This is an unsolicited article that details the organized research conducted by an enthusiast to find an aftermarket exhaust that appealed to him.     

Which Aftermarket Exhaust Should I Select for my STI?

My quest to select an aftermarket catback exhaust system began when I took delivery of my Subaru Impreza WRX STI in March of 2005.  I realized that the STI was quiet and that the exhaust, which featured a stylish chrome tip stamped with the STI insignia, emitted no real performance sound.  Even when I stomped the gas and the turbo spooled up, the intoxicating boxer rumble barely penetrated the cockpit.

As I encountered STIs in my community with modified exhausts, I became envious of the sweet exhaust notes played by the 2.5L engines stuffed under their scooped hoods.  I could hear the sweet call of their exhausts even while stopped at intersections.  This was enough to make a man who was perfectly content man with his vehicle jealous.  I decided something had to be done about my STI's shortcomings and so I documented my research and decision making process.  The review and decision making process that I detail in this article is one that can be followed when making any exhaust purchase for any vehicle.

In conducting my research for this article, I disregarded what everyone had told me and took a different approach.  First, I used the Internet to learn about the different options available for the STI.  Second, I conducted additional research by phoning both manufacturers and vendors to learn more about each exhaust system.

Create a Baseline to Measure Future Performance Against

I normally research and come up with a modification path before just buying any part.   After all, if I was going to modify a good Japanese sports car, I wanted to know that I would face no issues installing aftermarket parts.  The ideal situation is getting first hand experience in vehicles installed with those parts I am a considering.

A local track event advertised by Kingofimports.com and IWSTI.com at Buttonwillow Raceway located in sunny California caught my attention.  I wanted to gauge the STI's performance on the track before performing any modifications.  This would provide me with a basis for comparison before bolting on aftermarket parts.

The event was dominated by other STI enthusiasts.  While several had not yet installed aftermarket parts, many had modified their exhaust systems.  Aside from the ability to drive the STI on the track as fast as one could, a lot of the fun of this event for me was riding in other STIs with modifications I anticipated installing on my own STI in the future.  I sat inside their cars listening to the aggressive exhaust notes that my car could not produce and watching the needles on their tachometers race to redline faster than my STI's motor could.  At that point, I knew that my car needed an aftermarket exhaust system.

But which one?  At the event alone, I discovered that no two enthusiasts had the same advice or opinion when it came to modifying the exhaust on my STI.  I quickly learned that countless exhausts were available on the market and some were made of different materials, so how was I to choose the right one for me?  

Specify the Criteria Your Will Use to Select Your Catback Exhaust

Taking a different approach than most other enthusiasts, I set out the criteria that would govern my decision in purchasing a catback exhaust as I was not ready to jeopardize my factory warranty with a turbo back exhaust.  Exhaust performance, tone, weight, quality, ease of installation, and availability were all important to me, as was price.  I determined that I wanted a lightweight, well-designed, exhaust that sounded great and improved performance.

Decide Whether You Want a Titanium or Stainless Steel Exhaust

I immediately knew I faced a choice.  Did I want a stainless steel exhaust or a titanium Exhaust system?  While most consumers do not consider weight when buying an exhaust I had previously conducted a significant amount of research on the effects weight reduction can have on performance.  I knew that shedding weight with every future modification would ultimately lead to a faster, more nimble STI, and I could even expect gas mileage to improve.  "Was the titanium exhaust worth the extra money?" was the question I asked myself.

Stainless Steel

Most aftermarket exhaust systems are stainless steel.  Stainless steel has become the standard material used by exhaust manufacturers because of its durability and relatively low cost to produce.   Most consumers never consider anything other than stainless steel when they decide on their aftermarket catback exhaust because it is the most cost effective.  On average, a typical stainless steel aftermarket catback exhaust system will save approximately 20-40% in weight over the factory catback exhaust system.

Titanium

Titanium is another type of material used in the construction of aftermarket catback exhaust systems.  Titanium is extremely strong and lightweight.  
Typically, a catback exhaust constructed out of titanium tubing and fittings will save 50-60% in weight over the factory catback exhaust.  Exhausts made from Titanium also offer a sportier look and exhaust note than their stainless steel counterparts.   However, the major drawback is cost.  These exhausts tend to be more expensive and as a result are not manufactured in the same numbers, so availability at any given time can be hit or miss.

Make Your Decision Based on Your Personal Criteria

In light of the factors discussed above, making the decision to purchase a stainless steel or a titanium exhaust became that much easier.  I was not looking for a catback exhaust system that only offered a 5-10% reduction in weight over the factory exhaust.  I also wanted something rare and unique.   There is this "wow" factor that you get with a titanium exhaust that you do not get with a stainless steel one.  I could not tune out the enthusiast voice inside of me that cried out fro the titanium exhaust despite its price tag!  The sexy performance sound and appearance of a titanium exhausts that I noticed on other STIs was so great that I could no longer restrain myself from purchasing one.

Fortunately, a decent market for aftermarket titanium catback exhausts already existed in North America.  My dilemma now was selecting the right titanium exhaust for me.  I was not looking for an exhaust that would wake my neighbors up if I was leaving for a track event at 5:30 in the morning or coming from a late night enthusiast get-together or late night out at 11:00 in the evening.  But I wanted something more audible than the stock catback exhaust, so I made a few calls to some friends in the performance industry.

To my dismay, I was told that the popularity of titanium exhausts in North America paled in comparison to their popularity in Japan.  As a result, several companies had discontinued supplying or manufacturing titanium exhausts for the STI.  My list of available titanium exhausts was limited but further research was necessary to determine which was best suited for my needs and tastes.  I still had detailed questions about cost, weight, fitment, and the noise or loudness of these exhaust that could not all be answered by my friends, so I turned to the largest STI community on the Internet, www.iwsti.com, to develop a comprehensive list of full titanium exhausts systems on the market.

With a comprehensive list of full titanium catback exhausts available, I was able to further narrow my requirements according to my preferences in no particular order:

Weight Matters!

Since my days as a drag racer, I knew that shedding weight here and there can add up quickly, even if it was only a few pounds.  It is no secret that a lighter car accelerates and stops quicker in addition to handling better.  Plus, gas mileage on a daily driven car will improve albeit by a small percentage (more from less restriction than weight savings, but every little bit counts rights?).  As such, the lighter the titanium catback exhaust, the higher it ranked.

Sound

A great exhaust produces a distinctive, not too ricey exhaust note.  It could not be too loud that I would have to worry about my neighbors complaining when I leave or return to my house.  But the titanium exhaust had to be more aggressive in tone than the stock exhaust.

Quality

The craftsmanship of an exhaust can affect its longevity and durability.  While I live in California and rarely if ever encounter road salt, I still was interested in only the highest quality exhaust.  Specifically, the exhaust had to be of exceptional quality with strong welds and quality construction.

Style

An exhaust canister (muffler) should never look "riced out" so that the appearance of the exhaust encourages street racers to rev their cars at you (the look of the STI does this sufficiently on its own).  I preferred a straight line tip exhaust over an angled one only because it looks OEM and in California (and possibly other states) a modified exhaust with a straight tip is less likely to attract a police officer's attention than a modified exhaust with an angled tip.

Performance

3 inches, that seems to be the agreed upon standard diameter for an exhaust to perform at optimal levels in most turbo applications.  Even though the 3 inch diameter would not likely result in a great increase in performance on a catback system, it does support the future addition of a 3 inch diameter downpipe for maximum performance.

The Final Steps

From my industry contacts, I learned that Magna Flow offered tow separate titanium catback systems; one without a resonator and the one with a resonator.  The non-resonated catback was appealing, but I learned from a subsequent inquiry with Magnaflow that these had been discontinued.  They also told me that the resonated titanium catback exhaust was not a true 3 inches through the resonator portion and could limit the future performance I expected to achieve with the modifications planned for the STI.  This was enough for me to cross Magnaflow off my list of potential titanium catback exhausts.

I looked into the Powerhouse Amuse full titanium catback exhaust system, but I quickly realized that it was only 70 mm in diameter, which is approximately 2.75 inches.

Next, I evaluated the Invidia G300 full titanium catback exhaust system.  This was a top notch system in terms quality, a full 3 inches in diameter, and the manufacturer specifically promoted its lightweight design.  Finally, the exhaust was resonated to make it suitable for street use.  However, I learned the exhaust had been discontinued and was no longer being offered when I contacted several distributors.

Next up for review came the JIC-Magic brand.  JIC offered two separate full titanium catback exhaust systems at the time this article was written; the 5055 and the JIC Spartan DE Type 2.  The 5055 is their racing catback system, which I was told was very loud and not intended for street use.  JIC's other system, the Spartan Type 2, was intended for the street and looked like no other titanium catback exhaust system I had seen thus far.  The exhaust canister was of a different style, looking more like the factory exhaust than any other titanium exhaust system.  The Spartan was also described as having a more reserved sound for a full titanium catback exhaust system due to the design of its resonator and canister/muffler.  The only downside was that this Spartan's design required a bit more hardware and materials, making it heavier than the other titanium exhaust by about 4 pounds.  Finally, I was told that it was a full 3 inches in diameter and that the exhaust price came in a little higher than the rest.

I also looked into Fujitsubo, which also offered two full titanium catback exhaust systems; the Super Ti and the RM01-A Titanium.  The drawbacks of these two exhausts were quickly discovered.  Both required use of a JDM downpipe for a proper fitment.  Apparently, the JDM exhaust components are different lengths than the components found on the STIs in North America.  That was not something I anticipated when I saved up enough funds to get the titanium exhaust, so Fujitsubo was marked off my list.

Reviewing the remaining contenders, I decided to do some additional research to find which of these were in stock.  I called over to the guys at JIC-Magic in Downey, California.  They answered my technical questions about their exhausts.  They were very knowledgeable about their specific product, helping me make it less difficult to choose the right exhaust system for me.  They educated me on both of their titanium exhaust systems and recommended the Spartan Type 2 for the street based the on lower noise levels I expected from my exhaust system.

With my exhaust research completed, I did engage in some discussion with STI owners to get some feedback based on their personal experiences before making my decision.  While it was a tough choice to decide which exhaust was best for me, I ultimately opted for the JIC Spartan Type 2 because of what it offered over the others.  In addition to JIC's reputation, the exhaust system was truly a full titanium, lightweight, resonated, exhaust system.  With superior sound deadening provided by the canister and a straight exit exhaust tip, the JIC seemed to fill all my needs.

After ordering and receiving the exhaust, I opened the box and inspected all the separate components.  I lifted the first piece (the resonated mid-pipe) out of the box and laughed hysterically at how ridiculously light it felt.  The excellent workmanship and construction was immediately noticeable, further supporting JIC's reputation.  The welds were absolutely perfect and the hangers were welded to straps attached to the exhaust; rather than being welded to the exhaust components.  With this particular exhaust in hand, I could not wait to install it.

The Installation

Finally, I scheduled the installation for the next day.  At the appointment, the mechanic at the service facility drove the car in between the arms of the lift and then slid them under the car.   With the car up in the air, the factory catback exhaust came off in a matter of minutes by removing a few bolts.

The JIC catback system was ready for installation.

We fitted up the resonated mid-pipe section first and followed up with the installation of the muffler.  The muffler hung in place until we joined the canister to the resonated mid-pipe section.  We quickly discovered that loosening all the straps helped maneuver the exhaust system to achieve the perfect fit advertised by the manufacturer.  With the alignment straight, we tightened up all the bolts.

This exhaust did come into minor contact with the rear muffler heatshield at the most rear portion of the car (but this never came close to making contact with the bumper).  I would not be surprised if this was simply due to production variances in the vehicles.  Rather than bending the heatshield away from the exhaust, I decided to remove it (for a little bit of extra weight loss).  The new exhaust canister was much smaller and was far from the undercarriage of the car, so there did not appear to be any risk in removing the heatshield.

The Moment Of Truth

I started the STI in anticipation of the deeper sound of the JIC over the factory STI exhaust system.  As soon as she started up, you could see smile spread across my face.  When I looked in my rearview mirror, I saw the crowd of enthusiasts standing behind me smiling too!

A deep and low boxer rumble was noticeable at idle.  I tapped the accelerator pedal and at higher RPM the STI sounded as though someone took a sock out of the muffler and removed the restriction.  A quick test drive proved that the exhaust was not too loud, obnoxious, or raspy.  Even at full throttle, the exhaust was neither too noisy nor extremely loud, just a nice roar!  This is exactly the way the car should have sounded from the factory in my opinion.

Now that I have had the JIC Spartan De Type 2 Ti installed on my car for a few weeks, I can conclude it is a very good catback exhaust system for the STI.  This exhaust should be considered as a viable option if you plan on upgrading your catback exhaust.  In addition to the performance, it is also lightweight, shedding 15 pounds over the factory exhaust (total weight shed from a vehicle can really add up over time).  The highlights of the JIC full titanium exhaust are its weight reduction, quality, fitment, appearance, design, workmanship, sound, and performance.

If JIC were to ask me what one thing I would change about the exhaust if I could, my answer would be the restriction at the mid-pipe.  The pipe choked down to 2.5 inches where it met the downpipe.  I was unaware of this restriction when I purchased the exhaust system.  While this allows the catback portion of the exhaust to bolt up to the factory downpipe, it would be a significant restriction when upgrading my downpipe or adding performance modifications in the future.  This drawback required a call to JIC.  When speaking to their technicians about it, they suggested that I could take some 3" inch titanium piping and add a 3 inch flange in place of the 2.5 inch section of the exhaust.  While this is less than ideal, I know a competent fabricator can modify my mid-pipe to mate the exhaust to a 3 inch downpipe without any restriction.

In sum, JIC's customer service is outstanding and the product was of exceptional quality, which is why I am completely satisfied with this JIC product.  I feel confident in recommending this exhaust to other STI enthusiasts at www.iwsti.com, and I feel it is worth the extra money for the titanium material, quality, weight savings, no-hassle installation, and sound unless you want a 3 inch titanium catback exhaust that needs no additional modification to work effectively with a 3 inch downpipe and flow the most exhaust.

The last thing I would like to add is that every enthusiast has different needs and wants, and as a result they will rank criteria differently.  In fact, a number of other factors that we did not go into in this article could be used.  I hope you can use this article to ask the right questions so you can make an informed decision about which exhaust is right for you.  Feel free to drop me an email if you have any questions. 

Michael Anthony