Top Speed Exhaust Installed
01-23-14, 06:22 PM
#1
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
Top Speed Exhaust Installed
I have to admit...I'm pleasantly surprised by this exhaust. I wasn't expecting much.....because of the price and because of some of the review here. But I must say...for $360 shipped, this is a very nice piece. I called Top Speed directly before I ordered and asked a few questions. They said their quality has improved since the early exhausts they sold, and I had nothing to worry about.
So I ordered it and received it today...3 days shipping from Texas to MI. The exhaust was expertly packed, and the entire exhaust was wrapped in bubble wrap. The exhaust also included all the hardware and gaskets, plus a set of removable silencers. I inspected the welds closely. They looked fine. Not as immaculate as the welds on my wife's Tanabe Touring on her IS, but just fine nonetheless. Install was a breeze. It literally took me 1/2 hour to install. Better yet, everything lined up perfectly. The exhaust tips lined up dead center to my bumper cut-outs. I know this was an issue with some of their exhausts, but perhaps their quality has improved? I had no issues with fitment.
Surface finish is fine...not as spectacular as the Tanabe. But no worse than the Magnaflow I had on my IS350....maybe even a touch better. For me, it loses marks because of the lack of a rolled tip. I think it would look classier, and wouldn't push the price up too much. I think they should consider this.
The sound. The sound is, in a word, fantastic! Again..some have complained that it's loud. But I don't find this at all. Sure it's loud compared to a box stock Lexus. But it's no unreasonable or insane, and sounds like a proper V8 should. A nice, deep burble at idle. And a nice V8 wail at WFO. I reminds me a bit of the sound of an Audi S4 V8 on full boil. Same type of sound. I also experienced no annoying drone. I think there may be the slightest...tiniest drone. Maybe. But not enough for me to say "This exhaust drones". I think it sounds great. And if one did have sound issues, you could pop the silencers in and I suspect the car would be every bit as quiet as stock. It's not much louder than stock...if at all...when I'm just cruising. I even forgot I had a new exhaust until I accelerated from a stop.
I have to say...I'm rather pleased with the purchase. I could say "This is a good exhaust for $360", but I'm going to say this is good exhaust, period. It exceeded my expectations, which means it's a better exhaust than what you're paying for it IMO.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend one to someone else. And will consider them for an exhaust for any other car that may need one.
http://www.topspeedauto.com/index.ph...product_id=761
So I ordered it and received it today...3 days shipping from Texas to MI. The exhaust was expertly packed, and the entire exhaust was wrapped in bubble wrap. The exhaust also included all the hardware and gaskets, plus a set of removable silencers. I inspected the welds closely. They looked fine. Not as immaculate as the welds on my wife's Tanabe Touring on her IS, but just fine nonetheless. Install was a breeze. It literally took me 1/2 hour to install. Better yet, everything lined up perfectly. The exhaust tips lined up dead center to my bumper cut-outs. I know this was an issue with some of their exhausts, but perhaps their quality has improved? I had no issues with fitment.
Surface finish is fine...not as spectacular as the Tanabe. But no worse than the Magnaflow I had on my IS350....maybe even a touch better. For me, it loses marks because of the lack of a rolled tip. I think it would look classier, and wouldn't push the price up too much. I think they should consider this.
The sound. The sound is, in a word, fantastic! Again..some have complained that it's loud. But I don't find this at all. Sure it's loud compared to a box stock Lexus. But it's no unreasonable or insane, and sounds like a proper V8 should. A nice, deep burble at idle. And a nice V8 wail at WFO. I reminds me a bit of the sound of an Audi S4 V8 on full boil. Same type of sound. I also experienced no annoying drone. I think there may be the slightest...tiniest drone. Maybe. But not enough for me to say "This exhaust drones". I think it sounds great. And if one did have sound issues, you could pop the silencers in and I suspect the car would be every bit as quiet as stock. It's not much louder than stock...if at all...when I'm just cruising. I even forgot I had a new exhaust until I accelerated from a stop.
I have to say...I'm rather pleased with the purchase. I could say "This is a good exhaust for $360", but I'm going to say this is good exhaust, period. It exceeded my expectations, which means it's a better exhaust than what you're paying for it IMO.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend one to someone else. And will consider them for an exhaust for any other car that may need one.
http://www.topspeedauto.com/index.ph...product_id=761
01-23-14, 08:01 PM
#2
I have to admit...I'm pleasantly surprised by this exhaust. I wasn't expecting much.....because of the price and because of some of the review here. But I must say...for $360 shipped, this is a very nice piece. I called Top Speed directly before I ordered and asked a few questions. They said their quality has improved since the early exhausts they sold, and I had nothing to worry about.
So I ordered it and received it today...3 days shipping from Texas to MI. The exhaust was expertly packed, and the entire exhaust was wrapped in bubble wrap. The exhaust also included all the hardware and gaskets, plus a set of removable silencers. I inspected the welds closely. They looked fine. Not as immaculate as the welds on my wife's Tanabe Touring on her IS, but just fine nonetheless. Install was a breeze. It literally took me 1/2 hour to install. Better yet, everything lined up perfectly. The exhaust tips lined up dead center to my bumper cut-outs. I know this was an issue with some of their exhausts, but perhaps their quality has improved? I had no issues with fitment.
Surface finish is fine...not as spectacular as the Tanabe. But no worse than the Magnaflow I had on my IS350....maybe even a touch better. For me, it loses marks because of the lack of a rolled tip. I think it would look classier, and wouldn't push the price up too much. I think they should consider this.
The sound. The sound is, in a word, fantastic! Again..some have complained that it's loud. But I don't find this at all. Sure it's loud compared to a box stock Lexus. But it's no unreasonable or insane, and sounds like a proper V8 should. A nice, deep burble at idle. And a nice V8 wail at WFO. I reminds me a bit of the sound of an Audi S4 V8 on full boil. Same type of sound. I also experienced no annoying drone. I think there may be the slightest...tiniest drone. Maybe. But not enough for me to say "This exhaust drones". I think it sounds great. And if one did have sound issues, you could pop the silencers in and I suspect the car would be every bit as quiet as stock. It's not much louder than stock...if at all...when I'm just cruising. I even forgot I had a new exhaust until I accelerated from a stop.
I have to say...I'm rather pleased with the purchase. I could say "This is a good exhaust for $360", but I'm going to say this is good exhaust, period. It exceeded my expectations, which means it's a better exhaust than what you're paying for it IMO.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend one to someone else. And will consider them for an exhaust for any other car that may need one.
http://www.topspeedauto.com/index.ph...product_id=761
So I ordered it and received it today...3 days shipping from Texas to MI. The exhaust was expertly packed, and the entire exhaust was wrapped in bubble wrap. The exhaust also included all the hardware and gaskets, plus a set of removable silencers. I inspected the welds closely. They looked fine. Not as immaculate as the welds on my wife's Tanabe Touring on her IS, but just fine nonetheless. Install was a breeze. It literally took me 1/2 hour to install. Better yet, everything lined up perfectly. The exhaust tips lined up dead center to my bumper cut-outs. I know this was an issue with some of their exhausts, but perhaps their quality has improved? I had no issues with fitment.
Surface finish is fine...not as spectacular as the Tanabe. But no worse than the Magnaflow I had on my IS350....maybe even a touch better. For me, it loses marks because of the lack of a rolled tip. I think it would look classier, and wouldn't push the price up too much. I think they should consider this.
The sound. The sound is, in a word, fantastic! Again..some have complained that it's loud. But I don't find this at all. Sure it's loud compared to a box stock Lexus. But it's no unreasonable or insane, and sounds like a proper V8 should. A nice, deep burble at idle. And a nice V8 wail at WFO. I reminds me a bit of the sound of an Audi S4 V8 on full boil. Same type of sound. I also experienced no annoying drone. I think there may be the slightest...tiniest drone. Maybe. But not enough for me to say "This exhaust drones". I think it sounds great. And if one did have sound issues, you could pop the silencers in and I suspect the car would be every bit as quiet as stock. It's not much louder than stock...if at all...when I'm just cruising. I even forgot I had a new exhaust until I accelerated from a stop.
I have to say...I'm rather pleased with the purchase. I could say "This is a good exhaust for $360", but I'm going to say this is good exhaust, period. It exceeded my expectations, which means it's a better exhaust than what you're paying for it IMO.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy another or recommend one to someone else. And will consider them for an exhaust for any other car that may need one.
http://www.topspeedauto.com/index.ph...product_id=761
01-24-14, 04:29 PM
#4
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
If I want fast, I jump in a different car.
GS just gets me through the winter and lousy weather.
01-24-14, 04:41 PM
#6
I wasn't after any (or expecting) performance gains...and I sure didn't lose anything in performance at the same time. At 420,000kms, the OEM mufflers and Y pipe had started to perforate with rust. I priced out a couple of Magnaflows with rolled tips..but those installed cost more than this entire exhaust set-up...and I still would have needed a Y pipe.
If I want fast, I jump in a different car.
GS just gets me through the winter and lousy weather.
If I want fast, I jump in a different car.
GS just gets me through the winter and lousy weather.
tho i like the aggressive look and sound the car takes on after this exhaust, in my opinion the better choice is axle back or 60mm piping cat-back.
01-27-14, 06:33 PM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Thread Starter
The point is not the Supra nor the 911 nor wether you want o go fast. Their are many threads on optimal piping for the GS4. and that pipe size is not one of them..
tho i like the aggressive look and sound the car takes on after this exhaust, in my opinion the better choice is axle back or 60mm piping cat-back.
tho i like the aggressive look and sound the car takes on after this exhaust, in my opinion the better choice is axle back or 60mm piping cat-back.
Do tell about the massive HP and TQ loss I'll be suffering vs.stock with these pipes. I'm all ears...
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