Ok everybody - its time we tried to replace the tire thread with a new one - 

I own an '85 with a 1.9 WBX. I put stock exhaust systems on 3 times in 10 years, 
then put on an S & S header. It also lasted about three years, but with less 
driving. ( Michigan winters, see.) The first, and main�point of failure on the 
1.9 system was the wretched two-into-one join at the collector. Each of the 
three systems that I have had fail went there first. By a noticeable stretch. 
These were not cheepie repro, but real Dansk items.

When I look at the design of the 2.1 system, I see that this weak spot has been 
replaced with a very different design, using a casting in that particular weak 
spot. (As an aside, I also noticed the design of the 2.1 1 - 3 and 2 - 4 headers 
flanges�at the collector end was also changed, to keep you from any partial 
updates to your exhaust. Grrrrr....)

And I am also ignoring cat converters and mufflers. I put my own mufflers on, 
thank you very much, and they aren't VW standard.

My simplistic question, attempting to ignore as many extraneous variables as 
possible is:

Which exhaust design is better? 1.9 Or 2.1? Pros and cons are what I mean.� The 
stainless issue is also not to be considered here, before you even mention it.

Better breathing?

Longer lasting?

Stronger?
�Evan Mac Donald 

"...in the absence of facts, myth rushes in, the kudzu of history."
-Stacy Schiff