Why are there so many aftermarket muffler options?
Your vehicle was manufactured by the automaker with a stock muffler. Eventually, it will rust and deteriorate and you will have to replace it. You have options for when this happens. You can certainly purchase a different stock muffler from the dealer, or you can purchase an aftermarket muffler designed for the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) from another supplier. However, you will also find a dizzying range of other aftermarket mufflers. Why are there so many?
aesthetics
First of all, understand that replacing just the muffler has a minimal impact on performance, but a very big impact on the look of your car. Many mufflers (and muffler tips) aren't designed to increase performance, but they do change the look of your ride. On the market, you can find mufflers and tips in square, oval, coffee and even octagonal shapes.
Sound
Quite a few drivers choose an aftermarket muffler to change the sound of their vehicles. Different mufflers do different things: A coffee can muffler makes a small four-cylinder engine sound bigger and more powerful. It doesn't greatly affect your engine's performance, but it can make your car stand out.
Performance
While you will see a greater performance improvement if you upgrade to an aftermarket cat or rear head exhaust system, you may see some improvement from using a different aftermarket muffler. It will be minimal, but it will be present. However, realize that if you are replacing the stock muffler with a larger muffler but not changing any of the pipes, you are actually doing your engine a disservice. You will see a performance decrease because it messes up the back pressure. Larger muffler outlets should generally fit larger diameter pipes.
The weight
Some drivers choose aftermarket mufflers more for weight savings than for any other reason. Aftermarket options may include fewer interior baffles, or they may be made from exotic metals that weigh less. The reduced weight translates into more available power and better fuel economy. These are four reasons why there are so many different aftermarket mufflers on the market. In fact, it's all about choice, and there are definitely a lot of options.
