aliexpress downpipe, opinions?

[jmcc]

Hi guys, I've been looking around for a 3" downpipe with a 200 cell sports cat for a while now, I saw a good review of an aliexpress one on vortex so had a look, can get this with cat for $95 usd+ $70 usd shipping. What do you more knowledgeable people think?

edit: link https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3inc...613082642.html

I have an 02 GTI

Thanks,
Josh

[h100vw]

Hi guys, I've been looking around for a 3" downpipe with a 200 cell sports cat for a while now, I saw a good review of an aliexpress one on vortex so had a look, can get this with cat for $95 usd+ $70 usd shipping. What do you more knowledgeable people think?

I have an 02 GTI

Thanks,
Josh

No link, but you tend to get what you pay for in life.

You should check with whoever you intend to get to tune it, what they think

[jmcc]

sorry, here's the link https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3inc...613082642.html

I've been calling around locally but they seem to be hard to come by and custom is pretty expensive.

That's a good tip will do.

[Sirocco20348]

Like what Gavin said, you get what you pay for. If your not looking to hold onto your car for a long time then buy the Ali express DP. it's been reported that over time they crack at the flange bolt joints or the flex joint. But other people have reported 25k miles and no problems. Mixed bag of opinions.

What do you mean by 'pretty expensive'?

If your looking for a decent premade downpipe with cat, expect to pay $500-600.

https://www.ecstuning.com/Volkswagen-Golf_IV--1.8T/Exhaust/Performance/Downpipe/

If your staying with the k03 or k03s stage 1 mods. I would get a 2.5" downpipe if available.

I personally regret getting a 3" because I've only got a k03s and it's a daily driver 90% of the time as I feel it's not as responsive low to mid. It's great at the high end thou.

[jmcc]

Yes and no, it is still made of 304 SS, the main quality you are paying for is the welds right?, though I did notice some pictures of dodgy welds in the feedback. edit: I think I'd like to keep it a while, I'm a big fan of the look and its much bigger than I expected.

I was looking in at around $500, by pretty expensive I mean similar to the ones you linked, there's quite difference in price between $500 AUD and $500 + $200 shipping USD, I was quoted by a local exhaust shop $800+.

Yeah I think for now I will just hang around stage 1 engine and coil overs + swaybar, might run it in a few motorkhanas, though mostly just a daily, so that's a good point, I have been tossing up and reading the general butt dyno opinions of both.

[Sirocco20348]

I bought my spm 3" downpipe with cat from dub addiction for around the $550 mark. It was the last one he had. He might be able to order another one?

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[Lucas_R]

Thin flanges that warp and don't seal properly, crappy v-bands, crappy gaskets, poor quality cat converter, crappy welds and pipe work that is not prepped (clean and no oils etc) before welding - all of these come free of charge with cheap chinese crap. You get what you pay for.

Pay a few hundred more and get something like 42 draft designs etc from somewhere like ECS Tuning.

[jmcc]

I bought my spm 3" downpipe with cat from dub addiction for around the $550 mark. It was the last one he had. He might be able to order another one?

Sent from my SM-T710 using Tapatalk

thanks, ill give them a call, though I my hold back on the optimism just yet.

That is alot of potential problem areas, I guess I'll keep shopping around, as nice as it would be to grab one of ECS i think the price is a bit prohibitive, after conversion its around $1000AUD

[Sirocco20348]

Investigate this option for shipping.

https://shopmate.auspost.com.au/our-rates/shipping-rates

Otherwise all on the forums of anyone wants to do a split shipment.

[Lucas_R]

What about this one from Megan racing. They make some decent quality stuff. https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/332123059114

[jmcc]

I think shopmate would be quite similar depending how big a box it goes in, I usually find shipitto cheaper but it gave a similar price.

I saw that, I wanted one with a sports cat though, but might ring around and see how much to just get one and have it welded in.

[fishburgr]

I had a really nice custom one fabbed and fitted for $500 a few years back at Right Price exhausts at springwood if your in the area. They did a really nice job.

The prices I was quoted varied wildly as I rang around. Some going over $1000! So try ringing around. Btw, a downpipe and tune on these cars makes them like a completely different vehicle.