Exhaust ?
 

This may be an entirely idiotic question but I'm quite poor and I cna't afford a cat-back exhaust system, so if I put just a new muffler on my car will it make any change in sound or will it do nothing at all?

you kind of nailed it: just better sound. get a custom piping and a universal muffler and you might see some extra ponnies. i would say the piping shoud be 2-2 1/4 ID

Would the new piping cost very much? What brand of universal muffler is good that isn't excessively loud?

i'd say with a good muffler and the piping you will be around $350. i don't know about what muffler. maybe a brullen or so.

you can get a universal magnaflow muffler (which is really a decent brand). then get a 2 1/4 inch custom piping and eliminate the resonator. this will cost you around $300. i paid $120 for a custom 2 1/2 inch exhaust pipe installed.

how is your exhaust layed out? Can someone throw up a pic? If it'd be adaptable, stock neon piping is 2 1/4" and could probably be adapted to fit, or if nothing else could have some adaptable sections. Might be worth looking into for you guys on a budget.