1998 Toyota Tacoma 4x2 Exhaust Noise

I just purchased a 1998 toyota Tacoma with the 4.2 engine - automatic.
I thought that it needed a new muffler but one shop said that the exhaust system was ok and the noise was just comming from the end of the tail pipe. Another shop installed a new Walker muffler but it did not make any difference.
I contacted the Toyota dealer in Coos Bay and the service dept. said that this was just a noisy entry level truck ("skate-board"). The Catalytic converter seems fine and doesn't rattle.

Can anyone help me with this one ?

Thanks.
Ed Rohr

I had a 98 2WD Tacoma with the 2.4L 5 Spd. Manual. This truck has a stainless exhaust system and does have a different tone than those with a regular carbon steel exhaust, but they won't rot out for a long time. The only problem I had with my exhaust making noise was with the heat shield over the exhaust manifold. The steel around the mounting bolts for the heat shield cracked in a circle about 1/4" beyond the bolt heads and the shield would rattle at certain rpms (idle speed was one of those rpms) I installed flat washers above and below the heat shield on the bolts that were effected and never had a problem after that.
Check to see if the muffler heat shield is loose, and make sure the rubber mounting hangers are all attached and that the exhaust system (muffler and tailpipe) are not making contact with metal.