Which parts stores are your favorite in your area?

 

Dont have one anymore. The NAPA is just not that good and the true independents, with machine shop in back dont exist. I remember one shop in my hometown that had a full machine shop and custom mixed Dupont auto paints. They not only helped me learn how to rebuild engines, but paint cars as well.

Jim

 

O'Reillys by far.. Napa might be better but it's to far away. Filters at O'Reillys are cheaper than Advanced and both are made by Purolator.

 

Fluids and filters at wal mart, then O'reillys for parts. I also have no problem using the dealer.

 

Used to be Parts Plus, but the local chain sold out to Napa. They still have the machine shop and paint mixing, but the prices went up while the selection and quantity went down.

 

Oreilly's But I work there and get a huge discount!

 

Advance Auto: JUNK!!! All I buy there is air freshners and stuff to clean my truck!
Auto Zone: Dont buy much there at all.
Napa: Best parts in town.
Fisher's Auto (Federal Auto Parts): Too expensive!

 

RockAuto has an awesome on-line catalog. Shipping costs tho . . . hmmm.

I'm kinda stuck with Checker, Autozone, Napa, and CarQuest as the local choices. Napa and CarQuest seem to be more set up for the shop business, the other two cater to consumers. At the moment Checker has better counter people, so I end up there more often.

The Napa store is right up against the bottom of a big cliff, and there's some giant rocks up the slope that don't look too stable. How's that for a reason not to go in there?

 

For simple stuff just to fix the car I use Autozone. For things they dont have I go to NAPA. There is a major NAPA warehouse just several miles away. I only go to a dealer if I can not in any way in this world find it any place else.

 

well something to keep in mind, none of these stores actually MAKE any parts, they all buy from the same suppliers. The same chinese trading company(s) that sells or remans the cheap line does it for all of them.

When you are commercial, at places like advance/autozone (i mention them cuz in my area of the country, Oreillys is a pub) you get name brand like bendix, cheaper than NAPA or federated.

Auto dealers actually get very little from the company truck (and even less now that gm and ford are having trouble with the parts divisions) - giant warehouses make 20 deliveries today - for example in central pa its 'millers auto parts', the carry a 'Big A' on the retail store, but the warehouses carry everything and distribute to every other store and dealership within 50 miles. the napa truck parked on the side? aint delivering - its loading.

Rock auto online - its a decent idea and I buy from them, but I cream them on other sutff about 50% of the time, even with my discounts. I called them wanting to set up a commercial acct but they do not have that infrastructure.
Ever been to summit racing? Its a giant warehouse with a tiny Costco-like store out front, you just take the tag of what you want to the cashier and they get it from the warehouse. Ne'er been to jegs - I suspect its similar, but oddly Jegs CRUSHES all my suppliers on trailer hitches and Summit MURDERS every supplier on the planet for engine rebuild kits.

 

Around here ya pretty much have napa. There are a few others but they seem to have cheaper quality stuff for around the same price.

 

We recently got an Oreillys. Went in to get some stuff for my Mustang and the guy keyed my info in the computer. Said hmmmm, that aint right. Went in the back and got the right parts. Turned out he used to own a 66 too. I will never go anywhere else.

 

There is a thread going on at TheSamba.com about rebuilt starters. The Autolite brand means nothing. "Lifetime" starters are lasting about two months on VW applications. Bosch authorized rebuilders apparently are required to use Bosch components in the rebuilding process, so all parts are not exactly the same, but unfortunately you have to do your homework.

Delphi and Visteon are the spinoff parts companies that are now independent of GM and Ford. I know because I was issued separate stock. If you buy AC/Delco or Motorcraft you are not buying parts made by GM or Ford.

Jim

 

napa... and napa only....they are the only parts store with in a 30 mile radious of my house... there are 2 actually... and both are owned by the same guy... a long time family friend... for everything from our old tbirds... to the old chevy... to the pinto... to the barracuda.... lately though my dad has been using that rockwell. com or what ever was posted on the first page... for his mercades... i still use good old napa.... always have and always will... as long as the local one remains loacally owned and operated...