What do you guys reckon? Need to replace the front section of exhaust on the Hiace, from the manifold flange to the middle muffler. A two into one deal, a bit of bending involved etc. Quoted about $280. I haven't had exhaust repairs done for years, so am out of the loop. Does that seem reasonable?
marte,
Feb 19, 7:25am
I got a whole system fora Cortina in 1993 for $200, single downpipe. So I think that's not too bad at all.
annie17111,
Feb 19, 7:50am
Hubby said that sounds cheap, you could buy the part from Toyota and bolt it on yourself but unlikely to be any cheaper.
2sheddies,
Feb 19, 8:04am
Thanks guys, I hope I don't sound like somebody who thinks he's being ripped off. I am just genuinely out of touch with that side of things, but felt like it was about right, though wanted another opinion. Looked at getting the bolt on part, but it would've been a hassle in itself as when the muffler was replaced, they cut the flange off the rear section and welded it straight in place. This is the easiest way. They're a good outfit, I'm sure they'll see me right.
Can't drive the thing, it sounds like a Fordson tractor lol. Everybody turns to see what the noise is, bloody embarrassing.
kazbanz,
Feb 19, 9:57am
from manifold to middle muffler $280 sound darn good
kingfisher21,
Feb 19, 8:26pm
Maybe price the section up at Repco or BNT, some sections are bloody cheap.
franc123,
Feb 19, 8:42pm
Lol just pay the man and get it fixed and forget about it. Last time I priced an exhaust part from Repco they wanted 500 plus some rude amount of freight to get it in, after doing some digging I found out the same part was available direct from the supplier for $110+gst plus $60 fuel and half a day for me to travel 2hrs away to get it.
intrade,
Feb 19, 9:42pm
280 sounds cheap to me. i had a muffler replaced on a 1982 civic that was 250. . i went to see them if they could make me a straight pipe to delete the dpf basically a muffler. i said its 750 doller if i have to order it from uk. and the guy said that is cheap. mufflers only cost as above 500 bux upwards just the part not fitted. i told a client your muffler is buned out internally its why its so loude at 100kph . and to see if they can get it done in auckland 500 would be cheap as thats only just my parts cost for 1 muffler.
budgel,
Feb 19, 10:31pm
That's a good price. Mufflers and exhausts on modern vehicles seem to last so much longer than they used to. I know a lot of cars use stainless these days. In the old days there were exhaust shops all over the place!
jmma,
Feb 19, 10:52pm
It was the lead in the petrol that killed exhausts.
budgel,
Feb 20, 12:39am
Do you have a link to a study that proves that?
richardmayes,
Feb 20, 1:01am
2012 called, they want their sick burn back.
It's 2021, calling him a colonist is where it's at.
richardmayes,
Feb 20, 1:04am
Heh, When I was poor with 2 babies in the house and a brand new mortgage, I dragged the chain getting a muffler replaced on an old Falcon station wagon. A young guy in the car park asked me if I had a V8 in there.
franc123,
Feb 20, 2:21am
LMAO ever heard the term Cold Hard Industry Experience? Ask anyone who was working in the motor trade over the lead phaseout period what happened. You have to account for the fact that yes the vehicle fleet was transitioning to a 70s and 80s NZ new one to a late 80s 90s mix of JDM used and NZ new but the fact remained that there was an 80% drop in that work within about five years when leaded super got dumped.
2sheddies,
Feb 20, 3:29am
Not much change out of $500 in the end. Good job I hadn't budgeted for the $280 quoted.
2sheddies,
Feb 20, 3:32am
Haha, this didn't sound anywhere near as V8 ish. More like every hydraulic lifter had gone on strike lol.
kazbanz,
Feb 20, 4:43am
Sorry mon you used the word quoted so I thought for such a potential barsteward of a job that's a hot price. Im guessing it was a verbal estimate.
ronaldo8,
Feb 20, 4:59am
Sounds cheap, maybe too cheap. I'd be having a good look at it once its done if that's all, or they are underquoting.
2sheddies,
Feb 20, 6:45am
Yeah sorry, should have said verbal estimate. I had in the back of my mind all along that it might be dearer. anybody who's ever worked on cars knows that nothing is ever "just an easy job" lol. Especially on old shit that's all rusty and seized solid. Which is no doubt why very few workshops are prepared to offer written quotes these days.
Because of that, I was ready for it, but I do think it is good practice for a workshop to consider phoning the customer and make them aware if it transpires that the job is turning out a bit more complicated and is going to cost considerably more than first discussed just to avoid nasty unexpected surprises upon pickup. Particularly for non car types who might take their word that it's going to be X amount, not realizing the excrement can and usually will hit the fan mid job, and budget for exactly that amount.
In any event, it's done now, it is what it is, they did make a lovely job, and as is often the case, there was more drama involved than anticipated. But it's never sounded so lovely and quiet, and they used a larger diameter pipe and the way they've done it is a bit more free flowing than it was previously. It definitely seems to have given just the slightest little bit more pep than before. Nothing dramatic by any stretch, but just seems a tiny bit more responsive. Overall very pleased and it'll do us for a few years hopefully.
Nice to drive it without everybody turning around to see what all the racket is!
2sheddies,
Feb 20, 6:50am
From what I've read here anyway, it sounds like what I paid in the end was more realistic than the original estimate and it's a beautiful repair so no worries on that score (just to answer Ronaldo above there), so it's all good. Like I said at the start, I got no idea what you pay for this sort of job, as it's years and years since I have had to do any major exhaust repairs.
jmma,
Feb 20, 7:56am
Haven't looked, just first hand knowledge :oP
budgel,
Feb 20, 11:30am
Thanks for your reply, I wasnt criticising, just interested, not having first hand knowledge. I had the impression that lead, though poisonous, was relatively inert.
saki,
Feb 21, 12:29am
You are correct, back when I had an exhaust shop a lot of competition cars were running av gas. the scale build up in mufflers and pipes was incredible, after removing an av gas affected muffler it seemed to rot while you were looking at it, and the burnt av gas smell stayed around for ages.
alowishes,
Feb 21, 3:33am
It seems so, my exhaust systems on various cars I have/used to have definitely lasted longer after u leaded came to be here.
gammelvind,
Feb 21, 5:49am
Never had to do any exhaust work after we went lead free, whereas in the early leaded days it was a regular thing. Maybe I can just afford better cars these days lol.
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