Ok guys,
I have narrowed my mod down to these choices.
My criteria: I want to keep the stock muffler probably as I have heard on here minimal gains and I dont want my car to sound like an 18 year olds ricer. Sound is not my desire but increased hp and maybe mpg when I drive nicely.
My options I am considering:
2000 Infiniti I30

A: local shop custom built full 3", all precats removed. Keeping the real deal.
B. same setup but 2.5
C: an aftermarket y pipe(with or without headers is yet to be determined) probably from classifieds or a knockoff setup.

My budget is $250 max. as these are not necessities; we have our first child on the way and toys for me are pretty low on my list of importance.
Need some input from some of you 5th genners as to what would yield the best gains.

Another question that I had, will 4th gen y pipes fit on a dek I30?

is the custom exhaust mandrel bent?

Not for sure, but I dont think so from previous vehicles I had done. It's been a few years since I had them run an exhaust.. for an LT1 to give you a time frame

For 250, I'd just do an aftermarket Y-pipe. IMO it's not worth getting an exhaust done unless it's going to be mandrel bent, and that will be more than 250.

do a y pipe. and high flow cat res delete

+1 on the Y-Pipe

Thanks, and sparks, that time for a N/A maxima is insane!
Congrats, I once was in the 13's back in my LT1 days...
I'd love to just have the I30 sub 15.
Does the 4th gen ypipe fit the 00 I30?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/WARPS...Q5fAccessories

Custom Maxima has a setup with headers for 170, and I could try to pick up a used setup in the classified

keeping your stock muffler with a 3" exhaust would choke most if not all of your horsepower gains.. you can achieve a fairly quiet exhaust tone with a 3" exhaust and aftermarket muffler.. just get a BIG resonator and/or BIG muffler.. here's what mine sounds like:

Wyche89, thank you. That is exactly the post I was looking for. I'm researching exhausts and your sound is definitely what I have been looking for. I'll be checking into some more exhausts, but I wouldn't want anything louder than that. The only thing I don't care for on your setup is your single tip. Dual tips = sex. Thank you again for that post!

no problem man.. yeah, you can get whatever tips you want.. it was a little challenging finding a tip for a 3" pipe, but i managed.. i used a 30" round muffler for the resonator, and a 18" 5x8 muffler.. both by magnaflow.. all 3" inlets and outlets

I say the same the Warpspeed Y- pipe goes for that price and is in your price range!

I think the best sounding exhaust for the 5th gen is the HKS sport.. I'm about to pickup the axle back, however it is more than 250$ Listen to a sound clip of that on youtube.. doesnt sound anything like rice.. or loud.. no backfiring ect.. sounds more like the stock BMWs