This is my first post on this forum, though I have been part of online auto forums for almost 20 years - GTO, G8, Corvette, Raptor, etc... In fact, the Raptor is actually the reason I am here. I bought a new Raptor last year, and I actually made a TON of money trading it in just a few weeks ago, so the ST was my replacement for now. I have a '21 Carbonized Gray with every option except the Pano.
I spent a couple of weeks researching exhaust options because I couldn't deal with the silence of the stock system. I have had nearly every brand of exhaust throughout the years on various cars (mostly heads, cam, longtubes), so I have had some LOUD cars. That is not what I wanted for the Explorer, so after much debate, I ended up choosing the Thermal R&D from Ron at Whoosh Motorsports. I was very impressed with the fit, finish, and quality of materials. I did the installation in my garage just using ramps, and it was a breeze. It look less than 2 hours. Unfortunately the box was damaged by UPS, so one of the exhaust tips was missing, so I don't have a picture yet. I have reached out to Ron to see about a replacement.
As for the sound, I am impressed! Again, it is likely the quietest exhaust option, but for a daily driver, that is what I wanted. There is no discernible drone when cruising at highway speeds. But you can definitely hear the exhaust during normal acceleration - just slightly louder than the FENG, and obviously a much better tone. It also really comes to life under hard acceleration. As for the tone itself, it is very refined. It sounds like the type of note you would expect from a V6 performance vehicle - I may get roasted for this comparison, but think Porsche exhaust... It's a true and honest and refined V6 sound. It's not one of the systems that I feel like is trying to create (or fake) the impression that you have a V8. All that being said, I am really enjoying the system! If you want something a bit more subtle, I think the Thermal is an excellent option. If you want loud, go Borla!
I spent a couple of weeks researching exhaust options because I couldn't deal with the silence of the stock system. I have had nearly every brand of exhaust throughout the years on various cars (mostly heads, cam, longtubes), so I have had some LOUD cars. That is not what I wanted for the Explorer, so after much debate, I ended up choosing the Thermal R&D from Ron at Whoosh Motorsports. I was very impressed with the fit, finish, and quality of materials. I did the installation in my garage just using ramps, and it was a breeze. It look less than 2 hours. Unfortunately the box was damaged by UPS, so one of the exhaust tips was missing, so I don't have a picture yet. I have reached out to Ron to see about a replacement.
As for the sound, I am impressed! Again, it is likely the quietest exhaust option, but for a daily driver, that is what I wanted. There is no discernible drone when cruising at highway speeds. But you can definitely hear the exhaust during normal acceleration - just slightly louder than the FENG, and obviously a much better tone. It also really comes to life under hard acceleration. As for the tone itself, it is very refined. It sounds like the type of note you would expect from a V6 performance vehicle - I may get roasted for this comparison, but think Porsche exhaust... It's a true and honest and refined V6 sound. It's not one of the systems that I feel like is trying to create (or fake) the impression that you have a V8. All that being said, I am really enjoying the system! If you want something a bit more subtle, I think the Thermal is an excellent option. If you want loud, go Borla!
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