That's insane. Prices were bad enough 8-10 years ago when I was looking, so I went with Texas Speed headers (and catted mids) and an OBX catback (Kooks knockoff).

But I wonder if they are going out of production and they're trying to sell off the remaining inventory as high as they can. The TSP headers that I got, for example, I don't think are available anymore. I know for sure the catted mids are not.

 

Many Product lines doubled. Kooks is not unique. Honestly, In 2004 I thought Kooks was crazy. I remember Doug Thorley Long Tubes at $39.99 and Hookers at $69.99 retail. There is not a whole lot of margin on Kooks. The average parts guy is not making money on Headers. In fact, since the demise of Maryland Speed, I have a distributor that can sell it to me at better price. I will not get into the politics of the parts business. I have Kooks and Stainless Works headers in stock. Always PM me for best price on Exhaust Systems.

 

I remember Doug Thorley Long Tubes at $39.99 and Hookers at $69.99 retail.

Got $99 Blackjack headers on my Firebird 20 years ago. I think they were $69 30-40 years ago.

 

/

 

All I know is Kooks prices are crazy, and the green cats are crazy money too. I won't spend that kind of money for headers just out of principle alone.

 

Inflation.
I got my Kooks SS with cats used from a member here back in Jan 2010. I paid $1050, when they were $1750 new. Adjusted for inflation that would be $1530 used/ $2550 new. So today's $2621 is not far off.

Thankfully I bought my house in 1996. Inflation adjusting the price I paid then vs the market today, its an extra $130K expensive ! Now that's something to upset about.

 

If you have a 2004, keep the cat back. Sounds great with LTs.

 

That's $4,784.36 to $4,984.36 for a full exhaust on a car that is 20 years old!!!

Don’t like the price; don’t buy them. I also hope you aren’t tying the price to the age of the car, because it’s the same for brand new vehicles as well.

Prices for 304 stainless have shot through the ceiling, and manufacturers aren’t going to absorb that cost.

I’m $2900 into high flow catted mids and a full 3” catback from Stainless Works on my Charger. Had I bought their headers and high flow cats instead of the catted mids that bolt to the stock manifolds, I would have been at $4,400.

Is what it is if you want to mod and want high quality 304 stainless mandrel bent tubing.

 

Glad I got my Kooks stepped headers and catted mids for $900 a few years back. Lightly used but they were also Jet-Hot coated and still look great. I sold my JBA shorties and catted mids for $700 so I got into these headers pretty cheap all told.

That said, I was happy to put JBA shorties on the 04 but I did have to have catted mids custom made at the time. Got the headers used and had them coated locally. Coating flaked off after a year so they redid them, still look nice. And on the 06 when I went from shorties to long tubes, I only gained 9hp (and I did 1.8 ratio roller rockers at the same time).

 

stuff getting expensive sux, but like ski said, you have to pay to play.

 

LOL corsa was 700 for gto when they started... its 2200 now... welcome to the new world order, hopefully this election will kill inflation.

 

I have kooks long tubes and catless mids... and cat'd mids, and now a borla cat back... and pypes axle bombs and pypes h pipe, and stolen fox h pipe welded to stock 05 cat back, and another stock 05 cat back, and stock 06 mufflers, and straight pipes with 06 tips. I think I have enough... for now.

Thank you Duckman, the Borla exhaust showed up 2 days after purchase! Already got it installed.

I don't think an exhaust system should cost HALF the price of the car. Especially when its not made out of titanium or unobtanium.

Borla has kept their price; Kooks has not.

 

I prolly wouldn’t have spent $800 either. That’s fancy car money.

 

No sense dragging a top tier manufacturer through the dirt just because you don’t agree on their pricing.

 

They dragged their own name through the dirt; as you phrased. I'm merely pointing out their absurd prices compared to the competition.

You really are taking personal offense to this post?

 

Personal? Nope.

Just don’t see a reason to drag a company through the dirt just because you don’t agree on their pricing.

 

FPFQ
Just because the prices on the car are down doesn’t mean parts prices follow the trend.

 

I remember paying $800 shipped for brand new, uncoated stepped headers back in 2007-2008.

Kooks is extremely proud of their stuff and it is unwarranted. I'm glad I jumped on the OBX firesale and picked up some stuff for potential future cars.

 

I remember paying $800 shipped for brand new, uncoated stepped headers back in 2007-2008.

Kooks is extremely proud of their stuff and it is unwarranted. I'm glad I jumped on the OBX firesale and picked up some stuff for potential future cars.

I had to jump on the $109.80 full stainless catback deal a few months ago.

 

Why do you hate Capitalism and free markets? Do you want to live in a socialist/communist country with price controls? If I don't like the price of a product or can't afford it, then I don't buy it. Simple concept, yes?

I don't have kooks' headers and I don't work for them so we can rule out the fanboi comments LOL

 

Why do you hate free speech?

There's nothing wrong with somebody getting on a forum and expressing their surprise over the cost of a product. To accuse them of hating capitalism and free markets is a flat out ridiculous over reaction -- and one that isn't constructive, either.

BTW, I'm firmly in the "don't like the price, don't buy it" camp. In this case the best thing to do is shop another brand or try to find a used set.

 

It's kind of more the principal of the pricing right? Sure the cost of materials has shot up but their pricing definitely isn't matching inflation. They're just price gouging like so many others, it'll work in the long run but eventually will run out of shills willing to pay their crazy pricing. I'm fortunate enough to be able to afford the prices of Kooks if I wanted but there's no way I'd ever pay it.

 

It is not price gouging, if someone builds a better product, then they have a right to return on their investment, and I have the choice whether to buy it or not. That is why people who actually produce things strive to be the best. And if someone believes they can produce as great a product for less, they are free to do so. for sure, if it is possible to do so, someone will. There are many companies that produce headers. Similarly with wheels or car audio, or even cars themselves, or whatever, there are companies that produce a good product and some that produce an excellent product, and anyone is free to do better.

 

Like the "Fat Electrician", I will bash communism every chance I can. That said, there are degrees of capitalism. Look at Domenick Vultaggio. Owner of Arizona Beverage Company. Despite all the inflation, he has refused to increase the price Arizona Tea. He's come up with ways to keep costs down even if he makes less money. Quote, "We're successful, we're debt free, we we own everything. Why have people who are having a hard time paying their rent pay more for their drink?... ...Maybe it's my little way of giving back."

I'm not saying every company needs to be ran like the Don. But I think things would be better if they were.

I wasn't aware there were hardcore fanbois of Kooks.

 

GTO tax grows everyday

 

GTO tax is nothing compared to one of my motorcycles. It uses a 220/50/20 rear tire and a discontinued engine. The last remaining new old stock tire on ebay is priced at $1750 + $200 shipping, and the only company in the world that ever made a tire that size for anything trashed their molds at least 10 years ago. At least there are alternatives for most any part I want for the GTO, even if they have to be custom made.

 

Have you seen headlight prices? $2K for NOS.

 

This is true and I still don't know why Spyder are the only alternative? There are so many tail light options (not saying good ones) but nothing for headlights...

 

Yea, just like Seibon. Used to be able to buy my Carbon creation hood for $500. Now people want $2500 for a hood with a hump in it for looks. Cool to brag about at cars and coffee though.

 

For the 5.0 a set of Kooks is running you $2600 with mids and regular cats if you go green cats you’re looking at $3400. If you don’t care about name brand 2M makes a really good product for $650 catless and $1400 catted.

The old adage “if you wanna go fast you’re gonna have to pay.” Yeah this game is going to be more expensive than ever before.

 

Welders and fabricators are in short supply. Where I work, we pay welder/fabricators in the $50/hr range and it's not union work. The cost to provide insurance and other benefits makes their cost to the company in the $100/hr range. If you want more production to come back to America, you have to be willing to buy American and pay the American made cost.

Don't like the price don't buy it, but don't complain when there are no manufacturing jobs left in America.

I have a couple of friends that have made their own headers because they have the skills to do so. You know what it actually cost them more to make them themselves. The equipment to cut, bend, and weld the stainless. The cost of the stainless along with some waste material. The years it took to build the skill. The time it took to actually fabricate the headers and weld them. Way cheaper to buy kooks, but if you don't like the price try fabricating your own headers and let us know how that goes for you.

American skilled labor is expensive and goes way beyond just the hourly pay rate.

 

Gotta stick to the cheaper stuff. Spending more here gets me nothing in the long run. Especially the price they want for a cat back in a small size. Can spend less going custom.