> I'm looking for a muffler for my 87GL. I'd like to buy one that's
> equivalent or better than the original VW muffler (Hopefully without
paying VW's
> price.)
>
> Any suggestions regarding the better quality brands and brands to avoid
> would be greatly appreciated.

Virtually all of the aftermarket 2.1L mufflers I've seen are coming out of
South Africa, and are the same ones that VW uses there.  They are comparable
in quality to the original Leistritz ones sold on U.S. vanagons but a bit
cheaper. ($109.95 at my price.)

A while ago, I purchased some stainless steel ones from South Africa, and
was able to offer them at the same price.  These were the same as the South
African non-stainless ones sold here, but had stainless steel bodies (the
flanges were not stainless).  Still a better muffler for the same money
though; in fact even better than stock.  These were imported at great
shipping expense and took a long time to get, and since sold out.

Recently I found a U.S. source for what appears to be the identical
stainless steel muffler.  They are labeled as Danish made Dansk mufflers,
but they are not.  I have spoken to sources in Europe who tell me that Dansk
is in fact buying these from the same South African supplier that I was
getting them from. I also compared them to the sole remaining stainless
steel one that I had on the shelf and it is absolutely identical (visually)
in every way.  I am not advertising these new "Danish" mufflers as stainless
because the importer is clueless as to their original source or composition,
so I would want to leave one in water for a while and just make absolutely
sure it didn't rust before guaranteeing it.  But I'd bet money that these
are the exact same stainless mufflers I was getting before.

In any event, they are what I'm shipping now when you order a 2.1L muffler.
Price remains $109.95.
Worst case, you get original-equipment quality for a lot less money.  Best
case (and most likely, I think) you get a Stainless Steel body as well.

- Ron Salmon
  The Bus Depot, Inc.
  http://www.busdepot.com
  (215) 234-VWVW