3" Turboback exhaust worth it on a 2.0 tip?

[Azeroth]

I'm tiptronic, on stock turbo, so I'm obviously not trying to make my audi the fastest car around. However, I do enjoy modding my car, making it quicker, and fun to drive. So, that being said in your opinion (don't worry about the money factor), do you think it's more beneficial to have a full 3" system? Right now I have Revo stage 1, and will be upgrading to stage 2 right after I get my new exhaust put on, I have the 034 turbo inlet hose, k&n air filter, the newly revised DV. Now, I know that the 3" system allows for the most breathing for the engine, however do you think it restricts backpressure too much, being that my engine might not be pushing as much exhaust through as compared to a big turbo? I thought it was interesting that other companies opted to use 2.5" piping (like AWE) even after first testing a 3" system. I've just heard and seen many good things about RAIs products.

Here's my options:
1: RAI hfc/downpipe combo (both 3") followed by stasis exhaust system (which i believe goes down to 2.25" piping to the mufflers)
2: RAI Full 3" turboback exhaust system

[Ed Gein]

All the power is hidden in the factory cat, exhaust wont help much. You can be stage 2 with just a hfc or tp and downpipe, the main point of stage 2 is so you dont get a CEL when you run a test pipe.

[viceprp]

I would run atleast 2.5" exhaust at the very least with a slightly modded 2.0T. You will see max gains with a TP but its more enviromentally friendly with the HFC.

[papadelogan]

Will the larger exhaust piping pushed the power more in to the upper RPM range? That's typically what happens, especially with gassers.

[viceprp]

He might see a bit of low end go but if tuned properly, it won't be dramatic.

[SykoraA4]

RAI Downpipe will net you nice gains, even with the factory exhaust.

[mr shickadance]

the bigger the exhaust, the less restriction in the back pressure, the more power you will make, while most of the pwer is held up by the cat, there is still a lot of improvement to be had with the OEM exhaust, i would say go the full 3 inch exhaust, you will see more power

[audib7maniac]

I got a full 3 in exhaust and love it and I'm tip.

Rob

[Solarsuplex]

i'd also go with the 3 inch, not only will you see the most power, but a wider pipe will translate to a a deeper beafier tone tham the 2.5 would.

[Mc Suly]

I got a full 3 in exhaust and love it and I'm tip.

Rob

Probably sounds like a beast!!

[schnell]

I got a full 3 in exhaust and love it and I'm tip.

Rob

Sound clip please!

[NorcalPB]

I would only put a 3" exhaust on a stage 3 car. A B7 A4, even stage 2, doesn't warrant needing that big of piping. But hearing sound clips might change my thoughts on that

[mr shickadance]

^??? how so, even at 2.5 inches the exhaust is somewhat restrictive....now you may not NEED it, but a 3 inch exhaust on a turbo's car will outperform a 2/5 inch any day. with N/A (and this has been discussed before) a little restriction (back pressure) is a good thing, but with forced induction, ideally you would almost want no exhaust at all, the more freely the air flows the better and cooler it performs

[NorcalPB]

I can't really see a catback exhaust adding more than 2-3hp max. To have a 3" downpipe and test pipe is ideal, but to continue the 3" after that you must have some serious exhaust flow to say that 2.5" is not enough. I like to reference companies r&d when customizing an exhaust system and none of them have 3" going back to the mufflers. If you wanted max performance you might as well do away with the y-pipe and make it a single exhaust because the dual exhaust on our car is just for show.

[m4ttt0]

^^^^ agreed

[mr shickadance]

I can't really see a catback exhaust adding more than 2-3hp max. To have a 3" downpipe and test pipe is ideal, but to continue the 3" after that you must have some serious exhaust flow to say that 2.5" is not enough. I like to reference companies r&d when customizing an exhaust system and none of them have 3" going back to the mufflers. If you wanted max performance you might as well do away with the y-pipe and make it a single exhaust because the dual exhaust on our car is just for show.


the R&D is simple, 2.5 is smaller than 3 inches.....the larger the diameter the better it is for forced induction cars

the reason none of them have a 3 inch exhaust is because they are so obnoxiously loud that the customer would not like it....look at other 4 cylinder turbo charged cars that are out there, wrx's, and evos all have a pretty large market surronding the 3 inch exhaust, and many of them go even larger than that.


im not saying that 2.5 is not appropriate for our cars......i'm saying that a 3 inch exhaust is less restrictive, and therefore better for any forced induction car