Noob question. I'm looking at having my first mods installed on my '06 Ralliart; an Injen CAI (because it's 2-piece and winters are cold where I am) and a Magnaflow exhaust. I don't plan on making many other mods (at least in the near term) and I was wondering whether an axelback would be sufficient or if a catback is actually worth twice the price (installed)?

Thanks.

 

For what you are planning to do with the car, which seems to be minor upgrades, you should be fine with just an axleback.

 

That's about what I figured. What are the chief benefits of the catback vs. the axelback? Also, are there any other entry level mods I should be considering seeing as I don't race and I just want to personalize a little.

 

you arent going to be able to tell the difference on the butt dyno and you dont have a race car so i would go axleback if i was u

 

but if u had a bunch of mods and even a turbo, the catback then would make a difference? i thought that the piping for the RAs were sufficient enough that u didnt need the catback.

 

cat back doesnt make that much of a difference peformance wise (you still the cat) but when you do a full exhaust (tbe) you can tell for sure but on your cars that is probally one of the only significant mods power wise exept turbo but if you not going to do a turbo and go ***** to the walls w/ the ra i dont think its worth it just get something that looks good and save some money

 

Another good entry level mod is RRM / Joes underdrive pully.

 

Thanks for the advice. I have an axelback and CAI waiting to be installed and my UD pulley is in the mail (I hope). Should I be considering a resonator with that exhaust? I want more of a deep purr, not a loud bark.

 

There is a resonator already in line on the stock exhaust. The axelback should give you a nice tone. Coupled with the CAI, you will really hear it when in MIVEC.

 

Sounds cool
I was planning on the catback... but axel is cheaper and thats the major factor at the moment
was thinking when i get around to it, the muffler, pod filter... fuzzy dice :P

 

I think that you could go axleback and have no regrets, you can also change the cat itself to a high flow cat. The only exhaust problem with our cars from what i've read are with the downpipe and manifold. Most people that do catback are going turbo.

 

Exhaust and CAI were installed last Friday. Car sounds great. Thanks for the advice. I'm putting the pulley in this weekend.

 

What kind of axelback did you use ?

 

I had a Magnaflow axelback installed.

I installed the RRM pulley today and so far I love it. The splash guards weren't nearly as hard to get off as I'd been lead to believe, but the tensioner was a pain in the ***. Is there some trick to it that I just didn't get?

 

^^^ you just put a socket head in the square hole and turn, I don't remember it being much of a problem?!