Post 96 - fitment and quality. I can tell you from personal experience of installing all sorts of cheapies, and then the Dougs. Here are the benefits of Dougs:
- MUCH better fitment on driver's side
- MUCH easier access on the #5 & 7 spark plugs
- MUCH easier to route #5 & #7 plug wires.
- More room to remove starter (I changed my starter on my car from start to finish in 20 minutes and didn't even have to loosen the header).
- A lot more ground clearance as headers are above the centerlink
- Thicker flanges for sure, meaning longer life and better header gasket sealing (not sure on the tube thickness)