Hoses

The message from "Doki" contains these words:

Generally not. Most hoses are made to fit with all the right bends and the like already in place. Many hoses wouldn't last if you tried to bend straight hose 'cos as they got hot they'd kink and be useless.

Universal hoses are available - they're corrugated to stop them collapsing and provided the bends aren't too severe they're fine. Halfrauds sell 'em - in fact last time I needed one they were the only sort that would do. And did very well, too.

For some uses, standard heater hose will do - usually breather pipes and heater pipes, and this is often available from proper car shops.

If it's a straight hose with equal sized ends, then yes. But most are moulded to shape. You can get corrugated types, but I'd call them temporary.

Surely a new one from a specialist isn't that much?

I wasn't aware that hoses were prebent, but I can see that it would make sense when you've a couple of fairly tight bends. I'll try an actual GSF rather than their website.

Perhaps the majority of the water and air hoses on most cars are pre-formed. Allows them to charge more for them. ;-)

Also Eurocarparts. They don't list individual hoses in their cat, but they do stock them.