It took longer than I wanted to install...one of the three bolts at the stock exhaust cat flange was put on crooked (by Honda!?) and it took a SERIOUS amount of force to get it off. Once that was off it was smooth sailing...

My initial impressions:

I don't know who said this exhuast doesnt have any drone, but they are wrong. Of course it's not as bad as a titanium single, but its definitely there. At WOT, it is louder in the cabin at 3500 rpm than at 9000.

This baby is DEEP. I mean really deep. From inside the car, it is best described as booming from about 2000-4000 rpm. It is noticeable louder between 3000 and 3500 and gradually trails off after that. Beyond 4000 rpm, it is a little louder than stock inside the car.

Outside the car, it sounds very, very nice. Almost like a 350Z. You can hear individual power pulses but it stays relatively mellow. Obviously more aggressive than stock, it sounds fantastic.

Accelerating slowly is a treat, as you get to hear all the little warbles and overtones this exhaust makes. It goes through quite a few sound types throughout the rev range. A very "colorful" sound if you will. DEEP and bold down low, with power pulses very audible and mellow in the mid range gradually becoming smoother and more mellow as the revs increase. Closing the throttle at 7000 rpm and coasting down to about 1000 rpm really lets you take it all in.

My only complaint is the boominess at 3000-3500. It's a bit out of character with the rest of the rev range.

Fit and finish are good. Finish is nice, fitment could be a little better. The right can is slightly higher than the left. About a quarter of an inch. A little hanger bending is in order and should work fine. You can't tell unless you are directly behind the car, but it is noticeable.

Overall...very pleased!!

Here are some pics. I'll throw a video up as soon as I can edit it down to a manageable size. (Tonight)

 

In-car video. Not the best, but I'll get a better one up ASAP. Enjoy!

HKS Hi-Power

 

Am sure the drone will quiten down as more miles are put on it. Keep us posted. Patiently waiting for the video to download!

 

Congrats! Good description...I installed my on Fri and experienced everything you just wrote about. I agree 100% except for that whole 350z sounding very nice thing.

Acutually, I really hope it doesn't sound like the 350z to others cuz I personally don't like the way they sound.

Yeah and what the hell is up with the right side being higher! HKS needs to fit that. That really irritates me!

 

Wow...yours sounds nothing like mine. I've got the same exhaust. Are you running the stock airbox & Header? I have nearly no Drone at the same engine speed.

 

I have the same exhaust system on my S2 for the past three years. I sounds better every day when the car begins to become broken in. I to have a drone sound @ idle and a the way there the rpm's. Definitly one of the best sounding exhaust system's I have heard.

 

Half agree. I was hoping for more in the high end and less in the low end. This exhaust seems to be the other way around. Past 6k I hear the engine more than I do the exhaust. Is it like this for anyone else?

 

It's exactly how you describe it. More in the low end than high end. The engine takes over past 5000 or so (at least from inside the cabin). Outside it sounds very nice at all engine speeds. Particularly around 4500 IMO.

 

HAHA...forgot to mention. My dad filmed that video from the passenger seat. He weighs 300 pounds and my trunk had about 75 pounds of random shit in it. For anyone wondering why it took 10 seconds to get to 60.

 

Lookin good!!!