It seems that a Carquest will be opening up near where I live, and very convenient for my commute. Any opinions on Carquest oil, filters, parts, etc.? Just curious.
General opinions on Carquest?
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As a consumer off the street their prices are a bit high. They're pro-oriented. They do seem to have what I need pretty much all the time... as long as they're open.
Dumb stuff like brake line fittings, single wierd light bulbs, etc they're pretty good for.
Their filters are wixes like napa and they also have two price lines, red and blue.
Dumb stuff like brake line fittings, single wierd light bulbs, etc they're pretty good for.
Their filters are wixes like napa and they also have two price lines, red and blue.
Their sale come-ons for oil and filters look pretty comparable to what you see at AA and AZ. It will be nice to be able to get that oddball part without driving a long way out of my way, or that part that I discover I need right in the middle of a repair job and the car is in pieces. Who makes their house brand oil?
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Who makes their house brand oil?
It's made by Ashland, and is exactly the same as the Napa store brand oil. Both the CQ and Napa oil are very similar to Valvoline branded oil. I have used CQ oil and Napa oil and had no problems at all with either one.
I still have 8 quarts of CQ 10W30 conventional and 2 CQ Red Label filters that I may use this winter. I have been using Quaker State 10W30 but the CQ brand oil looks to be a bit thinner than QS, which should do a bit better during the cooler months here.
Around here CQ is pretty much in line with Napa on price. They do have a better selection of oddball and hard to find parts. The CQ brand serpentine belts are very good quality for better prices than Advance or Autozone. The belt for my truck at CQ was only 20 bucks, and their belt for my girlfriend's Honda was only 15 bucks. CQ was 5 to 10 bucks cheaper on both and their belts are made by Gates, so no problems there either.
I like CQ. There is one near my office, and they are knowledgeable and helpful. Watch for some really good deals when your new CQ store has their Grand Opening.
Who makes their house brand oil?
It's made by Ashland, and is exactly the same as the Napa store brand oil. Both the CQ and Napa oil are very similar to Valvoline branded oil. I have used CQ oil and Napa oil and had no problems at all with either one.
I still have 8 quarts of CQ 10W30 conventional and 2 CQ Red Label filters that I may use this winter. I have been using Quaker State 10W30 but the CQ brand oil looks to be a bit thinner than QS, which should do a bit better during the cooler months here.
Around here CQ is pretty much in line with Napa on price. They do have a better selection of oddball and hard to find parts. The CQ brand serpentine belts are very good quality for better prices than Advance or Autozone. The belt for my truck at CQ was only 20 bucks, and their belt for my girlfriend's Honda was only 15 bucks. CQ was 5 to 10 bucks cheaper on both and their belts are made by Gates, so no problems there either.
I like CQ. There is one near my office, and they are knowledgeable and helpful. Watch for some really good deals when your new CQ store has their Grand Opening.
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Who makes their house brand oil?
It's made by Ashland, and is exactly the same as the Napa store brand oil. Both the CQ and Napa oil are very similar to Valvoline branded oil. I have used CQ oil and Napa oil and had no problems at all with either one.
In the past, when BITOGERs have contacted Ashland about NAPA and Carquest oil, the pat answer was "it's a good oil, but it has a weaker additive package than Valvolene". So, do we really know what it is, or are we assuming that because its made by Ashland, its the same as buying Valvolene. I don't think we really know either way.
Originally Posted By: AuthorEditor
Who makes their house brand oil?
It's made by Ashland, and is exactly the same as the Napa store brand oil. Both the CQ and Napa oil are very similar to Valvoline branded oil. I have used CQ oil and Napa oil and had no problems at all with either one.
In the past, when BITOGERs have contacted Ashland about NAPA and Carquest oil, the pat answer was "it's a good oil, but it has a weaker additive package than Valvolene". So, do we really know what it is, or are we assuming that because its made by Ashland, its the same as buying Valvolene. I don't think we really know either way.
Carquest and Napa brand oils are both exactly alike. The only difference is Napa bottles are blue and CQ bottles are black.
CQ/Napa oil is not 100% exactly the same as Valvoline. All 3 oils are bottled by Ashland but only Valvoline branded oil is real Valvoline with its proprietary add pack. However, the CQ and Napa oils are very similar to Valvoline in composition and add pack and any differences are very minor.
I have used all 3 with complete confidence and had no problems at all with any of them. Each one of the 3 is a very good oil.
CQ/Napa oil is not 100% exactly the same as Valvoline. All 3 oils are bottled by Ashland but only Valvoline branded oil is real Valvoline with its proprietary add pack. However, the CQ and Napa oils are very similar to Valvoline in composition and add pack and any differences are very minor.
I have used all 3 with complete confidence and had no problems at all with any of them. Each one of the 3 is a very good oil.
The more the better.
I see less auto parts stores, and very few high performance places anymore.
Speed shops used to be almost abundant. Now they are rare.
So any options are nice!
I see less auto parts stores, and very few high performance places anymore.
Speed shops used to be almost abundant. Now they are rare.
So any options are nice!
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
The one near me won't open the door to DIYers. The sign says they're open but the doors are locked. They cater to shops only.
Then the business from their sales to shops must be really great for them to institute such a stupid business practice. It makes absolutely no sense at all to turn away customers who are more than willing to spend money in a store and generate more revenue and profits for the location. Talk about retail suicide, especially with the economy the way it is today...Man, that is the dumbest and stupidest thing I have heard in a really long time.
The one near me won't open the door to DIYers. The sign says they're open but the doors are locked. They cater to shops only.
Then the business from their sales to shops must be really great for them to institute such a stupid business practice. It makes absolutely no sense at all to turn away customers who are more than willing to spend money in a store and generate more revenue and profits for the location. Talk about retail suicide, especially with the economy the way it is today...Man, that is the dumbest and stupidest thing I have heard in a really long time.
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
The one near me won't open the door to DIYers. The sign says they're open but the doors are locked. They cater to shops only.
Then the business from their sales to shops must be really great for them to institute such a stupid business practice. It makes absolutely no sense at all to turn away customers who are more than willing to spend money in a store and generate more revenue and profits for the location. Talk about retail suicide, especially with the economy the way it is today...Man, that is the dumbest and stupidest thing I have heard in a really long time.
They are located in what I would consider a automatic district side of town with at least 10 new dealerships, 20 used dealership, and many repair shops. There is a average size AAP about 3 miles away with only 2 delivery trucks outside sitting mostly idle so I think AAP isn't focus on the business customers. There isn't NAPA or AutoZone on this side of town. There are several AutoZone as well as AAP closer to where I live but there are only a handful of repair shops and no dealership within sight.
The next CarQuest is about 50 miles away and they're open to DIYers. However, their selection is so tiny comparing to AAP, which I prefer going to.
Originally Posted By: M1Accord
The one near me won't open the door to DIYers. The sign says they're open but the doors are locked. They cater to shops only.
Then the business from their sales to shops must be really great for them to institute such a stupid business practice. It makes absolutely no sense at all to turn away customers who are more than willing to spend money in a store and generate more revenue and profits for the location. Talk about retail suicide, especially with the economy the way it is today...Man, that is the dumbest and stupidest thing I have heard in a really long time.
They are located in what I would consider a automatic district side of town with at least 10 new dealerships, 20 used dealership, and many repair shops. There is a average size AAP about 3 miles away with only 2 delivery trucks outside sitting mostly idle so I think AAP isn't focus on the business customers. There isn't NAPA or AutoZone on this side of town. There are several AutoZone as well as AAP closer to where I live but there are only a handful of repair shops and no dealership within sight.
The next CarQuest is about 50 miles away and they're open to DIYers. However, their selection is so tiny comparing to AAP, which I prefer going to.
Carquest had a single AC gasket I needed for a Volkswagen that I couldn't find anywhere else but the dealership.
Otherwise, I stick with the Zone.
Otherwise, I stick with the Zone.
I found their prices to be similar to advance or autozone, but the quality is usually much better.
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They seem to cater to professional shops. A friend of mine has a pro account with them, and he saves nearly 40-50 percent on everything but oil and chemicals. That really shows the markup on parts.
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They seem to cater to professional shops. A friend of mine has a pro account with them, and he saves nearly 40-50 percent on everything but oil and chemicals. That really shows the markup on parts.
Originally Posted By: JustinH
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They are running a special now thru Nov. 2nd, 5 qts. Carquest brand conventional and a Red Label filter for $12.99. Their Red Label filter is the same as a Napa Proselect, is made by Wix to CQ specs and it works fine for a 3K or 4K OCI.
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They are running a special now thru Nov. 2nd, 5 qts. Carquest brand conventional and a Red Label filter for $12.99. Their Red Label filter is the same as a Napa Proselect, is made by Wix to CQ specs and it works fine for a 3K or 4K OCI.
Originally Posted By: Jimmy9190
Originally Posted By: JustinH
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They are running a special now thru Nov. 2nd, 5 qts. Carquest brand conventional and a Red Label filter for $12.99. Their Red Label filter is the same as a Napa Proselect, is made by Wix to CQ specs and it works fine for a 3K or 4K OCI.
Thanks for that Jimmy. I am starting to learn the virtues of cheap oil! In what I'm driving it does not matter. I'm getting the same quality of oil that anyone would get having it changed at the dealer, or any quick lube, maybe even a little better.
Originally Posted By: JustinH
Their oil filters and air filters are very good. They run oil change deals that are decent as well.
They are running a special now thru Nov. 2nd, 5 qts. Carquest brand conventional and a Red Label filter for $12.99. Their Red Label filter is the same as a Napa Proselect, is made by Wix to CQ specs and it works fine for a 3K or 4K OCI.
Thanks for that Jimmy. I am starting to learn the virtues of cheap oil! In what I'm driving it does not matter. I'm getting the same quality of oil that anyone would get having it changed at the dealer, or any quick lube, maybe even a little better.
CarQuest is the only shop we have within about 35 miles - luckily they've been good to me.
I prefer their batteries too. Some of their parts are a little more expensive, maybe, but it sure beats driving an hour and a half for that piece..
I prefer their batteries too. Some of their parts are a little more expensive, maybe, but it sure beats driving an hour and a half for that piece..
My local Carquest can get things from WorldPac. I like them for "major" parts.
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