Hi Tom,
How ya doing ? I'm a bit surprised, and a tad disappointed you didn't get an exhaust and fit yourself
I have noticed recently that there can be a massive difference in the quality of exhausts, always been so to a degree but some of the stuff now is paper thin and badly made .
A pattern cat ( one that is part of the manifold as well ) i fitted just under 2 years ago for someone, as they didn't want to pay for a genuine one was back in with a crack all around it last week.
It was weldable.....is that a word ? as the crack was on manifold part . It was about half price still of genuine one, but im sure only lasted about a fifth as long.