2004 WRX Standard Exhaust?
 

I was planning on looking at a 2004 wrx this weekend but have been put off by the fact there was an advisory on the last MOT for corrosion on the centre/rear/silencer of the exhaust and my mechanic has told me that two sections cost £1100 +VAT!!

I have a few questions:

1/ What range WRX's would have the same exhaust as an 04 WRX SL ?(so I can find one on ebay!)
2/ Does anyone know anywhere I could get one new for substantially less?
3/ Are there any stainless systems out there that are cheaper but not much louder than the standard (will be getting used for long journeys with kids in the back!)
4/ Do cat replacment exhausts fail MOTs?

Basically is there any much cheaper option that won't be too loud?!

Thanks in advance.

surely you can pick up a std exhaust in decent nick from someone who's upgraded to a stainless if you want it to be quiet?

lots of scoob breakers about and even on ebay.

Don't be put off, you need a new mechanic as well as an exhaust, because he is an idiot.

You will be able to get either a full stainless 2.5" 2nd hand off ebay for around £200 /£300 dependant on make and a standard system for less, i know of one that my mate has that was on my old car and did around 5000 miles and has been in the garage since then, and i bet there are loads like that.

If you do buy one tell us where you are and we will tell you which specialist to use.

:)

I've got a standard WRX catback exhaust in my garage you can have for free!

What a nice offer. I'm still a relative newbie and the generosity and help on this sight is absolutely amazing.

You can get a Milltek sport cat / decat setup for far less than £1100!!
If you change just the back box, you will release a little more burble, without being too loud.
A backbox change won't necessitate a remap either.
I'd be very tempted by the generous free offer above. P&P from a courier less than £20 based on personal experience of selling a Prodrive system.
£25 for fitting, £15 for gaskets etc.

Cheers guys and thanks for the generous offer! I was told that the center section has 2 cats on it and I think that's the expensive part. I've not seen the car so I don't know how bad the corrosion is and where exactly it is but as it's 120 miles away I don't want to go see it unless I'm planning on buying it!

My main concern buying second hand would be making sure I got the right part as I was told there are alot of exhaust system variants - can anyone confirm what years have the same system?

To be fair to my mechanic he did say I could look at custom system but I was really trying to keep it standard for noise and insurance reasons. I stuck a stainless back box on my 2002 Clio 172 because the standard ones are crap and some insurance companies were trying to charge me an extra £150 ffs!

The center pipe only has a resonator mate, it sounds like your mechanic is looking to you for his Xmas bonus!

Indeed- The CATs on a WRX are in the down pipe from the turbo and in the section under the front headers- the mid section is a silencer/resonator only.

What they said... get a new mechanic ASAP!

Thanks again, I have to defend my mechanic though! I spoke to him again today and he's just given me the price that his supplier gave him. He doesn't know what the system looks like as it's not in his book so he's relying on the correct info from the supplier. He also called the subaru garage for a price but they never got back to him. He's happy to fit any second hand/custom parts that I supply.

I'll have a chat with the misus tonight and make my (cough) decision tonight.

Dont let an exhaust put you off. As already said you can get a back box second hand for £50 (or free on here!), and a centre section new is only £100 odd quid from the likes of scoobyparts/scoobyworld etc. I had a 2004 WRX SL. Any centre section and back box from 2001 - 2007 will fit. I would seriously look at a standard centre section and a prodrive back box which are around £50-£70 on ebay and you will have a nice sounding car that isnt too loud, but much nicer than standard.