Cai or exhaust
 

Which one would be your first mod?

CBE is generally much more expensive to upgrade than CAI. HFCs are generally a little less expensive compared to Intakes.

CBE has higher gains and will be noticeable at all RPMs. HFCs show very good gains as a "first mod", also noitceable at all RPMs. Intakes show great gains at the higher RPMs, but only small gains at lower RPMs.

Cosmetically, CBE and CAI both look good, depending on the manufacturer. HFCs have zero cosmetic benefit.


I would always choose the CBE if I had the money. HFCs if I wasn't looking to spend a lot.

I would do exhaust just for better sound IMO.

Aftermarket Exhaust makes the 370z sound like a z and not a Lexus.

CBE first...followed SHORTLY by intake.

bang for buck? go with some HFCs.

I actually would go with the Cold air intakes first. At least with the stillen gen 3 intakes (one i have on my car) I noticed a big difference in engine sound and performance, but when I put the new exhaust on (fast intentions with test pipes) I cant here the intake at ALL anymore lol exhaust is too loud. SO go with the cai first, its cheaper, you will be VERY happy with the improved sound, enjoy it for a lil while, then get an exhaust. If you go the other way around, you will end up buying an exhaust, love the sound, then buy the cai, and wont notice anything and feel like you just blew 500 bucks. But if you buy cai first, you will be like DAMN! that was worth 500 bucks, then when you add exhaust on top, you will be like DAYYYUMMMNN I just made something awesome even better.

Just my .2 cents

This is the truth!

+100 to what he said

HFC's best bang for the buck hands down, G3's will pick up power, but much higher in the RPM band than a CBE or HFC setup. If you have the coin, CBE or HFC will net you better power throughout the power band.

CBE, look at the dynos from the differernt companies, they make 20+ hp and give great sound. Also note that the first exhaust mod you do will result the most gains,, and then thereafter the exhaust mods will only net a few more. How much duckies you got to spend?

Do HFCs make your exhaust louder (obnoxious)?

No, it will great a deeper tone a bit but it more so amplifies the stock sound.
I have heard it and it is nice, but I love my exhaust more. :D

CBE, get that great look from the rear and makes the exhaust sound much more like a sports car. Also, why waste money on intakes when you're only going to replace it with intercooler piping in the future? Oh wait, I guess not everyone is going to go that route...:D

:iagree: It will make your exhaust sound a bit louder, but it sounds beautiful, racey even. I got my Berks for $300 and added 15whp, you will NEVER see that kinda bang for the buck anywhere.

I would like to get some Borlas, but I went on their website and can't find them for a 370. Which ones seem to have the deepest sound? I don't want the whiney ricer tone.

play around in here for a bit.
http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...data-base.html

I have. It's hard to tell from videos. To bad there aren't more Z's in my area with after- market exhausts.

I think I've decided on CAI and HFC's. I think I'm gonna go with the stillen cai. Which hfc's do you like the best?

i went with Berk HFC because of the extended O2 censor (your less likely to throw a CEL) but i went with the stillen CAI and then after that i got the agency power exhaust and that is very deep sounds kind of like an STI but more refined

Without the CBE your car is still gonna sound :shakes head:

I wouldnt say that, with HFC's my exhaust sounded way better than stock.

:iagree:

The HFC will sound better than stock but the CBE will give it the best sound out of all mods but it is also the most expensive one. Also IMO HFC will degrade somewhat quickly and start to sound raspy and you will have to replace them again or put up with the sound where the CBE wont do that. Right now the ERZ are the least expensive HFC but we are kinda waiting for a certain amount of miles on all HFCs to see how they fare over time, as if they wear out.

Now that I have finally got my ERZ HFCs on, I am actually thinking about putting the stock cats back on as I am kinda on the line about the volume and some raspyness. The FI CBE by itself sounded awesome.

all that hell to put them on and you wanna take them off? insanity!

I know huh! They do have a bit of rasp to them at time, then at other times they sound ok. But I can feel the difference they make so they wont come off till and only maybe, when I do the final drive upgrade. Need that Army money they owe me for the stop loss so I can do the final drive and lsd at once. Im off to NJ tomorrow for 3 weeks. You gonna be gone when I get back? Have to give me a call if so, to thank you for helping me here.