Issues I thought of.
Tips, Mufflers, Materials, Bends, Styles, Angles, Looks, Sounds, Colors, Sizes. People are going to want all sorts of diffrent setups. How are you going to pick the one that people will want. It's just like alot of other stuff we want for the Solara, There is 10 diff people interested in 10 diff things of the same nature.
Shipping. I am sure its not cheap to ship and item like that any where for any carrier.
The price is not that great to be honest. A custom muffler shop will do the work, cheaper with a gurantee with the parts that I want and pick out of catalogs and books.
Not to say, that 100s of people did not invest and a Cat-Back for Solaras but they were no where near the price shipped your talking about for the biggest systems.
If you want a dual or custom setup other than a normal catback. It would seem to me that a custom shop would be your best option.
Not to discredit this thread, I would love to see this idea get off the ground. If it turns out great I would even be interested perhaps.
Maybe my glass is always half empty...
Wait... I re-read the post. You basically are going to map out the exhaust of the Camry/Solara and build custom setups like any shop would. Your really just selling a custom exhaust for the Solara. Therefore a local shop would be a better option for anyone.
To answer your first question before I go on my rant - We have already taken into consideration various styles and sounds. The exhaust system will use the same mufflers regardless of the setup. To cover styles we're offering a single tip or dual out choice. Another style option is the tips, you will have the option of the 4", a 6", or a 7" tip, of course this alters sound too which answers your sound question. We can't really modify angles since this is the first two exhaust systems we're going to make, it's already more customizable than anything else that anyone is offering, however, the exits will be straight back like a standard exhaust and not to the side. Piping isn't a big deal, if people want to show off the design of their piping under their cars... that's a big task. I don't think many people are concerned. Colors... we're not going to color them, they're going to be a stainless steel shine. I've never seen a colored exhaust but if you want to paint it I don't see why not. I already answered the question to sizes, two different piping sizes and three tip choices.
I don't think there is anything anyone will be looking for that I haven't offered except MORE exhausts, maybe a quad tip dual muffler system or something along those lines. However, before you request something like that, let us successfully sell this first and then we'll work on new systems.
Well, since you're so decided on that fact, go for it =D. You'll be able to make an exhaust with bends, tips, and mufflers for less than the amount we offer I'm certain. However, for less than we're going to offer this you're going to have smaller piping, probably 2", you're going to have a lower quality muffler, probably aluminized steel, an untested tip with that muffler mix so you don't know the sound quality, undyno'd results, with the 2" piping odds are it's not going to help at all, and last but not least, you're going to end up with non-mandrel bends as VERY few shops have the super expensive machine to do this. Now, you go make an exhaust, tell us how much everything costs you in the end, post the dyno's and record the sound, then when we finish, we'll post our results and compare. I guarantee you, the mandrel bent 2.5 and 3" systems will rock your world.
Furthermore, a custom system come to think of it probably won't cost you less. Even if you break even, you're still talking about perfect measurements and machine & laser cutting. You have to create flanges to prevent leaks and ensure your brackets line up properly... this isn't some simple task. Ask Astros. He'll be able to tell you all about it. One last thing is you need to start adding your costs.
Mufflers - Market value (customer cost from mangaflow) $150 pc.
Tips - Varying depending on what you're going for, say $50 pc.
Y bend - $50
Other piping - $50
Mandrel use from machine shop (assuming you can find one) - $100
Welding - Varying depending on if you can weld or not, if not 1hr of the guys time $80
Laser cut flanges, brackets, and bolts - $50.
Your time for measuring ensuring everything is correct - $Free!
That's if you do it yourself and just send them the measure ments and line up the brackets and everything yourself. Now let's hope it doesn't rattle. For a grand total of $650 without any type of coating or finish. Now go hire a shop to do it for you and do the measuring and the lining and the bolting and you're easily going to break the $1000 mark. Good luck, but rethink your math for a dual setup, especially dyno proven.
I'm starting to get interested. I was saving for the JPP full system but if your results are comparable I might end up going with you.
Were you going to be putting a ceramic coat like the JPP's? If not, how much more would that be?
I might have also been confused in a previous post of yours. Did you say you might be thinking of making headers too if the cat-back is successful?
To answer your first question. I didn't intend to add ceramic coating to the exhausts piping at this point. Generally, exhaust systems aren't hot enough to create any issues except for near the engine itself (headers/manifold, downpipe/straightpipe, etc.) If you want a ceramic coat on the exhaust, I could probably do a 2000F coat. The cost will be undecided until we have a specefic request. Again, remember, it's not necessary for piping beyond the main cat.
If we successfully sell enough exhausts to fund the creation of new headers also (after the work on the straightpipe) then yes, we will work on a set of headers, eventually creating an entire exhaust package for the 1mz. If success continues, we will continue making parts. When we no longer make enough to fund new projects, we will stop working on projects.
Josh and I both agree that we would like to make a site and online store dedicated to the creation of new parts for the 1mz. We have already discussed steps and part orders to include but not limited to headers, cai, turbo or twin turbo charger kits, etc. It's really up to the community though to order the parts. As everyone knows, a company that dedicates time but creates a vacuum in their pockets definately won't last.[/quote]