Dear Tom and Ray:

Are original factory parts better than "dealer" or "auto store" replacement parts? -- Vince

Tom: Such an elegant, simple, short question. It's too bad there isn't an equally elegant, short answer to it.

Ray: We can start by saying that the original factory parts -- the parts that come on your new car -- are usually "good enough," aren't they? I mean, if you were satisfied with the car when you drove it off the lot, you should be satisfied with those same parts later on, right? (with the exception of tires, which we'll get to later).

Tom: And since "dealer" parts -- the parts you buy at the dealership -- are generally the same parts, or at least the same quality as the parts that came from the factory, I think we can agree that those parts are acceptable replacements for any parts that break.

Ray: So if you go to the dealership for parts, you're pretty much guaranteed that the parts you get will be as good as what came on the car in the first place. But are they better than auto-parts-store replacement parts?

Tom: In some cases, yes. In other cases, no. Sometimes you can buy exactly the same parts at the auto-parts store as you can at the dealer, or absolutely identical parts (parts made by the same manufacturer, but sold under a different name). There are also times you can buy parts that just as good as original parts for much less money, like, for example, suspension parts, tie rod ends, ball joints, shock absorbers, and some rebuilt starters and alternators.

Ray: One the other hand, there are some parts you can buy for much less money at the auto-parts store because they're essentially ... what? Cheap junk. Some spark-plug wires, brake pads, and one-size-fits-all mufflers fall into this category.

Tom: So how do you know? You don't, Vince. And we'd need a whole section of the newspaper to list which aftermarket parts were as good as original parts, and which ones aren't. And believe me, Dear Abby would be on our case if we bumped her again just to talk about alternator bushings.

Ray: So the short answer, if it's not already too late for that, is that you can guarantee that you'll get good parts by buying them from the dealer. But you'll certainly pay a premium for some of them. You can save money, and get some parts that are just as good from the auto parts store, if you know what you're doing. And the average guy, like you, Vince, isn't going to know that.

Ray: So what do we suggest? If you just buy parts occasionally, the dealer is probably your safest option. If you buy parts more frequently, find a mechanic you trust and get some advice.

Tom: A good mechanic will have experience with both original (dealer) parts and aftermarket parts, and will know which ones work well and which don't. Of course, he may not appreciate you coming in every week and asking him to review a list of parts for you, but that's between you two.

Ray: And by the way, as we alluded to earlier, one of the few "original equipment" parts that are not "good enough" are tires. Generally speaking, original-equipment tires on low- to mid-priced cars are some of the lowest-end tires available from a given tire maker. So when it's time for your second set, don't try to match what came with the car. Spend $75 to $100 a tire and move up in the tire world.

Stop the madness! You can stop driving like a knucklehead, and you'll help your car in the process. Learn how your driving habits can harm your car in Tom and Ray's pamphlet "Ten Ways You May Be Ruining Your Car Without Even Knowing It!" To order, send (check or money order) to Ruin, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. You can also order online.

© 1997 by Tom and Ray Magliozzi and Doug Berman Distributed by King Features Syndicate, Inc.

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