Date:         Sun, 1 Mar 1998 14:54:07 -0800
Reply-To:     Sam Scholten <vwvanagon@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <Vanagon@vanagon.com>
From:         Sam Scholten <vwvanagon@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Exhaust systems
Comments: To: Vanagon@VANAGON.COM
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

---Austin <austins@IX.NETCOM.COM> wrote:
>
> At 08:54 AM 2/28/98 -0800, you wrote:
> >Well here goes -- another can of worms to open.
> >
> >The local Midas shop will build a sytem up for about $500 ($350 US)
and give
> >me a "lifetime warranty.
> >
> >I like the warranty on the Midas system BUT if aftermarket stuff
degrades
> >performance I don't want it!
> >Rick
> >
> My miserable experience with Midas is read the fine print - sure,
they'll
> warranty the muffler, but *not* the labor, incredibly expensive
support
> brackets, etc etc etc.  A $200 job on a Rabbit had ~ $30 warranty on
the
> muffler only!!!
>
> Austin
>


That's why you only go to Midas for the muffler. Been there, done
that. *****:(

What you can do to remedy the problem is:

1.) Unless they're in good shape, get the manifolds, side-pipe, and
gaskets from an indie VW parts dealer who's cool enough to have
Wasserboxer parts, but not after you've shopped around between them
and mail-order places like the Bus Depot, who might have a better
deal. If you're lucky like me, there will be at least one FLAPS that
has a Volkswagen section. In my case, it's an Advance Auto Parts store
on the edge of town that has way better prices and service than the VW
people. Your parts are warrantied there, too. Save the CAT unless you
can't.

2.) Replace the stuff behind the CAT yourself, or get a friend to do it.

3.) Listen to the bus. Still noisy?

4.) Go to Midas for the muffler. Insist on just the muffler and
tailpipe. By this point, you KNOW your stuff ahead of the muffler is
in good shape, so if the Midas guy tries to bulls#!t you into buying a
converter or complete system, be an @sshole- drive your noisy bus to
the Midas across town. My folks found a Midas shop with good people.

As the cost of the system is in the non-muffler items, that is where
you must shop frugally. Legally, Midas has to make good on their
warranty, because they advertise it. I've been to Midas, so I know
what it's like. They have their place in the world...

My $0.02

Sam
=
"Punk's not dead (it just sucks right now)"
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