XLR8 76mm catback 06+ FG2/FA5 Review

[Bandit03]

***Excelerate Performance is proud to announce the immediate release of our new 76MM Catback Exhaust for the FG2/FA5, 06+ Civic Si 2 and 4 Door.***
XLR8 Performance Exhaust System are designed for function, form and style. Each exhaust system starts with T-304 stainless steel, known throughout the industry as the highest quality material practical for after-cat exhaust applications. All exhaust tubing is mandrel bent on sophisticated CNC machinery for a precise fit and uninterrupted exhaust flow. What’s more, the use of T-304 stainless steel flanges offers high strength and complete resistance to harsh elements. All hangers, resonators, and tips are T-304 stainless steel as well.

The mufflers used are built specifically for each system and are designed in accord with years of racing and street development invested into the design. Each muffler is tuned to match its application for the best possible performance gain and sound quality combination. This initial release includes a flat black muffler; the rest of the stainless steel system is finished in a natural satin finish.

Other features include:

- 16 gauge T304 Stainless Steel exhaust tubing for superior durability and exhaust resonance control. The tubing is CNC Mandrel Bent for unrestricted exhaust flow.
- "True Straight Through" Rear Mufflers and Resonators are densely packed with our premium sound suppression materials to help produce a low, deep exhaust tone.
- Full TIG Welds for optimum strength.
- Easy Bolt-On installation, utilizing all stock mounting points
- 65mm inlet that quickly expands to 76mm in order to bolt to most downpipes and aftermarket headers




Quality/design: This was my first new exhaust for this car. I was pretty impressed with the quality of the welds(very clean) and love the painted muffler. I wasn't sure how i would feel about it but looks much cleaner than i thought it would especially on a black car. Also in place of the Vibrant logo is the Excelerate logo(XLR8) which looks pretty good.

Sound: I've had both the Skunk2 70mm catback as well as the Vibrant catback. My first impression of the XLR8 after driving with my vibrant was that it was pretty loud and it had me a little nervous that I'd be getting pulled over in the near future. When I first started my car it was very deep however it was also cold out which had an effect. After a week of driving I must say its the best exhaust I've owned to date. Its so easy to control the sound of it and I can cruise around town and keep it quiet just like my vibrant catback. I usually do 35-50mph through my town in 4th-6th gear and its almost effortless to keep quiet which in my town is a huge plus. Once you get to vtec this exhaust erupts. Its such a nice tone, much cleaner than the skunk2 and vibrant. There is some drone on the highway but at speeds of 70 mph to 80 mph I was amazed to find that the exhaust was still really quiet and controllable. Huge plus in my opinion. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the loudest. . I'd rate this at a 3.5-4 mainly because its reasonably loud at wot but quiet for cruising. In comparison I'd give the vibrant catback a 3 and the skunk2 an easy 5. Keep in mind I like to be able to hear my exhaust so I don't really have an issue with loudness. However the cops in my town do so this is perfect for me.

Power: My other mods at the moment include a vibrant header with the high flow cat which has been gutted. I also have the password jdm intake and flashpro. I immediately noticed the added torque in every gear. My tires are getting to be worn and it's been a brutal winter in Connecticut so traction is hard to get. But I'm spinning through first, second, and into third if I floor it. However with some finess I can get the car to really launch quickly. My car takes off effortlessly and feels like it just wants to keep going where as with the vibrant it took maybe 2 seconds for momentum to pick up. With the excelerate catback the power is instant. At the moment I'm running a basemap but will be getting tuned soon.

Fitment: I had an issue where it was pretty tight at the bend before the midpipe connects to the axle back. So we wrapped it just in case it did hit so it wouldn't rattle. However my car always seems to have an issue fitting exhausts and even my header so this certainly isn't a design flaw. Talking To Josh from Excelerate he told me they have tested it on a few different cars without issue. So again don't let by experience deter you.

Overall Impression: Hands down the best exhaust I've owned to date. When I had my skunk2 I didn't have a header or flashpro so while I still felt a big increase in power its nothing compared to what I experience now. The tone at wot is heaven, its far different from the vibrant and skunk2 imo even though this also has the vibrant muffler. I've recently read some complaints (what else it new right?) about how this isn't a true 3 inch exhaust. The inlet does start at 65 mm however its literally 2 inches long if that, then it goes right to 3 inches. I don't know about you guys but that certainly doesn't warrant any complaints and or flack toward Excelerate especially since it matches right up to most headers. Unless you are going all out and tracking your car you have no reason to complain. I would recommend this to anyone and everyone. Those who have crazy cops like my town need not be worried. Those with basic bolt ons who are looking for that extra kick. This is it. Very satisfied. If you have any questions il try to answer the best i can or you can contact Josh from Excelerate as well as any other knowlegable person on this site( Yes there are some).

[Bandit03]

If you look at the top you'll notice where it goes from 65mm to 76mm .. such a small part its not even worth getting upset over unless you track your car and want to squeeze out the most power possible.

[bouncer07]

Will be waiting for a vid to hear the low sound.

[Bandit03]

[3.Slow6MT]

Hay! j00 cahpeed mah p0st.

In for vids.

After you tune the car for a 3in exhaust you will gain a good bit more as well.

[Davey C.]

in for sound!

[Bandit03]

yea i dont know why the videos appear twice i only entered the text once.
.. once it gets clearer outor i have someone to hold the camera il take better videos. But tomorrow they are calling for aother 6 inches and another storm tuesday

[Geovone]

Looking good.
Wish it came with a turn down muffler then I would totally get it

[Excelerate]

Thank you for the pictures and videos!!! Enjoy your new exhaust.

Please see this thread for more details on purchasing:

XLR8 76MM Catback Exhaust for the FG2/FA5!!!

[3.Slow6MT]

That sounds really good. Very deep. Another job well done Josh!!

[Turk]

damn that sounds mean, congrats on the exhaust note

[Excelerate]

Originally Posted by 3.Slow6MT

That sounds really good. Very deep. Another job well done Josh!!

Thank you.

[maxxnitro88]

looks like someone is in kahoots with vibrant...

[TomsFA5]

Cliffs: 65mm inlet, that's when I stopped reading

[Bandit03]

Originally Posted by TomsFA5

Cliffs: 65mm inlet, that's when I stopped reading

yea because im sure your supporting mods warrant something larger

[TomsFA5]

Originally Posted by Bandit03

yea because im sure your supporting mods warrant something larger

Actually yes.

[blknytro]

Sounds really nice!

[Bandit03]

Originally Posted by TomsFA5

Actually yes.

ok cool so buy a bigger exhaust then. What are your mods? It really makes no sense to complain. If you are after big numbers buy a turbo. When you do the fact that this little piece is 65 mm will hardly have an effect on your overall goal. Sure in are case bigger is better but are you really going to put that extra 10-15 hp to use on an already over the top fwd build? No, its fwd. I can see if you had a 3 inch downpipe or a header with a 3 inch collecter but is that what most of us have? No. If you do then buy the other exhausts or contact excelerate and have make a custom one.

[TomsFA5]

This is borderline false advertising, it's advertised as a 76mm. After the 65mm inlet. And yes for a Na build that's a huge difference, for any build.

It doesn't matter what I have I was just posting for others to read who didn't want to read an essay about the exhaust.

Cliffs: 65mm inlet, then76mm

[spdandpwr]

fyi, the go power is 2.9" and then 3"

On topic, 95% people on the site are running a 2.5" collector or smaller...if that's the case, they'll need an exhaust like excelerates that bolts up to the collector without an adapter. If we want to lay out all of our cards, you need to run an adapter for the full race exhaust on over half of the headers that are available...that 2.5" to 3" adapter used by full race spans a lot longer than the the part of the excelerate exhaust that widens to 3".

So my point is, you need a header (or downpipe) with a collector bigger than 2.5" in order to warrant getting a different exhaust because of any sort of sizing issue.