You should not look at the exhaust 'by itself'. It merely opens up the possibilities of other tuning options or making them reach their full potential.

Eg. chip-tuning or boost increases will often only reach their advertised power gain *with* a sports exhaust installed. The gap between the regular exhaust and the sports exhaust becomes wider the better tuned the engine becomes.

Also try to see the exhaust as a 'replacement'.. Ask your friendly Volvo dealer how much a complete cat-back stock exhaust costs (BTW.. It will be in in mild steel, not stainless!) and compare that price to a sports exhaust.. May be more interesting than you think :)

So.. If you look at pure power-gains from the exhaust on a stock engine, then it's expensive. But if you consider the exhaust one of the foundations you use to exploit other tuning options then it may be a good idea.

Several people on the BB have had custom exhausts built for them by using off-the-shelf stainless steel free-flow silencers and pipes for less than the IPD cost, so that may be an option too.

Bye, Arno.