im thinking about buying a 2.5RS that already has AEM intake, borla headers and racing medallion exhaust. honestly i was thinking i would end up buying a completely stock car and possibly getting the airbox replaced. now that i might have the parts im considering swapping them out for higher performacne parts but still really want a quiet/stockish ride. i wouldnt mind something that makes some noise when you really stomp on it but for around town id go with silent if it were really possible.

so first off, are the borla headers going to be ok if i dont heat treat them, or well rather are the hoses around em going to be ok, enough to where i wont have to worry about them? im not really trying to take them off, have them coated and then replaced - id sooner just trade someone for stock+cash. if i did leave them on, how would this run with a stock exhaust? performance./noise?

lastly what is the absolute quietist aftermarket exhaust that is 2-2.25" piping and looks stock? from searching ive seen greddy evo is fairly quiet but has a big ars can and hte stromung looks stock but is fairly loud. (i have found as much information from searching as possible already but now need some specifics) what is your recommendation for as close to stock as possible and as quiet as possible (with more emphasis on quiet than looks)?

thank you very much, please dont just tell me to search, i already have done quite a bit of it

 

one more thing, what is the factory exhaust piping diameter?

 

I say get your hands on a wrx exhaust and access to a mig welder... or a cool muffler shop.. It has a bit of a rasp but is a bit deeper than normal... its hot!! i love it on mine.
every one sez that 2.25 is the ideal size for 2.5rs factory is around 1 7/8. all the stock hangers work except for the one just before the muffler...
right so here is the thread where i went over the install.
https://www.i-club.com/forums/engine-power-non-turbo-all-non-turbo-imprezas-61/will-wrx-exhaust-fit-gc8-103602/

 

I just put a Flowmaster 2-chamber Delta Flow on my '01 2.5 RS, and it isn't too loud. It was about $125 installed. Flowmaster also makes a 3-chamber Delta Flow that would be even quiter. The Delta Flow design, I am told, is just a thicker shell on the muffler to prevent the noise in the car's interior, while preserving a thoatie sound outside. To give you an idea of the difference, I have a 2-chamber "Original Flow" on my V-8 truck that is loud inside & out. As for headers, they are my next step as well, so I am interested to read what people will have to say on this thread.