have I been sold a dodgy part??

Hi people, I bought a new exhaust front pipe and gasket and went to fit them today and they wouldn't fit! I have a 88 1.6 carb cabby but my manifold is the 6 stud type where it bolts to the front pipe, I assume it's a gti one? Anyway I bought a gti front down pipe and it was the right shape and size pipework but the part where the bolts are wasn't big enough, the gasket I ordered was the same size as the new front pipe and I ordered them from different shops as well so they must be right, right? Lol! They are off eBay I will admit but surely they can't be wrong, the middle bolts were right but the outer bolts were far off, the plate with the holes is rectangle and the manifold outer bolt holes are set out a bit making it a rectangle with the bolts on the corners if you get me!? What is going on?

Any advice is much appreciated before I have a go at the shop that sold me it lol

Is the manifold off a mk2? My downpipe had spring mounted bit where it bolted to the manifold! 

Are you able to put pics up of the flanges on what you've bought? I'm not sure to be honest but will help someone here identify them

Here is a pic of one I found for sale on eBay, it says it's a mk2 gti downpipe! so that means I didn't get sold a dud, I was just so annoyed I had to put my chappy one back on and it took so long to put back on cos it's totally gone where it meets the centre section! I think this will push me to just stump up and buy a stainless manifold lol, what are people's opinions on the cheaper (under 200) stainless manifolds?

piccy up your old one?

if it is a mk2 fitment downpipe you#'ll also need the manifold to match, and it comes out at a different position to mk1 so you need to chop up and weld the mk2 downpipe with a big kink in it to fit a mk1 shell…

Picture of Mk2 golf manifold.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VW-Golf-mk2-8v-Gti-exhaust-manifold-027253033T-027-253-033-T-/301471478345?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item463119b249

Picture of Mk1 manifold, even though it's a link to a toilet bowl type manifold the outlet is still in the middle unlike the Mk2 which is of to one side.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vw-mk1-golf-gti-cabriolet-standard-exhaust-manifold-/321639702437?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item4ae3385fa5

What does your manifold look like and is the outlet in the middle?

It's a mk2 manifold and bodged up downpipes! I'm so annoyed! I'm sending the one I've bought back and I'm just going to buy a stainless manifold to solve all my problems lol! I suppose it will give me a kick up the bum to get the rest of the system done anyway!
Thanks for the help and advice

Make sure you wrap the new manifold well if your going 4 branch to stop it melting the steering column boot.

Yea I've read about having to do this…i was going to leave the top bits and wrap it from the bend down, would this be sufficient? And if so how far should I take the wrap?

I would wrap the boot too/instead, some manufacturers recommend you dont wrap their 4 branches so best to ask