I am looking into getting a turbo xs turbo-back exhaust with the catless race pipe. With the turbo xs up-pipe in place I will be running with NO cats. I have heard that the smell is bad. Should this be a concern? How bad is it? Besides the smell will it be noticable that my car is running without cats (exhaust gas)? I am not very worried about emissions in Cincinnati but I don't really want it to be painfully obvious to the police. This WRX is my daily driver so I just want a car that won't smell like crap and attract a lot of cops.

 

I have no cats and there is no smell. Maybe when somebody was doing their install they had penetrating oil sprayed all over the pipes and when things heated up it started to stink. Dunno, but I've been catless for 4 months and no odors.

 

No cats here, no smell either.

 

i have to disagree, and say that it does infact smell. i still have
the catted uppipe, and there is definitely a change in smell from
stock. i sincerely doubt you'll get pulled over for it, though, if
thats your primary concern.

 

I have NOT noticed any unusual smell since that evil dealer BROKE THE LAW and installed those catless pipes against my will. But this idea about stinky catless cars may have started back in the days when people were able (or were forced by circumstances) to put leaded gas into a cat-bearing car that is supposed to take unleaded. For example, a friend of mine was working in the embassy in India during the 70s (I think it was) and came in with one of the new catted cars. The Indians lacked unleaded so he was forced to tank up with unleaded. STUNK LIKE THE DEVIL, for months if not years, as the cat slowly gave up the ghost.

 

I'd like to thank everyone for the quick responses. I just don't want a car that stinks to hell and shoots nasty dark exhaust gas. I am also concerned with getting pulled over for it. But it sounds like that is not much of a problem.

 

I've not noticed an abnormally nasty smell from catless cars, but I have noticed a very distinct residue on the bumper of cars without cats. Make sure that you keep that back soot cleaned off of your bumper. I know cops who go looking for that.

 

no cats, and i actually kind of like the smell. i just associate it with speed and hp, and i dont mind it. every once in a while i'll get a good whiff and it can be quite strong. sometimes gives me a bit of a headache when i let it idle for a min in the garage (no turbo timer yet)

so just keep thinking... smell = hp, smell = hp, smell = hp.

btw, if youre concerned with getting pulled over, just remember, the better spooling and hp benefits of running catless will only help you outrun the police even better, lol

your brother in boost

spanky