The exhaust system looks fine, except for the front section between the engine block and the first muffler--I think there's two mufflers on this sucker. So that first section of exhaust pipe is really rusted out, especially at the joints around the small woven thing ('bout as big as a fist) that I think is a catalytic converter. The car is extremely loud without this working, and probably spewing clouds of toxic emissions much to the chagrin of former vice president Gore. I'm workin' on it AL! Geez, that guy and his powerpoints... Anyway, when I engage my turbo now it sounds like an Apollo 13 rocket is landing on the interstate--so, so loud. And forget about using your mirrors--the whole car is vibrating like a gas powered sex toy and you can't see a thing.

But it is great for tailgating--wind that sucker up and everyone gets out of your way because it sounds like the fifth horseman of the apocalypse is chasing 'em down.

I cleaned up the rusted area and tried wrapping muffler tape around the corroded joint, but I think this section of pipe gets too hot for this stuff, and consequently it smells like yer makin' epoxy gumbo when you run it with this on. For 7 bucks it was worth a shot, but it don't work worth a dang. I'll repost when I get it fixed--I'm going to try to install a universal part since Volvo parts are freaky expensive. I think they'll have to weld this in.

Update from Aug 5, 2009: 8-5-09: Got the car fixed today and avoided getting ripped off by DAN"S VOLVO OF SOUTH TAMPA. Dan had told me my catalytic converter needed replacement and quoted me close to $700. Ouch. After some research (ie, crawling under the car and having a look see) I determined that Dan was full of sh*t. My new mechanic agreed, charging me $126 to replace a rusted section of pipe, including that woven flexy thing. They were done in less than a half hour. This section of pipe was very rusty--the catalytic was not. In fact, the catalytic converter looked almost brand new. The innards are also working as verified by the "bump it with your fist and see if it sounds broken" method of checking catalytic converters. So, DAN, of DAN"S VOLVO OF SOUTH TAMPA, was clearly trying to run up my bill. I think this is called fraud. Or dishonesty. Or just being a dick. If a mechanic is telling you the catalytic converter needs replacing, crawl under there and see for yourself, (there's lots of pictures online you can use as reference points) or somehow GET A SECOND OPINION! I did, and it saved me 600 bucks!