Subaru WRX Exhaust Dyno Results - Tech Review - Turbo Magazine

Everybody is always searching for The One. As a toddler, you look for your favorite pacifier; as a child it is your favorite toy. You look for The One in adolescence as you fall in and out of puppy love. Now you are an adult and still you want The One, the only - the best damn exhaust system out there for your car.

Turbo aims to help you in this department by tracking down twelve (count 'em buddy) exhaust systems for the very popular Subaru WRX. All WRX aftermarket exhaust manufacturers were invited to participate in this shootout and the dozen you see below obliged.

They witnessed firsthand their products being put to the test under controlled conditions to see which one would claim top honors; the summa cum laude of exhaust.

As with our last exhaust shootout (September 2002), we've compiled for you several different attributes of each exhaust system: price tag, weight, size, horsepower, torque and sound.

This time we added a few other variables to the mix, including highest horsepower and torque gain at any given rpm and piping diameter. Depending upon which characteristic you value most, you can decide for yourself which system is going to be The One for your ride. Some like 'em loud, some are horsepower whores, others like the biggest pipe (compensation issues? I wonder) and some are on a budget.

Four pizzas, eleven hours straight of dynoing, and twelve exhaust systems later, what you see below are the vital stats we came up with. The search is now over...and The One waits to be crowned.

0212tur_exhaust_01_zoom   |   Factory Subaru ManufacturerFactory Subaru TypeStock MSRP$715.00 Weight37.4 pounds Tip Diameterdual 72mm tips (2.834 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle87dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm86dB Peak Horsepower191. 8 Hp @ 5600 rpm Peak Torque197.1 Tq @ 3800 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stockN/A Largest Torque gain over stockN/A Piping Diameter52mm (2.047 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionMild steel canister and piping 0212tur_exhaust_02_zoom   |   5Zigen Manufacturer5Zigen TypeFireball MSRP$700.00 Weight31.3 pounds Tip Diameter100mm (3.937 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle98 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm105 dB Peak Horsepower198.7 Hp @ 5625 rpm Peak Torque201.3 Tq @ 4400 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock12.0 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock13.7 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter70mm (2.756-inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with coated mild-steel piping. Source5Zigen USA, Inc., (310) 608-5575 0212tur_exhaust_03_zoom   |   Tanabe ManufacturerTanabe TypeRacing Super Medalion MSRP$650.00 Weight24.0 pounds Tip Diameter100mm (3.937 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle101 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm107 dB Peak Horsepower197.7 Hp @ 5600 rpm Peak Torque199.6 @ 3600 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock8.7 Hp @ 4200 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock10.1 Tq @ 4200 rpm Piping Diameter70mm (2.755 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with stainless steel piping. SourceMackin Industries (Tanabe Distributor) (562) 946-6820 0212tur_exhaust_04_zoom   |   Blitz ManufacturerBlitz TypeNur-Spec Racing MSRP$698.00 Weight37.2 pounds Tip Diameter115mm (4.527 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle104 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm103 dB Peak Horsepower{{{200}}}.2 Hp @ 5600 rpm Peak Torque204.2 @ 3725 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock13.9 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock15.3 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter{{{80}}} mm (3.150inch) Exhaust ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister and piping SourceBlitz North America, (714) 777-9766 0212tur_exhaust_05_zoom   |   GReddy ManufacturerGReddy TypeEvolution MSRP$699.00 Weight37.4 pounds Tip Diameter115mm (4.527 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle94 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm92 dB Peak Horsepower200.9 Hp @ 5600 rpm Peak Torque201.6 @ 4600 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock9.8 Hp @ 4600 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock10.6 @ 4600 rpm Piping Diameter80mm (3.150 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with coated mild steel piping SourceGReddy, (949) 588-8300 0212tur_exhaust_06_zoom   |   Cobb Tuning ManufacturerCobb Tuning TypeN/A MSRP$575.00 Weight26.6 pounds Tip Diameter90mm (3.543 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle97 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm103 dB Peak Horsepower200.0 Hp @ 5600 rpm Peak Torque202.7 @ {{{4000}}} rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock12.6 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock14.1 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter75mm (2.952 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with stainless steel piping. SourceCobb Tuning, (972) 771-1555 0212tur_exhaust_07_zoom   |   Supersprint ManufacturerSupersprint TypeN/A MSRP${{{850}}}.00 Weight29.0 pounds Tip Diameter90mm x 145mm Oval Tip (3.54 inch x 5.70 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle95 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm101 dB Peak Horsepower198.0 Hp @ 5700 rpm Peak Torque201.3 Tq @ 3700 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock12.2 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock13.7 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter63.5mm (2.500 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister and piping SourceSupersprint, (800) 648-7278 0212tur_exhaust_08_zoom   |   HKS ManufacturerHKS TypeHi-Power MSRP$670.00 Weight30.7 pounds Tip Diameter120mm (4.724 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle97 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm102 dB Peak Horsepower202.9 Hp @ 5625 rpm Peak Torque204.9 Tq @ 3650 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock13.1 Hp @ 5620 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock13.6 Tq @ 4200 rpm Piping Diameter75mm (2.952 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with co@ed mild steel piping. SourceHKS USA, Inc., (310) 491-3300 0212tur_exhaust_09_zoom   |   A'PEXi ManufacturerA'PEXi Type{{{GT}}} Spec. MSRP$749.00 Weight26.2 pounds Tip Diameter115mm (4.528 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle{{{100}}} dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm104 dB Peak Horsepower201.1 Hp @ 5625 rpm Peak Torque201.5 Tq @ 4600 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock9.9 Hp @ 4600 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock10.6 Tq @ 4600 rpm Piping Diameter75mm-85mm (2.953-3.346 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister and piping SourceA*PEX Integration (714) 685-5700 0212tur_exhaust_10_zoom   |   Skunk2 Racing ManufacturerSkunk2 Racing TypeN/A MSRP$599.00 Weight30.6 pounds Tip Diameter100mm (3.937 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle102 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm106 dB Peak Horsepower199.3 Hp @ 5625 rpm Peak Torque203.6 Tq @ 3600 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock13.0 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock 15.7 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter75mm (2.953 inch) ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with stainless steel piping. SourceSkunk2 Racing, (909) 808-9888 0212tur_exhaust_11_zoom   |   MRT Performance ManufacturerMRT Performance TypeN/A MSRP$795.00 Weight30.5 pounds Tip Diameter100mm (3.937 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle96dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm104 dB Peak Horsepower198.8 Hp @ 5700 rpm Peak Torque202.8 Tq @ 3675 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock13.6 Hp @ 4400 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock15.5 Tq @ 4400 rpm Piping Diameter75mm (2.953 inch) ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with stainless steel piping. SourceRenick Motorsports (MRT Dealer), (714) 871-9300 0212tur_exhaust_12_zoom   |   M2 Performance ManufacturerM2 Performance TypeN/A MSRP$795.00 Weight34.9 pounds Tip Diameterdual 76.2mm (3.00 inch) Sound Decibel @ Idle94dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm94dB Peak Horsepower195.9 Hp @ 5700 rpm Peak Torque198.9 Tq @ 3675 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock7.1 Hp @ 4200 rpm Largest Torque gain over stock8.7 Tq @ 4200 rpm Piping Diameter76.2mm (3.000 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister with stainless steel piping. SourceM2 Performance, (925) 686-9047 0212tur_exhaust_13_zoom   |   Thermal Research & Development ManufacturerThermal Research & Development TypeN/A MSRP$694.95 Weight26.2 pounds Tip Diameter80mm x 111mm (3.150 x 4.370 inch) oval tip Sound Decibel @ Idle101 dB Sound Decibel @ 3000 rpm108 dB Peak Horsepower198.3 Hp @ 5700 rpm Peak Torque201.1 Tq @ 4300 rpm Largest Horsepower gain over stock11.4 Hp @ 4400 Largest Torque gain over stock13. 4 Tq @ 4400 Piping Diameter76.2mm (3.000 inch) Exhaust System ConstructionPolished stainless steel canister and piping. SourceThermal Research & Development, (818) 998-4865