Muffler help

Ok so I replaced the muffler on my Honda not even 2 years ago and it has already rusted out. I am not crazy in thinking this isn't normal (esp in Alabama) right? It was a stock replacement muffler. So anyway the question I have is, does anyone know a good performance muffler which won't be too loud but louder then stock and still sound good and either last longer then two years or be super cheap?

I've had great experience with Magnaflow mufflers on two different cars.

+1 on Magnaflows - put one on my Civic a few years ago.

If you do a lot of short-duration driving stints, you're going to reduce the life expectany regardless of what you choose. You have to get the car/exhaust hot enough to get rid of all the collected moisture (in the system) or cycle just repeats iteself.

How loud's your car? Can you get away with running a straight pipe?

I was at an autocross when the pipe finished rusting through and the muffler fell off my Geo (....and no, I didn't get a re-run). I welded up two lengths of tailpipe pipe and an elbow, then shoved that into what was left of the existing exhaust. The new tailpipe exits at the stock location, and if you're 20 feet away, you can't hear the difference.

Civics sound good with Apexi WS2s...

Should be able to find one cheap in nice shape on the local forums. I paid like... $75 for my last one.

When you say stock replacement do you mean it was an actual Honda part, or an aftermarket equivalent? The factory stuff is generally pretty durable.

I heard an Apexi Noir on a Civic not too long ago, nice and quiet. Not very GRM friendly pricewise though, at least new.

I've rattled the guts out of several mufflers on my race car- they start to buzz after a season of 7400 rpm upshifts. Each time I spend more money, but they still come apart inside.

Most aftermarket stuff is kinda junk from a lifespan standpoint. Doesn't seem to matter if its stock replacement or hot rod stuff in my experience.

I've always been happy with Dynomax Super Turbos for an inexpensive performance muffler. It's been a little while since I bought one, but they did have a lifetime guarantee on them.

I don't like the looks of fart cannons and it was an aftermarket replacement part. Also it is a lot of short driving.

In reply to 96DXCivic:

I'd go with the stainless steel Magnaflow then. Get one about the same size as the stock muffler and make up a tailpipe from there.

Honda factory exhaust systems always seem to last forever for me. I would think that it wouldn't be hard to find a cheap used original one that someone replaced with a fart can.

I just put a 60 series Flowmaster on my 1.9L BMW. I did it because the straight through Magnaflow I had installed was WAY to loud and really raspy - not in a good way.

The Flowmaster sounds tough as nails and the car pulls a little stronger. They are designed for 4 and 6 cyl motors.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CM7Pj__Oikw

I've had good luck with Bosal stock replacement exhausts for my Civic wagons. Not indestructable by any means, but they hold up pretty well.

My friend said he would swap me a used Magnaflow for beer.