2.5" or 3" exhaust

[BigRb247]

Hey guys, I have a 94 Talon Tsi AWD, and i am buying an exhaust soon, and i was just wondering, should i go with the 2.5" or the 3". I have heard its better to save and go with the 3", but I am on a tight budget.
Thanks

 

[herostar]

3"

it'll only cost like 20 bucks more if you get it made at a local shop. That's what I did. It cost 350 for my full exhaust including muffler/resonator/flexpipe. It's all mandrel bent.

 

[Zex4g63]

Go 3". Better now then have to upgrade later.

 

[jbillakdsm]

Ok, what are your intentions with the car? If you don't plan on going under 11 seconds, there is no need for a 3" exhaust. An extra 1/2" isn't going to save you if you have no idea how to tune your car or you don't want to spend the money on supporting mods to use a 3" exhaust. Save the extra money and use it towards sonething else. Besides, putting a 3" on the stock manifold and O2 housing is only going to give you mad boost creep till you port everything and do something about the crappy wastegate.

If you decide to get it bent at a local shop, make sure you know the guy who is going to be bending it b/c there will be some trial and error. DO NOT buy an exhaust from D. Reed in Akron OH. He's been reported to the feds for fraud. I would suggest RnR's system. I just put it on my 92 Tsi and I'm impressed with the quality and sound.

 

[larryd]

Depends on your goals. But 3" is definitely better and IMHO worth the difference in price.

 

[BigRb247]

Originally posted by larryd
Depends on your goals. But 3" is definitely better and IMHO worth the difference in price.

Thanks guys

 

[doug]

Originally posted by jbillakdsm
Ok, what are your intentions with the car? If you don't plan on going under 11 seconds, there is no need for a 3" exhaust. An extra 1/2" isn't going to save you if you have no idea how to tune your car or you don't want to spend the money on supporting mods to use a 3" exhaust. Save the extra money and use it towards sonething else.

You're my hero! I vote this the best advice so far in this thread....

 

[herostar]

Originally posted by jbillakdsm
Save the extra money and use it towards sonething else. Besides, putting a 3" on the stock manifold and O2 housing is only going to give you mad boost creep till you port everything and do something about the crappy wastegate.

not to start a flame war but...

First: If he's getting it done at a local shop it MIGHT be 20 bucks more to get 3", probably less (for me it was $18)
Second: I ran a full 3" exhaust on my BIG28 (unported unclipped) on a stock manifold and stock o2 housing @ 15 psi for a long time and got zero boost creep whatsoever, never once! It varies from car to car.

 

[PSIcho]

Not to steal the thread or anything but ... Has anybody gone from a 2 1/2'' to 3'' exhaust, with no other mods added, and noticed a big difference?

I got a 60mm HKS exhaust and like it alot (sounds stock & looks of a sleeper), but only cuz I got it for $80 used. I'm going with a 20G or T3/T4 50 trim and wondering if this would suffice for a daily driver on pump gas. I would switch over to 3'' if there would be noticeable difference.

 

[WhipmastaFlex]

Originally posted by doug

You're my hero! I vote this the best advice so far in this thread....

there doug goes again, preaching the 2.5"

 

[Talonryda17]

Go 3" i went with the 2.5" custom cat back and i regret it save up the cash and do a 3" turbo back

 

[jbillakdsm]

I agree that creep varies from car to car, but from what I've seen, the 1g is terrible when it comes to developing boost creep.

 

[doug]

Originally posted by PSIcho
Not to steal the thread or anything but ... Has anybody gone from a 2 1/2'' to 3'' exhaust, with no other mods added, and noticed a big difference?

I would like to know this as well. No kidding.

 

[Stock Josh]

You have more bottom end to midrange torque with the 2.5 inch. The car will pull harder after 6200 with the 3 inch, but will give up a little bottom end. People that say they are unhappy with their 2.5 inch..... why? What is pushing you to change? On a street car you need that power in the midrange anyway, most of the stock components work around the mid range power to begin with. I have a full 2.5 inch turbo back system with a stock 1st gen 02 housing. I live at 4200 ft elevation and have ran 12.01 @ 118 mph. This is a full weight ( 3300lbs ) street car with stock cams.

Stock Josh