"Bruce Chang" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Mark" > wrote in message
> oups.com...
> > Thanks Joe, Bruce, Nate, Kruse, Daniel for your advice and suggestions.
> > The only reason I was considering taking it to a dealership was since I
> > just bought this car, and moreover for "peace of mind", but I realize
> > I'll soon lose that peace if I pay that much higher cost :-)
> >
> > I think I will take it to a local mechanic. Do you guys have any advice
> > on whether I should buy OEM parts or rely on after market parts?
> >
>
> Using OEM parts and aftermarket parts is like asking if you should take
the
> car to the dealer or to a local mechanic. If paying extra gives you peace
> of mind, then go help support the economy. Buy OEM parts and go to the
> dealer.
>

Just a small point here about supporting the economy,

Many dealers are owned by corporations, the profits go to shareholders who
may be in a different state. Or they go to an owner who spends half his
time in Palm Springs, or sends his money to some sailboat manufacturer in
another country for his toy yacht.

The OEM parts come from the automakers - Lexus profits go back to Japan
not to the US - and even for domestic automakers they source their parts
from
Mexico or China.

By contrast the local garage often gets rebuilt parts which have a better
chance of
coming from a local rebuilder, or at least a rebuilder in the US. And the
local
garage is locally owned so the profits get spent in your local economy. And
even
if the parts are new and come from overseas, the distributor is often local
so
less of the middleman charge goes out of your community.

One area where while paying more will help the economy - it may not be YOUR
economy.

Ted