I recently took my 2003 Si with 157k miles to an auto shop that specializes in Hondas, for a CEL (new O2 sensor). The light went away for a few days but came back on this week when I was driving home from school. Took it back to them the next day and they said that it was giving the P0420 code and that I needed a new catalytic converter, quoting me at a little over $1k for a OEM cat and labor. The CEL was gone but came back on the next day at the same time.

Since I'm not willing to pay that much and need to pass smog soon (I live in Nevada), are there any good non-oem alternatives that will pass smog? I looked around other forums and found the magnaflow direct fit cat and this one on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-2005-Ho.../200714095423? pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&fits=Year%3A 2002%7CMake%3AHonda&hash=item2ebb7e0b3f&vxp=mtr#ht _2536wt_1189
Are these any good?

I have little to no hands on experience so how hard would it be for me to replace it on my own? Or how much would it cost to have a shop do it?
Thanks in advance.

 

Try a local junkyard first man. It's not hard to replace at all. A few bolts and it comes right off.