OK, hope it works

 

s0ber: it went through, you should receive a link to that file. Thanks again.

 

ok here's the video..

right-click save as or die! 12.5MB
http://s0ber.net/cumalot-exhaust.avi

I re-encoded it to save some size..

 

The exhaust sounds pretty loud to me... But that can be fixed by adding another resonator. Also the muffler section itself looks cheap IMO. Looks like it was thrown together at a muffler shop... I dont know MIke, I was expecting the cattman to have the same quality like the greddy or apexi...

 

the tip doesnt look bad from that angle, it actually looks pretty good. from close up pics the double walls looks funny and ricey but from that distance u focus so much more on the outer polish wall that u dont even look at the inner. As far as sound, it doesnt seem that loud, although my setup is loud as *****. Do u have a stock cat? I honestly like the sound but dont see why it should cost more than greddy.

 

Why should it cost more than a Greddy? Main reason is that the Cattman catback is entirely stainless steel, we use 2.5" tubing, and put a huge 18" (95-99) to 22" (00-03) resonator in the mid-pipe so its not so screaming loud and harsh-sounding with a performance y-pipe or header. Greddy chooses to use much cheaper mild steel for all the tubing (just sold one of our catbacks to someone whose Greddy had rusted out), they use a smaller diameter tubing (about 2.3") and the walls of the tubing are thinner stock, and they use a tiny resonator that's basically cosmetic.

Those specifications are unacceptable to us, but obviously doing it our way costs more money. Also consider the ecomomies of scale - we make our 25 at a time, Greddy makes hundredsn at a time.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

the tip is but i think the car sounds GREAT!

 

Unless I've missed something, all I see are pictures of the muffler tip. How do you come to the conclusion about the entire muffler section based on that?

As I detail in the reply above, we would not be satisfied with the same quality as the Greddy or the Apexi.

We're willing to work with the person who started this thread to deal with the length issue, but apart from that, have nothing to apologize for. There are hundreds of very happy customers out there with our exhausts, and we'll stack them up against the competition any day.

Finally, for those who care, try to find another exhuast for the Maxima that is still made in the USA, like ours is.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

Yes I'm using the stock cat. I'm not sure which route I should go with this. I'll probably go to a muffler shop and see what they can do about that ugly tip. After that, I'll see if I like that setup. If not, I'll just go the 5th gen muffler route.


IMO, that tip is the worst looking of all the major catback exhaust. If it didn't stick out so much, maybe...maybe I could put up with it. However, that's not the case. Sorry to say but with that tip and it sticking out like it is, it makes me look like a ricer.

 

I really think that Cattman makes some great products. Personally I dont dig the tip but to each his own. I am sure some people like that tip. The length can be fixed at any local muffler shop for next to nothing. Hell I have the tools to do it in my garage unless it is incredibly hard steel which I doubt. I listened to your sound clip and I personally think the tone is great. I am sure Cattman will take care of you. If you are unhappy get in touch with me via email and I will see about buying it from you.

 

Also, I'm sorry I went public so soon with this. However, I think the Maxima community has the right to know. I just want to make sure that anyone who consider a Cattman catback realize what they are getting. Hopefully, we can work something out.

 

The tip doesn't look bad but it looks like it should fit a 97-99. My tip is like that on my car. I will get it fixed one day but not right now. Cattman has the best customer service and makes great products!

 

Why don't you take Cattman's offfer of fixing the problem instead of continuing to ***** about it. I am sure he will take care of it. We are a community that should cherish every manufacturer we can get. We dont have the luxury of the honda boys who have thousands of companies making parts for them. This is one of the better vendors the maxima community has. You should have taken this up in private before bashing this product so openly I undersand your point but we dont need to purposely hurt the business of one of the few people who make good parts for our car. Business is not easy in the automotive industry, we need to support our vendors and try to resolve issues with them before taking our complaints to a public forum. Sorry to go off on such a tangent but jeez man talk to the man before you ***** about his part. I used to work for a small shop and I know how word of mouth can make or break a smaller automotive company.

 

That's so easy for you to say isn it? You not the one that spent over $600 for this.

 

It would be a hard loss to swallow if he wasnt willing to fix it, yes. He already said he would fix it. You should have gone to him to get this straightened out before you posted here. Ohh and I have payed for products that werent right before but you will find that most businesses are in business to make money and that doesnt happen with unhappy customers. I had a 4g63 block bored completely wrong one time that cost me well over $600 and you know what before I went around telling everyone the shop screwed up my engine I went to the owner who got me another block hot tanked it which wasnt even part of the initial process then made sure the bore was right and I was happy and didnt charge me a cent more than I had already paid for just the milling and he let me keep my other block. I didnt get bent I handled it professionally and got the problem fixed. If the vendor wont fix the problem then you go public and you know what I will be right there next to you supporting you, cause this place should be a community that watches out for each other and helps each other. I am done ranting about this it will go no where if you wish to continue this email me.

 

Ok, I'm done ranting here too. Brian and I will try to fix this between us.

 

Cumalot i understand where you are coming from Ive had a problem with a exhaust after paying the same ammount. It was on the other car and no one offered to do anything about it. I would take the offer catman gave you. The exhaust sounds awesome. Yes the tip could use a lil more work but catman said he can work something out. That just shows how dedicated they are to their work and craftsmanship.

 

Taking it upon yourself to warn the Maxima world about Cattman exhausts is a noble quest, but since all of this focusses on the tip issue, you should know that we've only used this tip with the last small batch of 12 mufflers, that's all there are. Plus, they do fit the 97-99s and they make up the majority of the sales.

We wanted to try something different, and this tip looked good in the catalogue, but to be candid, its not really my choice now that I've seen it on the car. I like the double walls, but I don't like the way it gets slightly smaller right at the tip, and the overall diameter is slightly larger than I prefer. The tips we've always used are 80mm in diameter and this is only 10mm larger, but it makes more of a difference than I thought it would.

As I've noted, the length is simply a mistake. Our usual practice is to split the difference between the 95/96 and 97-99 lengths, which works out real well as a single part. Obviously that didn't happen - its out there at the 97-99 length.

Your warning correctly warns the .org that we're not perfect, but even though we have a pretty good product and customer service track record, I think most people knew that already.

That said, I should also point out that the basics of what you've had to say are critical customer feedback - this was important for us to know about (I'd ordered another batch of these tips this morning, which are now cancelled). I'm grateful for that, but as I think you have realized it could have been more usefully handled between us privately.

Brian C Catts
Cattman Performance

 

I think Brian is taking more than an extra step here...

Personally i feel for Brian in this situation because he is bending over backwards. Not everyone will like everything they buy, but he is trying his hardest here..

and Cumalot .. lets face it.. your a very indecisive fellow no offence. That and you could have emailed Brian about it first before posting.

So if Cumalot and Brian are happy i would like to close this thread and move on.

They always say their is no such thing as bad publicity just publicity, but i really don't feel Brian deserves this thread.

I am saying this as a Maxima Owner, not as an administrator/owner.

Opinions to my comments are welcome

 

Also to those who say they don't like the tip.. i think Mike should take a picture from 5 feet away.. and another one from 10 feet away so we can get a full idea of what the tip looks like from a distance.. obviously any TIP right in your face is going to look akward.. looking at those pictures it looks like maybe 3 - 4 inches outward from the bumper.. 3 - 4 inches at 5 feet may not look so bad

 

Now that I think about it, if the tip sit more flush with the bumper, it wouldn't look that bad? So I could just get a muffler shop to shorten the bpipe or the muffler piping, it should do the job. That would be cheaper to do then the 5th gen muffler route.

 

Brian you are one hell of a buisnessman, i give you alot of credit for your understanding and open willingness to correct this problem. this truly shows how supportive you are to this community... to you man Simply amazing customer service right there. Even going the extra mile to put the thoughts of the customers right into action so promptly.

 

I think that sounds pretty good, and Sprint is right about the muffler looking awkward from a foot away(all mufflers look funny). Take some farther away pictures, and let us be the judge.

Also, as far as the video is concerned, would you be able to take a video of the car in motion with load on the engine? That way we could better understand how this thing sounds. Oh one more thing, does it drone at all, thats all that really counts in my book.

 

**** thats customer service

but i have one thing to say if the design change for any reason i think you should tell people in case they don't like it

i have to agree with you for the sound issue recently a friend ordered a exhaust for his sr20det-240sx that we heard in the web when he installed it sounded very rice he end up selling it for 1/2 price

 

I thought about that too, but that could be a challenge because the hangers are attached to the muffler and I'm not sure you can pull it back that far (I'm guessing that shortening it about 1" - 1.5" - by whatever means - would do it). You need to have a good muffler guy see if a bit of rod bending and hanger stretching will make this work before you do anything drastic with the muffler. My $ offer still stands for whatever solution you decide to pursue, but its up to you to make the right decision.

I've already said I'm not going to fall on my sword for this tip, but it would be useful to see it from about 10' away (directly behind the car so the length isn't as obvious), could you take another shot and post or send it to me?

BCC

 

SprintMax
Well said!
Issues are being resolved. No major problems. Close the thread.

 

I would like to see that tip at the correct 95-96 length...

 

I think you are crazy, that exhaust sounds really good. If you don't want it I will take it.

 

DL'd video, that exhaust sounds like sex to me. I love it. Contact him about what you guys can do to work out the exhaust tip length before you do anything else.

 

Like I said, the sound isn't that bad. There is no drone at all. Cruising around the street and on the highway, it's pretty quiet. From a stop and at low rpm is where you can hear the rumble. That's where I posted about it being loud, just in the lowend. When I go WOT, you can't really hear it, all you hear is the headers. Sounds pretty cool I think actually at WOT. I just need to get the tip to fit flush with the bumper and that would be it.

I know I started this thread out on the wrong foot. I apologize Brian. Should definitely talk to you privately first instead of posting a thread here. I jumped the gun. I'll take the car to a good reliable muffler shop to see what they can do to make the tip fit better with the bumper when I have the time, probably have to wait until Saturday.


From far away, it doesn't look that bad. Just up close is the problem. I think it's due mainly to the muffler sticking so much. If it fit flush with the bumper, I think it would look better. I'll take some more pics tomorrow, further away pics. And maybe get a video of it with me driving around too. s0ber: are you up to hosting them for me again?

 

I have no idea what you are talking about.


Sprint, keep this thread open. I think Brian and I are cool with it now. And I officially apologize to Brian if I offended him.


Brian: in my last email, I wrote a long reply to you. In it, I was still a bit uptight. Now that I calm down and realize it's not as big of a deal as I made it out to be, please disregard that email. Sometimes we write stuff that we don't necesssary mean and later realized how stupid we sound. That's my case.

 

One more thing, I'm running a stock intake right now. So all you hear is the headers and exhaust. I think it's better for recording anyway since you don't have the intake sound getting in the way.

 

Thats one of the better sounding exhausts I've heard on the 4th gen. No 'fart can' sound at all.

 

Wish I still had the JWT cams in there. I wonder how would it sound with the JWT cams? Hm...maybe I should put them back in? hehe...

 

i agree, i like the tip's look, just not how far it sticks out. I like the sound of the exhaust and the difference of diameter and quality and where its being produced is well worth the extra 100 bucks. Its better to get what u love the first time and spend the extra rather than take a shortcut and end up unhappy and having to continuously replace and spend more money. I am learning this the hard way.

 

how long does it take you to do?

 

i've done that a number of times. wheels, brakes, etc.

 

I could do the whole removal of the old cams and install of the JWT cams in about 10 hours. That's with breaks in between of course. Now I done it a few times, it's not really that hard IMO. Just time consuming. I had a harder time doing the headers believe it or not. However, that was with replacement of two of the studs that were stripped. That was a real PITA.

 

man that thing sounds great did you realize you make me rethink on what exhaust to buy for my car i was planning on sp2 but for a few $$more i will buy that exhaust but (BRIAN take note) without that tip i think something with rolled edge looks much better like magnaflow

 

After all of this, I realized something else. I got to get myself a 5.1mp Sony Cybershot. My bro's digicam kicks butt. Darn...need to spend more money...lol.