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CAT BACKS

S

Silver spruce ST

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#1
I need some advice. I looking into replacing my exhaust. I can't makeup my mind between the following.
1. Thermal RD
2. BORLA
3. MAGNAFLOW
I'm leaning toward Thermal RD.


Please advise. I have 2020 Ford ST Silver Spruce color.


Thank you.
 

UNBROKEN

UNBROKEN

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#2
Pick the one that sounds the best to you…a cat back is nothing more than a new exhaust note on these cars.
 

F=MA

F=MA

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Magnaflow has a 1500 to 2000 rpm drone. Ok on the highway if you leave it in 8th gear to increase rpm's past the drone zone. Magnaflow is lower grade stainless steel that will rust sooner than the Borla and Thermal. Borla is good except for the 2.25 inch piping and no mid pipes. Borla pipe size may become an issue if you heavily mod the ST up. I like Thermal 2.5 the best. Quiet until you punch it. Zero drone and 2.5 piping.
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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F=MA said:
Magnaflow has a 1500 to 2000 rpm drone. Ok on the highway if you leave it in 8th gear to increase rpm's past the drone zone. Magnaflow is lower grade stainless steel that will rust sooner than the Borla and Thermal. Borla is good except for the 2.25 inch piping and no mid pipes. Borla pipe size may become an issue if you heavily mod the ST up. I like Thermal 2.5 the best. Quiet until you punch it. Zero drone and 2.5 piping.
Click to expand...
This is the one I'm looking at.

NEW !!! THE THERMAL R&D 3" DOWNPIPE BACK FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM. EXPECT AN AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE AT IDLE AND WIDE OPEN THROTTLE YET LITTLE TO NO INTERIOR DRONE WHEN AT CRUISE OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS 3" EXHAUST IS SUITABLE FOR STOCK ST'S ALL THE WAY TO FULLY MODIFIED HIGH POWER BUILDS
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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Silver spruce ST said:
This is the one I'm looking at.

NEW !!! THE THERMAL R&D 3" DOWNPIPE BACK FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM. EXPECT AN AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE AT IDLE AND WIDE OPEN THROTTLE YET LITTLE TO NO INTERIOR DRONE WHEN AT CRUISE OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS 3" EXHAUST IS SUITABLE FOR STOCK ST'S ALL THE WAY TO FULLY MODIFIED HIGH POWER BUILDS
Click to expand...
System Specs:
  • T304 - 3" Mandrel Bent Stainless Steel Tubing
  • Brushed finish rear Helmholtz Chambers
  • Mounts to OEM , SPD , or any aftermarket downpipes
  • 3" mid pipes with proper flex sections "no noise like OEM mids"
  • Utilizes OEM Hangers, Tips Fits OEM Valance perfectly
  • No Cutting or Welding Required
  • Ceramic Coated BLACK or POLISHED Tips available
 

Cajun Heat

Cajun Heat

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Silver spruce ST said:
System Specs:
  • T304 - 3" Mandrel Bent Stainless Steel Tubing
  • Brushed finish rear Helmholtz Chambers
  • Mounts to OEM , SPD , or any aftermarket downpipes
  • 3" mid pipes with proper flex sections "no noise like OEM mids"
  • Utilizes OEM Hangers, Tips Fits OEM Valance perfectly
  • No Cutting or Welding Required
  • Ceramic Coated BLACK or POLISHED Tips available
Click to expand...
I have the Borla S-type on our ST and enjoy it, absolutely no drone at any speed.

I don't think you will be disappointed in the Thermal setup you are looking at. As @UNBROKEN mentioned, just upgrading your exhaust with light performance mods is just for sound and performance is not a factor.
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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Thank you. I think I will stay with Thermal.
 

S

singingwhodat

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Silver spruce ST said:
This is the one I'm looking at.

NEW !!! THE THERMAL R&D 3" DOWNPIPE BACK FULL EXHAUST SYSTEM. EXPECT AN AGGRESSIVE EXHAUST NOTE AT IDLE AND WIDE OPEN THROTTLE YET LITTLE TO NO INTERIOR DRONE WHEN AT CRUISE OR HIGHWAY DRIVING. THIS 3" EXHAUST IS SUITABLE FOR STOCK ST'S ALL THE WAY TO FULLY MODIFIED HIGH POWER BUILDS
Click to expand...
I had the Thermal 3” installed yesterday and love it! Wayyyyy better than the Gibson Catback that I renamed Gibson Rattleback! Also had the Thermal Leakpipes, I mean mid-pipes removed lesson learned


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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singingwhodat said:
I had the Thermal 3” installed yesterday and love it! Wayyyyy better than the Gibson Catback that I renamed Gibson Rattleback! Also had the Thermal Leakpipes, I mean mid-pipes removed lesson learned


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
So you say the Thermal 3" is the way to go?
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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Thread Starter #11
What the thought of the MBRP CAT BACK ? I need some feed back. Their price is much less that the ones first mentioned. I know that sometimes you get what you pay for but these look vey compatible in many specs.
 

R

ridered74

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Silver spruce ST said:
What the thought of the MBRP CAT BACK ? I need some feed back. Their price is much less that the ones first mentioned. I know that sometimes you get what you pay for but these look vey compatible in many specs.
Click to expand...
I like the sound of my mbrp, no drone driving on the highway with stock dp's. Thermal definitely sounds better in person tho.
 

OP
S

Silver spruce ST

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ridered74 said:
I like the sound of my mbrp, no drone driving on the highway with stock dp's. Thermal definitely sounds better in person tho.
Click to expand...
Thank you. This is getting hard for me, because I have never done a cat back before, so far most have guided me to the Thermal cut back. The mbrp are about $400 less. I guess that is the way I'll go. Any more guidance from anyone ?
 

S

singingwhodat

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Silver spruce ST said:
Thank you. This is getting hard for me, because I have never done a cat back before, so far most have guided me to the Thermal cut back. The mbrp are about $400 less. I guess that is the way I'll go. Any more guidance from anyone ?
Click to expand...
I would go with the Thermal and just be done with it. I wasted $1200 not going that route the first time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 

STJIM

STJIM

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Between my 2020 and my 2022 I’ve had a Borla S and a Gibson system.
I now have a Thermal 2.5 inch and I would never have anything else. As we all know there is basically no performance gains from these exhaust systems. It comes down to how you want it to sound and the Thermal has a great sound, at idle and with your foot in it!
 

Blue Beast

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STJIM said:
Between my 2020 and my 2022 I’ve had a Borla S and a Gibson system.
I now have a Thermal 2.5 inch and I would never have anything else. As we all know there is basically no performance gains from these exhaust systems. It comes down to how you want it to sound and the Thermal has a great sound, at idle and with your foot in it!
Click to expand...
STJIM did you move from Ky to Fla??
 

F=MA

F=MA

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I have had Borla S, Magnaflow and Thermal 2.5. Love the Thermal 2.5. Thermal 3.0 sounds like a tractor to me. Could be the aftermarket downpipes that makes them sound like that.
 

Last edited:
T

Twm21ST

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Just ordered thermal 2.5 system with black tips today. It's currently on sale from thermal for 1k shipped. Crazy deal
 

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