Custom Made Exhausts - Experience or Recommendations?

[Lexual]

I'm looking to replace the exhaust on my 2001 Saab 93 Aero.. I've recently had the sump dropped, new breather kit fitted and general service so the engine is running nicely but I want to get it tuned up a bit and I've spoken to Karl aka Saabnoob about getting it re-mapped.

As it needs a new exhaust I figured I'd go for a full turbo-back custom made 3" pipe jobby as with the remap it would probably take it up to somewhere in the region of 275+bhp with a couple of other tweaks..

I've done a fair bit of google hunting and phoned a couple of places for prices which have been anywhere from around £450 to £700+ for something custom made...

these are a few of the guys I've spoken to or read about:

www.mijexhaust.com

www.jpexhausts.co.uk

www.longlife.co.uk

www.txautosport.co.uk

www.profusioncustoms.com


having read up a few forums and spoken to some of these people I'm still non the wiser as to what I should go for!

Maptun offer a custom system specifically for Saab which is still in the £550+ range..

Longlife seem to have a fairly good rep and Im waiting on a quote from them..

Has anyone here gone down the custom made system route and can give me any advice or recommend a good fabricator/fitter who may offer a cheaper price than these guys above..?

Cheers

[Aidancky]

Wouldn't reccommend MIJ or Longlife, both had pretty pants Service and Quality from my experience.

I'd reccommend AAS up t'north or Zorstec in Shipley

[andy-xr]

I've had two Powerflows put onto kit cars. The first was a work of art, perfect bends, minimal seams, really nicely fitted to the car

The second is something that crawled out of the abortion bucket, it's only saving grace is that it sounds alright, but it's better when it's dirty.

[valais]

Talk to Abbott Racing.

[Willy Nilly]

There is a place in Basildon that will make any exhaust you want. A colleague of mine went in there (Can't remember the name, sorry) with his import Toyota LC and it needed a bit cut out and a new bit welded in. He was only I there an hour or so and highly recommends the place.

[V88Dicky]

Another vote here for Advanced Automotive Systems (AAS) of Newcastle. Their workmanship and customer service is second to none.

Good value too.

[goneape]

I've heard a lot of good things about Pipewerx, north of Manchester.

[Codswallop]

Aidancky said:

Wouldn't reccommend MIJ or Longlife, both had pretty pants Service and Quality from my experience.

I'd reccommend AAS up t'north or Zorstec in Shipley

Difficult to tar all of Longlife's branches with the same brush. They are franchises, and some are better than others. I used longlife on two cars, and the systems lasted well and after care was good when I needed adjustments to one of them after fitting.

OP, which branch of Longlife specifically are you considering? Maybe someone on here can vouch for the quality of workmanship at that particular branch...

[Aidancky]

I used the Longlife in Leeds aka Tony Banks Exhausts. Had heard good stuff before I went, always seemed to mess me about and the work was not brilliant

[Podie]

Had a JP on previous TVR and on my Mo deo ST220. Nicely made, proper mandrel bends and good quality steel.

[Chris944_S2]

I had BTB exhausts make me something nice for the C43 a few years back. The quality of the work was fantastic, but they're not the cheapest.
http://www.btbexhausts.co.uk/

[anonymous-user]

Abbott. You're in Essex. They're up Harwich way, Manningtree I think. Don't bother with anywhere else - they know their stuff.
(I too have a noob'd Saab...)

[anarki]

Sorry OP, but I'm going to butt in with my needs as well, I want a full exhaust system for my S3, I emailed longlife but they never bothered to get back to me and the only one I can find is from Milltek which is over £1,100 for a turbo back system. (including a 100cel cat)

I also eagerly await responses on this topic for decent exhaust manufacturing companies who can provide a turbo back system at a reasonable price.

[brutalbobby]

Cannot recommend pro-speed exhausts enough. They are based in Cardiff, Charlie the owner has a few courtesy cars to.
Hopefully here's a link of a thread that was on here from the South Wales area about Prospeed.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=949...

[B'stard Child]

Chris944_S2 said:

I had BTB exhausts make me something nice for the C43 a few years back. The quality of the work was fantastic, but they're not the cheapest.
http://www.btbexhausts.co.uk/

couldn't agree more, Joe does lovely work he's been known to post on here occasionally

[Lexual]

OpulentBob said:

Abbott. You're in Essex. They're up Harwich way, Manningtree I think. Don't bother with anywhere else - they know their stuff.
(I too have a noob'd Saab...)

Im very familiar with Abbott Racing, I went there originally for a quote on the sump drop and repairing a driveshaft, their quote for the work was ridiculous.. ended up getting all the work done, plus a few other bits by a local independent Saab garage for considerably less... I've seen Abbotts prices for the zoorsts and its way over my budget!

I'm not too far from Stansted Airport, my closest Longlife franchise is Herts Auto Tek in Knebworth... I've read mixed things about Longlife but as mentioned it seems to be down to the fitter rather than the quality of the product... Longlife offer finance as well.. I was only really looking to spend £250-£300 which is looking unlikely for what I want....

[Lexual]

Willy Nilly said:

There is a place in Basildon that will make any exhaust you want. A colleague of mine went in there (Can't remember the name, sorry) with his import Toyota LC and it needed a bit cut out and a new bit welded in. He was only I there an hour or so and highly recommends the place.

You must mean these guys... http://www.haywardandscott.com/ I had found them as well but from what I've read it would probably cost me twice what I paid for the car to get their craftsmanship!

[Impasse]

Miles away from you, but Torque Technique in Wilton (near Salisbury) are great.

[Mave]

Lexual said:

I was only really looking to spend £250-£300 which is looking unlikely for what I want....

I spent over £300 with longlife on an exhaust for my Alfa, and that was 10 years ago!

[adeel_gt]

Torque flow exhausts in birmingham, who work in partnership with a well known merc tuner. So quality is of the highest priority.