Ghl VS Vibrant
- Thread starter MPC12347
- Start date
wait what? are you comparing a catback with a turbo back? Vibrant is named Downpipe-back, but in reality It has a downpipe with it, especially if its removing the second cat.
If you are getting the GHL catback, all you are getting is a auditory upgrade. you will likely gain no performance improvements from it.
The vibrant on the other hand is probably much lower quality just due to price. its a 790 dollar full exhaust system while the GHL is 700 dollars for half the s*** (just a catback).
A quick google search lead me to the vibrant performance site where it said: 5-year limited warranty.
If you are getting the GHL catback, all you are getting is a auditory upgrade. you will likely gain no performance improvements from it.
The vibrant on the other hand is probably much lower quality just due to price. its a 790 dollar full exhaust system while the GHL is 700 dollars for half the s*** (just a catback).
A quick google search lead me to the vibrant performance site where it said: 5-year limited warranty.
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- All Mazdas!
There are lots of options on the market for exhausts. Vibrant, GHL, CorkSport (My Favorite), CPE, etc.
One thing to look at if you plan on upgrading your exhaust further down the road make sure the exhaust you get does not neck down at the catalyst connection. The greddy and several other do this. If you are going to run a racepipe or a downpipe which replaces the second cat you don't want to have an exhaust that goes 3 inch to 2.5 inch and back to 3 inch.
-Derrick
One thing to look at if you plan on upgrading your exhaust further down the road make sure the exhaust you get does not neck down at the catalyst connection. The greddy and several other do this. If you are going to run a racepipe or a downpipe which replaces the second cat you don't want to have an exhaust that goes 3 inch to 2.5 inch and back to 3 inch.
-Derrick
I think there is some confusion here. The Vibrant is not a turbo back system. It does not include the downpipe. It does replace the second cat, which is in the "test pipe" or "race pipe" area, which is not a part of the downpipe. That second cat is an area of known restriction, so it will produce a gain over stock and over any CBE.
This is apples and oranges. Either of these choices still leaves the major restriction untouched -- the downpipe.
I know nothing about the quality of the GLH. I do have a 3 inch Vibrant straight through reso in line now in the middle of my TurboXS racepipe, behind the TurboXS true downpipe, all catless. This was for drone control. I found the reso to be extremely high quality, but that's just one part. I have no reason to think that other products in its line would be lower quality, however.
I agree that an ordinary CBE, whether 2.5 inches or 3 inches will not produce power gains in and of itself, because the restrictions are upstream, especially in the downpipe, itself.
As to Derrick's observation, I think it is well established that if you do go to a good bell mouthed 3 inch dp into a 3 inch rp and then connect it to the stock CBE (2.5 inches), there is no loss of power from that CBE compared to a straight through 3 inch system. The stock CBE does flow that well up to the point where you exceed 300 whp, or about 350 horses at the crank, either of which is about the max limits of the stock KO4 turbo.
As to necking down and then back up, I can see that this might cause some turbulence which might contribute to some backpressure, but I'm just thinking theoretically and offer no proof either way.
What I can say is that a 3 inch system where the restrictions are - dp and the two cats, is what this car really responds to on the stock turbo, and not with changes in the CBE. CBE changes can get you a sound you may be looking for but will not improve power on the stock turbo, IMHO.
As to warranties, who know how long any of these companies will be around. A lifetime v. 5 years? What is a lifetime? Length of time you own the car? And how long do you intend to own the car?
Just some thoughts.
