Question for those who did catback first then added downpipes later

[tadhgbrosnan]

What made a bigger impression: the initial install of just the catback or when you added the downpipes later on?

[S4J]

For me, most definitely DPs. I bought my Milltek resonated first, and it was just barely louder than stock and no perceived power gains. When I added the Milltek DPs, there was a definite sound and perceived power increase. If you are after power gains, you have to do DPs. If it's just sound you're after, then just do a non-res exhaust.

[beung]

Are the CATs on the S4 that restrictive?

After hear that, I may go with a DP and just replacing the stock mufflers to get some good numbers, not sure how restrictive the stock piping is, it's usually the cans that are the bottleneck.

[tadhgbrosnan]

I have a set of LaBree downpipes in the mail now. Brent finished them up today and I will have them Monday.

[bhvrdr]

From before and after dynos here, the catback seems to add some everywhere and the downpipes then add quite a bit more low end up to the mid range. IN that sense, you may actually not "feel" the catback as much because the gains look so linear and everywhere on the dyno whereas its easier to feel bumps that occur only some places in the rev range. They both make power. I was surprised the catbacks actually do something.

cheers! Mike

[iconoclast]

this is the first time ive heard of dp adding 'low end' to any NA car.

[beung]

What I have a hard time wrapping my head around is this.

Why would someone spend almost $2k for DPs + the headache or the price of install to gain 7-9 HP when you can spend $1200 for a catback system which you could probably do yourself or pay a shop to do it in less then an hour and gain 11-13 HP?

You could get a catback + chip all install and probably some money leftever for the price of the DPs. I can see if they gave you such great gains but they give less then a catback by itself let alone the power gains of a catback and chip.

[Stormin]

Because (with your #'s) a full system, plus the chip = 35-40HP.

[beung]

Because (with your #'s) a full system, plus the chip = 35-40HP.

Actually a quote from the AWE website:

(Above) Here is our complete cat back/downpipe system vs the bone stock exhaust. Gains are broad and very significant across the powerband. This combo produces peak gains of 18.1 wheel hp and 18.6 wheel tq. Using a 1.28 correction factor, this results in a massive gain of 23.2 crank hp and 23.8 crank tq. A gain you can truly feel!

What sets Flashloader apart from the competition is that it is loaded with the best software on the market: GIAC. On the B6 S4, the pump gas chip all over the US has repeatedly produced 18-19 crank hp and 18-19 ftlbs of torque at the crank on 92+ octane (91 octane figures slightly lower), with zero pinging and perfect drivability.

18 wheel HP or 23 crank HP for the full system and 18 crank HP from the chip is a total of 33 wheel HP or 42 crank. I am not saying if the numbers are true but if I had $2k to spend I know it wouldn't be on just the DPs becasue the catback ($1200) and chip ($600) is less then just the DPs ($1900) yet gives you 4 time more power gains then just the DPs.

[Stormin]

Right, but for these cars there isn't a whole lot out there...

42HP makes you faster than a majority of B6/7's on the road. That extra nine horsepower is the difference, and while not a lot, it's enough to top you out over the competition.

[beung]

Right, but for these cars there isn't a whole lot out there...

42HP makes you faster than a majority of B6/7's on the road. That extra nine horsepower is the difference, and while not a lot, it's enough to top you out over the competition.

I can completely understand if you were going to drop $5k to get it all, then it makes no difference which you buy first since you are more then likely going to order all 3 at the same time but if you are going to buy one of them, wait then buy another piece and then another and so on, I would buy the DPs last considering they are the most expensive but give you the smallest gains. Actually it would probably be some custom tune work to maybe squeeze out the last 2-3 HP out of you specific combo of go fast parts.

Even as "high end" and expensive as this car is not everyone who owns on can afford to drop $5k on one shot. Plus when you buy in stages, you can build up the fix between purchases. If you buy it all at once, you have nothing left to research and look forward to buying

[Stormin]

I guess that perspective makes sense... I'm just buying it all at the same time... For my B5.

My B7 is being left stock.

[i_eat_staples]

wouldnt do dp's for the performance gain on the 4.2, would do it for the sound and sound alone

[tadhgbrosnan]

What I have a hard time wrapping my head around is this.

Why would someone spend almost $2k for DPs + the headache or the price of install to gain 7-9 HP when you can spend $1200 for a catback system which you could probably do yourself or pay a shop to do it in less then an hour and gain 11-13 HP?

You could get a catback + chip all install and probably some money leftever for the price of the DPs. I can see if they gave you such great gains but they give less then a catback by itself let alone the power gains of a catback and chip.

Honestly, I am doing it for the sound. If it improves the performance of the car, that's a bonus. Ever since I saw/heard the youtube clips of the LaBree/FI fullback cars, I wanted one. And just a non-res catback doesn't match the big sound the aftermarket DPs adds. In terms of value, it's not a sensible purchase but nothing about these cars represents good value anyway.

[Stormin]

Honestly, I am doing it for the sound. If it improves the performance of the car, that's a bonus. Ever since I saw/heard the youtube clips of the LaBree/FI fullback cars, I wanted one. And just a non-res catback doesn't match the big sound the aftermarket DPs adds. In terms of value, it's not a sensible purchase but nothing about these cars represents good value anyway.

(emphasis added)

LOL...

For sure, but I love every second of it ...

[s4for5]

Considering the same upgrade as yourself.
Who are you going to use to install the DP's ?
I am near Boston also
Thanks

[37doc]

the DP's make a bigger first impression, than the CB's . Takes about 4 hours to install if you have a lift, Id rather do DP's than the snub mount simply for the fact of taking the bumper on and off, not that its hard, I just dont enjoy it.

[iamproph]

I am going to get the full APR exhaust with downpipes and catback, throw in the APR chip, H&R lowering springs and a K&N filter. All together it is less than 5k installed. But looking at other prices, APR seems really cheap. For $2289 for the downpipes and catback from APR, I am worried that I am going to get what I pay for, or do people here have first hand experience of the APR products quality and longivity, any help would be awsome, sorry if thread jack!