Exhaust systems can add horsepower and torque to your vehicle. Most modern vehicles are tuned much better than their predecessors so gone are the days that an exhaust will add significant horsepower. However, gains of 5-20hp can still be realized. There are other performance benefits as well. A more free flowing exhaust can increase throttle response & if it is a turbo car, the turbos will spool more quickly

These two points mean that even if the peak numbers don’t increase dramatically, the available power comes on sooner increasing acceleration and typically increasing drive-ability. Exhaust systems also add a visual improvement as most aftermarket systems are built to look good. Larger tips, polished cans and pipes will create a focal point that will attract more than a few comments. Almost all aftermarket systems also increase sound. The volume and tone of an exhaust system can vary greatly between systems so it is important to do research between the various brands available to determine where you would like to be in that regard.

There are some other important differences between systems. Build quality, fit, finish and materials are all important to the final product. Many systems, in fact most, claim to be stainless steel. This looks good on paper and in advertising, but did you know that there are many different grades of stainless steel? Many of the cheaper brands utilize less pure grades of the material. These can have high iron and nickel content that can lead to corrosion and discoloration issues down the road. Another aspect of this is what gauge pipe is used. But utilizing a thinner pipe, weight can be saved, but strength will be sacrificed if not assembled properly. Exhaust system get hot and that causes the pipe to expand. A 20 foot exhaust system can expand over an inch between full cold and full hot. This puts stress on the welds and joints and can eventually cause them to break.