Well, after driving around for another 100 miles or so with the spacer, things seem to have gotten even better. Maybe the ECU is adjusting. This really is a great mod for the money!

Still no significant difference in sound. There is one other side effect, my MPG has dropped. The spacer seems to have made my right foot quite a bit heavier.

 

so does the car pull more/have more power in the lower rpm range?...like when doin city driving?

 

Yes. I can feel some gain at WOT, but stop light to stop light at half-throttle is where I really feel it versus stock (mostly in the 3K to 5.5K rpm range).

 

No kidding....as with every performance mod!

What kind of exhaust are you thinking?

 

I have not really decided yet. I basically am trying to decide between the Stillen catback and an aftermarket Y-pipe with the HKS sports muffler. I have not been able to hear either in person so I am really gun shy on making a decision.

You have any opinions? I see you have the HKS buy haven't put it on yet.

 

If you're gun shy on making a decision (afraid it will be too bold of a mod sound-wise, I believe your best bet is to go with the aftermarket Y-pipe route in combination w/ the HKS exhaust.....although I don't believe you'll feel a difference performance-wise...mostly sound and most likely the mellowest of the bunch....maybe even just start w/ the y-pipe, then do the HKS? I hope to install mine by the beginning of April .

If you're looking for better performance gains, then the Stillen or Borla would be the way to go...but the Borla I've heard from reading what other members have said, is quite loud....and I recently read the previous Stillen exhaust drones at highway speeds; though someone recently posted & inquired about the new Stillen....asking if anyone has it & if the droning issues have been resolved.

I know member "Chico" has an '05 with stock mid-pipe and HKS exhaust (not sure what Y he has). Also, member "Andycon" posted many sound clips w/ different mods, that may help you with your decision....he has the HKS. Check it out: https://g35driver.com/forums/642825-post.html

Good luck!

 

I am gun shy on making a decision but not because I am afraid of it being too bold. I actually want bold. I would like to know which is louder:

1. Stillen
2. Borla
3. HKS sport muffler with a y-pipe and coupe middy.

I do not, however, want ricey loud. Exhausts are so subjective I wish I could hear them all in person and then decide. I am leaning toward the Stillen because I like the way it looks and seems like it would offer some gains as well as sound. I keep thinking about the Borla but then I am not too keen on the clamps. I think that would invite leaks.

 

Did you check out that link? What'd you think?

I'll have to leave it up to the others to chime in on this one, but as stated earlier, I think loudest is Borla, then Stillen then HKS.....but I don't know this from hearing them...only from what I've read on here. Where are you located? Maybe someone near you has one of the above?

 

I did check out the link, it makes me really want to get an exhaust! Thanks. I am trying to find someone in my area (Dallas) so I can hear first hand what the stillen sounds like now that I have heard the HKS. I listened to the exhuast sound bytes on my350z.com and found I liked the Stillen the best.

I am not sure, however, if that should have any bearing on my decision. I am sure listening to a sound clip of a Z is not an accurate representation of what an exhaust will sound like in person on a sedan.

 

jameyb, personally i'd go with the y-pipe, coupe middy, hks rear setup. There have been plenty of people that say the hks rear sounds amazing. Although i'm sure the stillen sounds pretty good too, but the reality of you gaining 20HP like stillen claims is slim to none and slim left the building. The hks wont be as aggresive either. What Y-pipe were you thinking of?
-GP-

 

The y-pipe is the one area I have not put much research into so at this point I honestly have no idea which ones I would consider.

 

I spoke with Tony at Motordyne as well and he is a wealth of info. I did a lot of online reading before joing this group and wished I had done it sooner. After logging hours online, I ended up with a 5/16 ISO thermal and a Z-tube with K&N drop in which seems to be the most talked about set up. Being from FL, the plastic tube and OEM airbox work better for my environment. As a newbie, I wish I had come to this forum first and saved myself a lot time but I'm already taking advantage of the groups posts in the tech forum. Thanks to everyone and go easy on the newbies!

 

Good luck! I am sure you will love the spacer! What year, etc is your car?

 

So what is the spacer of choice to go along with the Ztube and K&N for a 03.5 5at? 5/16 or 1/2? And when you do the Ztube and K&N, does one also do a CAI? I thought that was either or, but I read that a few people did both...??

 

The z-tube and K&N shouldn't have a bearing on which spacer you decide to go with.

As far as the CAI, technically a CAI would replace the z-tube and include its own cone filter (possibly still manufactured by K&N). If you go with something like the Stillen or Popcharger you still use the z-tube but will replace the panel K&N with a cone. Run a search and you will see what I am talking about.