JSC Speed's 1993 Mazda Miata Project Car

The previous owner of my Miata had installed a Jackson Racing cat back exhaust that is 2.5" through. It sounded alright, but was a little to raspy for my liking. The JR CBE is also as heavy as a tank! I purchased the Borla because it is known to provide a decent, lower tone compared to the JR, and because I've never heard a Borla system I didn't like. The biggest benefit, it turns out, is the weight savings.

The Jackson exhaust, which is a heavy gauge steel resonated mid-pipe and the rear/axle-back/muffler, weighed in at a portly 23.5 lbs (9.5 + 14, respectively). Borla told me their CBE for the 90-97 Miata weighed 18lbs, and I was thrilled that I would save 5.5lbs by doing this swap. Before I attached the pipes to the car I did a formal weigh in: The Borla tipped the scales at a Kate Moss-esque 15lbs (4.5 + 10.5)!

Installing the Borla is easy (not that any exhaust install on a Miata is hard; there are only four hangers, and four bolts--not much to go wrong there). While I'm not a huge fan of the polished and flared tip, the exhaust note and weight savings make the Borla CBE a winner for me. Yes, it is loud when paired with the Racing Beat 4-1 Header and the test pipe (putting the cat in tones it down considerably), but the exhaust note is better than the JR unit was. I can't say that there are any power gains, since both systems are free flowing, but the lack of a resonator on the Borla and the smaller muffler, probably allows for a little more flow. Overall, I am very pleased with the Borla, I mean only 15lbs, what's not to love!