Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Originally Posted By: Vern_in_IL
I really agree with this, after market parts are not that great.
When an aftermarket part is "redesigned" by the brand(not by the OEM, which is most superior in most cases), it's not to make it better, but cheaper to build.
Here we are in a day when I thought I would *ever* buy a starter or alternator from a dealership, but here we are, I will always use OEM parts.
Aftermarket lacks quality, and lacks value.
I can name off a list of where OEM is better than aftermarket; starters, alternators, fuel pumps, wheel bearings, struts, glass, et.
I only buy aftermarket filters, batteries, lube, wiper blades, fuel additives, bulbs, etcetera.
The prices of many OEM parts are nothing short of ridiculous. If you want to go buy a power steering pump for $800, brake booster for $1300, alternator for $700-900, etc, etc, God Bless You.
This becomes even more ridiculous once a vehicle is older.
I buy 34 vehicles worth of aftermarket parts and have not experienced the plague of quality issues you are insinuating exist.
Granted, there are times when I prefer OEM over aftermarket, but to do that all of the time? Absolutely not. I was recently quoted $1800 for an A/C compressor by OEM. That's plain insanity.
And what happens when the OEM decides to drop parts support? What do people do then?
What about the poor inventory?
OEM only is a fantasy.
I would be SOL if there was no aftermarket parts for my 92 Oldsmobile and my 90 Volvo. And some times after market parts are superior to OEM, and that is a fact.