Acura TL 2009-2014: Exhaust Reviews

This article applies to the Acura TL (2009-2014).

Your car's engine is like a giant vacuum pump; the more efficiently it can consume and expel air as well as fuel, the more power it will make. The OEM exhaust on your TL is made to keep it quiet and trouble-free, at the expense of power and sound. Aftermarket exhausts tend to have a different focus, and depending on your goals, you can buy louder exhausts with different tones and, potentially, one that flows better as well as makes more power. The Honda/Acura J-series V6 loves to breathe, so an aftermarket exhaust is a great place to start if you're looking to begin modifying your ride. If you're in the market for a new exhaust for your Acura TL, read on to see your best options.

Exhaust Reviews

XLR8

Price – $1,000

Piping Diameter – 2.5"

Power Gains – 10-15 HP

Sound – Loud

Dual or Quad Tip – Quad

The XLR8 combines having a loud roar on the outside, while maintaining the quiet interior. This is accomplished due to the PRT chamber the manufacture have in the middle of the exhaust. The manufacture will send you this product with everything you need to get the job done—from the tiny rubber bushings, to the gaskets, and even the bolts and washers—so you don't have to use your rusty old ones. The factory claims that if everything goes well, this exhaust can add up to 15 horsepower to your stable, which means you will notice an immediate difference in acceleration. There has been a popular complaint that has been going around regarding this product, and that it has some rattling noises. The company recommends you check all the nuts and bolts to make sure the rattle isn't your fault; they also claim that rattle can come due to abuse. In the end, with the loud tone this exhaust produces, you won't be hearing anything but a beautiful, loud note. Recommended if you're looking for a loud exhaust.

Related Video: XLR8 Exhaust on TL

ATLP

Price – $1,130

Piping Diameter – 2.5"

Power Gains – 10-15 HP

Sound – Medium

Dual or Quad Tip – Quad

The ATLP is perfect for those who want the performance increase, without having too loud of an exhaust. However, you do have the freedom of making it obnoxiously loud by removing the resonator that comes with it, but if you want loud, you might as well go with the XLR8. The XLR8 manufactures claimed that their product is almost the same as the ATLP, but with the difference in price, why wouldn't they claim such a thing? If you're into the visual, forum enthusiasts love the look of the quad tips on this exhaust, they claim it completely changes the look on the rear of your vehicle. There is a catch, however, this exhaust was designed around the 3rd Gen TL-S model, so if you want this exhaust to work on your 3rd gen TL, you will need to purchase the Type-S rear bumper for the rear of your vehicle. Unfortunately, this exhaust doesn't fit regular 3rd gens unless you have that bumper, so if you don't already have the bumper installed, add that to your cost. The good thing about it is that the bumper will enhance the look of your TL, so it's a bonus in disguise. Recommended if you are willing to go the extra mile for the aesthetic upgrade.

Related Video: ATLP Exhaust on TL

Custom Made

Price – $200+

Piping Diameter – Up to you

Power Gains – 5-20 HP

Sound – Up to you

Dual or Quad Tip – Up to you

A custom-made exhaust is exactly what it sounds like, a bespoke setup fabricated by a muffler shop. This requires a bit more legwork than buying an off the shelf unit, as the design is up to you. Time to read up on what the difference between resonators (tone) and mufflers (noise level), and piping diameters. While it does take a bit more effort on your end, you end up with exactly what you want. This solution can be as cheap, or as expensive as you want. You can delete a muffler from your stock exhaust for less than $100 to amp up the decibels. You can have a custom axle-back made that bolts up to your existing exhaust, but replaces the rear mufflers and tips with something custom, this can go for about $200 to $400 depending on what specific items you want. Or you can piece together an entire exhaust from the catalytic converter back like the XLR8 or ATLP units. If you go this route, we recommend keeping the piping diameter around the 2.5" to 3" range and to include at least one muffler to retain some semblance of civility. Brands like Vibrant and Magnaflow sell a la carte mufflers, resonators and any other component that you could need to build up your custom exhaust. Speak with your muffler shop on their recommendations and get quotes before jumping in head first. Recommended for people who want a custom sound and possibly a great price.

Related Video: Custom Exhaust on TL

Related Discussions

• Exhaust Thread - AcuraZine.com
• XLR8 Exhaust - AcuraZine.com
• ATLP Exhaust - AcuraZine.com
• Aftermarket Exhaust Suggestions - AcuraZine.com
• Quad Tips and Magnaflows - AcuraZine.com