...your catalytic conv. was faulty and you only had a few hundred bucks?...

Test pipe of cheap generic cat?

 

Punch screens out from cat...

...drive as if nothing is wrong.


Spend money on hookers and blow


...winning

 

A "cheap generic cat" will fail again pretty quickly. The OEM cat is expensive for a reason, and the cheapest you will be able to go for a cat that will survive our exhaust temps is about $900, vs the OEM $1,300.

If you must have a cat, then get a used one from the classifieds here.

Otherwise go with a midpipe or just gut the cat for the short term.

 

When the dealer replaced my engine for free, they also replaced the cat for free.

 

I have 10,000 miles so far on a Magnaflow 59959 metallic substrate cat. Cost ~$100.

 

the aftermarket CAT is not as bad as you think it is RIWWP. Mazda don't make the CATs, somebody else did, and just like all OE parts, there is a "Mazda mark up" on it, just think of the coils, aftermarket 30 bux, Mazda OE box at least 50 bux. Plugs, etc, you name it.

the market is out there for years, don't forget 13B-MSP's exhaust temp is already the lowest out of all 13B family.

if OP needs a cheap cat, just get one from aftermarket, a couple company sells a 3 way cat just like OE(just smaller), they cost I think 300 something, comes with 25K or 50K warranty, that's good enough for most people.

 

Obx mid pipe is cheap and has been good thus far.

 

for the money I think I'm gonna go for the agency power cat delete pipe!

 

AP mid pipe has it's setbacks as well... The fiber glass packing eventually melts over time because of the high exhaust temperature and could lead to it sounding bad (raspy, drone, banging). Choose wisely.

 

I'd check to see if it was still under warranty. Under Federal law, the original converter is warranted for 8 yr/100,000 miles. In CA and some other states, it's 15 yr/150,000 miles.

 

Federal law is 8yr / 80k miles.

 

Nailed it!

Shady isn't going to win the straight up answer on this thread.

 

You have discovered the wisdom of checking. You do well, Grasshopper.