RAI downpipe with stock exhaust Or APR test pipe/ APR exhaust? Want it quiet !

[Jason84]

I want quietness for highway driving I dont want any drone I drive A LOT on the highway about 600 miles a week. Have the money to do a full exhaust just debating on a lot of stuff before I go get my tune. I also live in wisconsin and they use a lot of salt on the roads up here so definetly need something made out of high end stainless....

I have heard a couple youtube videos with both the APR sounds 100x better than the downpipe and stock exhaust but I am worried about driving in the highway. Have to get the girlfriend approved exhaust on this car :(

Or just do the APR test pipe ?

Guess there are to many choices out there... I havent looked at the stock exhaust but I am sure it is somewhat restrictive and probably really heavy.

Mostly going for fuel mileage/performance gains cause I drive a lot.

Also just found out the APR snub mount isnt good and have to find a different one :/ was hoping to just order everything from one shop...

[drumnjuny]

i have a HFC and APR catback... had it for 1.5 yrs. almost too quiet, imo

[DrZEUS]

If you looking for sound only, then a catback and test pipe will definitely do the trick. You will also get good gains from a setup like this.

If you want a bit of sound but more gains, a DP with HFC from RAI will yield these results. The majority of gains on these cars comes from a larger DP and deleting or replacing the restrictive factory cat with a HFC or test pipe.

I just ordered the RAI DP with HFC and keeping my stock exhaust (for now). I should see good gains and some slight increase in "sound".

[Jason84]

So your saying my gains will be better with the RAI DP and test pipe and stock exhaust then an aftermarket one?

[Sprode]

I run the RAI DP/HFC into the stock exhaust and I like it just fine. Most everything I've seen puts test pipe gains at 4 or 5 hp at most, with some cosmetic unpleasantness. Search for details.

[DrZEUS]

Wow after reading my reply it sounds sorta confusing to me too....it was late last night when I wrote it! lol

The most power gains you will get is from a DP with TP/HFC. This is the main bottlneck of the whole system in these cars. A catback will still yield more gains as well because you are also allowing for exhaust to travel more freely (ie. less restrictive) which is what you want in a turbo application (less back pressure equals quicker spool). I just don't think the gains are as great from just a catback while keeping the stock DP and/or cat. Generally the larger the exhaust system means the lesss restrictive, which equals higher power gains. However, there comes a point when going larger (ie. 2.5" vs. 3" may not yield much a difference because of the amount of flow is not great enough to warrant a bigger diameter exhaust. All you will get is a louder sounding exhaust note).

Now as far as sound goes, from what I have read from people running different setups (as mine has yet to arrive and I am currently stock), using the stock catback with a larger DP + HFC/TP will not only increase your power, but sound a bit nicer/louder too when you step on it. No drone at all. A full catback will be even louder (ie. Apr), but loud to you might be whisper quiet to someone else or vice versa.

[DrZEUS]

I run the RAI DP/HFC into the stock exhaust and I like it just fine. Most everything I've seen puts test pipe gains at 4 or 5 hp at most, with some cosmetic unpleasantness. Search for details.

Hows does the sound differ from stock setup? I can't wait for mine to come in!

[jl87]

I have the RAI HFC/DP combo on stock exhaust just like Sprode. The only time it is "louder" than stock is on a cold start until the RPM's drop, and during WOT. After the car is warm it sounds completely like stock when idle. If you listen with the windows down during acceleration the exhaust note changes to a deeper and almost diesel like tone, but it is extremely close to stock. There is no drone at all inside the cabin. Quality is amazing on the RAI DP/HFC and I don't think you would have any issues with degradation. Install is a little difficult and I would say use a lift.

As far as gains go, yes, you will yield higher gains with a HFC/TP and DP in addition to a full catback system; although, stats say that 90'ish % of the gains come from removing the stock cat. I plan on linking up the RAI HFC/DP to an APR exhaust soon and do not expect it do be droney at all. Hope this helps.

[Shanster]

This thread has me so fired up...I love it.

I have the RAI HFC/DP in my garage waiting for me to install it this weekend. All I have are ramps and I'm concerned I won't have enough space to angle the old DP (or new DP for that matter) enough to slide it out. Is a lift really necessary? I know it is ideal, but that might not be an option for me this weekend.

Any words of encouragement will be helpful lol. I'd hate to have this thing mostly undone only to find I have to put all the old parts back together

[DrZEUS]

I've heard the hardest part of this install is removing the stock dp/cat.

I for one am having a shop do it...can't be bothered killing myself trying to do it myself...besides, its getting cold here and I don't wanna freeze my cohones off doing it.

[staticuxo]

This thread has me so fired up...I love it.

I have the RAI HFC/DP in my garage waiting for me to install it this weekend. All I have are ramps and I'm concerned I won't have enough space to angle the old DP (or new DP for that matter) enough to slide it out. Is a lift really necessary? I know it is ideal, but that might not be an option for me this weekend.

Any words of encouragement will be helpful lol. I'd hate to have this thing mostly undone only to find I have to put all the old parts back together

you'll be fine.. i did mine in my drive way when i had my B7 A4. it wasn't bad at all.

on the other hand, removing the downpipes on my B7 S4 were MUCH more of a pain in the ass.. tight as hell and there's 2 of them.

[CorneliusRox]

This thread has me so fired up...I love it.

I have the RAI HFC/DP in my garage waiting for me to install it this weekend. All I have are ramps and I'm concerned I won't have enough space to angle the old DP (or new DP for that matter) enough to slide it out. Is a lift really necessary? I know it is ideal, but that might not be an option for me this weekend.

Any words of encouragement will be helpful lol. I'd hate to have this thing mostly undone only to find I have to put all the old parts back together

Well, if you get angry with it, take a hack saw to it. That's what I did on my last exhaust!

[A-BlacK_MambA-4]

I've heard the hardest part of this install is removing the stock dp/cat.

I for one am having a shop do it...can't be bothered killing myself trying to do it myself...besides, its getting cold here and I don't wanna freeze my cohones off doing it.

Check out my thread where I reviewed my install of the RAI Downpipe/Testpipe Combo on stock exhaust.. I love it and ohh there is a sound clip too if you need a better one let me know I have a nicer Canon dslr now that I can record a better video with.. As far as noise, what noise?? Stock until you open her up lol

Linky: http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php/432307-My-Official-RAI-TIP-Downpipe-w-Stock-Exhaust-Review...-**Pics-and-Video-Inside**

-Joel

[TFSI]

I just have 034 HFC to the stock exhaust and it's quiet.

[Shanster]

Well, if you get angry with it, take a hack saw to it. That's what I did on my last exhaust!

Fired up in a good way! lol I can't wait to get it in there (that's what she said)

[beantown]

Yup you'll definitely be happy with the results. I'm running the RAI/HFC combo on my stock exhaust and love it.

[SykoraA4]

Go with the RAI downpipe.

[flyingfish2626]

I just installed the RAI testpipe and the motor is still very quiet. Sounds a bit better in boost at higher RPM's, but still way too quiet for me.

[Jason84]

after listening to 1000 different youtube clips think I might go with the APR test pipe and do the exhaust after winter... I like the deeper tone.

[Shanster]

I'm sure you've seen this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJKDX61qV3I