Deep(er) Exhale

"Tekamul" (tekamulburner) 11/02/2020 at 16:15 • Filed to: None

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Photo: ME!!

After seven years of VT weather and road maintenance, the stock exhaust on my FR-S has become pretty rough. Time for an upgrade!

I replaced from the cat back, with something that should last longer. Something shinier. Something a little louder. A Corsa Sport with Black PVD tips.

It was a good opportunity to get the snows on, too. Just in time for the snow.

Photo: ME!!

BUT

I’m feeling more and more like my time with the FR-S will end in the Spring. The unnecessary car shopping has really been peaking lately, and I think I’m changing to a drop top once the Winter is behind me (a great plan in November, I realize).

VincentMalamute-Kim > Tekamul 11/02/2020 at 16:21

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Nice. Very shiny.  Although the old one looks fine for 7 yrs of salt.

Jb boin > Tekamul 11/02/2020 at 16:30

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We don’t have the same definition of pretty rough but an aftermarket exhaust does not need an excuse to be fitted :)

Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast > Tekamul 11/02/2020 at 16:33

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Nice! V id of the new exhaust sound?

krustywantout > Tekamul 11/02/2020 at 16:47

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Keep the FRS especially after you just invested in an exhaust. Get a motorcycle if you think you want a convertible. I live just south of you in Western MA and there are very few days we can comfortably enjoy a convertible. Plus, convertibles have poor stiffness that you will notice. I have a 1965 Oldsmobile 98 convertible and had a 2007 M6 6speed convertible and both were great with the top down but very few days to enjoy the experience . You will always know that the car is a convertible when it creaks and flexes no matter how well the chassis is reinforced . Maybe a hardtop convertible like the 3 series could work especially in the winte; I’d be concerned with snow damaging a soft top . Just my .02 cents.

Tekamul > krustywantout 11/02/2020 at 16:58

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I’ve got bikes. My intention is to enjoy some roads with kids in tow, without a roof. I ap preciate t he concerns though. A rigid roof shell for the Winter would probably be a must. 

Tekamul > VincentMalamute-Kim 11/02/2020 at 16:59

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The rust was about all that was keeping it together at the joints. I actually had to spend about an hour grinding the flange the new exhaust hooked u p to, after it initially leaked.  Even then, a dab of exhaust RTV was needed.

Tekamul > Jb boin 11/02/2020 at 17:00

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You could feel the exhaust puffing out a bit at the joints. Come June, I’d be out of luck for a sticker. 

Tekamul > Danimalk - Drives a Slow Car Fast 11/02/2020 at 17:01

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Don’t have one, should get one.  The cold start is extra rough (it even comes with a notice in the paper work that it’s rough). But after that it sounds pretty great for a 2 liter. 

MM54 > Tekamul 11/02/2020 at 17:28

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Oh no the new one is backwards!

That’s a cool upgrade though! I think 7 years on a stock not-stainless exhaust is pretty good for a year-round car, at least around here.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > krustywantout 11/02/2020 at 23:13

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“ in Western MA and there are very few days we can comfortably enjoy a convertible.”

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Tekamul 11/03/2020 at 07:12

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Other than wanting a convertible, any issues with the FRS? I still like my GTI, but when I think about what might be a replacement I think of a BRZ although with mods to get the engine to act better.

Tekamul > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 11/03/2020 at 07:40

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No issues, really. Anything that has come up has been ni t picky. The fuel pump wants non ethanol, unless you want to hear it chirp. The idle can dip occasionally after hard runs. The radio is trash.

Bu t if you want more out of the motor, it requires real work. It needs forced induction to do much. 

LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com > Tekamul 11/03/2020 at 08:11

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Glad to hear that the issues for you are relatively minor.

I understand that replacing the headers helps with the torque dip, and reflashing the ECU can remove it entirely. That torque dip is my main issue with the car, but I’m trying to keep my car-buying impulses at bay by lazily shopping for rare examples that are also already supercharged.

Then I’d just need to plug the hole in the firewall and maybe add sound-deadening since there was entirely too much engine noise in the cabin. I like everything else about the car. (I don’t remember an issue with the radio, but maybe the BRZ has something better in it than your FR-S.)

Tekamul > LimitedTimeOnly @ opposite-lock.com 11/03/2020 at 10:36

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Yes, a header (still equal length) and reflash can fix the torque dip. As for the whole in the fire wall, the easiest fix is supplied by the factory. The hole in the passenger footwell is the exact size to be plugged by the 12V socket cover from the center console. Mine went there on day 1, and I never looked back.

VincentMalamute-Kim > Tekamul 11/03/2020 at 12:12

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ah. None of that came through in the photo.  I see other Oppos were fooled.

Tekamul > VincentMalamute-Kim 11/03/2020 at 12:22

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It’s the same problem I’ve had in the past. I could get a shop to cut the flanges off and weld on new ones and it would be fine, but this was a good chance for an upgrade.

If the cat flange didn’t seal, that was my route.