Miata exhaust...kooks or RB
 

In the market for a new exhaust. For my 02. Currently have a RB header I am going to install but trying to figrue out an exhaust.

Is a kooks exhaust with the RB header going to be annoying loud? Its a track only car and the kooks is 375 vs going RB mid pipe/exhaust which isnt in stock and i would have to wait and also 200ish more expensive. Not sure if I want to be cheap or not but also dont want to hate driving the car even for 20-30 minute session.

Anyone have experience with the kooks and a RB header?

Well, the Kooks looks like a spec Miata exhaust. The vast majority of the time, Spec Miatas sound terrible and are super loud...

^^^ this. I love Miatas but the sound of a Spec Miata exhaust makes me want to claw my earballs out.

Kooks is the "quieter" Spec Miata exhaust...which means that it's still ear splittingly loud. And a terrible tone to boot.

I have the full Racing Beat exhaust from header all the way back to race muffler. I personally think it's a good volume and outstanding tone. Saving money on exhaust only ends one way: with it sounding like crap. If you care about that sort of thing, then any of the Spec Miata exhausts are not the answer.

Thanks kind of knew the answer but wanted to be cheap. I dont care about sound more about if im going to be def at the end of the session. Just pre-ordered thr racing beat midpipe and exhaust.

Anyone have a pictute of how they havr the O2 sensor the engine bay?

You have a California emissions NB? If so you'll need an O2 sensor harness extension because the new sensor location will be down by the trans. You'll ditch the secondary O2, all it does it look at the efficiency of the catalytic convertor, which you won't have anymore.

Not exactly what you are looking for but I have full RB from header all the way back and I love the sound.

The Kooks is basically a knock-off of the MBS Spec-Miata exhaust that has been around for quite a while (https://mandrelbendingsolutions.com/...ainless-steel/). I've gone through a couple of these and have the following observations:

Pros:
1. Lightweight.
2. Cheap.
3. Bolts directly to the header, no "test pipe" required.
4. They sound pretty good and are relatively quiet FOR A SPEC MIATA EXHAUST.
5. Lowest possible restriction (given the 2.25" pipe limitation).

Cons:
1. They don't last very long. I've blown out the muffler on 2 of these. They tend to last 1-2 seasons.
2. They create a higher-pitched exhaust note than more expensive exhausts with larger volume mufflers/resonators and there is a definite resonance around 2.5-3K RPM (which doesn't matter on track).
3. 2.25" is your only option per the rules.

I gave up on them and am currently running an Enthuza on the track car -- a much more durable option. I would never run one of these on a street car.