Archive for May, 2010
Sometimes OEM Parts Aren’t Better Than After-Market
In Monday’s post about dealership parts pricing secrets I wrote that “All things being equal, the manufacturer’s parts are better” than after-market parts. Correctly, a couple of comments pointed out that OEM parts are usually better, but not always. Here are some situations where after-market companies make an excellent quality part.
Dealer Repair Parts Pricing Secrets
Comments in our recent post about the Tundra-Sequoia Air Pump TSB have uncovered wild price ranges for repair parts. Some people are able to purchase after-market air pumps from their local national parts chain (Pep Boys, for example) for less than $900, while others are being quoted nearly $1200 by their local Toyota dealer…30% higher than after-market. Obviously, this is frustrating some Tundra owners.
Also frustrating Tundra owners is the fact that a relatively simple electric pump costs $900-$1200 in the first place.
Here’s the how and why of how dealers and manufacturers price repair parts.
Chrysler Hyundai Truck Partnership – Pros and Cons
Earlier today, we evaluated Hyundai’s desire to become a full-line automaker. While that analysis showed that Hyundai can’t expect their success as a car company to carry over to selling trucks, it doesn’t evaluate the idea of Hyundai selling re-badged Rams.
A concept of a Hyundai Ram 1500
Here are the pros and cons of a Chrysler-Hyundai truck partnership (HINT: It’s not going to happen).
Hyundai’s Interest in Selling Full-Size Trucks
PickupTrucks.com, the best truck site on the Internet, uncovered evidence that Hyundai is quietly investigating entering the North American full-size truck market earlier this week. According to Reuters in Korea, Hyundai approached Chrysler earlier this year about partnering to build a Hyundai version of the Ram 1500. Evidently, Hyundai is interested in becoming a “full-line” automaker.
This is what a Hyundai version of the Dodge Ram could look like.
The question is, why would Hyundai consider such a thing?
BBC’s Top Gear Loves Toyota Trucks
If you haven’t seen the Top Gear attempt to destroy a 190k mile diesel Toyota Hilux, you owe it to yourself to watch the following video. Aired back in November of 2003, this video has become a bit of a cult classic.
Whether you’re a fan of Toyota or not, you’ve got to admire a truck that starts after spending the night in the ocean. You could also say that this is where Top Gear’s love affair with the Toyota truck began.
