I'm at a point where i NEED to choose which muffler i'm going with, and no matter how much i research, i CANT decide!!! I want BORLA, of course, but the muffler alone is $239 (my muffler shop can do the rest of the muffler-back) So my second choice for quality was MAGNAFLOW. I've heard it's a very good muffler, and I could get it for a little less than $100. Now i've read threads how TPI's have no sound through the magnaflow at idle, especially if they're "cammed" (my engine was rebuilt - and has a comp cam.. i assume that means im qualified as "cammed" ) And I definitely like the rumble while idling. Theres no way I want to go to flowmaster because they are everywhere and i'm just sick of em, plus they dont flow near as good as the top brand mufflers ( btw - Is there a chart on diff. mufflers flow rates? )
Now my question:

Should i go all out and just buy the borla? Or is there a few other brands i need to consider first to save some $$?

 

If you want maximum flow from a 3" exhaust, then the Borla is at the top. That is only because of the passenger side being a cutout. All of the other brands are very close, but don't offer the adjustability of the cutout/plate system, so they don't flow as much. I got the Borla because I wanted maximum flow and the adjustability. It sounds badass, but the quality hardly justifies the price.

 

Ahhhhh..........no..............

 

I would just like to chim in.. I was you about a year ago makeing threads just like this when trying to decide weather or not borla was worth the $800 price tag.
I finally went for it and got it, put it on my 84 z28 and let me say it was worth every penny.
Your not going to find the same quality, warrenty, and sound anywhere else, unles you go with gmmg that is also up there in the $800's
Not only does it look beautiful and i can notice a slight increase in power when i punch the gas, but it sounds even better.. go for it if you can afford it man

 

The price has gone up substantially since it first hit the market years ago. I pre-ordered it for my LT1 Formula at my local speedshop and picked it up the first day it was introduced. I'm pretty sure I was the first person in Canada to get it.

Is it worth it?

Honestly, I have a very hard time justifying spending that kind of money on what is essentially, just a couple pieces of pipe.
I mean really, that's all an exhaust system is at the end of the day, so I find the ridiculous price Borla is currently charging, a bit hard to swallow. If I remember correctly, I paid about $200 less back then, than what it currently costs now.

It's a fantastic exhaust, don't get me wrong. The fit/finish and all the welds are second to none, and I mean that literally. I've never seen any other exhaust match the build quality of the Borla.

It's stainless so it'll never rust out. The muffler itself is basically just a straight pipe so there's literally no restriction at all in terms of flow and obviously it's biggest advantage is the ability for the user to change the way his/her car sounds with the removable plates it comes with.

On my LT1, I can honestly say it's the most incredible sounding exhaust you can get on those cars. Even on L98's, it sounds far better (in my opinion) than anything elkse out there. Not quite the same as an LT1 mind you, but then again, what does?

It sounds completely different than just running a cutout which a lot of the haters like to call Borla systems. It's more than a cut-out. It's got a sound all it's own.

Finally, let's be honest here, one of the major reasons Borla is so expensive is because your paying for the name. Your paying for "exclusivity". Some might not care about that, but believe me, it's a pretty good feeling knowing your one of the only guy's in town with that particular exhaust. Everybody knows the Borla name, and everybody knows they're expensive. Maybe it's just me, but I kinda get a kick out of being the only guy the city with this exhaust.

The third gen version thow, I have to say, has really aweful looking exhaust tips. THey just don't look right on a third gen. Way to small and they're just "boring" looking.

The square tips of the 4th gen system look 100x better.

I've been considering buying another one for my '88 IROC but the new price is kinda holding me back right now. Maybe if someone were to start a group purchase, I might get it on it.

Maybe we can get something going?


Anyways, if you've got the money, I say go for it.

P.s.

The cheapest place I know to get it so far is $696 over at WS6 Store - Your #1 Source for F-body Performance Parts and Accessories

About $110 cheaper than anywhere else I can find.

 

You're just paying for the name.. sure they sound good and perform very well but there are lots of other mufflers out there that can sound just as good. Hell, if you've got some fab skills... make your own

I made a mini flowmaster 40 for my son's go cart.. it sounds cool too

check out the Dynomax ultraflow SS, and if you like chambered mufflers there is always the Hooker Aerochamber. I'll be putting Aerochambers on my next Fbody...