To: bovik@K.GP.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: midas vs. meineke muffler
Date: Tue, 05 Jul 94 12:25:17 -0400
Message-ID: <12162.773425517@A.GP.CS.CMU.EDU>
From: Fredric_Solomon@A.GP.CS.CMU.EDU


i'm on my third muffler since coming to cmu. here is what i think at this 
point. first, usually, the muffler is not what costs the most. the pipes
that connect the muffler to the catalytic converter cost much more than
the muffler, and usually rust out too. i have purchased 2 mufflers/pipes
from meineke on Washington Blvd. meineke uses untreated steel. it oxidizes
(begins rusting) right away. i actually had one tailpipe from meinike 
oxidize the same day i bought it. midas uses galvanized steel. at this
point, i think it should resist rust better. (it may be thinner, etc.. so,
i may be wrong). there isn't much price difference between the two.
actually midas was cheaper. if you don't drive your car much (10 minute
trips) the water from combustion will sit in your muffler and rot it
no matter what you do. the muffler needs to get hot so that the water
evaporates out of it. 

fred solomon