StealthTL-S

Acurazine,
I have researched this for almost a year, and I love my 08 stock TL type S (with A-spec total kit). I have wanted a deeper sound from my exhaust for some time, coming from a Honda Civic Si six speed. I don't want to ruin the luxury of my TL, nor do I want any drone in the cabin of my car or when cruising on the highway.

I know one mod with high flow cats , j pipe (and I would be deleting the 3rd cat) 3rd version, costs around $1000.00 and the stage 1, 2, 3 will cost $100.00 total at most.

However; I want to know if money was not an issue, which setup may sound smoother and deeper? The simply stage 1,2, 3 exhaust change or the high flow cats, jpipe and delete the third cat, keeping type S stock exhaust. I read a comment when watching a stage 3 video, a member of acurazine said' Instead of cutting up your exhaust why not get high flow cats/j pipe combo and you will really like it".

Opinions and experience with these exhaust setups?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

hey stealthcivic!

I really really really want to help you, but its hard because all of our ears are different. our brains process sound differently. what you may hear, I may hear differently.

with that being said, I went the route of PCD's, jpipe, and true dual exhaust.

To me, this is the deepest and coolest sounding exhaust tone....TO ME.

my other friends have just a magnaflow muffler and its LOUDER and MORE DEEPER than my car.

see what I mean?
THE ONLY WAY you'll know what you like is if you try it out.

since Money IS A BIG FACTOR, i would try out the small modifications first. like the stage 1.
then if you dont like it, move to the stage 2, then so on and so on.
this can get expensive. but modding a car isnt cheap.

the only way to find out if you personally like the sound is to experiment. that is the only way. period.

you can ask and research for another year if you want to, but it wont get you any closer to your decision.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

the only reason why I went with PCD's and jpipe was purely for performance only. these two coupled with a stock exhaust sounded like SHIT!
but it did increase my power.
I then moved to a catback exhaust and it really has made my car sound so sexy.


EXPERIMENT FOOL! STOP BEING SUCH A PANSY!!!!!!

StealthTL-S

Justin,
Thanks for the insight. I modded my Civic Si 6 speed, and I have grown up now and now have a family. I have spent plenty on mods in the past only to change them. I changed my exhaust on my Si three times, and went back to stock. I still get the desire to mod and enjoy it, but I have more discipline now, and can wait for a year or more even! I also love my Type S stock, so it is easy.

I like your setup man, I just can't get PCD's due to the sound, I like a lower key sound. As , I said I can't tolerate drone in the cabin of my car, or cruising on the highway. You have suggested doing stage 1 and go from there, maybe I can do this.
I agree with the other comment I saw, that I don't really want to cut up the exhaust , or remove a resonator, etc. I have never been in to this, removing parts, cutting out the resonator, etc.
I have really considered, High Flow Cats (due to to much sound with PCD's for me) and a RV6 jpipe version 3 deleting the third cat. But, whatever I do, I do not want to change the type S cat back , so I hope my car wouldn't sound like sh*t, if I ran the HFC's and J pipe with stock type S exhaust. I saw a video on youtube with a member on acurazine, and he posted it here on acurazine with High flow cats and the rv6 jpipe, and it sounds beautiful with his Type S exhaust.

I can try the stage 1 like you suggested, but I hate the thought of 'cutting out' parts. I can delete the mid muffler, but I was hoping to add to the car, and not take away from it. Anyway , thanks for the info and suggestion.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

So many options, so little time. hehe

understood about being the family man and being more mature. unfortunately, being mature comes at a price.
that price is sacrificing your needs and wants for your family's needs and wants.
your great discipline is what I admire and it sounds like modding a car, or modding the exhaust isnt for you at this time.

FamilyGuy

Go to a performance exhaust shop and get a custom exhaust made. The ones we have from xlr8/rv6/atlp are probably going to be too loud for you, based on your comments. A shop can help select the right mufflers for your needs.

350

iTrader: (4)

I wouldn't mess with the rear of a Type S catback, but no one will ever know unless they look under the car if you changed the resonator and mid muffler. I deleted my rear mufflers because it was easier to put the stock tips back on a base, probably more of a headache to make it look right with the dual tips unless you go with a full catback. People compare just deleting the mid muffler to a stock G35/350Z exhaust. Not very loud but a little more audible, kind of no difference until you get on it you'll actually hear it instead of being whisper quiet. Since you want a deep tone I'd also do a Magnaflow resonator in place of the stock one, it'll be just a little more aggressive but still deep. That's what everyone calls "Stage 2", it won't really be noticeable unless you get on it and keeping a resonator will essentially eliminate drone. I like the Dynomax resonator, it's a little more aggressive sounding than Magnaflow, I'd say it takes away "luxury" sound and changes it to sporty. J pipe will make no difference in sound unless you're already running straight pipes, do it for the power if it's in your budget. I haven't messed with the cats yet simply because I don't feel like messing with them.

350

iTrader: (4)

Kids love loud exhausts, wives vary. My wife's car is louder than mine lol.

StealthTL-S

Thanks much for the comments! I am leaning toward stage 2 after these comments. Thanks again!

What is louder, Stage 2, Stage 3, or high flow cats, j pipe and deleting 3rd cat??!!

Nick216

All. Stage 3, hfpcs AND jpipe. Yolo

350

iTrader: (4)

Stage 2 and 3 are about the same, just different resonators so slightly different tone, J pipe/3rd cat makes no difference in volume although the tone is slightly different. Cats and rear mufflers are definitely the biggest noise suppressors, the other stuff just tweaks it a little.

bouncer07

If this is me, one time is all it takes for me. Be very selective because a full cat on this car is around $1000-$1,500. Dont try 3 other exhausts to see which one you really want because it's not a Civic. There's 20+ vendors making Civic parts, which is why parts are affordable and a wide variety to choose. Your best option is to talk to the exhaust guys directly if you are serious. They are vendors here, skip the stages and get a real tone in exhaust note.

StealthTL-S

Thanks man. I would never delete my rear mufflers. I do not want to mess with my type S quad exhaust. If I don't do phase 2, and I get the high flow cats and delete the third cat with the RV6 j pipe, this won't affect the volume?

350

iTrader: (4)

It might have a little bit of rasp/slightly louder with those two, you'll definitely get good power out of that though. J pipe only it won't be louder, cats it will be louder.

StealthTL-S

I don't want to delete my type S exhaust, I want to keep it, the mod would be either a stage 2 or 3 mod, or the more expensive high flow cats (2) and a J pipe deleting the third cat, and I would love to try this, but I know it is $1000.00 with Richie at RV6.

StealthTL-S

I really would like to go with the high flow cats and j pipe deleting the third for the gain in power. I don't want any drone or rasp in the cabin or while in 6th gear on the interstate. If I have to go with phase 2 to avoid rasp I will, but I would miss the gain I see in a little power.

Nick216

I suppose the real question is. Do you want speed or only sound? If you want speed your eventually going to be getting the jpipe and/or hfpcs, we all do. If you dont want speed go on to stage 3. The performance mods arnt for sound there for performance, the sound they give is almost always a con.

bouncer07

Civic - TL... not much of a big difference... Airflow = power.

Don't want to restrict it and sound hissy and high pitched.


If you want stealth... you modifying the wrong car.

NvrDwn

Lucky you.

IIDXholic

iTrader: (5)

I have the HFPC, J-pipe, and 3rd muffler delete (stage 1?), and I think the sound is perfect. Sounds a little louder than a G35/350Z

Scottwax

Agreed. Larger pipe and mufflers like a turbo style or Walker Quiet Flow should give you more sound without being excessively loud.

FWIW, I have the XLR8 V2 J-pipe (eliminates the 3rd cat), Dynomax resonator that replaced the factory resonator and a mid-muffler delete. Still have the original rear mufflers. Sounds pretty good when I get on it, no drone, no rasp. Don't know the TL/TL-S mufflers are appreciably louder than my Accord mufflers, but riding in a friend's TL-S, I don't think they are so you should get similar results.

AccordFlex

iTrader: (1)

it amazes me how deep these exhaust note conversations get. just do the mods one at a time until you like the sound.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

experimentation is the key!

tomlinsonj

iTrader: (2)

I agree that the type S exhaust looks great, and you not wanting to mess with the tail end of it is sound thinking. Have you checked out the regional forums to see if there are any meets you could drive too? That way you could listen to some setups in person.

I'm looking forward to my first meet here in FL. I have the RV6v3 jpipe>OEM resonator>MM delete> magnaflow exhaust, and hope to hear some other systems. My wife drives the TL on occasion and she thinks it sounds great.

Justin has said that his RV6 TD/PCD/jpipe setup is quieter than his friends magnaflow setup. As for mine, I don't think it's really any louder than my neighbor's OEM sport exhaust on his 2012 335i. So I'd love to hear the RV6 True Dual in person for comparison.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

my other buddy's car with HFC + jpipe + XLR8 exhaust sounds pretty sexy too. almost like a Ferrari growl, exotic sounding. its definitely louder than my set up. but COOL nonetheless.

he'll downshift rev-shift into a lower gear....that PURRRR

StealthTL-S

Thanks man, I like your setup and I love Bspecialist's setup on here. He has High flow cats and RV6 jpipe deleting the 3rd cat, and he runs his smooth type S exhaust with it. Sounds beautiful on his video on here.

Maravish

Hello , I'm late to the game but was wondering , if I went to stage one and didn't like it , would I be able to easily go back to complete stock quiet exhaust? Please help! Thank you !

1black_seven

iTrader: (2)

Yes, you just put the missing piece(s) back on.

90foxnotch

A little late to the party but my setup on my car is PCDs, jpipe but I kept the 3rd cat, and then mid muffler delete. My friend thinks it sounds perfect but to me the car is still really quiet and I think it's because I kept my 3rd cat and these stock mufflers must be really good. I was going for performance only so the PCDs really helped. If you are just going for sound I recommend doing a catback and keeping your stock mufflers in case you ever sell the car or want to go back to stock. Keep in mind PCDs alone will not cause rasp, when people delete the 3rd cat and modify the muffler/resonator is when rasp will happen. GL