Corsa Exhaust Review

[evoshane]

Just ordered the Corsa exhaust from UUC Motorwerks. Thumbs up to UUC for excellent order processing and shipping. I ordered on Wednesday and received the exhaust Friday.

The fit of the exhaust was great. Tips were perfectly centered and no adjustment was needed. Colored instructions were given but not really needed since the installation requires simply the removal of two bolts, plugging the factory exhaust vacuum line, and getting the factory exhaust off three exhaust hangers. All in all, the exhaust install took maybe 35 minutes including putting the car on the lift.

Upon initial startup I was a little shocked at the loudness of the exhaust but it has since mellowed. I put some miles on it but it has not completely developed its final tone. I neglected to tell me wife that the exhaust was installed and with windows up and the radio on she did not notice. However a high rpm run and this exhaust screams. I checked for drone at 80 mph and 110 and there is not hint of it. I am very pleased with the sound even after coming from a 350z with a powerhouse amuse titanium exhaust that sounded like a damn ferrari!

All in all I give this exhaust an 8 of 10. The two point detraction is due to high cost and the finish of the pipe from the rear cat section to the muffler. It is basically just a stainless pipe. I have had other exhausts where all the pipes were chromed and for $1300 this should have been done in my opinion.

[My135]

Have you considered other exhaust before you settled on Corsa? How about CPE?

[evoshane]

I seriously considered CPE, but I was a little considered about noice level and drone. I am not saying CPE is too loud or drones, but I was confident that the Corsa would not drone.

[adc]

Would you mind posting some pics?

I've recently seen/heard/filmed a CP-e turbo-back and it sounded absolutely incredible, no drone at all. My only one concern was that the muffler hangs a tad low under the body and does not fit in the cavity left by the OEM exhaust.

If I had to I guess I could live with it, but I'd like to know of any alternatives...

[zamm3k]

Originally Posted by adc

Would you mind posting some pics?

I've recently seen/heard/filmed a CP-e turbo-back and it sounded absolutely incredible, no drone at all. My only one concern was that the muffler hangs a tad low under the body and does not fit in the cavity left by the OEM exhaust.

If I had to I guess I could live with it, but I'd like to know of any alternatives...

most aftermarket exhaust won't fill in the cavity that the OEM exhaust fills. I don't think it should be of any concern though.

[adc]

Originally Posted by zamm3k

most aftermarket exhaust won't fill in the cavity that the OEM exhaust fills. I don't think it should be of any concern though.

If you look at pics of the cp-e system, it might become.

I'm not asking for perfect fit, but I'd like for the new muffler to go up into that cavity, so that it's not visible from the outside... (or not too visible).

Edit: Here is what I mean, look at these pics:
http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=235041

The cp-e uses one single huge pipe and there is simply no way they can bend it to place the muffler into the cavity - at least not with a north-south muffler. If they used a OEM shaped muffler (lateral pipe entry), then they might.

Or, as with the Borla system, 2 smaller separate pipes which are easier to bend.

That's why I'm curious to see pics of the Corsa...

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by adc

If you look at pics of the cp-e system, it might become. I'm not asking for perfect fit, but I'd like for the new muffler to go up into that cavity, so that it's not visible from the outside... (or not too visible). ...

Looking at the photos, it does appear to hang a bit lower, however, I don't recall ever reading that any cp-e owner has had a problem with road clearance on this. As a prospective buyer, I certainly would be interested if they did.

As an aside, I think the Corsa axle-back sound great, but the cp-e is available as a cat-back for nearly the same price, sounds as good (or better maybe, since it subjective anyhow) and appears to be just as much a quality product.

[adc]

Originally Posted by ennislaw

Looking at the photos, it does appear to hang a bit lower, however, I don't recall ever reading that any cp-e owner has had a problem with road clearance on this. As a prospective buyer, I certainly would be interested if they did.

As an aside, I think the Corsa axle-back sound great, but the cp-e is available as a cat-back for nearly the same price, sounds as good (or better maybe, since it subjective anyhow) and appears to be just as much a quality product.

Not disputing any facts, not sure about the sound since I've only heard one of them in real life and I most certainly don't intend this Corsa-specific thread to become a pi$$ing match between two exhausts.

I just would like to see some pics of the Corsa installed, that's all.

[ennislaw]

Originally Posted by adc

... I most certainly don't intend this Corsa-specific thread to become a pi$$ing match between two exhausts. ...

I absolutely agree, since this is the best fact-finding forum around on the 1-series, although I also would like to know if any cp-e owners are having ground clearance problems!