The upcoming cool, dry months are a perfect time to tune up your car and head out on an adventure. If your car's sounding a bit rickety and could use a little work, you're probably on the hunt for replacement car parts. Here in Gladstone, you've got no shortage of places where you can get high-quality car parts; but how can you get a good deal without sacrificing on performance?
Before you go shopping for car parts, you need a list to know what you're looking for. If your car's got a serious problem, then you've probably already visited the mechanic and gotten a quote for the work. But if you're not sure what your car needs, or if you're just looking to do a bit of routine maintenance, make sure you're 100% sure what you need to buy.
Car parts are never simple. You don't just walk in and grab them off the shelf. Even the same car model from the same year can use different parts depending on where it was manufactured or its trim model. Knowing what you need will keep you from getting gouged on the price.
Of course, nobody knows your car better than the dealer, but they're probably going to try to sell you the parts at a high price. Before you head to the dealer, inform yourself and get some quotes from nearby shops.
The big chain stores have part lookup tools that let you type in the part number and see how much it costs. Don't forget to factor in the shipping cost. Car parts aren't always readily available in Gladstone since most of the factories are overseas. If you can find the parts you need at a local store, then you're in luck.
Even though your dealer probably does charge more, you shouldn't have to pay shipping costs since the parts are in a warehouse behind the showroom. You might end up paying less after you calculate for shipping.
Before you go buying parts off any old website or local store, verify that your car doesn't already have a parts warranty. If you've got a relatively newer car, some of the parts might still be covered by the factory warranty scheme. Sure would be a shame if you ended up paying for something that you could have gotten for free.
If you only look at the cost of the parts themselves, you're missing the other half of the equation: Labour. If you're handy and like tinkering with your car, then go right ahead and jack it up and get to work. But these days, cars are more finicky than ever. You've got fancy sensors all about and even engine compartments are sealed off on lots of newer cars.
You might end up better off just taking the car to the dealer. They know your car and can do the install right the first time. Instead of driving all around Gladstone, you can just take one trip and get your work done at the same place your parts are. You've always got options, don't rule any of them out until you've given them all their due.