[Euro] Mugen Exhaust Impressions

**Chris_F** · 15-12-2005 12:22 PM

I bought my mugen cat back exhaust system yesterday and thanks to the guys at centrax auto (www.centraxauto.com.au) it's now installed.

The first thing i noticed is that the exhaust is quite light - the titanium mufflers responsible for this more than anything. The diameter seems fairly similar to stock - i've been told its about a 2.3 - 2.4" system. The bends also seem smoother and it was easy to tell it was a well made exhaust.

I got it second hand so it was a bit dinged up and a bit dirty, but most of the important parts were in fine condition, and i got it for a fairly good price so i was happy.

the exhaust before it was put on:

Installation...

the exhaust hangers needed for this exhaust are slightly different and although the stock ones work i went out and bought a couple of these...

(image source: http://tsx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2694 8)

there are 2 of these holding the back section of the muffler on the stock system but the 2 front ones are a different design (3 holes) and seem much softer so i decided to have them replaced and the exhaust now seems to hang a bit sturdier.

Sound/loudness...

The exhaust has a deep throaty growl... or maybe "grumble" is a more appropriate description. The tone/resonance is also "unfarty" which i liked.

volume wise i'd say its 2 or maybe 3 times louder than stock - it's not super loud but you definitely know it's there, not that it's a bad thing but it may be a bit annoying for some.

Power...

I didn't think it'd make much difference but suprisingly it did. The throttle seems much more responsive now and generally the engine just seems to rev more freely. I found the biggest difference to be around 2.5k-3k rpm and upwards into the mid range. At full throttle the power difference is still noticable but more noticeably at partial throttle the engine just seems that little bit more responsive.

Appearence...

I'm gonna wash my car and get some pictures up asap - stay tuned

**Tobster** · 15-12-2005 01:19 PM

From all the dynos of cat-back exhausts I've seen, most people seem to be overly concerned about the peak power outputs and forget to look at the torque curves. To me, they all seem to suggest that a cat-back provides a good torque boost in the mid-range, so I'm not surprised to read your comments.

Do you have any means of recording a sound clip?

**Chris_F** · 15-12-2005 01:41 PM

Originally Posted by Tobster

From all the dynos of cat-back exhausts I've seen, most people seem to be overly concerned about the peak power outputs and forget to look at the torque curves. To me, they all seem to suggest that a cat-back provides a good torque boost in the mid-range, so I'm not surprised to read your comments.

Do you have any means of recording a sound clip?

Yea i've noticed that too... peak power isn't everything - this exhaust has definitely improved the "feeling of power" and im very happy with it because of that.

And yea i'll see if i can get a sound clip up - can anyone suggest a site that i could host it on?

**stephen8512** · 15-12-2005 03:52 PM

hahahaha
chris hats off to u man
funny thing is, i just paid for my GREDDY EVO2 exhaust today!!!!!!
lol and its gettin shipped over from the states and should be here (hopefully) by 24th (xmas eve) heheheh

chris, PM me if u want a site to host ur sound clip. i'll do it

and once i get my greddy installed, i'll upload the sound clip for that too!

damn man! congratulations!!!!!!! mugan exhaust. *jealous!!!!* hehehehehe

btw chris, where did u get that rubber grommit from? ive been readin on acurazine about that too and i saw a post for that as well. where can we source one here?
and how much did this exhaust set u back? if u dont mind me askin?

**Chris_F** · 15-12-2005 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by stephen8512

hahahaha
chris hats off to u man
funny thing is, i just paid for my GREDDY EVO2 exhaust today!!!!!!
lol and its gettin shipped over from the states and should be here (hopefully) by 24th (xmas eve) heheheh

chris, PM me if u want a site to host ur sound clip. i'll do it [img]images/smilies/icon_cheesygrin.gif[/img] and once i get my greddy installed, i'll upload the sound clip for that too!

damn man! congratulations!!!!!!! mugan exhaust. *jealous!!!!* hehehehehe

btw chris, where did u get that rubber grommit from? ive been readin on acurazine about that too and i saw a post for that as well. where can we source one here?
and how much did this exhaust set u back? if u dont mind me askin? [img]images/smilies/icon_cheesygrin.gif[/img]

haha stephen, was waiting for you to pop your head up

- believe me i was super happy when i found it for sale second hand.

Greddy Evo 2 is a good exhaust too and should fill up the exhaust spaces in the mugen kit really nicely

i'll probably get a sound clip up tomorrow along with pictures, i'll send you a pm when it's ready to go - will be cool to ahve a comparison between greddy and mugen sound wise.

Funnily enough i just walked into the shop next to centrax, mr. muffler and said "do u have these?" and they go, "yep here you go 5 bucks each" - so yea just a random local muffler shop should have this part (i got the impression that they were very common parts to have in stock)

sent you a pm with the price (dont wanna advertise how much i paid haha)

**stephen8512** · 15-12-2005 04:20 PM

chris, awesome awesome buy mate!
mugen exhaust + tein ss coilovers, rims.......man ur car is really comin along nicely
hahaha still cant believe there was a mugen exhaust lyin around in oz!!!
when u can, get some ass pics with the exhaust on!

**Chris_F** · 15-12-2005 04:26 PM

yep pictures to come in the next couple of days - aka_NSX had it for sale in his signature... im suprised no one else saw it. It was about to be shipped down to sydney aswell! but i nabbed it while it was still up in brisbane haha - i almost feel bad for not letting you know about it and buying it for myself coz you got the whole mugen thing going alrady

**stephen8512** · 15-12-2005 04:31 PM

hahaha nah its cool mate!
dont feel bad. prob better suited to ur car as its gonna be used for track. any other exhaust would have been crap. and since mugen is titanium, it reduces the weight. not a lot but nonetheless it would be a lot lighter than ur stock OEM.

**yfin** · 15-12-2005 10:14 PM

Awesome review - many thanks. Keep us updated with impressions

**Sulley** · 15-12-2005 10:51 PM

can i get a pm of the price??
sweet mod! congrats!
i wanna hear how it sounds like.

**Chris_F** · 15-12-2005 11:27 PM

i just came home from a movie... and some speed bumps at the cinemas caused me a bit of trouble. This exhaust hangs a few centimetres lower than the stock exhaust and on lowered cars like my own you have to be really careful. I think that's why it was so dinged up when i got it haha.

sulley, pm sent. Hopefully with a bit of help from Stephen a sound clip will be up in the next couple of days

- pictures to come aswell

**stephen8512** · 15-12-2005 11:30 PM

hahah dinged it already? ouch.....not good not good
lol i always mutter "not good not good" when i scrape my front (its not all the time mind u....just sometimes.....rarely these days cuz ive gotten use to it)
then i'll have 2 things to worry about..my kit and my exhaust. ARGH.