So, im in the market for a full catback this time, i got a flowmaster (just the muffler) awile back just to see what it would sound like, sounded pretty nice, now im ready to go with the full system.
Looking around on summit, ive heard nothing but good things about borla, also flowmaster.. BUT ive heard flowmaster isnt so great for f-bodys, but just 2 days ago my friend got his flowmaster american thunder catback put on his v6, and it sounded amazeing...
I have the 305, 92 RS, and looking around.. i found something very interesting.. A $500 increase between flowmaster and borla...
So the question is... is borla really worth that $800? If so what exactly makes it worth that?
I am looking for the deep but loud muscle car sound that flowmaster is known for, but the straight through airflow for a bit of an increase in hp that borla is known for.. what exactly is the better choice here.. I have the money for the borla system, im just curious why its so damn expensive...

 

Not no.....but H*** no.... Borla=over priced junk!

Ill fitting, poor quality control, under sized tubing for application etc, etc.

 

Im not going to say you dont know what your talking about.. but i think you might be a bit off on this topic... Poor quality? Why would they have the longest warrenty of all muffler / catback systems around? Believe its the million mile warrenty...
Undersized for apps... dont think it gets much bigger then 3" for exhaust....

 

Actually I have also heard that the fit and finish is often pretty messed up. Sloppy welds on the flanges, etc.

 

Ive got SLP headers and Y pipe.
Borla Adj. system.

No fit or finish problem and it sounds great.

http://www.cecoatings.com/images/Car...A/MOV02013.MPG
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/Car...TA/TA&ACDC.wmv
http://www.cecoatings.com/images/Car...A/MOV02019.MPG

 

the borla fits fine works great but, after time it does get alot louder.



poor welds???? never saw any poor welds



what about others? hooker, slp - just to name 2


alot of good comments around here for the hooker system

 

Stainless material, big deal they all have that (well most anyway) I have been installing their stuff for years so I do see alot. (brought by the customers) One guy brought a complete system for a 'vette and the pipes were 2 1/4" the original was 2 1/2" $1700 for that crap.
The rear tips were crooked, one side was longer than the other and as the other guy said crappy welds too.

 

go with the mufflex system you'll save money and love the sound

 

For $800 you can get a nice custom made system. So many people don't do it these days, but I think its worth the money. You tell them how you want it, and usually the fit is a lot nicer since each car is different.

 

I'm really happy with mine. Love the sound and the quality is good also. But i ordered mine years ago for nearly half of the todays price tag...

 

if i was going to spend that kind of mony on borla, i would first look into mufflex, there provin power gains. or true dules

 

anyone heard of Texas Killer...or Texas something or another...can't remember exactly what it's called but i passed up a deal on a catback from that company for $100 with the rectangular LT1 tips....guess it's cuz i'd never heard of it before and i'm looking to spend my money in other places ex: new convertible top

 

i know this topic is about borla, .... BUT = dont overlook the dynomax mufflers

 

Sorry, but Borla IS one of the best exhausts out there. You do get what you pay for. Borla, Corsa, B&B, they are all top dog. BUT, just cause you step down a level, doesn't mean your buying junk. Not everyone can buy a Corvette, so we buy Camaro's and Firebirds. They're all great cars, but the Vette is the top dog. Same thing. If you have your heart set on Borla, well your getting the best. Do you need it? Well they're are cheaper choices.

 

I never get a Corvette in place of the Camaro. If I had more garage space, I'd buy a Corvette beside the Z...

 

they're top dog??

the only reason they charge so much is because they only make applications for high priced cars.. because they know that idiots with a lot of money will buy their products because if it costs more than the rest.. rich people think its better... its like that with ANY product..

Borla is waaaay over priced.. Corsa is just a wanna be borla...

have you ever seen a Magnaflow system compaired to a borla? good lord.. you would change your opinion pretty damn fast as far as quality, price, and flow..

 

its just a matter of opinion. everthing sounds different, and everyone has individual desires/ limits when it comes to such a descision.

1.borla doesnt have any secret materials that nobody else uses.

2.borla doesnt have any superior design that other companies are straining to mimmick.

borlas have one standout difference from other companies =typically costs more

but every exhaust system sounds different. borlas dont sound like dynomax, dynomax doesnt sound like hooker etc, etc.

so really, its whichever sound you prefer that makes a brand or design "the best" ,atleast in your own eyes (assuming once again that cost isnt an object)

in conclusion = if the borla is the only sound YOU truely like, than YES, its the best, and YES its worth the price. but if someone only likes the sound that flowmasters (for example) make, than that person would think of borla as overpriced

GOOD LUCK

 

Actually, that was very well said. Go that way.
BTW, I have heard of Magnaflow... on my car!

 

I have bought a borla cat-back for my 87 iroc and i love it. MANY people on here love what they have, because of price or sound. It is all about what you pefer. I am not saying that borla is the best, but i would say it is one of the best. You get what you pay for!!!!

 

whichever exhaust makes you smile when you turn the key is the "best one"

 

What part of this didn't you understand????

 

and what part of this didnt YOU understand?????

 

I am not a Borla only fanatic, but there is a great deal for your application on Ebay going on. A muffler with dual square tips tailpipes on 1 side (like some SS camaro SLP) for only 100.00$!

Depends if you are planning in modifying your car later on... I would strongly recommend you to have a custom stainless steel tubing installation. That way you could buy only a muffler with tailpipes or tips and have a real custom system.

I am currently running a 02 Camaro/Firehawk SLP SS muffler with dual dual tips and I like it<s sound but I am thinking in a loudmouth with complete dual system...

My frien<s 95 Trans Am is running a Dynomax Race serie Ultra Flow (I think) something called like that, and it sound<s amazing!!! So don<t be fooled by names,

Good luck with your project;-)

 

Why is my posting beeing deleted...

 

Ordered up a Borla system for one of my cars - poor fitment, and many 3rd gen applications have been discontinued according to distributor (1987 T/A with LB9 was my last car, and proper system was not available...)

I ended up getting a local shop to make me a cat back system with a flow master - I now forget the price, it was last year, but it was pretty reasonable and sounded great. Don't know if there was any actual power increase over stock - I would like to say there was, but then again my car felt faster after it was washed, so....

As for warranty (someone mentioned Borla having a million mile warranty?), I recall Midas offering a million mile warranty - and we all know their junk. And not sure, but I think it covered the muffle only, not the labor...

 

i know its not a third gen, but a guy i used to work with had a 1999 mustang cobra (hate them all you want, but its the best ford can do lol). he did the borla setup on it and it sounded amazing!!!!! loud as sin my friends. i also know of a vette running around my town that has a borla setup that is very mean sounding. i think a 2.5in dual borla would sound great on ANY thrdgen

 

borla is a great exhaust..but it is pricy as hell...just get whatever sounds good...a basic flowmaster...sounds fine made my old 305tbi sound mean..so damn must be good

 

Borla = expensive *** cutout.

I'd never buy one new, used...maybe. Keep checking ebay, classifieds, etc.

 

I bought the adjustable Borla for my LT1 when they had first come out years back. Borla's origional exhaust was non sadjustable but when they came out with one that was, I placed an order on the spot.

I don't understrand why there are commets being thrown around like "junk" "undersized" and "over-rated" etc. etc.

Can it be that the people making these comments are upset that they can't afford one themselve's ?

I think that's exactly what it is.

Let's see what some of you are calling junk...

A 3" manderal bent cat-back made from 100% stainless steal, leading to what is generally regarded as one of (if not THE) free'est flowing mufflers on the market.

Add to that, the fact that all the welds are smooth, clean and essientially perfect (better than on any other exhaust I've ever seen including corsa, b&B etc. etc.)

It fit's like a glove, with no modifications required at all (how often does that ever happen with aftermarket part ), is a pretty rare and "exclusive" piece (not like, ahem, flowmaster or hooker which EVERONE has) and to top it all, is the ONLY exhaust system on the market which allows you to tailor the exhaust tone to EXACTLY how YOU want it to sound.

Yeah, what a junk system. Why would anyone be interested in those features ??

Clearly, Borla's nowhere near as good as the like's of an "aluminized" blowmaster or hooker ROFL - Both of which will rot out after 1 winter's driving

It's true that the price has gone up over the years (it was way cheaper when I bought it) but you get what you pay for. But it's no more expensive than Corsa, GMMG B&B etc. and none of those systems are adjustable. Your stuck with 1 sound and your gonna have to learn to live with it wheather you like it or not

Before anyone starts making sensless comments putting down Borla, make sure you know the facts.

- It'll last forever and will NEVER rust.
- It has basically 5 different sound settings
- It'll flow better than any other exhaust out there
- You'll never have to worry about having to upgrade to something better.

As mentioned earlier, not everyone has one so there's definetley a feeling of exclusivity when you are the only guy that does

What's not to like?

If I could have afforded to get one for my IROC, I would have but I'm still REALLY happy with my Dynomax (if only it were stainless

A lot of guys have been wondering if I want to sell my Borla from my LT1 and the answer has always been, and always will be - HELL NO !!

If you can afford it, go for it. You won't be dissapointed. I can promis you that


P.s.

One last thing, to the person who made the comment about Borla pipe's being "undersized" , yeah 3" is way too small.... IF YOU'RE DRIVING A SCHOOL BUS !!

On a car, it'll do just fine. I had no problem's at all putting out in excess of 500RWHP with my Borla attached with pleny of leeway to make even more HP without the worry of the exhaust being a restriction.

Save the 4" pipes for the diesel's

 

I never said it was junk, I said that Midas also has a million mile warranty, their IS junk.

Living in SoCal, I don't really care about stainless vs. aluminized, etc as mufflers here last a long time. My last third gen had the original muffler from 1985 on it and it was still fine.

My only real point was that a) the unit I bought didn't fit well, and b) the last time I tried to buy one I was told they were not making the third gen systems anymore. I may be wrong on the second point, but I know for a fact my system didn't fit well, and I had one on a Toyota Supra back in 1993 and it didn't fit properly either.

I'm just relaying my experience since someone originally asked, I'm not bashing Borla.