I sell and install the S&S header system here all the time.  We
literally sell several of these systems a week and ship them all over
the world.  This is an American Made product that is supporting a family
owned business here in the USA.  My experience with the S&S Muffler
versus the stock is that the stock will rust out in the North East about
the same time frame as the S&S.  Really that is the killer.  It depends
on your driving habits, etc. how long that will take but they both will
rust out.  The big thing I have found to be the main selling point of
the S&S is the price.  He is talking about the 1.9l muffler so I think
that is why it seems like there isn't a big difference in price.  I am
talking about the 2.1l syncro which is what the customer was originally
asking about.  If we go with a Danish made one then Ron's total for that
plus the tail pipe and the two straps comes to $285.  Then if your lower
muffler carriers are bad tack on another $200 for the Syncro version!
So we are talking $485 for BD muffler and all of the mounting parts.  I
hate to tell you folks this but that is twice the cost of the S&S
muffler and the Danish muffler isn't twice as good.  Just sayin'.

Ken Wilford
John 3:16
www.vanagain.com

The Bus Depot wrote:
>> Such a wondrous all-in-one stainless combo not available
>> for  the 1.9l? The search tool didn't present it.
>>
>
>
> First of all, S&S is a brand name - it is not Stainless Steel.  And yes, it
> is available for 1.9L as well. That said, with all respect to Ken, we don't
> agree on this one. I too sell both the S&S and stock systems, but when it
> comes to my own Vanagon I use the stock system.  In my opinion the S&S,
> although perfectly fine for the price, exemplifies the old adage "you get
> what you pay for" when compared to the stock system.  There is an obvious
> difference in the gauge of the steel, the S&S muffler being visibly less
> substantial than stock. Also it is smaller and louder. And the price
> difference just isn't that huge.  The stock muffler setup works out to
> roughly $200 (including muffler, tailpipe, gaskets, and strap), versus $145
> for the S&S.  In my opinion the extra fifty bucks or so for the stock system
> is money well spent. In fact even if the difference were twice that much I'd
> still call the stock system the better long-term value.
>
> Stock setup diagram and pricing:
>
> http://busdepot.com/details/exhaust19.jsp  (1.9L)
>
> http://busdepot.com/details/exhaust21.jsp (2.1L)
>
> - Ron Salmon
>   The Bus Depot, Inc.
>   www.busdepot.com
>   (215)  234-VWVW
>
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>