Elevate Exhaust System Review for P1 Vehicles (C30/C70/V50/S40)

If you are in the market to modify your Volvo, you may be quickly disappointed to find how very few parts exist for these cars. Once you do finally discover the few things which can be upgraded, you will be even more put off by the price tag. For those in the Volvo tuning world, we do have to pay a higher premium for performance parts. However, FCP Euro's partnership with Elevate provides access to high quality parts for a very decent price.

When shopping for a P1 Volvo exhaust, Elevate's catback system comes up as one of the cheapest options on the internet. This does not mean Elevate's exhaust is of less quality than their competitors. On the contrary, their cat-back system is on of the best setups currently available.

The stainless steel exhaust consists of high quality welds and three main sections, making it fairly easy for someone to install this exhaust themselves. Using nothing more than jack stands and standard wrenches, I was able to securely install my exhaust in a few hours; the most challenging part was removing the stock system.

 So long as it is properly installed, there is no reason to fear of any leaks from this multi-piece exhaust. Elevate provides precisely cut gaskets to fit between the bolt-up connections, and various slip-fit sections which have enough overlap to prevent any gasses from escaping. I have had the Elevate exhaust system installed for over 80k miles of spirited driving with no visual or audible signs of a leak.

Coming from a performance standpoint, Elevate is one of the only three inch diameter exhaust options for the P1 chassis. On a turbo car, the larger diameter provides better flow which equals more horse power and torque. While a larger exhaust also comes with more noise, Elevate's custom muffler and resonator designs provide a pleasantly deep tone at high RPMs without being obnoxiously loud at cruising speeds. There is also minimal cabin drone, which is easier on the ears of passengers, but that sweet five pot symphony will always be enjoyed.

From a cosmetic perspective, the stainless piping has lost a bit of shine over years of use, but the polished tips and muffler still sparkle like new. The exhaust comes standard with angle adjustable 4" exhaust tips which fill the bumper cutouts quite nicely. But if this is too much bling for your style, the tips can easily be cut off and swapped out for a different type. I personally opted for a quad tip setup to match the aggressive note of this exhaust.

The first time I started the car with the Elevate exhaust installed, the sound was music to my ears. Loud enough to turn a few heads, but not so loud it draws unwanted attention. It is still perfectly manageable to carry on a conversation in the vehicle, not that you will want to listen to anything other than your car's amazing sound. But visual and audible cosmetics are only half of the benefits. Elevate's cat-back system is dyno proven to give performance gains, even your butt dyno will be quite pleased with the results of this purchase.

If you own a Volvo and you are looking for a quality exhaust at a decent price, look no further. Especially with FCPEuro's free shipping on orders over $49, you cannot beat the price for true quality both in craftsmanship and materials.

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Written by :

Michael Hallock

Michael lives in Dahlonega, GA where he works full time as manager of an accounts receivable department. Despite a bachelors in New Media Arts, his true passion is in modifying and maintaining the cars that he and his wife own; Volvo for life. Many in the Volvo community might recognize his screen name, MyNameIdeasWereTaken.