Review: Finally installed my Apexi Catback

[Assyrian]

Finally got around to doing this... it's been sitting in my garage for a few weeks now.

Performance: From about 2500 (on up to redline) I notice an increase in power... it's not that much, but it feels like I've taken at least a tenth of a second off of my quarter mile time. The car is so much more responsive... there's still a good amount of backpressure, which is a good thing. If you want a peaky power curve, this is not your exhaust. This exhaust seems to deliver a moderate power increase (I'd guess around 3hp maybe?) throughout almost the entire powerband...

Sound: The tone to this exhaust is awesome. It's a very resonant - bass sound, but it's not too low or throaty... and it's not loud, at all. The sound is really comparable to my cousin's 330 ci... You can easily manipulate your rpm's/throttle to make the car sound like a stock exhaust, which has already helped me once with the police. Thankfully, on the highway, the exhaust doesn't really resonate into the car... so you won't get a headache after half an hour haha.

Overall Impression: Apexi set out to make the exhaust that the automakers should have made in the first place with the World Sport Series... and they've acheived that perfectly in the Solara. I am very happy with the product and would recommend it to anyone who wants to improve on their daily driver's driving experience.

If you want to see a real increase in numbers, get the Greddy... if you want something more suitable for a daily driver, get the Apexi.

[jhenty]

thanks for the review, I've been looking into this system myself because mine is too loud now (borla muffler, custom pipe). How much did you pay for it? Im thinking about just purchasing the World Sport muffler and using it with my current setup. Glad to hear it worked out well for you.

[Assyrian]

thanks! I actually purchased it on this site in the for sale section... a guy bought the system thinking that it would work with his es300, and had to get it off his hands when he found out that it didn't.

because of that, I bought it for pretty cheap. 300 bucks.

I then paid another 75 for installation... 5 for tip.... so the whole upgrade costed me 380 dollars.

[Assyrian]

just an update... now that the exhaust is breaking in... I notice that it's getting a little louder?!?!?! which is fine because it's still at a great volume.

[SleeperSolara]

Yeah i have the Greddy Evo exhaust and it sounds good.
I've always wanted to hear it when i'm outside that car.
When i first got it, it was kind-of a burbble/throaty sound, but now it kind-of softer in tone.
I like it alot.
I found 2 scratchs already.
Need to slow down in those areas.

[Jai_Jai_Binks]

There was a dude in Houston, who did the same to his Es300, man that sounded soo sweet. anything over 3000rpm and thats when it really became evident (and noticable). When the car was just idling, it wasn't all that audible.