Apexi World Sport 2 Exhaust for the 2002-2005 Acura RSX and Civic Si

An exhaust can be one of the riskiest and yet most rewarding modifications done to a car. On the one hand, a well-made and properly installed exhaust can add a pleasant amount of noise and a little additional power to a vehicle. However, we also have to remember that a cheaper exhaust kit, or simply an enlarged muffler will do nothing but create some truly miserable noise, and may actually decrease the performance of a vehicle. Of course, this problem is only compounded when you are dealing with a vehicle such as the Honda Civic or Acura RSX, which have such a wide market and so many different products to choose from.

Fortunately, the 2.0 liter engine found in both vehicles already makes a nice noise, so the challenge lies simply in finding something that complements it. While there are a good number of quality exhaust systems on the market for these vehicles, easily one of the best is the Apexi World Sport 2 (WS2 for short). The original WS was a good product, and found a place on many last generation Civics and Integras. However, the time has come, and Apexi has released a newer product to handle our newer cars.

The first thing to notice about the system is that it is fairly conservative. The pipes aren't huge, the tip isn't overstated, and unless you already knew, it would be fairly difficult to tell that your car doesn't have the stock system on it. Depending on your preference, this can be a good or a bad thing. For those who want a clean and classy look though, it is definitely a good thing. However, while the way that an exhaust system looks mounted on a vehicle is definitely important, perhaps the most important thing is whether or not it sounds good, and whether or not it actually adds any power or performance to the vehicle in question.

When dealing with the WS2, we can offer a "yes" to both of the above questions. The sound really is something to be impressed by. It expands on the already good sounding nature of the K20 engine without adding any unnecessary or overwhelming noise. Far too many exhaust systems for four cylinder cars leave the vehicle with a low-pitched, overly loud "bubble" coming out of the back end. Thankfully, the WS2 doesn't have this problem. The exhaust notes are sharp and clear, the sound is a tad bit higher pitched, and although it won't make your Civic sound like a monster truck, it's loud enough that it won't disappoint those who wanted a bit more noise from their car. However, one complaint is that while on the highway, the sound can tend to get a bit drony and annoying after a long period of time. The Civic Si and the Acura RSX weren't overly quiet cars to begin with, so whether or not you want to deal with the increased noise levels is definitely something to consider before purchasing and installing the exhaust.

The WS2 installs with little to no problems, and any trained shop should be able to do the procedure relatively quickly. Doing it yourself, provided you have the proper experience and tools also shouldn't be too much of a problem. The WS2 was designed specifically for the cars in the question, so no worries about ill fitment or improper placement and sizes of pipes. While looking over the system, though, one thing that demands notice is the overall quality of the product. The exhaust system feels well put together, and it does indeed seem like a quality product. Which is good, because when you pay about 450 dollars for a collection of pipes, they should feel well made and worth the money.

Now, the final, and most important question to be answered, "Does it change the way the vehicle drives?" In short, yes, the WS2 does add some power and free up few pounds of torque. You might notice it, but, just like any other bolt on modification, it's not going to add an insane amount of power or turn your Civic into a rocket ship. It certainly makes it a lot of fun to drive, with the exhaust notes ringing loud and clear as you pull the car around corners, the cut off of shifting, and the rush of pleasant noise as the needle approaches the red. It really is a lot of fun, it's easier to hear your shift points, some of the "blah" nature of the K20 at the lower end has been removed, and overall it stands a worthy improvement to your vehicle.Those looking for a loud, window rattling sound, and a three or four inch tip hanging off the back of their car are definitely advised to go elsewhere. However, those car enthusiasts who want to get a bit more enjoyable noise, have a nice looking tip coming from the car, and the added thrill that comes with doing some tasteful modifications to their vehicle are likely to love the WS2. It's a quality product from an already trusted and fairly well-known name.