i have a panamera turbo with techart exhaust, doesnt sound crisp enuff. was thinking of ordering the fabspeed 200 cell pipes which would then be connected to the techart exhaust. should i do this or no?? i've spent 4500 on the techart exhaust and the fabspeed is gonna run me another 1300 i think. Or should i get my resonator deleted instead, does anyone know if a resonator delete would lead to droning?

 

Brian, the 200 cell down pipes unless used go for almost $3000. The straight pipes - no cats, might go for $1300. Please check on that.

The resonators removal will almost 100% lead to some drone. Not worth it on my opinion. If I'm not mistaken the 200 cats will add a little runt, the straight pipes for sure will add more, but you will not pass smog inspection.

Exhaust notes are so hard to judge from samples on their websites, that they should offer some kind of money back guaranteed. This is all manufacturers.

 

when I was looking into cats my local dealer recommended FVD, they cost roughly $3500. But what's going to kill you is the install - I was told they have to drop the transmission to install them and that process wasn't cheap. Rhonda at FVD said changing the cats will make the exhaust louder and changing the mufflers (like you did with techart) will typically change the tone. So if you like the way it sounds, but want it louder seems like this would be the way to go. I think it's nuts that an exhaust system for these cars costs $5000-$6000 it's the same amount of metal used on a camaro or mustang for 5 times the price!

 

I have the cats and x-pipe. Installed myself and it sounds great. no drone at all. No need to drop the transmission to install. it shouldn't cost no more than 700 to get them installed.

 

Brian the Maxflo 200 cell HJS Sportcats that we manufacture are a direct replacement for the OEM units, and you do not have to drop the transmission (this is 5-7 hour install). The 200 cell Sportcats will dramatically improve the exhaust tone, but you may have issues with resonance/drone as this is subjective. The Sportcats retail for $2,995, and the X-Pipe resonator bypass is $1,495. The resonator bypass X-Pipe will be a better choice as the install is simple and this piece will fit with the Techart rear mufflers.

Tony did you install the Sportcats and X-Pipe with the stock mufflers? Last year we installed the full package and when the PDK would upshift into a tall gear, you can experience resonance and drone. This did not bother the customer nor myself, but we all know that drone is subjective from one to the other.

 

Tony, did you cut and solder back up? Or is the OEM system divided in sections where you just unscrew and screw back in? I'm asking this as I'm about to go catless and was wondering if I could do it myself...