For anyone considering changing the stock exhaust to Borla stingers then this post is for you.
After buying my 02GT I started to look around for things to upgrade with, CAI, exhausts, body kits etc. The first thing I wanted was to sound a lot meaner, look better and go faster were just added bonuses. With this in mind I started scouring the internet for different exhaust setups.

There were so many choices out there, Borla, Bassani, SLP, Magnaflow, etc, etc. People can give you advice and opinions, you can listen to sound clips and watch videos however nothing can make it sound like being there in person. This was the biggest problem I had in chosing.
"Borlas drone, SLP raspy, Bassani too quiet, Magnas too ricey" everyone has there opinion, and now so do I.
BORLAS RULE.

Are Stingers a lot louder than stock? Yes, considerably
Do the Stingers drone? Yes (but it sounds beautiful)
Do they look good? 4" Polished, yes they look awesome
Do I regret it? No way

I chose the Stingers because nobody had said anything bad about them, the price was higher than other exhaust systems but you get what you pay for, I paid for high quality with a great tone. Imagine driving down the street and people ahead of you turning round, yep thats what happens.

I ordered the Stingers online and they arrived to my door 3 days later, very well packaged with all parts included and detailed instructions.
Prior to the exhaust arriving I sprayed WD on all fasteners several times.
I placed the car on jacks and there was just enough room to fit underneath the car. I started by cutting through the stock exhaust with a reciprocating saw just above the rear axle which took seconds to do. Next I started to work on the bolts which fasten the stock H pipe to the mufflers. 4 bolts, just 4 bolts, what a PAIN!!! Once I started I realised that corrosion had been quite happy under my car. They would not come off for anything, breaking wrentch, airgun, big hammer, nothing. In the end I resorted to the cutting wheel and cut through them. Limited space made this a pain. I cut through one of the supports for the mufflers so that I could twist them out of the rubber hangers, this made it much easier to remove.
With the old exhaust gone I could put on the new one. After driving for an hour to the nearest open hardware store for new bolts (just happen to work there = discount) I crawled back under the car. Placed the new insert section which joins to the muffler section (slides inside then sealed with clamp) up to the H pipe fittings which were a perfect fit, hand tightened the bolts and located the muffler section in the rubber hangers which were lubricated well to help get them in. With this in place I attached the tailpipes into the hangers and joined them to the muffler section with the clamps. I tightened the rear sections then the front sections. Ta dah. Fitted the Stingers. Started up the car and it scared me. Didnt realise quite how loud they were. Woke up the neighbours.

I didnt regret fitting the stingers myself, however the install took almost 4 hours from start to finish. This was due to the problems I encountered. I know that had I had access to a lift/pit and forseen the seized bolts then installation would have been done in around 45 minutes, quick and easy.

The quality is fantastic and my concerns over the fit were forgotten. This system works great and fully adjustable. The only problems I found were the bolts I had to cut and sliding the front section over the axle which wouldnt have been a problem if car was on a lift.

The sound. It gurgles quietly at idle. Roars quietly up to around 2000rpm where it transforms into a heavy drone like rumble (I love it) then continues to roar on upwards after 2300rpm. Deceleration is just as nice with it popping gently as it slows. Driving the car you can hear the exhaust humming away around you with vibrations running through the car at the drone peak. Its this kinda drone sound that makes people look, you can see shop windows in the street moving.

But wait...... WOT!!!!!! Wow, be prepared for noise violation tickets. This thing screams!! I used to like blipping the revs at lights next to Civics and the sorts, now I go looking for them.

"Thats right little boy, dont even think about it" he said looking over at the Ricer with a garbage can sticking out the back.

Loss of a little low end torque but an increase in mid to high range.
Mileage is up but who cares.

If you want to sound good then go Stingers, loud and very nice sound, great quality and superb fit, worth the extra money.
Hope this helps.

 

I considered Borlas when I first wanted to get exhaust for my car, but I didnt have the $700 entry fee. Instead I went with the Magnaflows, and they definitely dont sound ricey at all. There is none of the raspy, ricey sound to them that people sometimes hear, and they're not too loud unless I want them to be.
I'm glad you like your Borlas, and sorry you had the installation nightmare. Oddly enough, my midpipe bolts came off with no problem (with some WD-40) even though my car's 2 years older. The fit of any system is worth a lot, as there is no fun in laying under a car for 2 hours just trying to adjust and re-adjust a system repeatedly. I had no problems with mine.
Even though your Stingers are probably too loud for me personally, It's good to see that they suit you. one question: does it quiet down at all when cruising, like at 2000-2500 rpm?

 

2000 To 2500 Rpm

 

2000 to 2500 RPM is quite loud and i like to cruise at that speed just for the deep hum/rummble/drone. its only at this range that its really loud (unless WOT). I can keep it quiet (well sort of) just driving past troopers and sheriffs as long as the needle doesnt reach 2 on the dial I'm ok.
Never said Flows sounded ricey. It was just a few opinions I had heard. As explained in my post sound clips are terrible and never record the bass tones and people always have there opinions on whats best. Thats the problem with choosing an exhaust being there is so many. That is the main reason for my post, i hope it helps other people out there looking for some advice and how to install.

 

I agree with you on the difficulty of listening to sound clips. Even the clips on the magnaflow website sound kind of ricey, and if I hadnt heard them in person before, I probably would not have bought them. There is definitely no substiture for hearing them firsthand.

 

hey wassup everyone. I drive a 2003 cobra conv. and have had 4 different exhaust setups till i got the sound and power i was looking for. first was the magnaflow, deep but not agressive, then went with the magnapacks, easy switch with the magnaflows, alot more agressive and loud but too glasspacky, then i had the stinger system, drone and loss of mid and upper, Now the sysystem i have is all bassani! Headers, x-pipe, cat back. Un freakin believable!!!! The sound quality is unmatched! Nice deep idle no drone what so ever, beautiful 4" tips and that totally unique deep but exotic sound sound and oh yeah!!!!!!! its loud, Awesome low,mid and top.I currently make 605 at the rear and if you could hear this system you would definetly want it I t took me alot of cash and work but it was worth it too have the perfect exhaust!

 

When you were running the setups before the bassani were you running stock mid and headers? Just curious. Heard the stingers really open up with a decent mid pipe and from of the sound clips I've heard (dreaded sound clips) I tend to agree. Thinking of MRT H and decent set of headers (undeceided). Loses the drone and adds some real throat to the monster. Either way I'm happy and so is my car.
What are you running to get 605?

 

Dan, www.thunderracing.com Borla's sell for under $600. Just thought you'd like to know... kinda late to tell you know though huh?

 

Awesome pics! Really gives a good compare!