What is in the exhaust system of a 2000 prisim

I have a problem. I am the proud owner of a 2000 chevy prisim formerly known as Geo prisim. :grinyes: I am the original owner of the car and I have never had the exhaust system worked on. Recently I went to a muffler shop to have the exhaust system replaced becuase it needed to be replaced. It did not go well. The technician botched the job. He welded the exhaust system (pipes, muffler and all) to the body of the car. I gave this shop five days to get it right but they would not or could not do it. I then had two other muffler shops evaluate the work done on my car and both informed me that in addition to the exhaust system being welded to the car the flex pipe was missing. I was told that my moter tilts or turns when in gear (transverse????) so the flex pipe is necessary to allow for the movement of the engine. :screwy: The shop that did the work was part of a chain so I filed a complaint with the corporate headquarters who promptly forwarded the complaint to the shop that did the work.:nono: Wally (not his real name) the manager then called me and informed me that the flex pipe was not part of the requirements of my exhaust system and that there was no flex pipe on the exhaust system that he removed. Incredulous I went to a chevy dealership to get a parts list for the exhaust system of my car and sure enough a flex pipe was not listed. Now I am in the midst of an existential crisis and I don't know what to think believe or feel. :banghead:

As for the two shops that evaluated the work. The first was a muffler shop reccomended by a chevy dealership and two garages that outsource their exhaust system work. The second shop is part of the same chain that Wally works for.

Now that you know so much more about me than you ever cared to know here are my questions. What are the required parts for the exhaust system of a 2000 chevy prisim? Why would the other two muffler shops recommend a flex pipe? If the flex pipe is necessary then why would it not show up in the parts list from the chevy dealership? :runaround:

Thanks for your patience and understanding and not laughing in my face
Signed
Wilbur2 crazy!