Thermal Exhaust Reviews

[quik]

Check out the reviews on the second page. After a few months the exhaust falls apart and it scrapes the ground if you lower your car at all. Damn, I wanted to get it, but not now!:'(

http://www.carreview.com/PRD_49549_1580crx.aspx

 

[Rider69]

Well, I would take those reviews with a grain of salt. It still got a 4.29 out of 5, which tells me that it is pretty good. As far as it scraping, perhaps these few individuals did not have it installed properly. TH&D also seemed pretty good about fixing any problems that the few had. If you read 1000 review, I would bet that it would still rate high. It comes with a 2 year warranty, so I think they stand behind their products

 

[banned bandit]

well i just read through the review...seems to be only a problem with a lowered integra's.....i ordered mine, and i'm not worried cause my car isn't lowered (accept when i have my 14" steel winter tires)

edit

Model/Year:
1988 crx si

Summary:
Well some time ago i gave a bad review to this cat back set up. I had a hanger rip out, and in frustration i vented on this web site.
Well the people at thermal must have read my review because they contacted me. I did not know there was a very good warranty on the exhaust. Well they sent me a new cat back and i am now very happy. They told me it was very unusual that my exhaust hanger failed this way they have never seen it before. And they stand by there products 100%

Strengths:
Well i am up and running with a great looking and sounding cat back.
The People at thermal R&D were great to deal with. In fact they went out of there way to help me. Even after i trash talked them in an earlyer review.

Weaknesses:
None

Similar Products Used:
The fit and finish is better than anyting i have ever seen on a high performance exhaust.

 

[chestes]

Thermal R&D catback ripped out my hanger

I put a Thermal R&D catback system on my 2003 Protege 5. The fit was very poor and the pipe barely clears the rear strut. It has already ripped the OEM hanger welded to the frame off twice. A comparison with the OEM exhaust revealed the pipe welded to the front of the Thermal R&D muffler was rotated 3-5 degrees counter-clock wise out of alignment. Thus, everytime I get into the throttle, the muffler hits the strut and binds. I haven't broken the hanger weld a third time, but I'm compelled to drive my car like an old lady (bummer) in order to avoid breaking it again. Dimensionally, the system was acceptable. Thermal R&D just welded it together carelessly - Poor QC. I am VERY disappointed in the purchase and could not recommend their product to anyone. The one redeeming feature - the exhaust note is good. However, I would expect to have a near perfect system and fit after spending $495 plus shipping. If I had it to do over, I would buy the Racing Beat system.

 

[banned bandit]

ya i have the exact same problem too....the exhaust hanger broke near the pipe and actualy put a crack in the pipe behind the muffeler. had it welded back on but it still bangs around on the strut...i have some kartboy ruber hangers that will hopefully fix this problem, just got to wait till it warms up enough for me to do it

 

[chestes]

Was your problem similiar to mine? All the bends were correct and dimensionally the system was good; It was just assembled incorrectly? In fact, after reading your reply I went to Thermal R&D's web site and read about their lifetime warranty. But, there wasn't an email address anywhere on the web site where I could contact them about my problem. So, I copied my earlier post on this forum into a catalog request form comment field. They did have an 800 phone number listed as well. My problem is I trashed my OEM exhaust as soon as I finished installing my Thermal catback system. So, I don't have a sytem I could install and use if I returned my defective system to Thermal R&D. I knew better than to thow the OEM away so quickly but, my little wife insisted as she is a highly organized NEAT freak. Oh well - Live and learn I guess!