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What exhaust setup should I get?

Pokealong1227

Pokealong1227

New member
I'm thinking about getting either Magnaflow or Flowmaster mufflers tomorrow but can't decide which one. I've also heard some clips of Grand Prixs with resonators and/or mufflers removed with tips and nothing else done that sounded awesome. I just need some opinions because it is a pretty big purchase for a 17 year old to make on there first car.

I have a 2003 Grand Prix GT with no other mods so far. Not to worried about drone because when I finished doing my stereo I am getting sound proofing for the interior.
 


Being 17 would explain why you have flowmasters as a option. Quick answer is to avoid them on our cars they are too loud and very raspy...most will love then the first week and then beat themselves for not listening to others who recommend against them. I know you said you can care less since you'll have a stereo down the road. It's still loud even after you insulate it and I'm sure your neighbors and fellow boys in blue will have something to potential say about it. Don't risk it. It's a v6 don't try to trick people into think its not. Go with Borlas instead and keep the stock resonator you'll thank me later.
 
REDCOMPG said:
Being 17 would explain why you have flowmasters as a option. Quick answer is to avoid them on our cars they are too loud and very raspy...most will love then the first week and then beat themselves for not listening to others who recommend against them. I know you said you can care less since you'll have a stereo down the road. It's still loud even after you insulate it and I'm sure your neighbors and fellow boys in blue will have something to potential say about it. Don't risk it. It's a v6 don't try to trick people into think its not. Go with Borlas instead and keep the stock resonator you'll thank me later.
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It has nothing to do with my age. The videos I've seen don't show much rasp, which is the only reason I considered them. Not trying to trick anyone either. It's for me, not them. As said, I am 17. I am on a budget and borlas are expensive. I do have to pay for my own car payments, insurance, gas, and some of my food. Right now I am making around $160 to myself a month.
 
Don't take offense it was more toward a joke of wanting something loud etc. how much are you wanting to spend would be a better question? How much is the shop charging you and what all are they doing? Besides Borla or Corsa...Magnaflow would be my next choice.
 
REDCOMPG said:
Don't take offense it was more toward a joke of wanting something loud etc. how much are you wanting to spend would be a better question? How much is the shop charging you and what all are they doing? Besides Borla or Corsa...Magnaflow would be my next choice.
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I have a $150 gift card to Newegg.com which as pretty much every muffler of choice. I am looking to use that to help out quite a bit. Looking at Borlas they are only about $20 more a piece than the Magna's I was looking at. The shop charge will depend what setup I decide to get(res or not), but a local shop said around $150 for an install if I get the res cut out. I'm looking at maybe $200-$250 for mufflers and $140 for tips? Does that seem like a decent price range? I just hate that I got a car with dual exhaust now that I am putting in aftermarket haha so expensive.
 
Here's how I did mine on the somewhat cheap.


Had a shop charge me $10 use a sawzaw and cut off the stock mufflers/tips.

Keep the resonator (kills drone you may have and doesn't cost a thing to keep)

Bought two Borla mufflers online (of course yours would be Magnaflow or whichever you decide to go with)

Purchase the tips online (I got mine from eBay for around)

Paid another mom and pop shop $50 to weld the new mufflers and tips on

= success.

Seems like the shop is charging you way to much. Shop around. Buy your own mufflers,tips and just get quotes just to have them welded on.

If it was me even if you gotta wait a bit I would still go the Borla route. During the meet we had a few years back I got nothing but compliments on exhaust set up. Magnaflow however aren't bad but I prefer the Borlas more.

I think I paid $150 for both Borlas brand new from WickedNicky
 


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Gives you a idea
 
Well that $150 was to cut out the resonator and do 2.5" piping from the cat to the mufflers then put on mufflers. I can probably get most of the parts tomorrow and get the labor done in two weeks. The only real thing I'm concerned about is the resonator. I've heard from a lot of 97-03 owners that the resonator in 97-03 cause a lot of rasp, and my stock does have quite a bit at anything above 3k rpm. I think I will go with borla though. What tips did you get?
 
What tips are those? They look great. That's the same car my mom has had for several years, and those tips make it look much nicer.
 
Bought them off eBay years ago I see if I could find the seller again later on when I get access to a computer. Made a world of a difference.
 
Are they magnaflows(if you know what brand, if not that's ok)? Looks like some I was looking at earlier. Looks like two Borlas with an offset 2.5" inlet and center 2.5" outlet will cost me about $180. Kinda pricey so I'll have to see how much is on my paycheck tomorrow(might just buy one for now). Then in two weeks probably just put those on, drive around with those for a few weeks and see what I think. If it's two raspy I'll just take the resonator off. Thanks for all the help!
 


Nope they actually didn't have a name brand on them. They were some 305 stainless steel ones...makes it easy to keep them looking new.
 
I like the angle cut on our cars helps it look more flush w/ the valence. Not a fan of those Magnaflows looks to plain and you might want to verify its for a pair and not just one.
 


Hm I think I'm sold then. So my exhaust piping should be 2.25"? Just get a reducer and I'm good? You actually saved me quite a bit of money.
 
Borla XS pro are what I have so if your set on buying on newegg I would just go the Magnaflow route.

No problem that's what the forums on for its better we give you advice beforehand before you end up shelling out a bunch if money and then we tell you how you spent to much lol.
 
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