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Where do you go for good deals on car stuff?
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Moderator  Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona
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Well, around a month ago I finally joined the driving world (Yay!) and now I'm getting knee deep in everything that goes along with it. But I'm not exactly rolling in cash and like to be frugal. So, I figured I'd pose the question to you guys;
Where do you go for good deals on parts for good old maintainance?
I know a variety of websites offer coupon codes and special deals to e-mail list members for electronics, apparel... etc. Anything similar from car sites? And what about walk-in stores?
What's got me popping this question is spark plugs. I'm needing a new set. My car is getting 12 miles per gallon and it's rated for 20, and I'm fairly sure the plugs are original, so I'm hoping replacing them will resolve at least some of my gas milage problem. And I do look for quality, so I'd like to get a premium set of plugs without paying full price.
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I like chicken
I like liver
Meow Mix, Meow Mix
Please de-liv-er
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Near Boulder, CO
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you will find with car parts that what you need is not always what you get the first time around... having a retail store you can go to to replace the part is really handy... I work on cars as a hobby, I am currently doing a engine swap in my jeep wrangler, and I have done simple things to my car, like replace the timing belt myself.... I would not even think about buying any car part online, unless it was some specialty part.
and not to mention spark plugs are usually less then $2 a piece anyways, get some decent champion plugs and call it good...
Napa has quality parts, but dont buy anything else there but parts over the counter or oil filters... WAY! overpriced on anything other then the over the counter stuff...
car quest/auto zone/checkers/kragen/ etc are usually cheaper, but their parts are of less quality...
Zach
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Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Arizona
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Well, my friend had been telling me about these plugs that run around $10 a pop. But he says they're well worth the price, so I figured 'What the hell?'
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I like chicken
I like liver
Meow Mix, Meow Mix
Please de-liv-er
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Near Boulder, CO
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Originally Posted by Lateralus
Well, my friend had been telling me about these plugs that run around $10 a pop. But he says they're well worth the price, so I figured 'What the hell?'
I bet they were iridium NGK plugs huh....
I donno about that...
my basic tune up that can be done by just about anybody that knows just a little about cars is this...
distributer cap & rotor
new plug wires
New air filter (Fram is FINE!)
and change the oil if it needs it...
make sure the tire pressure is where it's supposed to be and go!
but if you really want to spend $40 or$60 on plugs have fun, I just think you are pissing your money away... at very least replace the dist. cap and rotor and plug wires at the same time, then you can at least get the spark to the plug as best as you can...
oh, one last thing, there is a lot of snake oil type products out there dealing with cars, my general rule of thumb is if you have some loud sales man yelling at you through the TV, then DONT buy his product...
Zach
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MentallyRetardedCanadian
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Eh.... you're wasting your money with those fancy pants plugs. There's a reason cars from the factory don't come with "bosch" gimmick 4 electrode plugs, and using them can sometimes screw things up occasionally. If your car doesn't require fancy plugs, just use some champion copper plus plugs. They're dirt cheap (about .75 each) and they last 15-25,000 miles. If you have a car that's a total b*tch to change plugs, try using platinum plugs, as they don't have to be changed until 60k, 75k, or sometimes 100k.
As for websites for car parts... well, if you want new 'serviceable' parts, like brake pads, plugs, filters, and other things you'd want to buy new, the best place (cheapest parts best quality) I've found is www.rockauto.com.
They have a decent interface, you kinda use it like windows file explorer, but the prices are GREAT. They don't have a real store, so you save money buy ordering directly from parts warehouses.
If you need bodypanels or more specific interior bits, things you'd want to buy used, I suggest www.car-part.com
- $
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MentallyRetardedCanadian
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btw, bad mileage can be lots of things. First off, and most importantly, check your air filter. A dirty air filter kills performance real quick. Don't buy a fancy one, just a regular FRAM filter will be fine. Also, check your fuel filter. Plugs can help a little bit also, but another thing to check is tire pressure. Most cars require 28-32psi, but if you fluff them up to 35psi you'll get a tiny boost in mpg and a bit more responsive ride.
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Mac Elite
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Near Boulder, CO
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Originally Posted by MentallyRetardedCanadian
Most cars require 28-32psi, but if you fluff them up to 35psi you'll get a tiny boost in mpg and a bit more responsive ride.
and you wear out your tires real quick!
ZACH
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Great White North
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Originally Posted by MentallyRetardedCanadian
btw, bad mileage can be lots of things. First off, and most importantly, check your air filter. A dirty air filter kills performance real quick. Don't buy a fancy one, just a regular FRAM filter will be fine. Also, check your fuel filter. Plugs can help a little bit also, but another thing to check is tire pressure. Most cars require 28-32psi, but if you fluff them up to 35psi you'll get a tiny boost in mpg and a bit more responsive ride.
and less control don't flufff your tires beyond what its suppose to be, and thats not the tires numbers but the cars numbers, which is on the drivers side door. My Prelude ran with 28 in the front and 26psi in the back.
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Brian says (9:16 AM): I was looking at houses in Ottawa... I actually have a temptation in me to move
Jeff ******* says (9:19 AM): Eww, Ottawa is gross. It's infested with politicians, and presently, 1 Harper as well.
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Clinically Insane
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Vacation.
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Originally Posted by MentallyRetardedCanadian
another thing to check is tire pressure. Most cars require 28-32psi, but if you fluff them up to 35psi you'll get a tiny boost in mpg and a bit more responsive ride.
And don't even think about trying that in the UK. When a copper does a spot check he'll issue you with 3 penalty points for every tyre +/- 2 psi off the OEM pressure. All four tyres out and you get 12 points - that's a driving ban.
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Been inclined to wander... off the beaten track.
That's where there's thunder... and the wind shouts back.
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Addicted to MacNN
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Great White North
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Originally Posted by Doofy
And don't even think about trying that in the UK. When a copper does a spot check he'll issue you with 3 penalty points for every tyre +/- 2 psi off the OEM pressure. All four tyres out and you get 12 points - that's a driving ban.
thats brutal, i check my tires at best once a month and when i do im always off a little
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Brian says (9:16 AM): I was looking at houses in Ottawa... I actually have a temptation in me to move
Jeff ******* says (9:19 AM): Eww, Ottawa is gross. It's infested with politicians, and presently, 1 Harper as well.
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