I agree totally. The opinions of best sound were from people beside the cars and near the tunnel and the drivers of each. The HKS is just raw power (like the FI) but has a distinct rumble/burble on deceleration that is unique. Of course it's dead quiet at cruise and idle which is very nice and stealthy. FI is just raw power all the time and the drone is quite maddening on long cruises at 80kmh - 100kmh. YMMV

Would this be non resonated?

Resonated FI still drone but it is reduced. However, drone, like over sound, is subjective. The reason why HKS and the ARK Grip minimize almost all drone is due to having traditional resonators + Helmholtz resonators. The 18" resonated FI will reduce the drone vs the non-resonated version, but it is still present as you modulate the throttle at cruising speed....to me. To many others on this board they consider it drone free. Again subjective.

The lack of helmholz resonators on the FI is my biggest complaint. Otherwise, it is a great exhaust.

That is why I went with an ARK Grip V2 over the 18" FI. If you hold the throttle at 2-3k rpms it sounds 100% stock. Roll into the throttle a bit and it gives that distinct VQ/exotic(ish) 'wail'. I love the tips on the FI exhaust though.

Power and sound is what led me to FI. It would be nice to have a sound like Tomei and the power from FI, but I'm not wiling to spend $1300 to find out.

In the end, I went w/ tried and true.

In the end we are arguing over two great exhausts. Probably the best two for non track/performance cars. It's personal preference that decides in the end. No performance differences between them to consider really.

I picked between these two based on tons of research
Bottom line I think the FI has a complete unparalleled sound that is deep and unique. Everyone will have their own tastes. Hopefully I will love my FI as much as I think I will. I will give and honest report when received and installed in march-April

Saying one is better than the other is pointless until you have seen, touched, installed and driven both of them. OF which I have stated my case, the only objectivity I can lay down is build, weight, fitment and customer service are heavily favoring Fast Intentions.

I am thinking that Fast Intentions fitment is top notch due to the fact that they are made to order, not stored in any warehouse for x years, no stacking, moving dropping, rolling, the thing comes to you fresh out of the shop, in nearly the same shape as when it was built, not a knock on HKS but I bought my HKS in 8/2013 and it was built in 2/2011 for the front and axle back was 8/2011. Again, one of each kit is such a small sample size, but I am sharing my experience. My vendor did not care about this, Nor did the Japan distrubitor and HKS told me to contact my vendor, I was stuck with a franken-kit .

One thing about drone, EVERY exhaust will drone with TPs and no midipe resonators I run the CF 18" resonated kit with FI resonated TPs and have ZERO drone. Conversely my HKS with Motordyne ART pipes sounded like pure ****, raspy, more hiss, and had this garbled quality that sounded almost like detonation. Had the thing checked for leaks 3 times, nothing, no carbon leaks, nothing, had it for 2k miles.

Any exhaust will have drone, the HH phenomenom has it's limitations. Just like how any exhaust wil have hiss on this platform, any exhaust will have drone if allowed. Driving style is also a major factor of drone. While the HH resonator does do the best job managing this, it can still be overcome via test pipes, intake, driving style, engine load(ac/heat, accesory, stereo etc). The blanket statement "xxx exhaust has no drone" is almost as useless as "xxxx exhaust sounds better than everything".

Again, just sharing my observations as I have been lucky enough to own both of these great, and TOTALLY DIFFERENT exhaust systems.

People's opinion on exhaust noise are useless. One person will say there's no drone/rasp/etc. and another will say there is.

Therefore every post in this thread is pretty useless.

Including yours and mine?

Totally! :) I was just trying to get my post count up.

Doesnt matter anyhow, he bought the FI and am sure he'll be plenty happy.

It was a good discussion. I learned a lot.

Exactly! Everyone has an opinion which is why I started this thread. Everyone's responses helped point me in the right direction.

By the way. If anyone has ever doubted the capability of the 2.5" fast intentions catback should keep an eye for updates in their twin turbo thread. This kit on my car just obliterated any thought of restriction on a forced induction application. Dyno proven.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk