If you go back 20 or 30 years ago you find that the world of selling car parts was fairly simple. Everyone was using the same technology and, in many cases, they were also using the same parts.
Of course each manufacturer had their own engineering methods that created the differences in the cars but in many cases you could become very confused by all of the different car models that looked exactly alike. It was no coincidence that some models resembled others as they were all using the same basic technology.
As automobile technology advanced manufacturers soon started to create models that did not resemble one another. The influence of the foreign auto makers caused American auto makers to become more creative to have their models stand out. As models became more identifiable they also required a lot more parts.
Suddenly the new car part no longer fit four or five different models. There still is the occasional new car part that is somewhat universal but most manufacturers decided that the new car part for their models was going to be unique to their models. Not only did this help with creating separate identities, it also helped with the bottom line.
If the newest Chevy required a different new car part than the newest Ford, then suddenly more parts needed to be made. More manufacturers started creating what they called dealer only parts which means that you could not run down to your local auto part store and get that new car part. You had to go to the nearest dealer and pay a lot more for the new car part than you would if it was available as a generic. Now the new car part market is a money making machine for manufacturers and the consumer winds up paying more in the end.
Anything For The Almighty Dollar
In the old days it was easy to get a new car part. It was uncommon for a part to be only available through the dealer as most vehicles used standard and common parts. But as the manufacturers started to really customize their new models they also came out with a plan to make more money on the new car parts people would need. Now more parts are dealer only and even parts you can buy in a auto part store can be very specific to the model of your vehicle. It is all just another way to make sure that you are paying as much as possible to keep your vehicle on the road.
Your car is only as good as the parts in it (unless you just like a really expensive lawn ornament). Although it’s great that there is so much competition in the auto parts business, it is also a bit annoying that there is so much competition in the auto parts business. If you are within walking distance of a car parts place, then that will probably make the decision for you of what shop to choose. But if you have to drive to get to a car parts and auto supply shop, you most likely will drive to Napa Auto Parts.
There’s A Lot Of Them
There are over 6,000 Napa Auto Parts stores across the nation and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. Napa stands for National Automotive Parts Association. There is at least one Napa Auto Parts store in your state. (If you don’t live in America, then I’m afraid you are going to have to look elsewhere for your automotive supply needs).
Napa Auto Parts has been around for over eighty years. However, the actual parts they sell are a lot younger than that. They claim they stock over 375,000 parts and have every single one of them listed in a computer inventory that any customer with an internet connection can access.
Huge Online Site
Just in case you can’t get to a Napa Auto Parts store, you can always try their online website, which lists what you would find in all of their real world stores. Keep in mind that law prevents some chemical items from being shipped through the mail, so those items you would have to buy in an actual store.
You’re not limited to just regular car parts at Napa Auto Parts. If you drive a commercial truck, an All Terrain Vehicle, motorcycle, snowmobile or tractor, you can find equipment for your rig. You just need to click on to the Napa PartsPro SE online catalogue. They also list parts for boats and personal watercraft.
My favorite section on the Napa Auto Parts website is the “Know How” section, which lists a lot of free and useful information on basic car maintenance that every car owner should do (but usually pays someone else to do). These sundry activities include how to do oil changes, replacing your wiper blades, replacing the fuses and changing an air filter. It almost makes me wish I had a car.