Skunk2 or TRD?

Of course they are trying to sell you the TRD... Try asking on a Celica board which exhaust the recommend the most. And remember, you're going to get more out of your exhaust the more you open up the entire engine.

Oh, and install it yourself if you have the tools, it's no big deal and the stealership will rape you for it.

If the OP goes for the TRD exhaust, the warranty is void if it is self installed. Since it sounds like Spam Catcher is already looking to have his new exhaust installed, and his own numbers indicate the TRD exhaust is about 14HP more just for bolting it on, I'd do the TRD and have the dealer install it. The biggest reason for me is that the same people that designed the engine also designed the pipe, so it is probably mated much better for the application than someone at an engineering house looking at numbers and blueprints.

I highly doubt it. TRD products are decent but there are far better products out there. I'm sure the HP #s are hyped up on a car that was opened up from top to bottom. If you want to get more out of your exhaust then you should open up the intake, TB, intake manifold, cams, and throw on a set of headers.

And what do you need a warranty for on an exhaust? You would probably save more by installing it yourself. And better yet, buy some pre bent mandrel parts and build your own exhaust for $200.

You may doubt it but I know for sure. I installed a TRD muffler on stock 97 Supra Turbo and got a 26 hp increase at the dyno. Other magazines support that figure with at 25 hp increase on theirs. TRD has access to the engineerings that designed the engine. They know what's best for it. As far as installation, my dealer charged me $25 to do it. That's worth it considering I'm going to keep the car until it falls apart. $25 for a lifetime warranty on a $800 exhaust is quite a bargain.

If you also compare the TRD exhaust to the aftermarket ones, you will find that the TRD has the best fit and finish among them all. I can talk because I've bought plenty of TRD products. How may have you bought?

I would suggest to Spam Catcher to ask how much the dealer would install yours for. Additionally, ask yourself how long you're planning on keeping the car. That should really determine if it's worth it for you.

Hey, Josh, you and I know that, but the OP didn't really sound like a wrench turner. Yeah, If *I* were going to install an exhaust, either TRD or totally aftermarket, I'd at least do the intake and possibly a manifold. Since he was talking about having an installer do it, I thought in this case a TRD with a Toyota warranty (parts AND labor) would be the best bet.

Depends on the price of the exhaust really.

I own a MR2 and I know a bit about performance products. $800 for an exhaust, or if you can work a wrench you could have one for $200. A muffer shop would not charge that much to install or mate something up. TRD may have 'access' to the engineering's that designed the engine, big deal! There's no rocket science in producing an exhaust system that's right for a particular engine.

And please don't tell me that the fit and finish is better, how many exhaust systems have you really looked at? You Supra guys need to learn how to do some of your own work (yes, us MR2 guys know how you are) =)

It's all going to come down to price, $900 range for an exhaust is hardly worth it when you will get comparable results from producing your own. Let's see ...Regrind Cams + Intake + Custom exhaust + Header...or just Exhaust...tough choice.

Build my own exhaust? Would it be carb and all legal for street use? I dought it.

CelicaGT00

This will be my first TRD part if I go TRD. I plan on keepng the car forever. The dealership says that they would have to see the parts first to find a estimate for labor. It would be a year labor Warrenty.

CelicaGT00

I could do it, but I dont have a car lift. I live in an apparment. I dont want to scrach ether exhaust. The Skunk2 and TRD are both stainless steel.

Skunk2 is about $500. I'm not sure how much the TRD one is but I think it will be about the same or maybe a little more.

CelicaGT00

I take it you live in Cali huh? I'm not sure how they are on Exhausts there, but I would imagine with a primary and secondary Cat you would be able to pass any sniff tests.

If they are both in the $500 range you're probably best off with the TRD.

I don't blame you! Lying on your back with a foot of clearance, stuff falling in your face, tools rolling away from you...oh yeah, a fun afternoon.

I do a lot of my own work, but something I have to get under the car for...no thanks. The last time I did was to fix a bad leak in the fuel lines.

I started working for a Toyota dealer a few weeks ago, in the Detailing dept. The mechanics were behind yesterday, so the SM asked if I could do oil changes. Took all of a half an hour, and included rotating the tires and replacing the cabin filter. Takes me 30 mins just to change my oil alone!

As far as scratching...that'll only take a week or so...

But I would still probably go with the TRD, unless the Skunk2 is a LOT cheaper!

Since it seems you live in CA you just might be able to. I have an '85 Corola GTS and an '85 Celica GTS. The Corolla is rotting away in the back yard; the original owner of the Celica oiled it every year he had it, but it too is starting to rot now, and I have an '88 Supra that was Ziebarted, but it too is JUST starting to bubble up a little. Wish I lived somewhere where Toyotas lasted forever, because mechanically they are all good. Just the bodies are rotting off of them.

Aw, c'mon Josh, gimmee a break. And I DO do a lot of my own work, but like our friend here I don't have a lift, and I don't know my way around an engine well enough. I helped replace the timing belt in my Supra, but I just didn't have the confidence, tools, knowledge or work area to do it. It LOOKS easy enough, but because of the age of the car it took two nights.

And before you get to thinking I'm a gibrone, I used to work for companies where my jobs were tech, engineering ass't, tech support and the companies built specialized computers BEFORE computers were available to the public, aircraft engine controls and space suits. Yeah, space suits...I used to assemble and test EMU's. Oh yeah, and that $25M toilet the astronauts get to 'sit and think' on...

I was just picking on the fellow. The MR2 Guys get a lot of crap for not having what the Supra guys think is an 'elite' car. The MR2 guys give it back since most Supra guys can't keep up with the MR2 on a track, and usually cant turn a wrench =)

Hey, if i had my way, I'd have an '87 MR2 and a '93 MR2; the '87 because they RIPPED so well and the '93 'cause they LOOKED so cool! And my Supra, etc...

Unfortunately, when it comes to actual wrenching, I can keep my 'classics' running, somewhat...

Watch History and PBS for shows on Hamilton Standard (or Hamilton Sunstrand as it is now), and look for some guy called Dr. Flush (not me, BTW) He usually is talking about spacesuits OR that $25M toilet.

When asked why $25M, his response is "Do you want THAT crap floating around the cabin with YOU?" It has it's own "artificial gravity", mostly by using suction.

Shortly after I got laid off there, my daughter came home with a paper for parents to talk about space and space exploration. I put down that I could speak on EMUs, and two days later my daughter comes home and says, "I told the teacher you could get a spacesuit!!!" Yeah, right! If I were still employed I could sign one out (an OLD!!! Spacelab model with the fittings for tubes that needed to be attached in order to LIVE...). Luckily, Dr. Flush singed it out for me, and we had an interesting day.

And us Alltrac/GT4/Turbo AWD drivers look down on all of you and smirk.

Especially when there is a fast corner up ahead, and the road surface is less than perfect. ;)