I'm thinking about buying the "R" exhaust manifold for my car. It can be found on IPD, but most likely I will buy used. Are these worth it? I'll probably spend $150-$300 on one...

 

What other exhaust upgrades do you have? still on stock turbo?

 

Everything is still stock. I was thinking about just going all 2.5" Magnaflow once the car is paid off. Perhaps increase the PSI.

 

Then not worth it then. What are you looking for from your exhaust?

 

Better flow for improved performance and fuel economy

And I will be chipping the car later

 

I don't think you're going to get much, if any, gains from an R manifold with a completely stock exhaust. I wouldn't consider an R manifold until you have a full turbo back exhaust with an intake of some sort. And for the $200 that average used R manifold goes to, there's other places that it can be spent that you will benefit from on a completely stock car.

 

OK, I'll just make a "upgrade" thread later for my car, once I can afford to start throwing money on it.

 

Yeah Volvo's aren't cheap to upgrade, even if you buy "used". Good luck on your endevour.

I personally agree it isn't worth it unless you doing a full setup. Like for example a full
3" mandrel bent turboback system with a free flowing straight through design muffler. Some form of intake upgrade be it a panel filter upgrade or SRI or CAI.

If you getting a tune later on, get all the other mods done before this so as to take into account all the mods you have to gain better performance from them all. No sense in going back to retune after every single mod.

 

OK, good advice.