?

 

Thats seems expensive. Besides the Turbo XS catback and midpipe is $499.00. I paid like $70.00 to have Magnaflow tips put on and my mid-pipe "professionally installed".

 

duh,,

they are going to build the exhaust on your car.. it is installed as the do it..

and yes, that seems high..

beers

 

Exhaust systems can be built in many different ways using an array of materials ranging from mild steel to very high-end inconel even.

I would check with that exhaust builder for a few things if you're spending that kind of money:

- Materials. What material are they using for their pipes? Is it aluminized steel tubing that is crush-bent at the facility (which about 95% of the exhaust shops do)? Or is is SS321 or SS304 grade stainless steel tubing that is mandrel bent?

- Welds. Most "exhaust" shops using MIG welders which do the job very quickly, but doesn't deliver those "nice" welds you see out of a TIG weld job. If you look at some of the nicer exhaust systems on the market, you'll see most of them use TIG welds that are very clean and free of bubbles.

- Design. Companies spend thousands and thousands of dollars to create a marketable exhaust system and to make it WORK. Even the larger tuning companies are guilty of sometimes producing something.....that doesn't do much in terms of power.


I've seen some private shops create very nice systems that are custom. To do it right and make it worth purchasing something OTC, it does cost more in the end.

 

Huh... Guess that I should have looked more. I couldn't find anything online for less than $600. Oops!

 

An exhaust built at the local chop shop hardly quailifies as custom

 

but it is professionally installed..

beers

 

Chop shop? It's a custom exhaust shop. Lol. That's all they do.

 

I made my own exhaust system(welded it up myself). I can guarantee noone has an Rx8 that sounds like mine
Full 3" stainless all the way from my turbo(top mount). I put a Borla XR-1 muffler in the midpipe section and split it to twin 3" magnaflow chrome tips.

I might have $250 in the entire system. Paid:
$70 for the muffler (barely used).
$30 for the tips.
$50 for the V-band clamps.
$100 worth of the stainless pipe I bought for my turbo/exhaust build.



I have some pics of the system in my Turbo build thread(see sig). Pages 6 and 7

 

wooh idaho!! hey treitz, you go to BSU?

 

I have an OBX ( yes ebay special but i like it alot) and it was only 299 plus shipping....and has a good tone!...(but I need a midpipe to give it some more noise)...

 

Pffft, it's only custom if you make your own mufflers too :D

 

Lol

 

haha

 

That's awesome! I am jealous.

And yes, I go to BSU.