okay guys and gals...I know this question is going to bring a ton of opinions....total newbie here...After reviewing the exhaust compilation videos, I realize there is a lot I need to learn about exhaust systems. My son has a 2006 G35 Coupe. It presently has a bone stock exhaust system. We like the sound of the stock exhaust we just wish it was louder. We are looking for that deep throaty sound, without that cackle and brap we often hear with some exhaust systems. We want to do a cat back only changeover. We have had zero experience with resonated cats or test pipes or resonated test pipes etc etc. We want something that offers good fitment all the way from front to back and gives us something close to the sound we are looking for. We see a huge variance in pricing on ebay and amazon and other vendors. We have seen a complete cat back system for $239 all the way up to several thousands. We have a budget of $1500 but if we can do it for less then fantastic. We appreciate any feedback you can give us over an above drilling several 1/4 holes into my stock muffler.

thanks

 

firstly do not change the cats if you dont want rasp. there are many different options that give different sounds for a VQ. even components from a Z swapped to a G will offer a different sound. That being said you dont have to go overboard to get a nice clean VQ sound with aftermarket.

I recommend (what im planning on getting too) the Z1 Motorsports Cat-Back Single exit, with the 8" extension you'll need for a G coupe, should run you about $700 shipped. (EDIT: cat-back Z1 single is $800+$80 8" extension, y-pipe back Z1 single is $600 + $80 8" extension.)


Here's a video from Z1 that explains it well. My set up for exhaust right now is ISR resonated test pipes, Stillen y-pipe with a muffler delete. Honestly when I had just a muffler delete, it was almost perfect. not too loud, no rasp because of sound level, but still low and VQ. I went overboard and got the resonated test pipes and now I am annoying asf (still super fun) once i change my stock mid pipe and muffler delete for the Z1 Single I am sure results will be just what im looking for. right now its loud but too raspy, has to do with my now resonated test pipes and possibly unequal diameters in piping from y-pipe to stock mid pipe. little things like the piping size can really alter airflow, thus altering sound. if you want deep and smooth, Z1 single is the way to go

Good luck and hope it turns out well! Sounds like you're an awesome dad!

 

I'm currently rocking FI RHFC with a genuine HKS HI-Power, the dual-canister. Very, VERY throaty (doesn't scream nearly as much as my old Nismo S-Tune with FI RHFC setup), zero drone in vehicle, and a slight hint of rasp at 3k (stock cats probably negate this). I found the HKS for $530 used, but new is over $1k. I would describe is as loud on startup (midnight escapes are less than ideal if your exhaust faces neighbors), but at idle and cruise it's very non-obtrusive. Makes a lot of noise driving aggressively, and I only really hear it on the highway when the engine is under load above 65mph or when actively accelerating at any speed. As soon as you stop either, it's back to nearly stock levels of volume.

I believe *most* true-dual exhaust will do the same for volume/drone, but the HKS has some excellent Helmholtz resonaters (same with Motordyne) to cut drone down.

Overall, for throaty/deep/less drone go true-dual, preferably with resonators (both traditional and Helmholtz). For higher-pitched, "purer"/screamier, go single-pipe (with a muffler for less sound, or single-canister for more sound). Both the Tanabe and Nismo setups I had droned a lot with FI RHFC, so keep that in mind.

Many users have had success with HKS clone exhaust like the X02 true-dual, but fitment issues have been reported. If you're willing to put up with having to tweak some stuff as well as what I would consider not as great construction/sound, it's a great way to get a cheap true-dual. With stock cats it's most likely perfectly fine, but if you go aftermarket cats/test-pipe, be prepared for volume/rasp with that exhaust. Definitely cheapest *new* way into true-dual.

 

Five years ago I had to change out the stock exhaust.. I simply picked up a Borla . it was I think high 800s.. (picked it up online) and then like 100 or 150 for install... . It sounds decent.. keeps the nice sound.. only thing for me is it has a little to much of a sound driving down the road at even 40+ ... I can't describe it, it is a little unpleasant/ louder than I would want but I am in my 40s .. yes, still have the fun car.. love this car!

 

thanks all for the feedback. we have elected to go with a full cat back HKS system. just waiting for it to arrive. we are hoping it is the sound we are looking for, based on the videos we saw it is very close out of the box. We plan to do a before and after recording so we will see how it goes. we may chose to changeover the stock cats at some point in time and add headers. looking at other performance upgrades as well. thanks for everyone's feedback.

 

Very good choice on the HKS exhaust system! As long as you didn't buy the thin wall knock off, want to be system! I've been running Fast Intention HFCs for close to 10 years without issues and the system sounds so sweet! I roll down a window and shift thru the gears with a smile on my face and happy I made the right choice! Unlike what someone posted I have ZERO rasp! I've had 4 different exhaust systems on SLICK, two were donated from vendors the 3rd was a bad choice! I too was looking for just the right sound which I found in HKS and Fast Intentions!
Gary

 

good to know Gary thanks for the feedback. We have purchased the True HKS product, not the knock off. We are STILL waiting for it to arrive and just found out today that Ebay will not ship it to Canada as it is considered oversized. It sat in their freaking Global Shipping Center for 10 days then they tell us they won't ship it to us. The Ebay Vendor had no idea they would not ship it to us. So now we have to source it from another vendor but it will be a true HKS product when we get it. We will eventually change out the stock cats as well but its my sons car and his budget and he has some other plans for his car before changing out the cats. thanks for the feedback

 

lol i knew i would have ample rasp when installing my exhaust. the purpose was to try get rid of the heatshield rattle. also my set up is not complete, but it is fun to be annoying

 

Just another user's experience on high flow cats (HFC's) -- I've had two sets (Fast Intentions and Berk) that I ran with an HKS true dual. You get a louder, deeper sound from the exhaust for sure (and also some drone at 3K RPM's), but both sets did not last me super long. The catalyst inside kept breaking down. I could have kept the Berks, but it kept throwing SES codes and would have kept me from passing smog. It was too much work to keep swapping them out every couple years for smog and I didn't want to spend more money on HFC's that wouldn't last me long, so I just kept the stock cats on.

 

On August 1st, 2020, my son and I had the pleasure of installing the HKS True Dual Cat Back Stainless Exhaust System on his 06 G35 Coupe. Had it not been for the fact that one of the stock flange nuts was rusted on and partially stripped making it impossible to get off with wrenches or sockets, and we did not have a nut extractor set, we had to finally grind it off....the good news is that we did not need it as the kit comes with all the nuts and bolts necessary. It took us longer to get the car in the air to change out the exhaust than it did to remove the old exhaust and put in the new one. Each flange with gaskets mated perfectly. The hanging posts lined up perfectly and left us with a very symmetrical looking system. I am not sure what everyone else's experience has been with a true HKS system, but I would never hesitate to use one again...the good news is that it is the exact sound my son was looking for...stealthy at idle, but open it is up and roars like a lion!

 

Nice choice on the HKS, they always deliver a great quality product. On my 03 couple I'm running non resonated z1 test pipes, z1 y pipe to the z1 mid and single exit annnnnd let me tell you ITS LOUD AS **** lol. I am thinking about switching to a Tomei but that will be later down the road cause my full exhaust is only 6 months old on a non daily driven car.