My car will be going into storage for the winter within a couple months and I am planning on purchasing a Corsa exhaust system early next year, to get her ready for next year. Anyway I am wondering what are the advantages to cat back over axle back? From the photos at Corsa's website I have found it looks as though the Cat Back comes with a X-Pipe where as the axle back I assume attaches to the stock H-Pipe.

an X pipe is nice to have for low end I believe

Axel back is just the mufflers. The H pipe especially on older models is very restrictive. Go for the x pipe and cat back. No need for high flo cats or headers in my opinion. There are often take off (used) systems available for 1/2 the money. These are stainless so they will last as long as the car is on the road. Best of luck and mod on

Thank you both for the info, I intend to buy used and I wish I was ready now, because the Corsa Touring for sale in the classifieds here are a good price...not able to at this point though.

I was under the impression that an x-pipe and axle back system is what is considered the cat back...am I wrong?

Yes you are wrong! first time?
Axle back is without the pipes from the x pipe to the axle back. Cat back is what you want and the x pipe imho

No that's the second time I have been wrong....but I don't think that's too bad!

OK thanks for clearing that up for me, and yes that is what I am after. Would an X-Pipe increase the sound of the Corsa Touring? I am a little worried if I buy a Touring it won't have enough rumble for me....but I don't want anything too radical for the wifeys ears....don't want to get her B*****n! Right now she loves the car and I prefer to keep it that way.

We took it to Bristol last Saturday first road trip in it and it was great...got a little over 26 MPG!

I have the Corsa Pace Car setup and with the X pipe I think it is great. Not extremely loud, but nice aggressive sound.

Corsa Sport with X...cabin noise is at a minimum until you open her up...love it...and no drone to boot...

Well after researching and watching/listening to exhausts online I think I will play it safe with the Corsa Touring and X-Pipe. BTW WestCoastCorvette.com has a great exhaust site where you can listen to each exhaust system idling, dyno, launching etc.

I am still a little confused the systems I have viewed as Cat Back (photo below) seem to have pipes that end soon after crossing the axle. Which is some distance from the cats????

[img]http://r8x9rq.bay.livefilestore.com/y1p7.../226.jpg?psid=1[/img]

I think people use the terms cat and axle back for the same thing, even though it's not really correct. Most of the C5 systems are called 'cat back', even though they start at the axles. But since there aren't flanges between the cats and axles, that really is the only 'bolt on' product that's actually behind the cats

IIRC, to install a new X-pipe in place of the OEM H-pipe you'll need to cut the stock pipes just behind the cats. If you only did the mufflers (axle back), then it's all just bolted together.

Thanks for clearing that up for me Chewy!

Installing the X-Pipe does require cutting the existing exhaust pipe behind the cats. But, from what I have read its not anything to difficult....of course I don't have access to a lift so I will end up paying someone to install....dread that!

If you're willing to cut the oem pipes near the axle (to get them out) you can DIY on ramps.

I just bought a 1998 Coupe with only 45K miles that has the Cat Back Corsa sytem and I am extremely pleased with the sound. At 70 mph cruise it is very low sound but when you punch it the sound is really great. At 70 it will chirp the tires at WOT. It does have a performance axel.