What are the disadvantages of a decat?

[saxo_turbo]

I have a decat pipe on my T reg Saxo 1.1i, bought a 5" exhaust and went to have it properly fitted at a mechanics, he said it would be a lot more benficial for me to have a middle pipe from a 106 fitted so I put my trust in the guy and let him get on with the job of fitting the decatted middle pipe.

Now, with permanent headaches and my patience wearing thin, I want to know what kind of advantages and disadvantages really come with having a decat because im considering having my exhaust taken off and I don't know whetehr to keep the pipe!

Thanks guys. :p

[wadoryu]

It's louder if that's a problem, you need a cat for mot, and it's a £30 fine without one.

[saxova]

You bought a 5 inch bin lid?

Now moaning it's loud? haha what did you expect?

Just put the cat + standard backbox back on mate. 1.1's struggle enough, with a silly loud exhaust just seems like it's trying harder.. but still getting nowhere.

Advantages of a de-cat : Gases exit quicker - allowing the engine to rev up slight faster/easier. Pops and bangs + a few ponies more.

[devilsadvocate]

Remove the 5" backbox and replace it with a decent branded one that is 2/3".

Keep the decat but you will need a CAT for the MOT.

[EwynSaxo]

Sounds like you got a botched up center pipe with decat, why didnt you just buy a kam racing full system ?

[piranhamatt]

Disadvantages: noise
MOT failure
Police do you for it



Mine makes flaaames

[Ross]

On a 1.1 with no other mods, the noise increases. No other "gain" whatsoever. Far better to go back to a much smaller system, ideally standard.

[RyanSaxo]

It's louder if that's a problem, you need a cat for mot, and it's a £30 fine without one.

is that true? at the side of the road fine?

or only if you get stopped and vosa checked and your emissions fail? Same fine if any of your car isn't MOT worthy? (split ball joint boots etc).

[wadoryu]

is that true? at the side of the road fine?

or only if you get stopped and vosa checked and your emissions fail? Same fine if any of your car isn't MOT worthy? (split ball joint boots etc).

Yes iv seen my mates ticket book. But unlikely the popo will know what one looks like. In other words don't get pulled by a traffic cop.

[devilsadvocate]

Yes iv seen my mates ticket book. But unlikely the popo will know what one looks like. In other words don't get pulled by a traffic cop.

Surely you are most likely to get pulled by a traffic cop?? lol

[RyanSaxo]

Yes iv seen my mates ticket book. But unlikely the popo will know what one looks like. In other words don't get pulled by a traffic cop.

hmmmm... interesting

although are they likely to be able to 100% say that there isn't a cat? you could claim it's built into the backbox?

without emission testing I'm surprised they can give you a ticket for it.

[devilsadvocate]

hmmmm... interesting

although are they likely to be able to 100% say that there isn't a cat? you could claim it's built into the backbox?

without emission testing I'm surprised they can give you a ticket for it.

Without taking the exhaust apart, they would have a difficult time proving it on the side of the road...

However, they are traffic police so know what a CAT looks like. If its clear you haven't got one, they may issue a ticket knowing you would never contest it if you didn't have one :)

[wadoryu]

Surely you are most likely to get pulled by a traffic cop?? lol

Not usually.
hmmmm... interesting

although are they likely to be able to 100% say that there isn't a cat? you could claim it's built into the backbox?

without emission testing I'm surprised they can give you a ticket for it.

Traffic cops arn't stupid they are generally hardcore car nuts like us. Well some of us lol.

[RyanSaxo]

Not usually.


Traffic cops arn't stupid they are generally hardcore car nuts like us. Well some of us lol.

I appreciate they aren't stupid. however, how would they know for definite to give a ticket?

I fail to see how they could ticket you without an emissions reading as evidence? My car passed an MOT with no cat in it... I didn't tell the guy before it hadn't got one and the garage is a reputable company so they obviously didn't check or bodged it through for me but as far as I'm aware it passed an MOT with the current exhaust...

I would have thought it would need to be one of those VOSA check points or similar to catch you out.

[daveymac]

Went through loads if fuel with mine on.

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[stevo67]

Tbh a total waste of time/money on a 1.1 & hassle thrown in.

[wadoryu]

I appreciate they aren't stupid. however, how would they know for definite to give a ticket?

I fail to see how they could ticket you without an emissions reading as evidence? My car passed an MOT with no cat in it... I didn't tell the guy before it hadn't got one and the garage is a reputable company so they obviously didn't check or bodged it through for me but as far as I'm aware it passed an MOT with the current exhaust...

I would have thought it would need to be one of those VOSA check points or similar to catch you out.
They'll only issue a ticket if they know what they are talking about. It doesn't matter if your car passed the emmisions without a cat J reg and onwards it is illegal. In the end they can issue a £30 fine, and considering a saxo is going to be a common car they'll be pulling over they know what they're gonna be looking for.

[Gandi699]

Dummy cat?

[RyanSaxo]

They'll only issue a ticket if they know what they are talking about. It doesn't matter if your car passed the emmisions without a cat J reg and onwards it is illegal. In the end they can issue a £30 fine, and considering a saxo is going to be a common car they'll be pulling over they know what they're gonna be looking for.

I'm really not convinced. Do you see at all where I'm coming from?

Just like they could issue a ticket for having removed airbags and seat belts for harnesses etc? How would they know that there isn't a cat in my pipe? I could claim it's a long thin one built into the centre section that I had custom made?

I'm just not convinced they could issue a ticket from an apparent visual lack of a CAT?

[jasonmayall]

Surely, if they asked you to show them the cat, and you cant, that would be a perfectly reasonable excuse to give you a fine?

[RyanSaxo]

Surely, if they asked you to show them the cat, and you cant, that would be a perfectly reasonable excuse to give you a fine?

I'd say it's built in that pipe there...

[Christian555]

Get it lowered, that way no nosey officer will be looking at the exhaust underneath without a jack!