The original exhaust on my 12 year old Avensis caused an MOT fail. The garage doing the MOT wanted £365 to fit the full system replacement which I declined and started to look online to see what was available - this turned out to be a bit of an eye opener.

First, it seems that as my car was registered before March 2001 which means that I did not need the "type approved" (read more expensive ) version of catalytic converter declared essential by the original garage.

Next I found a great site online (www.cats-direct-shop.co.uk) that is easy to use to find and price up the component exhaust parts for your car (in my case £222 for the type approved version and £135 for the non approved version). This is a helluva difference 'though of course, I still needed to get it fitted - so armed with this new found info I went down to my local specialist(s).

ATS is nearest so went to them first - quick, helpful and approachable but wanted £415 for the non approved version. Next was a Unipart stockist garage - really unhelpful, just a cursory look at the exhaust and didn't price the job just asked what else I'd been quoted and said that's about what he would do it for! After this went to Kwik Fit - really swanky facilities with like a coffee shop layout with s/s tables and chairs and flash vending machine for its waiting area (completely empty). Guy was helpful if a little aloof and this was the only outfit that actually provided a written price on a nice little pre printed sheet with a check of tire tread depths also. However, the measurements for the treads were wrong (had fronts down to 3mm when are really 6mm) and exhaust price quoted was £514 (guess they have to pay for that swanky seating area somehow!)

At this point I was starting to think the unthinkable about getting the exhaust online and having a go at fitting it myself. Finally went to National Tyres and Autocare at Rock Ferry. They were really busy but sorted me out within 15 minutes - very friendly and approachable - invited me to look under the car and showed me the problem and why I needed the full exhaust and even helped to identify the souce of an annoying oil leak I'd been aware of for some time previously. Price quoted was £250 with 3 years guarentee. To get this there was a promotional offer running of 20% discount off plus a little bit of extra haggling. Result!

I was pushed for time so agreed to go back later whilst they arranged to get the parts. When I returned a couple of hours later everything was ready and I watched them whisk of the old exhaust and fit the new. Whole process took around 45mins and would have been quicker if Jack (guy doing the work and presumably the senior guy) hadn't had to keep breaking off to answer the phone for price enquiries (not a complaint on my part just an observation).

During my time there I saw and heard Jack and the other guys deal with quite a few enquiries and fit tyres / repair punctures etc and was really impressed with how they all conducted themselves - with efficiency, confidence, knowledge and an enthusiastic frendliness which is extremely rare anywhere these days let alone in an automotive "shed".

Coming from the service industry myself, I have high standards and expectations of customer service. I'm also a bit of a grumpy git and usually only complete this type of review to warn others when I have received poor service.

However, credit where it is due. National have provided me with a complete new exhaust at a fair and competitive price. Moreover, the management and employees of the Rock Ferry branch should take pride in the team currently working there. After this and previous experiences, I have no doubt that they are amongst the best, if not the best, at what they do in the area and have no hesitation in recommending them to fellow local motorists. I will certainly be making this my first port of call for any tyres, brakes, exhaust, MOT etc. work on the cars in our household in the future.