Which would you classify as Fossil?

 

Definetly Fabspeed is to Akrapovic as Fossil is to Rolex. Sure, you can get the time in both watches but there is no real comparison

 

Akrapovic has the best engineering, manufacture and looks, that's FACT. I don't see Koenigsegg, OEM BMW, OEM Porsche, Racing Ducati, Audi, etc, etc, using Fabspeed or Kline. Don't expect to get what you would from an Akrapovic in other brand. Even more importan Car manufacturers are far from getting to where Akrapovic is in development and materials.

Fabspeed are really bad exhausts actually, they are just manufacturing for expensive cars but that's about it, no real engineering and poor materials. Kline are pretty basic exhaust with and effort to use fancy materials, we will see how they work on the long term.

 

Yes i do hear you on those, but what happen with Akras rear look though.....very ugly IMO! No option for stock 4 pipes.

 

Don't know for 991.2, it is not out yet.

Each brand has its focus. If you are just interested in tips looks why not just buy tips? Or if you just want more noise you can use IPE

 

I'm going to have to jump in here because your accusations are simply not true. We have a full staff of mechanical engineers who work tirelessly to design and produce the best quality, highest-performing exhaust products available. We have brand new cars in here for 4-6 weeks of development and testing (both on the road and on the dyno) which often includes multiple prototypes and revisions until we get it just right.

As for manufacturing, we use the highest quality materials, components, and equipment that money can buy. Our HJS catalytic converters are imported directly from Germany and in some cases, specifically designed for our applications. We use high-grade T304L stainless steel and we manufacture using aerospace level machinery and CNC equipment.

We do not compete directly with Akrapovic, so that's not an accurate comparison. Akra is an OEM-level supplier, and they manufacture primarily from titanium. Their prices are also double - or in some case more than than double - what we charge for a comparable product. In many cases, our systems have actually been dyno-tested to produce more power and offer a better sound than some of the Akrapovic offerings.

At the end of the day, it comes down to personal preference. If you want to use the watch analogy, then do so accurately. I would say that Akra is on par with a Panerai or an Audemar Piquet, where as Fabspeed would be the Rolex or the Tag Heuer. If you want to pay for the name and the exclusivity, then I can't argue with Akrapovic. If you're after a more cost effective blend of trusted performance, style, sound, and quality, then Fabspeed is a fantastic option.

 

Interesting, could you elaborate on how do manufacture your exhaust? R&D, manufacturing process you use, etc.

What do you mean with OEM-Level supplier?

You say comparable product, but you are comparing OEM-Lever to yours, titanium vs stainless steel. Kind of confusing.

How much you would say your exhaust systems should last? I've seen weldings give up near tube bendings and unperfect fits.

What do you seek during your R&D? I've seen systems made by you with a lot of drone inside the car.

A good exhaust is way beyond mentioning some well studied marketing descriptions, just to say you have a decent CNC and use the most used steel for aftermarket cars doesn't says much

 

Certainly...

Our manufacturing department is comprised of around thirty people, including machinists, fabricators, welders, polishing specialists, quality control techs, etc. Our products are primarily assembled by hand using our proprietary jigs and fixtures, using components that we fabricate on our machinery. Our all-electric CNC mandrel tubing bender is made by a company called Unison, and is the same unit used by Boeing, Airbus, and Lockheed Martin. We have two Haas CNC machines - a lathe and a vertical mill. We use a Flow Mach4-XD waterjet cutting station and a Bystronic Xpert 150-ton press brake to make our flanges, brackets, and braces.

Our R&D process is quite simple, from a procedural standpoint. When a development vehicle arrives, it is strapped onto our all-wheel-drive DynoJet and we get baseline power numbers. Then we examine the exhaust system, the intake system, the emissions system, and the ECU to see where we can make performance and sound improvements. Once we identify all of the opportunities that we want to pursue, we use our Romer CMM digitizing arm to take digital scans of the factory components, as well as mapping out any inference points, mounting locations, etc. We then sit down with our engineers, and begin designing our products. Our R&D team builds prototypes, and we begin testing. Once we find the optimal balance of sound and power, we lock in the design and begin manufacturing.

Akrapovic is a very large corporation. They have contracts with many manufacturers to produce OEM exhaust systems. As such, their budget and infrastructure is beyond compare. It's like comparing a bespoke custom suit maker to Hugo Boss. They are vastly different business models and use very different manufacturing techniques and processes because of the differences in production volume.

My point is that it's not really an accurate comparison to stack a Fabspeed exhaust system against an Akrapovic system. It's apples to oranges. Akrapovic is mostly titanium while we specialize in stainless steel. The price points are vastly different, and in many cases, the customer base doesn't even overlap. People looking for a brand name titanium exhaust who have a budget of $10k will likely go with Akrapovic. People who are looking for best combination of performance, quality, and value, will most likely be interested in a Fabspeed product.

The vast majority of our products will outlast the vehicles that they are installed on. That said, all of our products are covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty. In the unlikely event of a failure, we will repair or replace the product at no charge (for the original purchaser.) Some obvious limitations apply, but we always stand behind our products and make sure to work with our customers in any way that we can to ensure complete satisfaction.

Our primary goals during R&D differ based on the product that we're developing. The advantage of Fabspeed's product line is that we don't just develop one product for a particular car and then call it a day. We typically invest the time and resources to develop a full suite of performance products for any vehicle that we offer products for. As a result, we can tailor a performance solution to the end user. If the customer's primary goal is power (ie: a club racer or a track enthusiast), then we will recommend a certain combination of products that were developed with power in mind. Conversely, if the customer is looking for a simple sound upgrade for his daily driver, our recommended products would be different and would include our more subtle options that are designed to achieve the best tone.

During R&D, we will often develop with two goals in mind: power and sound. Often the most powerful set up is also the loudest, which means there may be some drone or cabin resonance. However, we would not typically recommend these particular products for a daily driven vehicle. We also develop and offer a more toned-down option that is free from any drone and is the perfect solution for a street car. However, that doesn't prevent someone from buying the wrong product and then experiencing negative effects.

Hopefully the information provided above addresses this concern.

If you'd like to learn more, I'd encourage you to visit any of the following links:

Watch the full fabrication process for one of our Porsche Turbo exhaust systems:

See the Romer CMM digitizing arm and the mandrel bender in action:

Watch the manufacturing process of our Carbon Fiber Wall Art signs (showcases the Flow Waterjet)

Watch the development and fabrication of our Ferrari F12 Sport Cats:

Blog post showing the full fabrication process of our Ferrari 458 Sport Headers:
http://www.fabspeed.com/blog/how-its...eaders-part-1/

 

It's worth noting that after a large number of exhausts on a 991 TTS, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that our exhaust sound from the turbo back is very mono-chorded. Why does this even matter, you ask?

Many of us (myself included) are looking for a louder car than Porsche provides stock. In particular, I find a stock 2015 991 GTS to have the perfect amount of low, mid, and high RPM volume. Unfortunately, it turns out that our cars dont actually produce a very wide variety of frequencies to work with.

The single tone that the car produces in the 1500-2000 rpm area is very resonant in the coupe. That's "drone". On the other hand, if you work to suppress the single frequency that drones between 1500-2000, you typically don't have a perfect notch filter at your disposal (while still minimizing backpressure). So you end up lessening or eliminating the single loudest frequency from 1000-2500 rpm.

I have not encountered an exhaust system that sounds considerably louder than stock from 1000-2500 that doesn't also "drone".

Many exhausts such as Kline, Akra, EP, etc allow the 3000+ rpm single tone through. It sounds good, loud, exotic, etc. It's nice and other than the decel fuel-dump (the popping), I like it.

But there are people who want more sound in the

 

Chris you may have to jump in the water and try one. But I feel you have a good grip on what's out there and what may make you happiest. Here for whatever you need!

You too Momo, good chatting.

 

To answer: I want great sound, legal with Cats, long lasting and mainly satisfying dealer who will install on my car.
I check akra site carefully, their system has no stock 4 tips option, only weird looking 2 pipe set up with 2 small pipe holes inside facade of 2 larger pipe holes which imo look really fake. I'm not accepting a new pipe with compulsory changed looking rear end thanks. Akra Web site also saying 100 cats can throw cel without ecu tune too (they honest at least), so technology on cats is not as good as OEM unfortunately. Dealer also advise cats on Kline and so many others will and DO cause problems, like cel, also seen to fail early from unsuitable non OE designing which causing other warranty problems and bad emission. Seems choice is VERY limited for customer who want to retain legal emission and satisfy dealer concerns.

 

"Legal with Cats," depends on the location that you're posting from because in California for example, modifying the catalytic converters in any way shape or form is 100% illegal. If that's the case, then your only real legal option is a slip-on system, and no link pipes regardless if they have cats in them or not. I would suggest referencing your local county and state laws in regards to emissions regulations.

The 100 cell cats you're referring to that you mention require an ECU flash, doesn't determine or mean that they are worse than the OEM cats, I want to clarify that. 100 cell cats are very free-flowing cats which I would say are primarily good for limiting the burnt gasoline smell and limiting some sound, but not necessarily passing emissions. They are technically still not road legal, but they're offered as an option which we see ordered from time to time. So it's not a quality issue with the cats here, it's just the specific kind of cats that they felt were going to be most requested through research and development of the system and link pipes themselves.

 

OEM cats will not throw cel so it must be true what dealer saying that Akra is not design properly for this .1 and .2tt 991 car. Point here is not cat quality, it is accepted Akra will use good quality, but design really not suitable. If it were it would not throw cel and Akra would not warn about that on their info. Correct?
Do akra make "slip on" without complusory rear looks of theirs? This may be of an interest, and I just use OEM cats.

 

Still finding awesome the description you have, but I insist, the tools do not determine the final product, it's the craftsman work.

I've seen and heard many of your exhaust and to be honest, I would not buy. You sell cheap exhausts, with just enough to do the work. Just stay there in your segment, don't pretend to be with major leagues and then back out with excuses.

For a good exhaust you'll have to pay, no secret in it. In your price range there must be 30 brands working, what do you have over Milltek, Supersprint or similars? I don't know, I would stick with them.

 

tail pipes are easy to change in Porsche, you should be able to find what you like among the many brands available.

Your dealer will say any modification to the car WILL void the warranty, formally it does, just find a friendly dealer that allows catback exhaust or minor mods that will not affect the car functions.

You understand the CEL light is for contamination issues? Akrapovic just says there could be a contamination warning even using the high flow cats. I've had several cars with Akrapovic Evolutions and no CEL, I believe is just a warning for a minor possibility.