Originally Posted by LexusfanVA

Not always. I noticed about the same difference adding my tune as I did adding my Borla on my 08 F, Yet one was $700 and the other was $1200+install. RR tune allows you to bump up the RPM limit from 6800 to 7200, they also offered 7400 before. Smooths out the power curve.
Easy way to tell is roll racing local F's 30-100, 50-80, or timing with Dragy 60-130. With a catback I could pull on a stock F by about a car length or so. With both F's having Borla catbacks and then adding a tune I could put a car on the other F with only Borla. Can't imagine why losing secondary cats would cause issues in CA, no CEL pops up for it as it would with the primaries. If you want to be legal and not fail visual inspection at all, then save weight somewhere and get a tune. Won't be much power, but will be smoother and possibly bump you 5-15whp. Could get away with gutting both sets of stock cats also and tune would delete the CEL but it would smell and be a touch louder.

The only things you could really use the warranty for on the F are the stock manifold cracking and the valley plate leak. I bought my 08 and tacked on a $2700 bumper to bumper warranty. It expired after 60k/2 years and I only used it on a headlight that was a slight condensation, honestly a $250 repair out of pocket. Valley plate leak Lexus corporate covered nearly 85% of the cost for me out of warranty.

Originally Posted by Grosen84

Removing the secondary cats would fail visual in CA. I've got the warranty at this point, no reason to void it. The car is still stupid fast for the street and I'm not going to the track on the regular, I've just never been the kind of person who can leave my toys well enough alone

Originally Posted by LexusfanVA

Not sure how it goes there but in MD you either find someone to do the visual inspection under the table, or replace it before every inspection. Can’t really believe that you would be the first to get a catback in CA?

Originally Posted by LexusfanVA

Not sure how it goes there but in MD you either find someone to do the visual inspection under the table, or replace it before every inspection. Can’t really believe that you would be the first to get a catback in CA?

Originally Posted by Grosen84

Definitely not, I just don't want to be in that game. I've owned 7 Foxbody mustang's, the lexus is supposed to be my sensible fun car

Actually, if I can score a stock midpipe easily and gut it, that might be the most impactful route with the tune. The primary cats should still eliminate most of the odor and not be obviously modified if some looked under.

Originally Posted by AlOtaBblGm

Hah! I had 3 fox bodies. Gutting the cats was an easy noticeable HP boost but boy did the cars stink. Removing the primary cats on these F's really wakes them up to the tune of about 40hp. The problem with doing the fox body mid-pipe shuffle is that on these cars the primary cats are part of the header, they aren't on the mid-pipe. The secondaries are for sure. They are probably worth some HP as well. I would bet removing all four cats and getting a tune would be worth slightly over 50hp on an otherwise stock F.

As someone who loves V8's, you have to love this 2UR-GSE engine and AA80E trans. Easily the best V8 powertrain I've every driven. It's my daily as well.

Originally Posted by Jwconeil

Just an FYI, My cat less headers gave me a check engine light. The tune fixed it.