Took my 1999 car in for an oil service last week and when I went to pick it
up the dealer gave me an 'advisory' item and that was the middle exhaust is
blowing.  I can barely hear it when I stand outside the car on idle and not
at all driving it.  Anyway asked the dealer how much it would cost to have
this replaced (323SE) and he got back to me today and said the middle and
front section come as complete unit and the fitted cost including VAT would
be £1050 GBP.  Ouch me thinks, although the guy said he should be able to
reduce it under the Four Plus scheme.   I am going to wait and see what
happens when I take the car in next month for its annual MOT, but would like
to ask people on this group what their thoughts are.  Would they go after
market or even mail order if it needs to be done, or is this a false
economy?  I have no plans to sell the car, might look at exchanging it in
another 3 years time.  Given the original lasted 8.5 years would it be worth
spending that kind of money even if I planed to keep it for another 8.5
years?

Mick