I've decided to begin by changing out the link pipes on my GT4, I see these two are recommended the most and I was curious if anyone could tell me what is going to be different between them? This is quite a hard decision for me.

 

Soul is stainless steel and has no heat shielding

Akra is titanium and has heat shielding.

Virtually no performance difference. The different materials may sound slightly different.

can’t go wrong either way

 

And the Souls cost a lot less if it matters, the fit and finish is impeccable...my Indy shop only recommends Soul based on several factors.

 

Don't I want these heat shields Bob? So the higher price "IS" getting me a better product?

 

If I am in the market for an OAP, I would get the Flat6 in-house one, it's stainless steel with heat shield. A pipe is just a long cylindrical tube, there is nothing magical about it (with the exception of the CG one with high flow filter)

 

It is debatable but how many exhaust pipes have heat shields as it is? You will not notice a difference IMO. If it really mattered Porsche would do it. Akras are not what they used to be as well - you are paying a lot for the name.

 

Factory pipe is heat shielded.

 

This. Porsche didn’t do this because they couldn’t figure out where else to spend money. If it was totally unnecessary they’d be more than happy to delete the heat shielding and its’ associated cost.

 

correct!

 

you can have the Soul's ceramic coated for between 200-450 depending upon the quality/effectiveness of the ceramic coating you select from "jethot"

BTW are the Akra OAPs even available in N.A now?

 

My bad if so, sorry, but are you saying the pipe with the OPF filter? Regardless, not needed IMO. If Mike or John from Soul read this please help me out here!

 

I've been told Supreme Power can get them.

 

Yes the pipe with the OPF. There are also naca ducts to cool off the OPF.

 

Yes, the factory pipe is heat shielded, because it’s connected to a large easy bake oven called the GPF/OPF.

The GPF restriction generates heat as well as the burn cycles in the monitored cars.

Prior to the 718 GPF cars there wasn’t much discussion on shielded OAP pipes.

 

Even 981 cars had heat shielding on the part that we now call OAP. And there was no OPF then. It will raise the temperature that the rear shocks see if you don't have shielding.

FWIW I am running unshielded OAPs now for testing but for long term use I consider it a requirement.