hey all i just recently got my 2002 wrx and i plan i getting the greddy evolution exhaust, but i have heard that getting a down or an up pipe is better. right now im looking at the HKS ones and have a few questions for the more experienced out there.

which would put off more power, a down pipe or and up pipe or should i just get both?

the downpipe and up pipes replace the existing catalytic converters, what would that do to emissions and isnt taking out cat.s illegal?(i live in california btw).

any help would be much appreciated thanks!

 

By replacing your uppipe, you would fail the visual, but probably still pass the sniffer. The uppipe gives a small power gain, but quite a noticeable increase in spool up. With a Downpipe, you would want to get one with a high-flow cat, and the same would apply- pass the sniffer, fail the visual. The distinction is, it's not so hard to find testers who overlook the visual if you pass the actual test. However, any and all cat-back exhausts are street and CARB legal provided they have a muffler or muffler-type device.

As far as recommendations, I would talk to Nate at S-Squared Motorsports in Rancho Cordova about his up and downpipes- they are custom manufactured in house, and have a few design features you won't find anywhere else, plus he does quality work at a good price. The site is www.ss-ms.com