That's one heck of a good deal...some while back I looked into getting a S/S cat back system for my V6 Estima and was quoted £550 PLUS Vat...that was a reputable outfit in Nottingham.

Made me consider going aluminised rather than stainless.

Thanks for the tip re wind noise Corax, i'll take a poke nose see what's what, and yes you are right at 2 and 2.5", the 2" system sitting by my indy's ramp looked a right sorry thing for £350, it was MrB on the Subaru forum who reminded me literally the day before it went in about checking bore sizes, phew.

BBD, it's a full CAT back system, the OE system is two piece with a silencer in each section, they didn't disturb the flange joint behind the CAT, instead cut the old exhaust off just behind said flange and welded the new pipe in, chap reckons that joint will last a good few years before anything needs doing, had he tried to undo that joint the chances are a new CAT would have been on the cards.

If that centre joint hadn't started leaking chances are the OE exhaust would have seen several years more yet as the silencers were still strong, but once you start moving things about its the welds that prove weakest.

Yes they offer very good value, well worth the time and travel, other quotes for SS systems have been twice or thrice the sum i paid, as a bonus half a mile up the road is an indy LPG site where i filled up @ 45p per litre, and for those thinking of doing the same when their pipes start falling apart :-) theres 3 decent cafes within quarter mile and a really large park about 400 yards away by the canal for doggie time if you have hounds, MIJ are 5 mins from M6 jct 9.

John F, i suspect the cost for a new exhaust on your barge might make those Subaru prices look quite bargainous.

Edited by gordonbennet on 21/07/2020 at 19:40

Oops...! Just spotted the conversation about ensuring it was 2.5". Thanks all the same :-)

I had the noise discussion with the gaffer at MIJ, didn't want loud, wanted efficient.

He suggested going 2.25", reason being the stainless silencers are less restrictive than OE ans going 2.5 would boom more, i took his advice...i start work at unearthly hours and didn't want something noisy.

Result is the exhaust sounds lovely, as you know with a Forester XT you don't normally get the Subaru burble due to equal length manifolds, but with the new system there is now a subdued scooby sound which is really rather pleasant (even at my age), the car is also running extremely well and seems to pull better than ever, and i'm wondering if the old system was suffering an internal silencer issue because it runs so much better now, tickover once warm and the aux air pump has done its thing you can barely hear it running, at motorway speeds there's no booming, but you can hear it really throaty (not unpleasantly) if you let her loose, perfect.

If you want a 2.5" tail exit pipe the lads will put one on for you, or any design you wish, they have lots to choose from, extra cost is minimal.

I have the 2.25 all the way through including the tail pipe, it looks absolutely standard so keeps the anonymous looks of the car, which is so much part of its charm.

Enjoy your day out anyway, please come back and let us know how it goes.

Edited by gordonbennet on 17/08/2020 at 18:37