OK...I'm starting a better V6 exhaust examples thread!!

[adz817]

Originally Posted by metthem

In October 2011 the price for DTS; burnt tips, was $899 shipped, and the N-11; slant tips was $799 shipped. The last time I got a price from those guys was in Feb 2012 and the price for the DTS was $989 plus $120 Shipping; $1109. He said they can't honor the October prices so I just bought a Magnaflow X, added that to my Flowmasters, all is good. I felt like, and I still do, if they could sell it for under $900 shipped in October, then they are just screwing me out of $200, 4 months later, and that was the "special C5" price. And let me add, the MSRP was the same in October as it was in Feb.
It is the resonated X that gets rid of the rasp, and you can get that for under $100. Magnaflows Part # 11386, you can get it at Summit racing amoung other places.
Don't get me wrong, the ARK is a very nice product but basically its a resonated x pipe with aftermarket mufflers, and bolt on polished piping. It is all beautiful where mine is kinda frankensteined but no-ones been under the car looking.

I think with the Magnaflow Res X pipe and the MRT 2, it would be a sound very very very close to the ARK DTS. It would not be as pretty tho; the magnaflow x needs to be welded to your existing pipes and they are not polished, but who is under your car looking???? Good luck with it.

here is a link to my youtube videos, I uploaded many with my exhaust as it was in progress. If you use headphones you can hear it pretty good. http://www.youtube.com/user/metthem88/videos

As you will see, the more you open up your exhaust, the raspier it gets; the more you need the resonated X-pipe. I don't have videos of just the Flowmasters, but it sounded pretty good, much better than stock, then I added the shortie headers, all I heard was the rasp. Then I added the Solo HFC's with resonated pipes and it got deeper but the rasp was still there. Then I added the X pipe and it got a little quieter, a little more refined sounding, deeper and no more metallic raspiness. It took a lot but the rasp ate at me every day.

How much do you think a Magnaflow X-pipe and MRT 2 would run, if I decided to go this combo instead of the ARK?

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by adz817

How much do you think a Magnaflow X-pipe and MRT 2 would run, if I decided to go this combo instead of the ARK?

100 for mag-X + 4 or 5 hundred for MRT 2.0 + installation costs.

So based on that I'd say 600 best case, to 800 worse case scenario. ARK would be 900 to a grand I'm thinking so you have to decide for yourself on which way to go.

[adz817]

Yeah I just need to decide which is going to give me the best deep sound with no rasp or drone. I'm going to be purchasing the cai and exhaust setup together so I know depending on the cai I go with, that will change the sound of the exhaust also... I don't think I will be going with LT or ST either. So its whatever sounds best with the cai/exhaust combo. Decisions decisions....

[adz817]

I have a "noob" question... When I take the exhaust system I ordered online to a local shop, what other charges should I expect? Also what should I looking for from the local shop to provide as far as service goes?

[metthem]

Originally Posted by adz817

How much do you think a Magnaflow X-pipe and MRT 2 would run, if I decided to go this combo instead of the ARK?

Around $450- $500 for the MRT, add $100 for the Magnaflow X, so $650 max. For the ARK, $1109

Originally Posted by adz817

I have a "noob" question... When I take the exhaust system I ordered online to a local shop, what other charges should I expect? Also what should I looking for from the local shop to provide as far as service goes?

You should expect just labor costs; for the mrt and x pipe, figure around $150 to install the MRT's, and around $85 to weld and install the X-Pipe.
Total price, with install, about $900

For the ARK, I would expect install to be around $150 total since the only thing involved is unbolting your stock exhaust and bolting up the ARK. With the MRT's they have to cut your pipes to 'fit' them.
Total price for the ARK, installed, $1250

Not sure what you mean by what the shop should provide as service? Some shops won't install parts that you didn't buy from them so I would look for a private muffler shop v/s a chain.

[Ryan2011RS]

Ordered my ARK DTS today. Special forum price $899 + $110 S/H. Total $1009. So not THAT bad.

[45anni-gen5]

Great thread huge help...decided ro go with the SLP loudmouth exhaust.....no mufflers for this guy

[KMPrenger]

Originally Posted by 45anni-gen5

Great thread huge help...decided ro go with the SLP loudmouth exhaust.....no mufflers for this guy

Glad to help

[SIXJAK]

Originally Posted by Ryan2011RS

Ordered my ARK DTS today. Special forum price $899 + $110 S/H. Total $1009. So not THAT bad.

Not bad at all. You will love them.

[Ryan2011RS]

Hopefully SIXJAK. Is it a nice deep tone? Dont have good speakers to tell lol. Should be here tomorow so once i get home from work i will be installing.!

[SIXJAK]

Originally Posted by Ryan2011RS

Hopefully SIXJAK. Is it a nice deep tone? Dont have good speakers to tell lol. Should be here tomorow so once i get home from work i will be installing.!

They sound nice and deep especially with LT's. They're not crazy loud, they just sound really good.

[adz817]

On the tips for the ARK DTS, was there little space between the plastic holes and the tips? Mine are really close, kind of worried the plastic might melt.

[Ryan2011RS]

Mine are close too. But no melting for me . Perfect fit

[Texas_RS]

Borla exhaust? Seriously think that this is straight piped; what do you guys think?