While putting together yesterday’s Carnival of Wheels, I came across a well written post by Wenchypoo with a bunch of used car buying tips. While I agreed with most of her suggestions, one sorta stuck in my craw:
One more thing that might sway a car purchase: parts for imported cars are more expensive than domestic models—the parts as well as the cars have to be imported, and this takes time and money (namely yours).
Now I’ve driven traditional domestics and traditional imports. I’ve also worked in the field with both. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve heard this comment that import parts are more expensive than domestic ones. What the uninformed don’t realize though is that you get what you pay for! Remember, the traditional domestics are spec’d by accountants. That’s why they feel like a worn out shoe when they are 2 years old. Traditional imports are spec’d by engineers. That’s why they feel like a new domestic when they are 5 years old.
Perhaps the best way to illustrate my point is with a real world example. Back in 2000, after close to a decade driving Swedish bricks, we picked up a Dodge Caravan that had been traded in. The rear shocks were blown, so I ordered new ones. I almost fell over when I heard the price. $22 each! That was for original equipment Mopar parts.
3 years later they had to be replaced again.
Compare that to a traditional import. Shocks (on the rare vehicle that have them) typically cost about $80-120. On the surface, that would seem to be a pretty big chunk over the $22 shocks on the Caravan. The difference is in the quality and therefore the longevity of the part. Ask any shop that works on imports when they replace struts or shocks due to leakage or “blown” seals. The answer will be a resounding NEVER! On occasion you might replace them to eliminate a noise. Obviously they get replaced when damaged by curbing or accidents, but rarely if ever for failure. On domestics it is pretty common to replace struts and shocks.
So I pose the question. Is it better to buy original equipment domestic parts at a deep, deep discount or to not need to replace them in the first place?
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
The term “Import” is often used in too broad of a statement. For example there are huge differences in both quality and features between a Honda and a BMW the same as there are between a Vega and a Cadillac.
That being said let’s take this a step further. When comparing domestics with imports it’s equally important to remember the “average” domestic car will only have a life span of 100,000 miles while the “norm” for the “average” import of 300,000 and counting. Taking this into consideration when you average out the cost factor of a part it is important to divide the cost of each part by no less than three. For example… If a starter cost $80 for a domestic which last 100,000 miles but a starter cost $180 for an import that means the “average” cost of the starter for 300,000 miles was $60 per 100,000. An even better factor is a starter is less likely to go bad on an import than a domestic for many of the exact reasons posted above, three of which are QUALITY, QUALITY and then there is QUALITY.
I will say that after racing both imports and domestics for years I can honestly say hands down an import part is far more likely to last than any domestic part. Some of the pro-sedan cars I have ran literally for hundreds of thousands of hours had used parts and I can think of no domestic that can say the same.
Import parts are more expenive than domestic parts hands-down.
I own a 1995 Nissan Altima, The repair bills a large, this car has to have genuine nissan parts to work correctly including a $450 est. on an alternator installed (The Estimate was for a NAPA installed, but had to install a nissan one instead), genuine nissan brakes, everything…compare that to a Chevrolet Cavalier (3 on one of side of the family) and the repair bils are 1/3 less. You can use NAPA parts including ($200 + installation) new alternator.
Compare the repair costs on a Nissan, toyota, Lexus, they are bigger and I can’t imagine what Audi, Porshe and others cost.
One expection is Jeep, they are a little more expensive than a domestic, not sure how close to a import (like Nissan) that they are, we have a 03 Jeep Liberty and brake job (Fronts and rears) is expensive…not sure of final bill.
One note: My nissan still has the stock engine, trans and so on and its still running strong with 140,000 miles. Good little car.
See Yeah!
You bring up a good point Brian, in a round about way.
Because some import parts last longer, there isn’t as much support in the aftermarket. That can make 2nd line replacements harder to find if not impossible. I know that Nissan does offer reman alternators and starters for most models here in Canada rather than new.
Racedriven, I sell alternators all the time at my retail stores and I would never charge someone that much and our alternators come with a lifetime warranty to boot. That’s not to say the labor might not be more difficult on your specific car and that brings up an entirely different topic. Many domestic parts are less expensive however many import cars require far more labor to install. Typically speaking labor cost on many accessory install projects on domestic cars are considerably less than the same project on an import. This is just one reason parts cost alone cannot be considered apples and apples. Instead we are talking more about apples and oranges. The bottom line is there is no fair comparison with regards to cost of parts alone.
Wow…how often is it that you hear an aftermarket guy and a dealer guy on the same side of a vehicle repair discussion
We might want to consider changing the title to “Are parts and labor for imports really more expensive than domestics?”
Because its parts and labor that’s the total, I don’t work on my own car, not even an oil change, sorry but I prefer an trained tech on it instead. As a matter a fact, I have to make an appointment this week, my rear brakes sounds like something is rubbing.
One note on the estimate for the altornator, it was from Midas and they tried to use a NAPA one first, then had to go to a nissan one instead.
Is there anyone that believes that parts and labor are more expensive than domestics? like I do at all…
See Yeah!
I sorry if I’m stepping on any toes but the “Midas touch” is the last place I would allow to work on my cars that is if you want “trained technicians” working on it. Like any other franchise there are good and bad alike so in reality it’s important not to accuse all of them. On the other hand the numbers of complaints to customers is considerably higher than should be acceptable. Now we are getting to the real meat-N-potato’s of the discussion… in reality the how to reduce cost on maintenance and repairs is really all about whom you can trust not only to work on your vehicle but who does the diagnostics. Oh, I could go on for days on this one. And for the record, I never said parts were less expensive on imports. I merely tried to analyze the comparison inaccuracy.
Gary Faules: I was just trying to prove a point, my family including aunts and so one own domestic vehicles 2 -1 over imports and all I have to go on is two Suzuki’s and my Nissan and in the Nisaans case its a good vehicle, I am just rough on it.
As for Midas, I had to convince them the problem was the alternator by paying a Nissan dealership $70 to say its the alternator and try Nissan parts. There are good in some cases like on brakes, but not for a Nissan.
I would love to hear what a lot of people have to say on this subject, I am interested in this one, it might help my family decide on what might be next to buy..we also have a Jeep which for some reason is different in costs. All in all, good points.
See Yeah!
I’m glad I could spur a lively conversation! I dated a mechanic long ago, and he used to tell me how expensive and time-consuming it was to work on imports at his Chevron station (no mini-mart–THAT’S how long ago!). Judging by your comments, I’d say I was on the right track, but maybe not completely accurate…that’s okay. I’m not above learning new tricks.
I just don’t want to buy (or want anyone else to mistakenly buy) a car that’ll spend more time up on a rack than on the road, consuming more of my money needlessly…although on a rack, it’d probably get better mileage, given the current gas prices.
In the near future, I’m looking to purchase a used 4-door turbo diesel for the eventual idea of running it on bio-diesel with a minimum of conversion. Any suggestions? Send ‘em to my address.
BTW–on second thought, given the global economy and business offshoring, aren’t pretty much ALL cars imports these days (in the literal sense)?
Whenchypoo, it’s a great conversation and one that has been going on since the first import hit the shores of the U.S.. I remember the owner of a shop I worked for back in the early 70’s. He said, “The day they change cars over to the metric system that require metric tools will be the day I close my doors. It’s un-American.” He was referring to import cars in general since those where the days when us mechanics began purchasing a few metric wrenches and kept them all in one small drawer. During those days most imports as they are called now used to be called “Metric cars.” Well, my old boss did indeed close his doors as many did that were unwilling to keep with the times and modern technology. For those of us who did we have made our fortunes many times over but I will say, there are times I feel dirty. Not in the literal sense but when I remember men like my father and their thoughts about those who bought and drove non-American somehow I agree we went wrong somewhere.
Back on the topic… Any car can be safe, economical and reliable under the right circumstances. The most overlooked item on any car is proper maintenance and everyone seems to have an excuse for the lack of it. Then there is finding a reliable mechanic that has ethics and credibility with regards to the specific car in question. And like the old saying goes… If something goes well a few people may hear about it but if even the smallest thing goes wrong you can rest assured a LOT of people will hear about it. This is true with both mechanics and cars alike.
It’s equally important to know that so many people want everything done right and want it done right the first time and when something does happen they want someone who will treat them fairly and responsibly. The bad news is MANY of them (not all thank God) want to get all of the above with a coupon. In other words they need to learn a good service and maintenance is worth a fair price.