Boxster 987.1 S Exhaust Headache (+Carnewal/Other) - Advice.

[987BoxS]

About 2-weeks ago my exhaust started rattling and blowing, quick look underneath and the inlet joint to catalyst was completely loose on one side. I therefore decided this would be a great opportunity to take the exhaust off, send to Carnewal (which I was planning anyway) refresh all the fittings with stainless... new tips, all back on and hopefully smile.
The problem is I removed my exhaust and the on of the back boxes has x2 small cracks forming and although my car is low mileage... they're not in the best of conditions (not terrible).

I then also find out that my exhaust is quite unique being a 3.2S from 2005-06 as the inlet pipe is 55mm (from Gert at Carnewal) plus they don't last as long.
Gert has said that my backbox could be patched up and painted (+ he would modify it) but it seems false economy spending £450'ish on my exhaust when ultimately the cracks could get worse.
I guess my options are:
1: Find another 55mm exhaust to send to Carnewal
2: Patch up my exhaust and send to Carnewal... hope for the best
3: Buy an alternative new system however I don't want something that's too loud, from China - the valved ones from Top Gear / Designtek / Soul all seem to be the same unit and most are out of stock. What aftermarket system is closet to Carnewal / PSE noise? (+no drone)
4: Custom exhaust made by a company like Tony Banks - he has a long waiting list.

Does anybody have any other advice, maybe alternative custom exhaust specialists? Anywhere I could get a newer Porsche system (even PSE)?
Any other advice would be much appreciated - Thanks in advance.

 

[JMR]

You could always just ask Gert for a complete exhaust and tell him you're not sending your part exchange exhaust in.
Whatever you do he charges you something like €500 until you send him your old one back.
Guess you'd just pay the full €450 + €500

Makes it a €950 exhaust though and he'd send you something back that is approximately same age and mileage exhaust.
Although he will have checked it all out before modifying it.

Probably rather do this than get a valved cheapo one.
Gert also does the valved PSE ones, but I think only new, and they're not cheap.

I have a Carnewal on my 2.7

 

[987BoxS]

Hey James.... hope you are good.
Already tried exactly that tbh - Gert has no stock whatsoever.
He says getting hold of decent 987.1 cores is becoming so difficult, he's now looking to find an OEM type solution (via Germany) not China but very early days.

 

[JMR]

I'm good thanks Thomas

Ah dear, that's not what you wanted to hear, as I typed it I thought I'm daft suggesting this, he must have already asked.

That is unlucky, I bought mine, had it fitted, then sent it back and he credited the €500 to my card. (was nearly 4 yr ago though)
Send it over and hope for the best if you can do without the exhaust for a couple of weeks?

BTW I found UPS the best, fastest, most economical way to get my exhaust over to Belgium.
About £35 from memory.

 

[987BoxS]

No I appreciate the advice []
Tbh my car is off the road at the minute (primarily because of the exhaust) but I took the opportunity to remove steering wheel and a number of trim parts for re-trim at the same time.... but Ideally I don't want it off the road for too long.
Just feels slightly silly spending like £500 on an exhaust that will ultimately fail.
Although my car is a weekend only and rarely does it see the wet.