| SS_Firehawk |
04-07-2012 07:06 PM |
Tanabe Medallion Exhaust Review
Finally writing a review on the Tanabe Medallion Exhaust. I did not install this myself, and this was installed with other exhaust components that will definitely change the original sound of this exhaust. Those were the PPE LTH's and Motordyne XYZ Y pipe with Cat.
Packaging: This was a big MF'N box. Everything was wrapped and protected well. Everything needed for the install was included and nothing missing. This would no fit in my 2011 Nissan Maxima trunk with the seats down because the box was too big to fit thorugh the hole that goes into the rear passenger area when seats are down.
Installation: This took less than an hour and bolted up with absolutely no fitment or rubbing issues. The shop said this was one of the easiest exhausts that they installed. It mated perfectly to the Motordyne Y pipe. This is easily done with simple tools and a jack. I didn't have any :(
Appearance: The exhaust looks stunning. My only complaint is that the entire exhaust isn;t polished but it is very minor. The cans and the tips do come polished. The welds look great and the quality was fantastic. The tips lined up perfectly to the rear bumper and were center. Speaking of the tips, there is no other exhaust for the Z that has these walled tips. The are absolutely stunning to look at and are the only visual giveaway that this car is not stock without looking under the car. The cans sit high up and are nearly impossible to dent. If the car were lowered, the exhaust would have no issues with clearance. The cans can be seen if you were to bend over to look, but not standing at any distance unless you were the size of a child.
Performance & Sound: This doesn't sound like any of the videos because of my exhaust configuration. This is considered one of the quieter exhausts on the market. When headers and HFC added, this is not a quiet exhaust system anymore. There are two 18" resonators that really help clean up the rasp from the headers and reduce drone to something manageable. I can't say enough about how well it sounds with the PPE headers. I hated the way the headers sounded in the videos, but came out lucky after everything was installed. It's quiet when cruising, and screams at anything more than part throttle. My Wife loves the sound, as does my Mother in Law (she's 56). My Father is slightly jealous (he drives a Cayman S) and I get to wake up my Pot head neighbors every morning I start it up. It shakes everything for a good 30 seconds on a cold start.
Conclusion: I picked this is for $1215 on a price match with shipping back in January. I don't regret this purchase at all. This is a great deal for a JDM piece that is definitely different from the crowd. The fitment, build quality, sound, and price were fantastic. If there is anyone on the fence with this particular exhaust, just hit the order button. There are a lot of exhausts available for this vehicle and I'll throw my hat in for the Tanabe system. I have dyno's and videos on this thread: http://www.the370z.com/intake-exhaus...h-hfc-cbe.html If you want me to repost them here, please let me know. I'll post pics when I have time. (Heading to dinner!) |
