Run: PV
NEWS Automotive August/September 2006
Food For Thought
About Bananas and Automotive Parts
xxxxx by Dave
Carney
Bananas are bananas, and whether they
have a Dole or Del Monte label on them,
they are a viable source of fiber,
potassium and Vitamin C. Similarly,
standard automotive parts are standard
automotive parts, whether they have a
GM, Goodyear, Michelin, Fram, Champion,
AC Delco or Bendix label on them,
because they are built to meet a minimum
set of performance standards. Allow me
to elaborate.
Automobile manufacturers such as GM
spend millions of advertising dollars
annually trying to convince you that you
need “genuine” GM parts for your
Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick or Pontiac,
because they want to sell you the part
when you take your car in for service.
Fact: You needn’t be scared into
believing that you must use these
so-called
“genuine” parts, because automotive
parts are purchased from Original
Equipment
Manufacturers (OEMs), who build all
parts to meet a minimum set of
standards.
Standards are necessary; otherwise if a
part failed, the OEM manufacturer would
be held liable. The difference, my
friends, is in the labeling.
In many cases, automobile manufacturers
and aftermarket manufacturers are
purchasing parts from OEMs and putting
their own names/labels on them. Some
aftermarket manufacturers are household
names that you, no doubt, are familiar
with such as Goodyear and Michelin
tires, Fram oil filters, Gates and
Goodyear belts and hoses, Champion spark
plugs, Bendix and Repco brake pads.
Many cars use the same parts like
batteries, tires, oil and oil filters. Other parts are specific to individual
cars, for instance catalytic converters,
power window switches, and
distributors. When it is time to replace
the tires on your Toyota, do you
purchase “genuine” Toyota tires? When it
is time to replace your battery do you
purchase a “genuine” Ford battery? Most
customers would agree that tires and
batteries may be purchased from many
well-known manufacturers.
All standard automotive parts are
available from OEMs. Independent repair
shops have access to these high-quality
parts without paying the additional
markup, which customers pay when they
purchase them at the dealer. So the
bottom line is, why pay the middleman?
Finally, please be advised that you do
not need to have your car serviced at
the dealer in order to maintain your
warranty. Any AAA-certified repair shop
can perform these services, and
generally, for a lot less money.
Questions? Please feel free to me a call
at Hillside Automotive 310/373-7676.
Safe, happy motoring!
Dave Carney |
