GR86 Exhausts
- Thread starter Swizzle
- Start date
I fitted the HKS L-Spec II today.
Initial impressions - very good! It's a bit louder than stock and gives a nice bassy tone without being overbearing - however it's not altogether too much louder, which is fine by me. I can now at least hear the engine which makes driving much easier (can actually hear when you rev it). There's absolutely no drone on the motorway (or any for that matter) and minimal boom on overrun.
Physically, it's beautifully made and is incredibly light. Welds are all excellent quality as is the finish. Relatively easy to fit, although a little bit of a fiddle getting it all lines up as I tightened the bolts on the midpipe section a little too much before fitting the backboxes; once I'd slackened those off, easier to get it all lined up. Fitment looks perfect to me.
I did record some sound clips - however, they really aren't much to write home about. I only have an old GoPro Hero4 Session action cam thing; the sound quality isn't really good enough to pick up the exhaust over road/wind noise. And I don't have any way to mount it to take exterior shots on the move, so apart from the cold start, you'll have to make do with interior shots with the camera wedged in the passenger headrest. It's not great, and it doesn't do the sound justice really - but I've spent an hour editing it, so, whatever, may as well post it
And apologies for the watermark - thought I'd found a free editor which didn't apply one, but didn't found out that it does until I was all finished and ready to export. Boo :/
Also, just to give you an idea - I'm insured with Chris Knott, my premium was about £470 - declaring the exhaust cost me an extra £34.80, of which £18 was admin fee. Not bad
Initial impressions - very good! It's a bit louder than stock and gives a nice bassy tone without being overbearing - however it's not altogether too much louder, which is fine by me. I can now at least hear the engine which makes driving much easier (can actually hear when you rev it). There's absolutely no drone on the motorway (or any for that matter) and minimal boom on overrun.
Physically, it's beautifully made and is incredibly light. Welds are all excellent quality as is the finish. Relatively easy to fit, although a little bit of a fiddle getting it all lines up as I tightened the bolts on the midpipe section a little too much before fitting the backboxes; once I'd slackened those off, easier to get it all lined up. Fitment looks perfect to me.
I did record some sound clips - however, they really aren't much to write home about. I only have an old GoPro Hero4 Session action cam thing; the sound quality isn't really good enough to pick up the exhaust over road/wind noise. And I don't have any way to mount it to take exterior shots on the move, so apart from the cold start, you'll have to make do with interior shots with the camera wedged in the passenger headrest. It's not great, and it doesn't do the sound justice really - but I've spent an hour editing it, so, whatever, may as well post it
And apologies for the watermark - thought I'd found a free editor which didn't apply one, but didn't found out that it does until I was all finished and ready to export. Boo :/
Also, just to give you an idea - I'm insured with Chris Knott, my premium was about £470 - declaring the exhaust cost me an extra £34.80, of which £18 was admin fee. Not bad
I fitted the HKS L-Spec II today.
Initial impressions - very good! It's a bit louder than stock and gives a nice bassy tone without being overbearing - however it's not altogether too much louder, which is fine by me. I can now at least hear the engine which makes driving much easier (can actually hear when you rev it). There's absolutely no drone on the motorway (or any for that matter) and minimal boom on overrun.
Physically, it's beautifully made and is incredibly light. Welds are all excellent quality as is the finish. Relatively easy to fit, although a little bit of a fiddle getting it all lines up as I tightened the bolts on the midpipe section a little too much before fitting the backboxes; once I'd slackened those off, easier to get it all lined up. Fitment looks perfect to me.
I did record some sound clips - however, they really aren't much to write home about. I only have an old GoPro Hero4 Session action cam thing; the sound quality isn't really good enough to pick up the exhaust over road/wind noise. And I don't have any way to mount it to take exterior shots on the move, so apart from the cold start, you'll have to make do with interior shots with the camera wedged in the passenger headrest. It's not great, and it doesn't do the sound justice really - but I've spent an hour editing it, so, whatever, may as well post it
And apologies for the watermark - thought I'd found a free editor which didn't apply one, but didn't found out that it does until I was all finished and ready to export. Boo :/
Also, just to give you an idea - I'm insured with Chris Knott, my premium was about £470 - declaring the exhaust cost me an extra £34.80, of which £18 was admin fee. Not bad
@Conscript i like that, it’s quite subtle, nice setup!
jimgreen83
Absorbed member
I fitted the HKS L-Spec II today.
Initial impressions - very good! It's a bit louder than stock and gives a nice bassy tone without being overbearing - however it's not altogether too much louder, which is fine by me. I can now at least hear the engine which makes driving much easier (can actually hear when you rev it). There's absolutely no drone on the motorway (or any for that matter) and minimal boom on overrun.
Physically, it's beautifully made and is incredibly light. Welds are all excellent quality as is the finish. Relatively easy to fit, although a little bit of a fiddle getting it all lines up as I tightened the bolts on the midpipe section a little too much before fitting the backboxes; once I'd slackened those off, easier to get it all lined up. Fitment looks perfect to me.
I did record some sound clips - however, they really aren't much to write home about. I only have an old GoPro Hero4 Session action cam thing; the sound quality isn't really good enough to pick up the exhaust over road/wind noise. And I don't have any way to mount it to take exterior shots on the move, so apart from the cold start, you'll have to make do with interior shots with the camera wedged in the passenger headrest. It's not great, and it doesn't do the sound justice really - but I've spent an hour editing it, so, whatever, may as well post it
And apologies for the watermark - thought I'd found a free editor which didn't apply one, but didn't found out that it does until I was all finished and ready to export. Boo :/
Also, just to give you an idea - I'm insured with Chris Knott, my premium was about £470 - declaring the exhaust cost me an extra £34.80, of which £18 was admin fee. Not bad
Sounds good, did you consider the Legamax and the original L-Spec as well? Great to hear these HKS exhausts as I think I will eventually go down that route.
I did, but I think the L Spec-II is the one which has been specifically designed for the GR86.
I think the original L-Spec was actually for the GT86 (although I think @Bathroom_Security has one and is happy with it?)
And the Legamax is a backbox only, and I wanted to go for a full catback.
Bathroom_Security
Obsessed member
I got the one with code ending 004 specific to the new 2.4 engine.
Wouldn't say I'm happy with it.
Too boomy and loud at 3k rpm ish. Not loud enough up top, can barely hear it 5k onwards.
I wouldn't buy it again but it maybe the GPF causing it to be quiet, others mentioned its a specific absorption design or something.
Wouldn't say I'm happy with it.
Too boomy and loud at 3k rpm ish. Not loud enough up top, can barely hear it 5k onwards.
I wouldn't buy it again but it maybe the GPF causing it to be quiet, others mentioned its a specific absorption design or something.
jimgreen83
Absorbed member
Thanks Conscript/Bathroom_Security, useful to know.
Delahorney
Totally Hooked
People that have fitted the Remark themselves, easy enough? Most places asking for north of £80 so gonna get some ramps and an exhaust hanger tool and try it myself. Can't be that hard right
I don't have the Remark but I managed to fit the HKS full cat back in about an hour. As long as you can get the rear of the car up on jack stands or ramps, it shouldn't be too difficult to access the bolts holding the stock box to the mid pipe. I too nabbed an exhaust hangar tool, think it was about 12 quid on Amazon. Well worth it to avoid having to wrestle with the hangars.
DarthHideous
Absorbed member
- May 13, 2023
- 31
- 61
Finally received the AWE Track Edition from the US and A. Will aim to get it fitted with some sound clips to post in the next week or so for you all.
First impression - it’s made of silver hard stuff and shaped like a tube. So far, exactly as advertised.
Al4n
Totally Hooked
Very easy. Didn’t have the exhaust hanger tool, brute force and ignorance got it out. Was probably 15 mins at most. I hired a local garage for half a day to do it as my cousin wanted to share the space and service his car. Having a proper ramp helped massively.
KobayashiMaru86
Totally Hooked
Some chain lube and some grips to get the rubbers off. Don't pay someone to do it. If you parked on a slight slope you could do it without ramps. I've tweaked mine with it just on the drive.
Bathroom_Security
Obsessed member
Yeah I had my HKS on within an hour I think. Dead easy with a few swear words, just take care working under the car - multiple jack stands in the event one fails etc
Safety first....
Safety first....
Mine was done on the drive, no ramps required, just £60 of the kings finest coin for 40 minutes work (inc 20 minutes of tea, chat and biscuits).
KobayashiMaru86
Totally Hooked
Mines been on when they've done other warranty work. I'm holding off doing any more mods because I know how fussy some can be.
DarthHideous
Absorbed member
- May 13, 2023
- 31
- 61
Little sneak preview for you good boys and girls before it goes on the car tomorrow morning. The diamond black AWE tips look amazing in the flesh. I’d go with this system JUST for them!
DarthHideous
Absorbed member
- May 13, 2023
- 31
- 61
Not had much time to get out and actually drive yet, but first impressions - ridiculously loud on cold start and borderline anti-social even at normal driving speeds. Lots of stupid pops and bangs on downshift and a really loud mid-range on throttle. It’s perfect
Here’s a quick cold start video.
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mackie
Totally Hooked
Highly unlikely to cause warranty issues. Toyota offer an exhaust upgrade in some markets and there’s at least one main dealer in the UK offers their own too.
I am wary of touching anything engine related though. I’ve been looking at oil cooler options and the Jackson Racing kit really is no more a mod to the engine than using a different oil filter given it’s a screw on sandwich plate but I‘d still be worried that if the worst did happen and there was lubrication problem they’d point the finger at it.
I am wary of touching anything engine related though. I’ve been looking at oil cooler options and the Jackson Racing kit really is no more a mod to the engine than using a different oil filter given it’s a screw on sandwich plate but I‘d still be worried that if the worst did happen and there was lubrication problem they’d point the finger at it.
