Borla full catback review: clearing up misconceptions
However, to keep the lady happy and avoid the eye of the police, I put electronic valves inline as sound suppressors.
agree wholeheartedly, which is why I too went Borla True Dual exhaust... JoeZ & ISS are nice quality pieces as well... if you are going Borla... order from 21st Century in Florida... they are some 30% cheaper than anywhere else, and had in stock when I purchased mine last year.
Couldn't be happier a year later... have to use BlueTooth, and pick up clients from Airport every now and then.
Couldn't be happier a year later... have to use BlueTooth, and pick up clients from Airport every now and then.
Pole Position
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 268
Likes: 7
From: IL
gotspd:
i saw this on an earlier thread about the borla :
FYI - the Borla Catback Exhaust just came back in stock at StreetsideAuto.com for $1005.99 - $75 coupon code AFQ21275 = $930.99 delivered! Best price you will find anywhere. I think the coupon is good through 8/31, but when I called and ordered mine they said they only got a few of these in stock and they'll probably go quick at that price.
i saw this on an earlier thread about the borla :
FYI - the Borla Catback Exhaust just came back in stock at StreetsideAuto.com for $1005.99 - $75 coupon code AFQ21275 = $930.99 delivered! Best price you will find anywhere. I think the coupon is good through 8/31, but when I called and ordered mine they said they only got a few of these in stock and they'll probably go quick at that price.
I have the full borla and have had zero zero drone before headers and after. I have driven both joe z exhaust cars without cats and ISS who is local, to me they are both for sure louder, more cosmetically pleasing, and have some drone. If you want quiet and all the same performance if not more and a reasonable price 33-70% cheaper then get borla. But if you plan on laying under your car viewing and polishing your exhaust the other options are for you. As for me numbers are numbers fastest ISF NA runs borla, and appears the same Sikky, Borla as only mods dynod well for me as well at 413rwhp.
I have had nothing but excellent comments on my JoeZ - the power, sound, looks, is all there in one complete package! Its hard to describe "sound" but the Borla exhaust didnt do it for me.
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 1,125
Likes: 9
From: IL
As for the Borla sound "not do it for you", their argument was to find an exhaust sound less intrusive than the JoeZ or ISS.
Bk
Plus 1. I had both systems. To be honest sound/noise is a personal preference. Joe Z is one of the best sounding exhausts for the f however Borla to me was more suitable dd with headers.
I have the full borla and have had zero zero drone before headers and after. I have driven both joe z exhaust cars without cats and ISS who is local, to me they are both for sure louder, more cosmetically pleasing, and have some drone. If you want quiet and all the same performance if not more and a reasonable price 33-70% cheaper then get borla. But if you plan on laying under your car viewing and polishing your exhaust the other options are for you. As for me numbers are numbers fastest ISF NA runs borla, and appears the same Sikky, Borla as only mods dynod well for me as well at 413rwhp.
I'm torn between the two...i've sat in a Joez ISF before and it sounded great but we only took it around the block.
There seem to have been no issues with the quality of the Joez and the only gripe is that it may drone to SOME.
The price of the Borla is very enticing esp with the discount that is being offered right now. The Borla on the other hand has had a few fitment issues (hitting the diffuser) and the quality is not quite on par with the JoeZ.
I am not a fan of drone but have heard that the JoeZ does and doesnt have drone. At one time I had a GTR with a midpipe and that sounded awesome. Has anyone who has a borla/joez ISF sat or owned a GTR with some exhaust work before? Can you compare?
There seem to have been no issues with the quality of the Joez and the only gripe is that it may drone to SOME.
The price of the Borla is very enticing esp with the discount that is being offered right now. The Borla on the other hand has had a few fitment issues (hitting the diffuser) and the quality is not quite on par with the JoeZ.
I am not a fan of drone but have heard that the JoeZ does and doesnt have drone. At one time I had a GTR with a midpipe and that sounded awesome. Has anyone who has a borla/joez ISF sat or owned a GTR with some exhaust work before? Can you compare?
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If you want an unbiased opinion of the JoeZ, I have the stock exhaust but have ridden in a JoeZ equipped IS-F both at city driving speeds, highway cruising speeds and WOT. In my opinion, the JoeZ sounds great at startup, has a quiet grumble at highway cruising speeds, and sounds fantastic at WOT. There IS a slight drone at the lower rpms during city driving though. It isn't so loud that you can't carry on a conversation or use your bluetooth, but it is definitely louder than stock, and may be a bit much for non car enthusiasts. Like the OP, I occasionally have clients or coworkers in my car and it is during those times where I want my Lexus to be more Lexus-like and less V8 muscle car. Those times are few and far between mind you, but I have to consider them. I don't think I could ever get headers for this reason, and I probably would get something just a little quieter than the JoeZ if I upgrade my exhaust at all.
I'm torn between the two...i've sat in a Joez ISF before and it sounded great but we only took it around the block.
There seem to have been no issues with the quality of the Joez and the only gripe is that it may drone to SOME.
The price of the Borla is very enticing esp with the discount that is being offered right now. The Borla on the other hand has had a few fitment issues (hitting the diffuser) and the quality is not quite on par with the JoeZ.
I am not a fan of drone but have heard that the JoeZ does and doesnt have drone. At one time I had a GTR with a midpipe and that sounded awesome. Has anyone who has a borla/joez ISF sat or owned a GTR with some exhaust work before? Can you compare?
There seem to have been no issues with the quality of the Joez and the only gripe is that it may drone to SOME.
The price of the Borla is very enticing esp with the discount that is being offered right now. The Borla on the other hand has had a few fitment issues (hitting the diffuser) and the quality is not quite on par with the JoeZ.
I am not a fan of drone but have heard that the JoeZ does and doesnt have drone. At one time I had a GTR with a midpipe and that sounded awesome. Has anyone who has a borla/joez ISF sat or owned a GTR with some exhaust work before? Can you compare?
I've had the JoeZ and the Borla and both are fine without headers, but paired up with headers the JoeZ was just too loud and droned for me. With that said though, the JoeZ did sound great.
I was the one who had the diffuser issue when I first installed mine. Went back and it turned out being an install problem as they didn't slide one of the slip fit joints in all the way. Other than that I've seen zero fitment issues with the Borla.
I've had the JoeZ and the Borla and both are fine without headers, but paired up with headers the JoeZ was just too loud and droned for me. With that said though, the JoeZ did sound great.
I've had the JoeZ and the Borla and both are fine without headers, but paired up with headers the JoeZ was just too loud and droned for me. With that said though, the JoeZ did sound great.
I ask because you've had both and you always give an unbiased, honest opinion
(again i do understand its all about personal preference)
Yup it was with the JoeZ exhaust. There is little to no difference in power though between the two, but they do sound, look and weigh differently so it all comes down to personal preference.
Hey Cayman, thanks for the reply. Since it seems the power is comparable between the Borla and JoeZ..IF you could go back and just pick one exhaust without headers, which one would it be?
I ask because you've had both and you always give an unbiased, honest opinion
(again i do understand its all about personal preference)
I ask because you've had both and you always give an unbiased, honest opinion
(again i do understand its all about personal preference)
-it fit my car better than the JoeZ. The JoeZ had some close spots around some of the under bracing whereas the Borla did not. The Borla actually has two slight bends just before the x pipe that allow for more clearance.
Here is a picture of where there were clearance issues with my old JoeZ exhaust. I "think" the newer versions fixed this but I can't confirm.
- the Borla weighs a few lbs less
- seems like the Borla is deeper in tone which I like for daily driving
- I like how the Borla mufflers have 4 exhaust tips that match up to the rear diffusers
- the price of the Borla is significantly less
The JoeZ exhaust does have a nicer fit and finish and I believe it sounds better on the race track too.
Last edited by caymandive; Aug 22, 2012 at 04:45 PM.