sorry if this has been done over and over but i need some serious input... the budget y-pipe is seriously cheaper! is there any difference in sound or performance? or are all mandrel bent ss y-pipe's the same? as from reading here in the past few month, seems as though i should stay away from warpspeed... no?

 

Cattman and the CustomMaxima ypipes are the only ones I would go with right now. Apparently, the new Budget ones MIGHT have install probs--likewise with the new Warpspeed. Although the Budget problem was on a 5th gen, the 95-01 ypipes are nearly identical. To be on the safe side, go with Cattman or CM.

BTW I own a older style Budget...

 

how sure are you about this? has anyone on the org experienced this? i heard they have good customer service, should i give them some heat before i buy?

 

Check out the sticky in hte 5th gen forum....

 

i have a jett hot coated cattman y pipe.. no fitment probs, or noise issues..

 

eh...Warpspeed has been having problems but I havent heard of any budget problems, and im sure that if there is a fittment issue u can send it back to them and they will replace it for u

 

eturn, I am in the same shoes as you. I would like to know if we can get away with a Budget and save money. I have a Warpspeed on my '96 (purchased/installed 3+ years ago). It is way too loud for me and the fitment is not 100% perfect at the cat. However, to be fair, I did a Y, a cat and a catback all at once so I can't say which link in the chain is to blame. But for no other reason, I am staying away from Warpspeed because of their incredably unprofessional, and even immature, website. Also, forget custommaxima. That guy is the biggest rip-off (charges $400 for a Cattman Y when Catman only charges $350). So if I go expensive, it will be Stillen or Cattman. If I go affordable, it will be Budget (or LSS as the case is now).

I will tell you this. My friend just bought a Cattman and he was nice enough to let me place it on my car first (on my '99 which is otherwise stock). I have it on currently in fact. The Y fit right up, all the flanges meet flush face to face and with my stock exhaust the is absolutely NO change in volume. Wether at idle or at WOT. I mean that, 100% no increase. There is a slight change in pitch if you stand near the exhaust pipe. Not louder, just different.

So, do I spend $350 for something I know is tried and true? Or take a chance with an LSS Y? It is tough. If anyone else can assure me that there is no fitment/sound problems with a LSS 'Y' on a '99 CA emission car with a stock catback, I'll probably go for it....

 

I have a Budget. No fitment problems or quality issues whatsoever.

 

I like the Cattman Y-Pipe because it's SS. I don't know if the Budget is SS. But that SS was the main reason I got mine because of the road conditions in NY during the winter.

 

Yep, Budget is SS as well.
After reading about the Budget comments in another thread let's stick to what's true and not speculation.

 

frankly the cattman is the most expensive but if you want one that fits right and does what its supposed to do spend the extra money.....my cattman SS pipe is over 6 years old with not one problem.....also had no problem with fitment and flex section still is in good shape

 

Sure, but just because your Cattman is great, how does that prove the Budget/LSS is not great?!!!!!

Please back up your statements with facts people!

 

im not saying budget is not good but im saying you get what you pay for....in the last 2 years thats all ive been hearing about are people with complaints about there pipe.....they all do the same thing but the cattman has been perfect for me. Of course there first gen pipe back in 99 had some problems but that was six years ago and they worked them out within a year. i like buying a product once knowing its gonna fit and work like it should.

 

Any input on stillen? From what i can see its about same price as cattman

 

Any links to people's threads that have complained about the Budget? I don't recall seeing any.

 

You're still not being factual. There is nothing wrong with you saying that your Cattman is great. In fact, we appreciate it. The more testimony, the better. But stick with the facts. The only thing you can say factually is that your Cattman is good. You can not, with fact, say the Cattmans is better than the Budget. You have no right telling people to "spend the extra money". Like I said, I have a Cattman temporarilly on my car right now and it is great. But that's all I can say factually, I can not state that everyone has to pay more and get it because it is working great for me. Just give your testimony without stating unbackable assumptions is all we ask.

 

just get budget...i haven't heard any horror stories, and the gains are the same as cattman...The only negative comments i've heard about y-pipes

 

i bought a used SS Budget Y, and the only problem is "bees in the can" sound... i love the HP increase

 

First i have to say, i've BEEN convinced that i want a cattman y-pipe! if i had the money, i'd get it! no questions. All i want is for someone who's experience BOTH to tell me they are the same! (i understand fella's you get what you pay for, this has always been my philosophy, yet when it comes to mods and vehicle parts, for some reason i cant seem to believe in it anymore, unless im given technical specs and proof!)

ptatohed, thanks for the replies, I think you are in a far better situation than i am though... i have yet to even drive a max with a y-pipe, and you have, even a cattman! im so excited about this mod and cant wait to feel the gains.

i like your testimonies. you describe everything very well and in great detail. all i can say man... is that if you ever decide to try the budget y-pipe, and get back to me and say," yo! its great, couldnt tell the difference from a cattman" i would buy the budget y-pipe in a heartbeat! (just based of of what you've written in this thread alone) so all i can tell you buddy, is, get that budget y-pipe and tell me what i need to know! haha!

seriously, if you want i can split the cost with you just so we can try it out. if you end up deciding you like it and you wanna keep it, great! issue resolved! (just give me my money back so i can get one too) if not, send me the budget y-pipe, and i'll give you your cost. and i'll deal with the prob. im offering this because, as of right now, i see you as the only one that can convince me as to which one is better. unless of course someone else has already tried both and can give their input

(for some reason i feel like i can trust your opinion based on your testimony of the cattman.)

lemmie know

 

i dont know what this bees in a can crap really sounds like, but i know i'm gonna hate it!

 

i never stated that cattman was better than the budget....i stated they all do the same thing but i still think and according to half the people on this site the cattman pipe fits the best.....yes its more expensive and yes i trust brian more than budget but thats my own opinion. either way the gains from both are great until you adjust to it and realize the maxima is still slow

 

eturnl, thanks for the thanks and thanks for the compliments and thanks for the offer. That sounds like a good idea. It would be even better if we lived near each other and can do the installing/testing/analyzing together. If I do decide to 'buy first', then I promise you I will give you as detailed a description as I can put into (typed) words. Now as for your offer, a few things don't sit right with me:
1.) You have more to lose than I do so that doesn't seem fair
2.) For it even to work, we need to have the same cars. For instance I am a '99 Cali - unique to all other 4th gens. (Otherwise you'll be stuck with a '99 Cali. if worse case happens)
3.) Let's say I did go first and gave you a great write-up. Well, what about other variables? You have a Fed, I have a Cali. I am leaving my cat and cat-back stock (for quietness), what if you change your cat and/or catback? What if we have different intakes? Etc.

So, the only thing I can think of is one of us goes first and if that person likes it, easy, the second person buys one and everyone is happy. If the person who goes first does not like it, then we can either return it (if LSS even allows it) and we can split the shipping and/or restocking fees. Or if LSS does not allow returns, then we put it up for sale in the .org classifieds and we both split the reduction in cost hit we will need to take.

But, with all that said, I think it will be easier/cheaper to continue doing research and try to get some reputable testimonies.

So far, it appears the conclusion is: Cattman is near always, if not always perfect (fairly complete data) and Budget is mixed perfect/not perfect (missing data).

More Budget testimonies please???....

 

I have a budget and can say it fit just right and had the bee's can sound.. i wrapped the flex pipe (which i know you really not supposed to do) and it went away.

 

The thing that I would be concerned the most is the flex section. I'm not sure which of the brands have the best one. I read about the new warpspeed Y-pipe using a different flex. Searching the forum is your best bet.

 

just get budget or warpspeed, and then get another mod with all the money you will have left over ! lol

 

I bought a Budget stainless steel y-pipe last June. No fitment problems, no bees in the can and almost too pretty to install. I highly endorse the product and have no idea what the problem 5th Gen owners have experienced. However, Budget's service is very good and I would go with the Budget and put the difference in your gas tank.

 

I got a budget ss installed a month ago and have no complaints. Power is awesome and sound too. No bees in can.

 

I've had the SS Budget Y for about 2 years now. No bee-in-a-can noise since day one. I just bought the SS Budget resonated B pipe a few months ago and again I've not had any problems.

 

Buy the budget you won't be sorry, best bang for the buck, had mine for a year no probs, save the extra $$$$ for other mods. Enjoy

 

Thanks for all the Budget replies. So, those of you who have the Budget, what other mods do you have? Specifically, do you have an aftermarket cat/cat-back or stock cat-back? Is the fitment at all three flanges completely flush and air tight? Did you notice an increase in sound? What kind of sound? Thanks.

 

Barely any sound increase, that's more reflective in the muffler of choice. Fitment is perfectly tight

 

Where is the best place to order a budget y pipe from, i saw the cattman at southwestauto. for $350.00

 

I had a WSP non-mandrel aluminized Y-pipe on my 96 for almost 3 years and didn't have a single problem with it. It fit perfectly as did the other 4 Maximas in Kansas City running the WSP y-pipes. With the lined flex section, normal driving was no different than stock. Only at WOT was there a slight hiss that occured around 5000rpms. It was much quieter than the Stillen Y-pipe it replaced. I can't speak for WSP's fitment now though because I don't have any experience with it. I've installed a Budget y-pipe on another local Max and it fit perfectly. It was a bit louder than the WSP pipe though. Smaller tubing too.

For those that think SS is going to make your y-pipe last longer, you're right, but how long do you plan on owning the car? My aluminized WSP Y-pipe went through 4 salty Kansas winters and it didn't have one spot of rust on it when the car was sold.

As for spending the money on a Cattman y-pipe, I guess it's your money, but you'll save a lot of money getting the same exact thing from Budget or WSP.

 

Here's their link: http://www.budgetexhaust.com/
Click on the bottom logo.

 

I'm using the stock muffler with my Budget Y/Budget resonated B pipes. Very stock sounding except when I stomp the throttle. When I had just the Y pipe by itself I had a straight-through muffler and the droning got to me at WOT while driving up this particular hill on the way into work.

 

No Black, it is the top logo.

He now puts his custom/aftermarket stuff under his LSS name.
http://www.lssexhaust.com
It's probably a good thing given what the word 'budget' conjures.

 

LOL! thanks! I didn't want to bother opening up another window on my work desktop!

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...spagename=WDVW while looking for a budget y-pipe for myself, i came across this on ebay. what do you guys think?

 

im at the LSS but i dont see the y-pipe for the 4th gen only the b-pipe

 

I LOVE CATTMAN ITS THA SHIZNIT just remember you get what you pay for