2000 V70 New muffler recommendation

[FireFox31]

Hello, the 4-year-old Walker muffler exhaust pipe has completely rotted away from my 2000 V70. Though the muffler is fine, I can't imagine attaching a new pipe where the old one has rusted.

What is the most reliable muffler you can recommend? The online stores offer "aluminized steel" mufflers, which seem decent. But are there stainless steel mufflers available for the 2000 V70? I want to install it myself, so a one-piece unit would be best.

Thanks for the help!

[FireFox31]

Never mind. I'm going to get OEM Volvo mufflers. They require a front and a rear for 2000, totaling about $650. That compares to $200-$400 aftermarket mufflers which are a single unit.

I looked at my sister's 2004 XC70 with 10-year-old OEM mufflers and they look great, even after 220k mi. I compared that to my V70's 4-year-old Walker muffler whose pipes are rotted, and her 240's 5-year-old Bosal muffler whose pipes and welds are rather rusted. These observations tell me that aftermarket mufflers have half the life of OEM mufflers, if even that. The price of two aftermarkets equals the price of one OEM, but swapping them twice as often requires double the labor.

I expect another 50k miles from my Volvo (from 210k mi now up to 260k mi), which is about 5 years of driving. I'd rather do the job right instead of have to swap the muffler again when I'm ready to sell it.

[E Showell]

Can't argue with the logic, but it becomes a different proposition cost-wise when the CAT converter is involved.

[cuhfs]

I went with Starla brand $205 here. Fit great and closest to OEM I could find
eeuroparts.com/Parts/8949/Muffler-Assembly-8631007/#axzz2zqlCHytd