The air was as blue as it was cold last night outside my place.
The old exhaust did not want to come off, despite jacking up the passenger side and removing the front wheel. There just wasn't enough movement in there to pull the downpipe past the lower arms.
Anyway, Mr Girt-Pole gladly lent a hand and the job was done with much gnashing of teeth and bashing of knuckles.
Oddly the new one slotted in a dream, pushed it over the axle, rotated it and poked the downpipe up through the engine floor.
Another thing worth mentioning is the flange was HUGE. No more leaks ever with this baby. It 'cups' right the way around the manifold join - the last one only went halfway up the sides all round.
So, the moral is. Buy your replacement exhaust from PartCo/Brown Bros.
They're the puppies privates - fit like a dream.
Also, Halfords still sell the old-style exhaust hanging straps with a metal hook at the end.
I just can't get over how nice it sounds now - all the time I've owned the car I've faught a losing battle with the manifold joint... now it burbles like an old MG.
Last time I tried cutting exhaust with it I was there for a-a-a-ges! 
