The check engine light on my daughter's 1998 Impreza wagon came on. The dealer says that it is the cat. Tey want almost $2,000 to replace cat, 02 sensor etc. A local muffler chain wants $900 to do the job. I priced OEM replacement cats at around $200. Why do the installers want to much? Is there something missing about this job?
Nope. 
It is alot like getting brake work done.
Are you pricing just a cat or the complete exhaust section containing the cat?
The exhaust may well be rusty which will mean replacing more parts and/or spending more time to complete the installation.
well.. let's see. Replacement Cat (without exhaust system or welding) 200 O2 sensors (you need two) at 100 a piece assorted hangers and stuff.. about 100
Right there you are looking at 400 without anything else being done. I am guessing the mid-pipe which contains the cat is going to run about 600 (with the cat) so that is 800.. now factor in labor..
Now about the dealer.. have you made sure that the cat you are getting is the exact replacement from Subaru? I know on my 96 318ti.. the mid-pipe with cat is about 1200 from the dealer..
In reply to ansonivan:
The muffler shop quoted $900 without even seeing the car. $900 was for an installed cat alone.
In reply to mad_machine:
The $200 cat includes the pipe and the bolt on flanges to attach to rest of exhaust system.
My '01 Impreza RS threw the CEL for the cat right at 78k miles. So, I was lucky and snuck in under the federal emissions warranty, but local dealer said it would run around $1500 to fix on my own including parts and labor. Given my experience $2000 may be a bit high, but that could just be the difference between eastern PA and north central Indiana.
That is insane. I will fix on my own when I can.
My '98 Forester constantly throws that code since I got it 3 years ago. When I bought the car, the head gaskets went and the owner cooked it. Antifreeze and gunk went into the cat. If I wipe out the code, I get about 125 miles before the C.E.L. lights up. A generic cat on e bay will run $75+/-, not a big project to cut the old one out and splice in a new one. I dumped some 'emissions clean-up" stuff into the gas tank and the code didn't return for 350 miles. I did it again, and it lasted 600 miles. I just bought another can of the stuff ($10) and will dump it in tomorrow. If it cleans it up, fine. If not, I'll cut and splice a new one in. Then I'll scrap the old one and recover most of the money. I probably won't do it though until I get ready to sell the car.
In reply to minimac:
That is my plan. I have installed mufflers that way. The car has 200,000 miles on it. It is still going strong, but not worthy of a $1000 cat job.
Amazon.com:
Bosal 099-228 Catalytic Converter
$176.99 and no splicing required.
That's not a bad price considering the flanges are there and it's a bolt in affair. Now about those rusty bolts...
I saw that as well. Rusty bolts can be dealt with 
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