I have a 2000 3.8L mustang and just got the money for exhaust. I have $500 and want to know what the best bang for my buck is. I don't know if i should get a y-pipe catback or an H/X pipe. Please help, i just want good opinions, and maybe a sound clip.
thanks

 

Either:

Buy a Catback for a GT and have an exhaust shop make you an H pipe

or

Buy a couple mufflers you want and have the exhaust shop make you an H and catback with the mufflers you picked up

 

Checkout the exhaust sticky at the top of the v6 section, then come ask as many questions as needed.

 

just from previous V6 experience either one( y-pipe or h/x pipe) will be the same essentially for power, maybe 1-2hp difference. The v6's just really don't respond well to basic mods. If you want a mid-pipe I would suggest h-pipe as it will give a deeper tone, but personally would just stick to a y-pipe set up for cost.
I ran the mac 2.5'' y-pipe system on my old sixer and loved how it sounded. Gave a nice rumble to the 6cyl and didn't get raspy or make any weird un-wanted sounds as the rpms climbed.

 

I got x-pipe with true dual flowmaster's. A friend from work who drives a cobra told me not to get exhaust because it will sound horrible and everyone will think I'm a ricer, but I threw him the keys after I had it done so he could see for himself and he said "It sounds good, but you can tell it's a v6", which is true, no matter what exhaust you get it will sound like a v6 if that's the only mod you have done so far.

We'll see how it sounds after I start tinkering under the hood hehe

My advice:
read the exhaust info sticky, I wish I had read it. I probably would have gone with an H-pipe instead of the X

Looks like the muffler shop I went to didn't know that as they suggested X-pipe as the ultimate choice for my 6'er, I'm thinking about going back and asking them to chop it off and put the H on

 

Save up some more money and get MAC Long Tubes, MAC O/R H Pipe(have cats welded in if needed) and then you can get any GT cat back and it will bolt right up.