I posted this originally in the exhaust and intake forum, but thought this may be a more appropriate place.

I installed my Invidia non-resonated test pipes yesterday. Easiest install on the planet--and I am being serious. 10 bolts and it is done.

I went ahead and wrapped them with header wrap as I have read that will help with the ticking sound. The ticking sound to me is common, as the GTP I used to have had this same sound. Anyway, here are my pros and cons:

Pros

Deeper sound at idle and general cruising

Easy install

Loss of about 20 something pounds (test pipes are light compared to the heavy cats and bracket)

Tons of power in the higher RPM's...4th and 5th noticibly pull much, much harder. When shifting to 4th while WOT, the power comes in strong and pulls to 100 much harder--where I used to feel 4th fell on its face a little.

Cons

Rasp, and lots of it. Under normal throttle, it sounds much meaner. When you get in the pedal it really sounds...well...like a fart can on a Civic. This is just from the inside that I sence the sound. I am going to have the wife do a flyby or 3 for me to see if it sounds like that on the outside. I went through my favorite tunnel to hear the exhaust and I wasn't as thrilled, but only me listening from the outside will give me the idea of what it really sounds like.

Ticking while idling. Since I wrapped them, I don't know if this sound is an improvement over non-wrapped or not. It is not too bad, and I'm used to it from my previous car, but not highly desirable.

Gas smell at idle. I only noticed it once while driving (even though I only have about 10 miles on it so far). Right now I'm still having the smokey/smelly side effects to the header wrap, so I can't tell how often I am really getting the gas smell. I only noticed it once though over the other nasty smell. The header wrap smell is usually gone after a couple days so I'll be able to better evaluate it afterwards.

All in all, I'm impressed with the power and non-WOT sound...but the WOT sound leaves something to be desired. I don't want to make my car tacky in any way and I feel that the raspiness (at least so far) makes me unhappy about it. Others may love them, so I am going to give them a couple weeks and then decide wether to keep them or sell them.
Edit/Delete Message

 

4 month review/after thoughts:

WOW! I can't believe anyone can go without test pipes! For a fully stock exhaust sans the test pipes, this thing sounds MEAN! Grumble is much more obvious over other VQ35 stockers (Z/G), and def. turns heads much more than the stock.

The rasp is not bad now that I am used to it. It really sounds worse in the car than it does on the road.

Gas smell is rare. It is usually after driving it hard then coming to a stop. Otherwise it is beautiful.

Sound clips for those interested:

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m...t=exhaust2.flv

http://s106.photobucket.com/albums/m...nt=exhaust.flv

 

sounds mean. just curious, does kentucky require smog tests?

 

Nope they just banned it. We didn't till a couple years ago, then they decided to do it, then outlawed it this year due to overwhelming uproar.

They were requiring testing of BRAND NEW cars, not even a year old. Anything to make $40 a visit.

 

nice review. good long term followup.

 

i miss my test pipes just took them off yesterday because i moved back from florida to jersey... dam inspections!!