Why so much?
Thread Starter
Cruising
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Why so much?
As i have stated before im new to vettes and i dont have much money to put in mods. Im looking for a cat back that is lighter than stock and pretty loud but i cant seem to find any for less than $900 i like the look of bullets but to me it should not cost that much for that exhaust but it might just be me.
Pro
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 734
Likes: 0
From: Fishers Indiana
Originally Posted by Timothywrx
As i have stated before im new to vettes and i dont have much money to put in mods. Im looking for a cat back that is lighter than stock and pretty loud but i cant seem to find any for less than $900 i like the look of bullets but to me it should not cost that much for that exhaust but it might just be me.
I feel your pain. Before I graduated, I was barely able to pay for the C5, let alone mod it. I actually put dual cut-outs on the car. It was absolutely the loudest, meanest sounding car I've ever owned. But the noise wasn't just outside the car. The resonance was so bad within I could hardly stand it at times. But I only had about $250 in it. 50 a piece for the cut-outs and 150 at midas to weld them in.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 3,398
Likes: 2
From: Allentown PA
Cat backs for Corvettes are a complete rip off. I'd save my money if I were you, there is no HP to gain, only noise. Save up a couple of hundred more and get headers. You car will get louder an you will gain performance.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 3
From: Goleta California
If you just want a nice rumble buy a set of Magnaflow 14336 mufflers you can get them on ebay for 120 to 160 a pair. Have a good muffler shop install them re-using you stock tips, they will charge you about 150, so your total is less than 300 bucks. The stock tips can be cut off so that they are acutally 2 3/8 O.D. which minimizes restriction at that point (after market tips run 50 or 60 each). I suggest you go to a vette meet or club and take a listen to what people are using. I went the Magnaflow route and I like the sound!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,566
Likes: 2
From: Goleta CA
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Couple hundred more? You can get the bullets for $800 shipped right now (there's a GP going on), a set of long tubes will cost about twice as much!
Hey achilds, was that you I saw on the freeway last night?
Hey achilds, was that you I saw on the freeway last night?
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Silver Spring Maryland
If the stock tips weren't so small and out of place looking on the car, I would have saved the money. I got a catback for the look just as much as the better sound.
After the Corvette-specific stuff like headers, catbacks, and air cleaners, the big power mods are at least pretty generic, so there isn't as much Corvette-tax
After the Corvette-specific stuff like headers, catbacks, and air cleaners, the big power mods are at least pretty generic, so there isn't as much Corvette-tax
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 7,457
Likes: 144
From: NC
Don't buy them new. From personal experience, used cat backs are worth about half of their retail value and can certainly be had for that. I know, I have sold a few sets for that. This leads me to my second point of never buying new, you will find that it is pretty hard to find the "right" exhaust for your tastes. Many people like myself go through many sets. If you buy new, and it is not to your liking, you lose. If you bought the set used, you are likely only out the shipping cause you can flip them and try another set. Just keep looking. Exhausts pop up on here all the time. Beware though that I am yet to see a set where anyone has really been able to claim significant power boosts. The car breathes really well from the factory.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 10,399
Likes: 25
From: Austin Texas
I think the reason for the high prices for 10 feet of 2.5" tubing and 2 mufflers w/tips is a combination of retailers greed, development costs and the attitude that Corvette owners are rich and always want the newest and latest mods.
Look at the profit pyramid; The designer/engineer has to get make $, the material supplier has to make $, the manufacturer makes $, the shipping costs $ and the retailer makes $.
Lots of profit for lots of people. Thats how 2 mufflers that cost the manufacturer 25$ each and 10 feet of tubing that costs $20 ends up at $1100.
Look at the profit pyramid; The designer/engineer has to get make $, the material supplier has to make $, the manufacturer makes $, the shipping costs $ and the retailer makes $.
Lots of profit for lots of people. Thats how 2 mufflers that cost the manufacturer 25$ each and 10 feet of tubing that costs $20 ends up at $1100.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 615
Likes: 0
From: Boston MA
Originally Posted by CYA-Vett
Cat backs for Corvettes are a complete rip off. I'd save my money if I were you, there is no HP to gain, only noise. Save up a couple of hundred more and get headers. You car will get louder an you will gain performance.
That is what I did and it is not too loud that I dont want to drive it.
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 36,473
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From: FLA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
Originally Posted by CYA-Vett
Cat backs for Corvettes are a complete rip off. I'd save my money if I were you, there is no HP to gain, only noise. Save up a couple of hundred more and get headers. You car will get louder an you will gain performance.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 36,024
Likes: 2,510
From: ...tearing up the highways, one state at a time™®©
Originally Posted by Timothywrx
As i have stated before im new to vettes and i dont have much money to put in mods. Im looking for a cat back that is lighter than stock and pretty loud but i cant seem to find any for less than $900 i like the look of bullets but to me it should not cost that much for that exhaust but it might just be me.
for a set of MUFFLERS - not even a cat back - not even stainless...Money went into the idea they were direct fit vs. any 'ol muffler bought that *could* fit
Was that the "Corvette tax" at work or, was I paying for the hard work that a company put into the design of that muffler setup??
Either way, the mufflers are still on the car - 17 years later
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 5,774
Likes: 0
From: Loganville GA
Originally Posted by cerino2000
Don't buy them new.
I bought my magnaflow mufflers used from a member on here, with tips already welded on, just had to bolt in, and paid $150. Just keep an eye on the classifieds.
btw, the drone greatly reduces with magnaflows after they fully break in.