thanks guys, i'm getting varying opinions on this... searching for related topics on this site leaves me thinking that the engine does, in fact need the back pressure from the cat... but logic tells me that a freer flowing exhaust should increase my power... i'm really stuck here. i don't want to spend 400 bucks on an aftermarket cat, if it's something else. Can any techs tell me for sure if this backpressure issue is my problem?

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100 km/h is unsafe... it's fast enough
to kill you, but slow enough to make
you feel safe.