By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Marlborough—The word “custom” in Lou’s Custom Exhaust has a dual meaning. The two shops, in Marlborough and Worcester, can create a custom look and sound to delight the performance car enthusiast. But the shops also take an individualized approach to each and every “ordinary” car that comes in, often saving the owners money.
In fixing a car’s exhaust system, “we bend all our own pipes. We literally start with 10-foot lengths of pipe and cut and hand bend them to fit the job,” said John Neyland, owner. “We have better quality materials, and, because we fabricate the pipes here, we might not have to charge a customer to replace a whole exhaust assembly, but just replace what is needed. Nine times out of 10, we are more affordable.”
Many of the major exhaust and muffler chains, he said, are cutting back on that work in favor of oil changes and tune-ups, and no longer stock a wide range of exhaust system parts.
“We can rebuild a system if a part is rotted out or broken.”
Neyland emphasized that over 60 percent of Lou’s work is on standard, everyday cars. “We love minivans,” he laughed. And while his shops can install a fancy exhaust system with a sound the owner chooses, they also install conventional, quiet mufflers.
“A huge part of our business is repairing or replacing catalytic converters. Our cost to replace one is usually much cheaper because the owner may not have to replace the entire assembly. Since we are fabricators, we can often cut the damaged converter out of the assembly and just replace that,” he said. “I encourage people to contact us for a quote before replacing the entire assembly.”
Lou’s will check out a car’s exhaust system at no cost and always provides a quote before any work is done.
Neyland opened the business in Worcester about 12 years ago, and added the Marlborough location a year ago.
He is an electrical engineer, and worked in that industry for 20 years, but “I was always a car guy.” He was a customer of a Lou’s Custom Exhaust franchise and finally decided to become a franchisee, a decision he has not regretted. “I never wake up thinking I don’t want to go to work today.”
The shops can handle any type of vehicle. “We’ve done everything from exhaust systems for generators in RVs to tractor-trailers. We service ambulances and fire trucks. We even build exhaust systems for restaurants that generate their own energy from used cooking oil.”
While exhaust systems are the main business, Lou’s can also service brakes and suspension systems.
“Our customers like us,” Neyland said. “About 95 percent of our business is referrals. When you treat people fairly, they trust you with more work.”
The Marlborough location is at 301 Maple St. (Rt. 85), 508-485-9700. The Worcester shop is at 59 Harding St., 508-798-8500. Both locations are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, and closed on weekends. Additional information is available on the firm’s website, www.lousexhaustmarlboroworc.com.