[jimfrancis]

Mine is stock, so I can't offer real world advice, but my guess comes purely from logic. Honda is under great pressure from the government to maximize fuel economy in all of its vehicles (CAFE standards). Logically, the stock muffler is probably meant to do just that, while minimizing exhaust noise. If your priority is fuel economy, then stay stock. If you want a cooler sound, then change. My philosophy has always been that the Honda engineers know a helluva lot more about Honda engineering than I do, so all changes that I do are purely cosmetic. That's my two cents worth.

 

[jimfrancis]

What a nice comment! Thank you very much.

 

[jimfrancis]

As I understand it, the chip is automatically updated with the latest program changes (sort of like Windows Update) every time the vehicle is brought into the dealership for any reason. If this is so, then whatever custom programming you may have purchased is overwritten with Honda programming automatically, and therefore would be a waste of money. Don't know first hand if this is true, but it seems plausible enough that I have avoided getting a custom chip.

 

[jimfrancis]

I am perfectly serious with my comment about updating the chip, and I am likewise serious about not knowing for sure if it is true. Maybe one of the Honda service people here on ROC can address this issue. However, my premise seems very plausible, and since those chips are not cheap, I have never been tempted to buy one.

 

[jimfrancis]

Well, I took my Toyota in to the dealer for some recall work recently, and they also told me that it was time to have my timing belt changed. The same things happens every time I go into the BMW dealership for any kind of work: they do a complete inspection and tell me what they see that might need to be done while I am there. It seems plausible that some dealers would see if Honda had come out with an upgrade to the chip programming, and do it, probably without asking. Again I say: we need a Honda service person that is in the ROC to address this issue.