Are parts for imports really more expensive?

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).
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