Straight Pipes...who's got 'em and are they worth it?

If they are, how do you pass Smog? Thnx

 

Not sure if your idea of Straight Pipe means cat-delete too. In either case, you wouldn't pass Smog in the state I'm in. Even if you keep the cat, there's also a dB level test with Smog.

Of course I'd like to change my exhaust, and on the cheap too. I'll do the One Ball mod probably next month.

 

Straight pipes in Cali, good luck with that. Even if its off the cat you still have the noise level checks. If you somehow make it past that, deaf inspector, you will get pulled over and cited in short time.

 

I currently have straight pipes (post cat) but I do not need to pass smog tests where im from.
Sounds amazing and I suggest you do it if you really want a loud a$$ exhaust.

If you need to pass a dB level check I would suggest getting a electrical exhaust flap (http://quicktimeperformance.com/QTEC/) that you could control from the inside of your car ... we near a cop or at a test, simply close/open it

 

YIKES! Cali is the one place you don't want to live if you really want to do straight pipes. but you can get away with it. What you should do is keep the cat-forward stock (the cat to the engine/headers) and run a straight pipe directly from the cat-back (from the cat to the exhaust). But you live in Cali so dB is an issue for you. So right after the cat have a custom resonator right after it then run a 3inch stainless steel straight pipe directly from the resonator. You should do good. and I've seen people have custom straight pipes where they can put on or take off a muffler on the go. idk how they do that, but its something to consider of you are somewhere and cant be too loud.

 

On a track car, sure! On a daily driver, I don't think it's a good idea. Straight pipe with no cat will be loud. I'm not a greenpeace guy or anything, but on a street car, you should have a cat, the gains can't justify it in my opinion. Pretty sure a lot of high HP Minis on here still use one. I'm currently running a ''straight'' exhaust (battery box removed and exhaust is straight from the cat to the muffler. No resonator for the moment with a Dynomax VT with the valve removed and it's a bit too loud and raspy for my taste, so imagine without a cat. Then again, it's your car and your money!

 

Thanks for the replies guys, I guess i'll stick with getting a catback for now.