Kia Stinger GTS: Borla Exhaust with Ark Performance Downpipes Cold Start, Revs, Acceleration!

My Stinger is complete! I installed the Borla Catback exhaust a couple weeks ago, and paired with the Ark Performance downpipes it sounds pretty mean! The car is so much louder (and faster) with the Borla on there. It really lets the 3.3 V6 breathe a whole lot better than stock. In this video I have the cold start, warm start, revs, and acceleration from on board and outside the car. What do you guys think of the sound?

[@Xetenor]

Heck yea! That's the setup I am working on. Have had the borla with stock mid pipes for a while which sounds sweet but am craving a little more. Sounds hella sweet! Can't wait to get mine put on. I have exhaust tips and did some sound deadening in trunk area which both help. Ark downpipe sure wakes the borla exhaust up! 😁

[@FrimAutos]

They sound great together! I got the Ark downpipes before I got the Borla so I'm not even sure what stock downpipes sound like with Borla, but Ark with stock exhaust made the car a bit louder, and then the Borla just makes it so much louder lol. It sounds pretty strong as a full setup!

[@man1nthesky]

Just installed this setup for my 18 GT2. Barely any drone noticeable above the sound of music. But comfort and eco mode def sound like the regular sport mode if you had just the borla. Now the exhaust has a good deeper growl and the turbos sound insane. Also the burbles you get even in comfort are great at low-mid gears. Def a good combo, but new exhaust tips are my next move because it gets a bit raspy in comfort mode without the valves fully open

[@FrimAutos]

You have a 2018 and it has active exhaust? Mine is fully open all the time lol, I can't ever "open" or close my valves. Mine is a 2019. I thought they only made the active for like 2022 model years, but maybe I'm wrong about that! But yes, it makes the car sound amazing!

[@ksarito3965]

Definitely going with this set up

[@FrimAutos]

It sounds pretty awesome!

[@imstrobey]

New exhaust sounds sick! Hope to hear it at a meet.

[@FrimAutos]

Thanks! I bring it to every show but I don't rev or anything lol. Maybe leaving Mike Ward sometime!

[@egotisticalb-yt]

Thank you and those who asked about the drone. If there is a hint of drone, even after the pipes have "worn in" as you put it, then I think I'll skip this. I parted ways with my 300 SRT due to the drone after I installed new pipes - for the sake of a bit of theater I'd rather maintain a quiet daily driver. To each their own though - sounds good when you open it up!

[@FrimAutos]

If you want a quiet daily driver I would not recommend this setup lol. You cannot open or close the pipes to make it quieter, and it is a loud car with this setup. Straight up. It makes it faster and allows the engine to breathe a lot better, but if you want quiet do not spend the money lol

[@storytime7982]

Love it, it’s not making V6 sound nice but this setup is the best I’ve heard

[@robertleivonen4686]

Hey man, I saw you're from CO. Do you go to any meets or anything? I'm debating what exactly I'd like for my exhaust setup, and I wouldn't mind hearing this in person if you're out at any point.

[@FrimAutos]

I typically only go to the cars and coffee events. Lafayette at the beginning of the month, Mike Ward supercar saturday, and sometimes the FuelFed show in Boulder. I'd be happy to show you in person!

[@Durk.29]

It’s loud yh but the car actually moves

[@timmdonnelly]

How are your low rpms? Do they sound obnoxious when doing daily city driving? I have the MBRP pro with ark downpipes. Low rpms sound like a Honda civic. Need a new exhaust set up, not liking the MBRP.

[@FrimAutos]

The Borla is way louder than MBRP. I had a friend with MBRP, my car is far louder. When I first put the exhaust on, the drone at low RPMs (1500-3000ish) was obnoxious. I actually considered taking it off. But I kept it on and as I kept using the car, I think the exhaust got "worn in" and now the drone isn't that bad anymore. Its still loud under load though lol

[@kyleclevenger3467]

Should get the add on resonators for it. Makes it a little quieter but takes away that obnoxious sound at around 3k rpms

[@storytime7982]

Are you running aftermarket intakes?

[@FrimAutos]

Yes, I have AEM cold air intakes

[@brn0ut4ever86]

Any drone. I would love this for a daily set up.

[@FrimAutos]

At first, before the pipes are really broken in there is drone. After you drive it for a bit, not really. At least that has been my experience! The Borla really makes the car loud - make no mistake about that. It's almost obnoxious on cold start.

[@brn0ut4ever86]

@@FrimAutosappreciate the feedback, very informative. One last thing. Did you tune the car? Like just to run everything without overboost

[@FrimAutos]

I have a JB4 module. I run it in map 2 pretty much exclusively. So whatever the tune settings are for the JB4, that's whatever i'm on lol. If you don't have a JB4, I highly recommend getting one. It COMPLETELY transforms the car!@@brn0ut4ever86

[@paultrawick3811]

I’m getting this same setup, where did you order it from?

[@FrimAutos]

I ordered them both online. They are pretty easy to find. With the Borla I went through a 3rd party because it was slightly cheaper than buying straight from Borla, but it was still a brand new exhaust. The Ark I'm not sure because my girlfriend actually bought it for me as a gift!

[@heavensace]

Is this the ark mid pipes or actual down pipes?

[@FrimAutos]

Ark secondaries with Borla catback exhaust. I still have the stock primaries.

[@crandallexpo0648]

No pops, crackles or rev mayching?

[@FrimAutos]

It pops a little bit at lower RPMs when you let off the throttle but this exhaust doesn't cause a ton of backfire

[@crandallexpo0648]

@FrimAutos yeah... I have the Borla as well, I thought it would be more volume if you had ark downpipes but okay. I'll get downpipes and high flow cats. And one of them tunes that give the sound

[@FrimAutos]

@@crandallexpo0648 Its definitely louder with the Ark pipes. I have a friend with just Borla and my car is much louder than hers. It does backfire at low RPMs but it doesn't have the obnoxiously loud backfires like a lot of the BMW tunes.

[@crandallexpo0648]

@@FrimAutos ahh okay okay, fairnough 👌🏽.. just trying to figure out what route to take that might help get a lil bit with the backfires..but it's just means the car is well factory tuned... Wonder if there any other tunes other than burble tune and lap 3 that's good and that'll give you that feature

[@bradkerr2798]

@@crandallexpo0648 Depending on tune and exhaust for how much and how audible, but often if you keep on the throttle just enough to stay out of fuel-cut on decel when engine braking, you can get some lean afterburn pops and crackles happening.

[@Breezy-ot8nb]

What downpipe tune?

[@FrimAutos]

Its paired with Ark Performance downpipes

[@zarkoristov5585]

​@FrimAutos is that the primary and secondary cated pipes or just secondary?replacement

[@coryswanson2247]

Bro, pleeeeease e-85 this sucker

[@FrimAutos]

I've thought about it. But its expensive. Have to get aftermarket fuel system parts and install, and find e-85 every time i drive lol. If it was a weekend car I'd definitely strongly consider it, but being my only car it will cause some inconvenience having to find e-85 to fill up every time. We'll see though!

[@ksarito3965]

All it needs is some gurgles

[@FrimAutos]

I actually do get some burbles in the lower gears when I let off the gas!