escape exhaust = tribute exhaust?

Can anyone tell me if the exhaust system would be the same for the Escape and the Mazda Tribute in 2006? My co-worker got hit a long while back, and it was just recently brought to her attention that the tail pipe got hit, which bent the muffler section just enough to have it hit the bottom of the cabin but not enough that it was noticable from the accident (slow speed rear ended basically).

Would this be easy enough to bend back or is it best to just get new? Dealership wants $381 for the part, but the fordpartswebsite has it for $198 for the escape 6cyl exhaust. I'm thinking an exhaust shop could probably weld in something cheaper than that if it doesn't work to just bend it back... right?

Along the lines of bending it, anyone have any suggestions on how to do that? It doesn't need much, just enough to keep it off the cabin.

A scrap yard will sell the exhaust but not the converter. If you live down south this might also be an option. Stop as ask a muffler shop and they will give you a quote. Companies like Walker sell aftermarket exhaust parts.

That's the problem. Around me in MN they recycle the exhaust so junk yards are not an option.

You could try if a friend has a pickup with a frame laying it cross ways and putting a floor jack under it with a flat board pick up on the jack and it should bend. A muffler shop might do this for a price.
Could you remove the converter and use existing pipe.
http://www.racepages.com/ had a converter for $165.00 a muffler shop would be at least this high.

I could unbolt the muffler section from the cat so anything forward from that part should be fine. I think it just got kinked where it goes over the rear axle (hence why it wasn't noticed before because there is already bends there) so I don't know if trying to bend it with a jack that way would work that well unless it will fit under my truck (Zr2 S-10 so it's decently high at the frame). I will keep that in mind though.

Any other thoughts or suggestions?

A muffler shop can bend and make that section or a parts store can order you a section. They are hard to take apart but it can be done.