Extreme or Thermal exhaust???

[chicagoavenger]

I'm set on 1 of these but unsure which one. Well I was on Extreme Motorsports website and seen they have there catback for 498.00 vs the Thermal for 574.00. The upside on the Extreme is that it has an adapter to mate to your stock cat or a 3" cat/testpipe. The Thermal you would have to take it to weld a 3" flange once you upgrade but I hear the sound/performance is amazing from it. My Q is does the Extreme sound/perform like a Thermal? I'm thinking the Extreme is basically a Thermal but just cheaper and I guess a copy? I don't mean that in a bad way. Anyone have a Extreme exhaust if so how dos it sound? Thanks

 

[Blackmitzu]

Dont get the extreme exhaust. My freind has one and it looks awful. Also it does not fit right and sounds like crap. If i were you, spend the extra money and get the thermal, or get an hks hi-power like me. I love my hks exhaust, sounds great and looks cool too(comes out rear at diagonal).

 

[crunchymilk]

The thermal sounds great, but it's a bit tame for my taste. That's why I bought the N1 turbo-back, look into that.

Depending on your downpipe selection, the R&D may fit, keep that in mind.

 

['96_Talon_TSi]

First hand experience... I have a Thermal, and i love it. At idle its not much louder than stock, but is definetly deeper and more throaty, and when you get WOT it roars. Like i said, its nice and deep and super throaty at idle and WOT. I get compliments al the time from people, even muscle car guys, on the way it sounds.

I would definetly spring the extra cash for the thermal. Its 100% worth it.

 

[johnfsmith]

I got the Thermal and it's 3" but it had a 2.5" end that bolted right up to my stock converter, then when i upgraded to 3" DP and cat I cut the 2.5" part off and the 3" cat fit perfect.

 

[4gsx63]

Get Thermal R&D! I get compliments from alot of people on how it looks, sounds and performs. You can take the Thermal pipe section to an exhaust shop and have then cut the neck down part. Also have them enlarge the test pipe end to make slip-fit style. I have mine like this: BR 3" SS downpipe + 3" DP + 3" Thermal all SS and slip-fitted with the BR SS band clamps. At the track, you can easily remove the exhaust and testpipe and run just the straight DP in matters of minutes. I will upload some pics later if you'd like to see.

 

[Ho0ked]

96 Gst owner here

I've had the Extreme 3" cat-back for a couple months now.
I only have the cat-back, The rest of my exhaust is bone stock atm.
It went in perfectly, is built very well, sounds great ( had stock untill this).
The sound is deep and throughty, fairly mellow at idle, but straight ROARS underload/WOT

It appears to be a copy of the thermal, but the pipe is not stainless like the thermal, only the muffler is. looks wonderful.

It is a 2.5 neckdown which means where your cat bolts the pipe shrinks to 2.5" and has a flange to bolt directly to your stock cat. When you get a 3" DP you will have to cut off this neck down section and have a flange and possibly a short peice of 3" added.

This product looks good and fits perfectly on my 2g. Why spend $80 more, unless you want that "showcar" SS pipe section ?

On a side note, I personaly went to extreme since I live in northern Va. it was a short 1.5 hour drive. I was happy with there service, also got the bolts free

Ps. it has gotten louder over time, kind of anoying loud (resonates bad) with windows up at cruise, but with them down it sounds awsome. Again im in a 2g. your milleage may vary ,Hope this helps

 

[chicagoavenger]

Yes if you have some pics please post. Thanks for the 411 everyone. I'm pretty set on the Thermal or Extreme right now but it looks like Thermal. I have heard the N1 and IMO it's not deep. I plan on running a Megan DP cat delete.

 

[chicagoavenger]

96 Gst owner here

I've had the Extreme 3" cat-back for a couple months now.
I only have the cat-back, The rest of my exhaust is bone stock atm.
It went in perfectly, is built very well, sounds great ( had stock untill this).
The sound is deep and throughty, fairly mellow at idle, but straight ROARS underload/WOT

It appears to be a copy of the thermal, but the pipe is not stainless like the thermal, only the muffler is. looks wonderful.

It is a 2.5 neckdown which means where your cat bolts the pipe shrinks to 2.5" and has a flange to bolt directly to your stock cat. When you get a 3" DP you will have to cut off this neck down section and have a flange and possibly a short peice of 3" added.

This product looks good and fits perfectly on my 2g. Why spend $80 more, unless you want that "showcar" SS pipe section ?

On a side note, I personaly went to extreme since I live in northern Va. it was a short 1.5 hour drive. I was happy with there service, also got the bolts free

Ps. it has gotten louder over time, kind of anoying loud (resonates bad) with windows up at cruise, but with them down it sounds awsome. Again im in a 2g. your milleage may vary ,Hope this helps

Any vids by chance? Alot of the ones on the exhasut thread are no longer around.

 

[TSIfreek]

I beleive all Extremes catbacks are stainless thats why they are so expensive. I would go with the thermal.

 

[92TALONAWD]

All of the piping on Extreme's exhaust is Stainless it is just not polished. The flanges are mild steel however. Most exhausts that I have seen have all been this way, I don’t know the reason why they are like this.

 

[Kapok6]

Apexi N1

 

[chicagoavenger]

Apexi N1

I don't want to get into a debate on which cat-back out of the several dozen bunch out there . I'm pretty set on these two but more towards the Thermal now. N1 isn't even close to being a deep tone compared to the Thermal.

 

[LA97GST]

I have EM dp and hi-flo cat with a RandD cat back. I bought the catback with the optional resonator and it is very very very deep! The cat/resonator/muffler make this thing orgasmic sounding.

 

[chicagoavenger]

anyone have soundclips by chance?

 

[Generation X]

Thermal all the way. You will be happy! Heres a pic of mine.

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[Necromancer69]

i personally had extreme's full 3" turboback exhaust. and it sounded close to the same as my buddies thermal on his gsx on the highway at WOT also, the tip of extremes is smaller then the 5" thermal.

 

[4gsx63]

i personally had extreme's full 3" turboback exhaust. and it sounded close to the same as my buddies thermal on his gsx on the highway at WOT also, the tip of extremes is smaller then the 5" thermal.

Thermal doesn't have a 5" muffler tip.

 

[Generation X]

I think it's around 4"

 

[chicagoavenger]

So I see alot of people leaning toward the Thermal an there are a few with the Extreme. 1 says there was fitment another says there about the same. What other things about the Extreme that isn't good? Thanks for all the opinions keep them coming.

 

[LA97GST]

I say go with extreme and maybe the optional resonator for the added deepness. Great people to buy from. Good choice.

 

[Ho0ked]

Sorry no vid yet (just got digi camcorder couple days ago )

Sorry, yes the whole thing is stainless steel but only the can and tip are polished. On my 2g it looks just like the post of that guys thermal pic.

save the $ the Extreme is good bud
I droped $4000 on my car at once and am pushing close to 400whp atm. It's a good exhaust you won't be disapointed

btw I did NOT add any resonators to mine /shrug sounds great.

 

[xxbboygstxx]

I personally own the Thermal Research & Development 3" w/ RRE Downpipe and its great, sounds awesome and has a deep throaty sound to it, plus since im in CA not alot of dsm out here have it so i kinda wanted to be different. But Extreme sounds great

 

[johnfsmith]

I have a Thermal and my only complaint is that it's so deep i set off car alarms...