Exhaust advice?

[Alasdair Mackintosh <alasdair%sdlunix@mailer.ug.eds.com>]

  My '86 Audi 80 has just failed its MOT (annual mandatory U.K. road-worthiness
  check). Oh well.

  Apart from a minor spot of trouble with the front parking-lights, which
  sounds like another case of Audi electrical disease, the main problem
  was the exhaust, which I knew was getting old, but which I hoped would
  last until summer. 

  So, I'm on the lookout for a new exhaust system, and was wondering if anyone
  has any recommendations? I haven't heard a quotation for the official VAG
  part, but if it's anything like the last VAG part I priced it's TOO MUCH.

  I've heard bad stories about ANSA exhausts, and good things about Sebring
  and Jetex. Any comments, or other manufacturers? (Mine's a 4-cyl 1.8).

  I was also wondering if this is the kind of thing one can fit oneself? It
  looks as though I'll need to replace everything from the manifold on back, and
  although most of the work looks easy, removing the down-pipe from the
  manifold looks, um, challenging. The Haynes manual has a cheery picture
  of a dissected exhaust system, without showing you all of the other bits
  of engine and body panels which inevitably get in the way when you start to
  deal with real life rather than Platonic car parts.

  Anyone tried this? Can you get at the bolts without taking out half the
  engine? Once you've got at the bolts is there the slightest chance
  that you can get them undone?

  Thanks,

  Alasdair


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Alasdair Mackintosh                                 Shape Data, EDS Unigraphics
mackinto@ug.eds.com                                   Parker's House, Regent St
+44 1223 371608                                         Cambridge, CB2 1DP, U.K.