Ok, so after quite a few rejections, I’ve found a garage that have the time and will have a go at the custom flexi pipe weld. Trouble is, they told me, (as did everybody else) if the studs snap at the engine end of the exhaust (he did say mine looked not too bad) then they will have to be drilled out and things will get expensive.
As it is, he estimated around 3 hours to remove, jig up so it doesn’t move (whatever that means) cut out and replace the flexi and weld it all back onto the car - £150 ish. He thinks it will be cheaper to buy the whole front section new (which I may be able to get for £180) and then less time needed to do the job.
My thinking is, if the studs snap, then it will be expensive anyway and the £180 could be spent on fixing that issue, when I have the flexi and joiner parts already, for only £32 off eBay. So, I think I will take a chance and just get the flexi part welded in.
In the meantime, it will take a couple of weeks to get the extra funds together (in case things go wrong with the studs) has anybody used exhuast tape on a flexi with any success - even if short term? I really could do with the heater blower to de-mist the windscreen, but will probably gas myself at the minute!