From a lot of the threads I read, many of you have ceramic coated headers for keeping temps down and always looking nice and when it's time to change out my ugly Hookers, this would be my choice as well...but, when I was at the Camarofest last weekend almost every Camaro with headers had the stainless version. Am I missing something? I want my next set to look good all the time (no rust) but now I'm not sure which way to go...any opinions on my observations?

Tom

From what I've seen the ceramic is temporary, might last a couple years but eventually it will get nasty. The stainless might get blue looking in places but it should last a long, long time otherwise. The heat part of the deal is probably just a little better with the ceramic coating, not sure and I've never seen any real numbers on that.

I have had stainless on my jeep and ceramic coated on my camaro and I would never buy the ceramic coated again. While they are very nice the borla stainless looks almost as good as the day I got it. the ceramic coated have some rust spots on them, but I have had them for about 5 years.

Stainless steel is the only way to go if lifespan matters. Ceramic looks nice when new, but under harsh weather, they won't last even one year. The ceramic is just glass, and you all probably know what happens to glass when it is cold, and you put it into hot water. Think of what your ceramic will do on a cold day when you start your engine, it heats up fast, and you splash some cold water on it. You guessed right. It breaks and falls off the headers just like a cheap glass in the dishwasher.
Stainless steel has proven to have a long lifespan for decades. The stainless steel parts on our Camaros are now approaching 40 years of age, and many of them still look like new. Ceramic is a johnny-come-lately quick fix, and it doesn't have any track record of lasting.
Here in my extreme winters, ceramic headers rust through just as fast as cheap painted headers.

Stainless also has poor heat transfer which helps to funnel it out the exhaust instead of radiating under the hood.

Stainless also has poor heat transfer which helps to funnel it out the exhaust instead of radiating under the hood.

I've heard that before ^.

And I preffer the look of stainless (especialy polished) and the durability. Even if they get some blueing they still look cool :D

I've seen my share of ceramic coated go bad. I just get the steal jobs and wrap them, when they go they go.

I have had my headers for over four years now and they are still like brand new. I had them coated inside and out with a process called Cermakrome from someone here locally. The guy guaranteed the coating up to 1600*.

It looks like stainless wins, thanks to all that replied.

Are the stainless headers listed in flebay any good I think I seen em in there for 250-300$$$....?

I was wondering the same thing. I saw a complete set (stainless) for under $200 while Summit and Jeg's is over $500. A good fit that hugs the body is a must for me since mine will soon get lowered 2" all around. Don't want to go with shorties either.