To Mod or not to Mod

[Wheats]

Aloha All,

I need some opinions on whether it pays to install Borla's on my 04 Merlot.
My main concern besides money is that there is only a single lane highway(road) with a 50 mph speed limit and only two passing lanes.I don't think performance is going to get me any place fast but will I be happy just cruising?

Also Mahalo to Borla babe (Julie) for helping me out.

Ken

[BirdsAndBugs]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Borlas?
I've been happy with my Thunderbirds as they came from the factory. I never felt that this was an upgrade that was worth the money.....

Invest your money in an embroidered Thunderbird trunk mat instead.

[THHNDR]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Performance increase is slight, but the signature note of the exhaust is undeniable. I would estimate the noise increase with the car while cruising to be around 15 %. It only roars when you put your foot into it. I have had them on my car for 4 years and have never been sorry. At freeway speed I can carry on a conversation with my passenger with the stereo on with out having to shout. I have been in cars with magnaflows which to me seem much louder. I would suggest to have the OEM exhaust slid off in 1 piece and save it. I made a frame out of 1X4 pine in the shape of a capital T with a shorter piece at the bottom. I used bailing wire to attach the exhaust to the frame and is resting in the rafters of my garage. Don't alter the studs on the cat pipe (some people have done so to set the pipes a little closer to OEM position). This way if you don't like it, you can have the originals re-installed. Every time i fire up my car, I smile.

[Ski]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

It's a matter of personal preference I guess. I did Borlas for the sound, not the performance. The car should sound the way it looks and, IMO, the stock exhaust didn't. Don't regret a penny of it. I added the trunk mat for performance, though!

[Treken]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

It's a matter of personal preference I guess. I did Borlas for the sound, not the performance. The car should sound the way it looks and, IMO, the stock exhaust didn't. Don't regret a penny of it. I added the trunk mat for performance, though!

I agree with John. I did the borlas for the sound. I am not into the preformance as much, that's why I didn't add the trunk mat...

[Leroy]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

I've said it before and I'll say it again, and I'll get bashed by all the members of he Borla Club. Save yourself a $1000.00+ and take your car to any reliable muffler shop and have them remove both resinators and install a straight piece of pipe inplace. You keep your stock exhaust tips. The car now sounds like what it is, a Jag. My car has been this way since I've owned it and zero problems and lots of complements. Leroy

\ \ \ \ \___________________________________________

[My Raven]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

It is your car so accessorize it as you wish: If you want the Borlas then go for it and enjoy them.
.
To heck with what anyone else thinks ...
.
JMHO.

[Daktari]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Hi there,

The only slight increase in performance comes in at really high revs which in normal driving you would never use. At more normal revs, the performance with Borlas is actually slightly less than the stock which supplies more torque at lower revs.

They do sound nice but here is another option to get a good tone. I installed the straight in cold air intake and then removed the stock tail pipes, (I think they are a little too small anyway). I replaced these with Aero tail pipes with resonators.
Ok, the effect is not apparent until you put your foot down and it growls like a big cat around 2,000-4,000 and the resonators lower the pitch slightly so to me, it rumbles more than the Borla sound which is higher pitched and more European sounding, to me anyway - no expert.

Worth considering and a lot less money than Borlas.

Good luck, Gordon.

[vsardine]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

I'd vote with the save your money crowd. How many times can you run up and down the tunnel of trees?

[JAB02LHS]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Don't forget to add the CAI it really makes the Borla's sing! They will need about 500 miles to really get the full sound as the car adjusts to the new flow rate. I thought the Borla's were a big disappointment in the sound department until I added the CAI now I would never go back.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Aloha All,
there is only a single lane highway(road) with a 50 mph speed limit and only two passing lanes. fast but will I be happy just cruising?.Ken

Just cruising you will notice very little difference, but if you like to play with you SST you can really make them sing playing in 2nd & 3rd and even get them to burble on a good downshift.

[Treken]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

How many times can you run up and down the tunnel of trees?

I normally drive mine on the streets where there are poles...

[FUN X 3]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

I considered adding the Borlas, but decided why spend almost $1,000 to replace a perfectly good exhaust system? If I were you, I'd consider some of the less expensive alternatives, and spend your savings on other mods, like a trunk mat, chrome bezel, chrome license plate frame, etc.

[JAB02LHS]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

I normally drive mine on the streets where there are poles...

Hey, hey, hey we walk on the sidewalk like normal folks,
it's that other group that you see always walking in the street!

[Lindy]

Re: To Mod or not to Mod

Hey Ken,

I've been exploring these same performance mods, and have discussed them in another thread because of the PCM (the car's computer) flash which I just did using an SCT Xcal3 product, on my '05. Just today I was considering ordering the K&N CAI (cold air intake) but noticed that they also sell a cold air filter for the stock intake, which supposedly increases the flow of more cold air and thus the power of the motor. This item is about 60 bucks and I like keeping the underhood look stock. I wonder if this change accomplishes as much as the actual intake upgrade? When it comes to the exhaust, I plan on upgrading to nothing less than the Borla system.