I am a new scooby owner (2000MY classic shape standard UK Turbo) and am considering decating the exhaust. Three questions:
1 - will it improve low rev turbo lag significantly?
2 - will it make it really loud, or does this depend on the exhaust bought.
I don't really want to wake the neighbours each morning?
3 - will I need to remap the ECU - do I risk damaging the car if I don't

Any help appreciated

Doug

 

1 - nope
2 - depends on exhaust
3 - in theory no, but some cars don't like being decatted without remap, but you wont see best results unless you have it mapped

 

Interesting, lots of companies claim it does reduce lag, so this is all bo***ks?

 

I fitted a downpipe decat to my 95RA last week,and the car feels much better for it! The turbo spools up sooner,and really does feel quicker.
The downside(for me) is the extra noise. It's not really bad,but being an RA im using higher revs more of the time than a WRX. Also, the MOT will be a problem,so be prepared to have to put the cat back on for this.
As regards turbo lag, again being an RA the revs are in the range the turbo loves more often,so not noticed any difference in this respect.

Mit

 

I have removed the middle cat from my UK MY99 and changed the back box at the same time. I bought a Magnex system, not too loud just a deep burble. Try and listen before you buy as it really is a matter of taste.

A word of advice about mapping after you have de catted. Its not really necessary to have it mapped, but, my standard spec went from 220bhp to 281bhp and torque increased to 312 ft/lb. So for the bang for buck get it Ecutek'd asap

 

the pick up will be better, but the rev range of the pick up wont differ dramaticly.