im looking to buy a new exhaust, headers and such. But I want to get some thoughts about which exhaust is best for overall performance!

 

I love the sound of my Tanabe Medalion Touring exhaust but it really doesn't add any real power. A louder exhaust will be perceived as more powerful but real performance gains via the exhaust system will take instrumentation to measure they're so inconsequential. Headers, "test pipes" (wink nudge), and big exhausts basically just add noise. Quibblers will note gains in the five (5) HP range as real increases.

The OEM exhaust is remarkably efficient.

Some (many?) aftermarket exhausts are so loud and annoying you'll be "that guy" in the neighborhood -- I know, I had one for a month before I could get it off the car. The guys at the high school loved it though.

2006 and later cars can be easily tuned to lower VTEC into the 3500rpm range resulting in real mid range power gains but peak power remains about the same. Lowering VTEC requires a high flow catalytic converter -- lots of notes on this here. Earlier cars can do the same with an aftermarket ECU and a tune.

A supercharger or turbocharger is required for real gains. A spare $10,000 will get one of these professionally installed and tuned.

-- Chuck

 

Best advice is to leave the stock header. Play with the rest (Toda resonated test pipe is my choice)

Anything else will make the engine sound like crap from an under the hood position (thinner wall causes noise)

 

Are you talking about just installing the Toda test pipe alone with stock exhaust, or do you mean test pipe with after market cat back? I assume you mean the latter but just want to verify. Just changing the resonator could make a decent sound upgrade? Or maybe it would sound like crap. No idea to be honest.