Terry
Not sure who quoted you $1,700 for a catalytic converter but you must have had the look like a sheep ready for the slaughterhouse.
Come on now, catalytic converters USED to cost hundreds and hundreds of dollars but like everything else, the prices fell as more and more aftermarket companies manufacture them (or should I say import them from China, Malaysia or who knows where). Just do a google search and you will see them for $75 to $150.
If you want the EXACT model that looks EXACTLY like the one you have on your car, then you will have to pay a lot more. The cheaper ones are just universal models that fit a wide range of cars. On a 13 year old car, who cares what the catalytic converter looks like!
The only issue that would involve considerable more expense would be if the entire exhaust system is shot. Remember, with a catalytic converter, they will not be able to just unscrew the old one and re-install the new one. Any connectors or screws that were originally there will be rusted. They will need to just cut the old one off and weld the new one on. If there is not a sufficient amount of metal left to weld it to, then yes, they may have to have to do more work. I guess in a worst case, it would involve going from the manifold on the engine all the way back. But even then, the parts for a Honda (single exhaust) would be less than $500 and you would just have to pay for the installation (assuming you are purchasing them from discount place like JC Whitney).
The one advantge of doing the whole thing is that you really can do-it-yourself with a minimal amount of skills since you won't be doing welding or anything like that. In fact, I repaired an older car once and just used the bendable stuff to make a bend and make my muffler fit. Not a long-term solution, but good for several years.
In either case, you are getting robbed at $1,700. Just call some local garages for a quote and them you know that you know what a universal catalytic converter really costs.
Rub a Dub
