Friday, November 30, 2012
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Honda Fit She’s, the world’s only car aimed exclusively at women
Around the world, building and designing cars remains a male-dominated business, and many companies live by an old axiom that women will buy a man's car but men won't buy a woman's car. While a few companies have attempted to bend that rule, only Honda has chosen to embrace it with the Honda Fit She's -- the only model built by an automaker today aimed exclusively at women. Hope you like pink, ladies.
There's a long and embarrassing history of automakers attempting to lure women with ladies-only models. At the turn of the 20th century, electric cars were marketed to wives with the pitch that their lack of hand-crank starting would avoid broken shoulders and/or death. In 1955, Chrysler made a bid for feminine attention with the Dodge LaFemme -- which came in a two-tone pink-and-white paint scheme, along with a storage place for the matching purse and rain hat. Lest you think modern executives learned from errors of the past, in 2000 Ford showed off a concept Windstar minivan developed with Maytag featuring a compact washer/dryer, microwave and vacuum in the rear hatch, because why would a soccer mom ever want to be parted from her appliances?
As women have grown to buy more cars in recent decades -- accounting for about one-third of car shoppers in the United States -- such attempts have given way to more savvy marketing. But in Japan, the gender divide remains more stark; half of all working-age women stay out of the workforce due to more stringent societal pressure to choose homemaking over careers, a major reason Japan's economy has been stuck in a rut for decades. But there's a cohort of younger Japanese women putting work first, and in a weak market Honda sees an opening.
Launched this summer, the Honda Fit She's designers say they wanted to take a regular Fit subcompact and make it in their words "adult cute." That means lots of pink: Pink stitching in the seats and steering wheel and floor mats, matched by pink metallic bezels around the shifter and displays. There's also a few extra shades of pink in the special She's badge, spelled with a heart for an apostrophe. If pink isn't a customer's style, Japanese buyers can also select a Fit She's in shades of brown and white that a Honda executive told the Yomuri Shinbun newspaper match the color of eyeshadow.
To Honda's credit, the Fit She's beauty treatment isn't just skin deep. It also comes with special windshield glass that cuts 99 percent of ultraviolet rays and a "Plasmacluster" air conditioning system that Honda claims can improve a driver's skin quality, all aimed at stopping those wrinkles that turn adult cute into just adult. With a starting price of $17,500, the Fit She's got an attractive price for a home-market Japanese car -- but automakers wouldn't need special editions if taking advice from women wasn't such a noteworthy event.
Source: Yahoo! Autos
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday Maintenance Tip: How To Clear Foggy Headlights
Fogged headlight lenses not only make your car look tired but also restrict the amount of light illuminating the road ahead of you. Headlight restoration kits are cheap and can produce dramatic results.
Money Saved: About $40
Time Required: 30 minutes to 1 hour
Tools Required:
- Latex glove
- Electrician's tape
- Buffing wheel (optional)
- Sponge
Materials Required:
- Headlight restoring kit
- Newspapers
- Water
In the photo above are two different headlight restoring kits, the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer (typically sold for about $10) and Sylvania's Headlight Restoration Kit, selling for about $20. There are many other kits available at different prices, including some that include a buffing wheel to eliminate the manual labor.
Most headlight restoration kits include an abrasive compound and sandpaper (in grades of varying roughness) to remove the outer layer of yellowed, oxidized plastic and clear the lens. Some include a buffing wheel that can be attached to a power drill. One YouTube video even shows headlights being cleaned with toothpaste (which is slightly abrasive) and a clean cloth towel.
One difference between the two kits — and probably the reason for the price difference — is that the Sylvania kit includes a glove, tape and a liquid "UV Block Clear Coat" to protect the lens from refogging once it has been cleaned. I have one gripe with the Sylvania kit, because the clarifying compound comes in a little packet that can't easily be stored. This means this kit will probably be a one-shot deal. The Turtle Wax kit doesn't have the extra goodies, but the pads can be reused and the bottles contain a larger amount of the clarifying compounds.
To be clear (so to speak), what we're actually tackling in this project is the plastic lens covering the headlight bulbs. This plastic lens protects the headlight from dirt and debris blown around on the road. Over time, these lenses become scratched, pitted and clouded by exposure to the sun. Replacing the lenses is expensive, so many car owners opt just to clean them.
Whichever kit you use, make sure you follow the included directions carefully. Use the products in the correct order and keep in mind that the headlights won't look clear until you are finished and the residue is washed off.
I use the electrician's black tape from the Sylvania kit to protect the paint around the headlights from the abrasive compound and to ensure I don't accidently scratch the paint with sandpaper. The electrician's tape is particularly good for this task because it pulls off easily when you are finished without leaving any sticky goo on your car's paint. You might also consider using extra protection and tape some newspaper onto the car to protect the finish. Once you start getting into the project and the how-to zeal takes hold, the compounds tend to fly onto painted surfaces.
I have used the Turtle Wax kit on the left headlight and the Sylvania on the right. I applied the Turtle Wax products in two stages, rubbing on the lens-clarifying compound first to see if that did the job.
If the clarifying compound doesn't get results, you spray on the lubricant and use the abrasive pads. I use both chemicals for this test.
The Sylvania kit called for washing the headlight lens with a surface activator. Then I applied the clarifying compound from the packet to the different levels of sandpaper for sanding and polishing the lens. Finally, I applied the UV Block Clear Coat.
Clearing your headlights is easy, inexpensive and the results are satisfying. Once you do it and see how it sharpens up the look of your car, you'll find yourself recommending it to all your friends with older cars. Even better, there might be a little more from your headlights when you're driving at night.
Source: Edmunds
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Monday, November 19, 2012
Friday, November 16, 2012
Honda Micro-Commuter Prototype Takes a Step Towards Reality
A year after Honda revealed its Micro-Commuter car as a concept at the Tokyo Motor Show, the automaker is moving towards the machine’s production with a prototype model that’s significantly more real-world ready.
With the original model looking straight out of a sci-fi movie, this latest version trades its covered wheels for exposed tiny rollers, while the shape more closely resembles a mini-car. At 98.4-inches in length its roughly half-a-foot shorter than a Smart fortwo.
Inside the cabin now more closely resembles a production vehicle, trading a steering wheel that operated like a joystick for a traditional two-spoke unit.
If there is one future-forward aspect, it’s that the car’s dash is actually a tablet, displaying information like vehicle speed and the range left in the batteries, while also doubling as a back-up camera.
Based on what Honda calls a “Variable Design Platform” the concept uses a basic structure and battery pack design, which allows for the body to be modified for different needs. Shown here is a three-seat layout, with space for one adult driver and two children behind, while Honda also says a small van-style body could be fitted, or even a convertible.
Powered by a 15 kW electric motor, the Micro-Commuter concept has a range of 60 km (37 miles) and a charge time of 3 hours, with a top speed of 80 km/h (50 mph).
An urban mobility solution, Honda is pushing ahead with the Micro-Commuter for use on Japanese and European roads in a unique class of vehicle that sits between motorcycles and the smallest cars currently available.
Source: AutoGuide.com
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Friday, November 9, 2012
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Driving Tip: Multitasking Mania and Distracted Driving
"If you are a determined multitasker, it's an addiction — and you can't stop it," said the 59-year-old Stevens.
Talk about distracted driving. Even during a short trek, he said, he's likely to sip a Diet Coke and a bottled water, eat a sandwich, read a copy of The Economist, write notes to himself and listen to NPR, in addition to performing his cell phone and Blackberry action — oh, and driving. "I'm a driven person, and that's why I do all this stuff while I drive." Efficiency, not safe driving, is primary.
Although he may represent an extreme, there's a little bit of Stevens in many of us. Multitasking while driving has become endemic — and epidemic — on American roads. More drivers are trying to figure out what other duties they can perform while driving. Insurance companies, meanwhile, are trying to make drivers keep their eyes on the road and their hands on the wheel. And automakers are caught between consumer demands for more capabilities and conveniences — and the safety and legal concerns that often compel vehicle designers to make multitasking more difficult.
The growing number of cultural references to multitasking resonates with all of us. They include the TV ad depicting a group of business colleagues moving all their office functions into a car and the Allstate Insurance commercial in which spokesman Dennis Haysbert tsk-tsks viewers about multitasking.
The reasons for multitasking are many. Ever-longer commutes are tempting time-starved Americans to invent ways to spread more tasks over the hours they must spend in their vehicles. Also blame cell phones, video entertainment systems and iPods. Throw in the fact that many drivers apparently don't care that they might be annoying — or even alarming — other drivers by applying mascara, drinking hot coffee, reading a pulp novel or selecting station XM 132 all at the same time.
A recent survey by Nationwide Insurance quantified some of the trend's scary dimensions. More than 80 percent of drivers surveyed identified themselves as multitaskers. Sixty-eight percent eat while driving; texting or instant-messaging while driving, or fixing hair, is practiced by 19 percent of drivers; 14 percent comfort or discipline children while behind the wheel; and 8 percent drive with a pet in their laps.
Weather conditions had little effect on drivers' tendency to multitask. Even those who perceive themselves as safe drivers admitted doing outlandish things behind the wheel, including changing clothes, balancing a checkbook and shaving.
And multitasking is going to increase before it wanes. About 35 percent of Gen Y-ers say they always multitask, compared with 30 percent of Gen X-ers and just 21 percent of baby boomers. Those differences are amplified in important behaviors such as fiddling with a cell phone while driving: 37 percent of Gen Y-ers admit doing it versus just 17 percent of Gen X-ers and only 2 percent of boomers. About 89 percent of teenagers reported seeing other teens on their cell phones at least sometimes while driving, reports a recent State Farm Insurance survey.
The problem for drivers and insurance companies is that drivers are just bad at multitasking successfully. About 80 percent of all crashes are related to some form of distracted driving, according to the U.S. government.
"Driver behavior is only getting worse," said Bill Windsor, associate vice president of safety for Columbus-based Nationwide Insurance. "Car design and safety features have helped reduce fatalities over the last 10 years, but there are signs — such as an increase in fatalities among pedestrians and motorcyclists — that problems with driving behavior are starting to outstrip vehicle and roadway improvements."
Governments, insurance companies and other players can mitigate the problem to some extent. Four states and the District of Columbia already outlaw the use of handheld phones while driving, and at least 38 states currently are debating bills that would specifically regulate text messaging while behind the wheel, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Highway designers are trying to add more rumble strips on highway shoulders to startle those who've strayed to the side, and creating greater numbers of safe rest spots along the nation's roads.
But a large part of the responsibility and opportunity for dealing with multitasking rests with automakers themselves. The scope of their dilemma is perfectly underscored by the fact that an alliance of General Motors, Toyota, Nissan and Ford spent $6 million over the last four years to study driver distraction and develop solutions. Their conclusion was that drivers can safely withstand just about any amount of aural distraction in a vehicle as long as they keep their vision on the road in front of them.
"It was a lot of expensive research just to validate the idea that you should keep your eyes on the road," admits Rich Deering, GM's senior manager of crash-avoidance system development. "But this is an issue that won't go away."
The auto industry is pulled in two directions. As quality and other differences among vehicle brands have dwindled over the last generation, car companies have turned to comfort and convenience features in their battle for market share. In the process, they have converted many of their vehicles into rolling living rooms and offices. Passengers are invited to watch movies, thanks to rear-seat entertainment systems; work on their laptops, courtesy of ample power outlets (including 110-volt connections) throughout the vehicle; and use OnStar to tap into sports scores and stock-price quotes on the Internet.
Vehicle designers even encourage drivers to engage in more multitasking by, for example, increasing the capabilities of audio systems, providing devices and slots to facilitate mobile-phone usage, and cramming every square inch around the driver with drink holders, trays and even laptop compartments.
It's hard to keep drivers away from all those distracting goodies that, nominally at least, are meant only for passengers to enjoy.
"We need to provide reasonable accommodations for a wide variety of activities that people want to do in their cars," said Andrew Coetzee, vice president of product planning for Toyota Motor Sales, USA. "We do have responsibilities to meet the needs of customers. It's up to customers to use them at their discretion."
Yet automakers have taken measures to limit multitasking by drivers — or at least make it safer — in specific areas:
Navigation systems
The industry's unspoken agreement bans navigation screens that require drivers to lower their heads more than 30 degrees from a straight-ahead position. Also, many automakers won't allow front-seat occupants to enter destination addresses manually while the vehicle is in motion.
Meanwhile, they're all working on improving voice-recognition technology so drivers won't have to touch navigation screens at all. Based on several years of experience with its OnStar system — which relies on a customer-service person to give drivers oral directions — GM is convinced that voice interaction largely takes the danger out of navigation systems. "We're just not seeing a crash problem there because, with OnStar, drivers can keep their eyes on the road," Deering said.
Bluetooth
Despite some states' laws to the contrary, drivers aren't going to stop using cell phones while driving. So automakers are doing their best to make it as safe as possible. Installing hands-free technologies such as Bluetooth across their entire lineups is a major focus. "There's a social responsibility we feel in developing a system like that," said Coetzee. "It's taking a more reasonable approach than just saying, 'Don't use a cell phone when you drive.'"
Audio systems
Automakers are pushing to integrate vehicle sound systems on digital platforms and to create easy interfaces with MP3 players so there is a central, convenient source of control on the dash — instead of the makeshift assemblages of iPod cradles, extenders, power-port plug-ins and other devices that many drivers now use. Most vehicles already are available with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls.
Fold-down front seats
Many vehicles now offer fold-down front passenger seats with flat backs that drivers can use as makeshift desks, as well as110-volt power ports to power their laptops.
Food and beverage handling
This is an area that exemplifies how automakers can enhance the multitasking experience without making it more distracting or dangerous — the ultimate win-win tactic. Chrysler, for example, figures that as long as you're going to demand drink holders, they might as well help you maintain the beverage temperature you want. So in the Chrysler Sebring and Dodge Avenger sedans, there's a cupholder option that allows drivers to keep drinks warm or cool. Other manufacturers have expanded the number, sizes and locations of their front-seat cupholders to put beverages within easier reach. Even the tiny Mazda Miata now has door-mounted cupholders capable of holding a regular-size Starbucks coffee.
Chrysler, for one, has drawn the line at installing food trays up front. "We actually looked at a compartment that would hold a fast-food hamburger or other sandwich," said Ralph Gilles, a product vice president for Chrysler's Jeep unit. "But that was the point where we were inviting a little more activity than we really want from the driver. And what could you add for food beyond that?"
Because there's no sign whatsoever that Americans are going to multitask less, auto designers are going to have more and more such internal discussions — leading to increasingly difficult decisions.
"You could say we're only helping the dysfunctionality of America with some of the things we do in vehicles now," Gilles said. "But it's the reality of the marketplace."
Source: Edmunds
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Refreshed 2013 Honda Civic caught
The interior is probably more important than any nips or tucks done outside. To get a good look at that, we're going to have to wait until the refreshed Civic hits dealer lots, reportedly just a couple weeks away. In any case, consumers will probably (and not without good reason) go on predictably banking on the Civic as a paragon of automotive virtue, regardless of whether auto critics love or hate the changes Honda has wrought.
Source: Dan Roth - Autoblog.com
Monday, November 5, 2012
Monday Maintenance Tip: How To Handle Scheduled Car Maintenance
Many car owners spend little or no time preparing for a scheduled maintenance visit to the dealership. They merely drive in and agree to the recommendation of the service advisor. This can be a costly error.
This article will tell you how, when and where to have your car serviced. It will also show you how to use the various tools on Edmunds.com to schedule service visits with local dealerships or independent garages.
We'll tell you how to prepare for your encounter with the service advisor, and how to tell if you are being overcharged for scheduled car maintenance.
What Is Needed?
The car's service manual is the best way to learn how to maintain your car. It was written by the factory representatives who designed and built the car. It stands to reason that they should also know how best to keep everything running smoothly.
Now consider the role of the service advisor at your local dealership. This person is certainly knowledgeable about your car. However, the service advisor also gets a commission for all work done on your car. Therefore, if he or she recommends a brake job, for example, a slice of your payment will go into his or her pocket.
In another instance, the car's manual may say that the automatic transmission fluid doesn't have to be changed until 80,000 miles, but the service advisor says it's best to change it at 30,000 miles. Who's right? Consider this: The service advisor gets a commission for all the parts and services he sells. So his opinion isn't exactly unbiased.
New Vehicles Under Warranty
If your car is less than three years old and has fewer than 36,000 miles (or whatever the terms of your warranty are), mechanical problems will be fixed under the bumper-to-bumper warranty for no charge. However, this doesn't cover wear items like brake pads, and your car will still need "routine maintenance" for which you will have to pay. Routine maintenance is most often oil and filter changes, tire rotations and various inspections. After about the length of your warranty, the routine maintenance often becomes more involved and more expensive.
An Overview of Required Service
Car owners usually become aware of the need for routine maintenance at certain mileage intervals. These intervals are described in the owner's manual or in our car maintenance section. Changing your oil every 3,000 miles as "recommended" by the quick oil change chains and car dealerships is typically more than twice as often as necessary. Again, look to the owner's manual for proper scheduled car maintenance intervals.
Some vehicles will even have a reminder display indicating that a service, typically an oil change, is required at a certain mileage point. Still other vehicles will use a "maintenance minder," which will only become illuminated when the work is actually required. A computer in the car's engine makes a calculation based on a number of factors that more accurately determine the time at which oil begins to break down.
Scheduling a Service Visit
You should review your car's manual to find the actual work that is required at the appropriate mileage interval. Print this out along with the estimate of costs in our maintenance section.
Increasingly, dealership Web sites have an e-mail link to the service manager. You can e-mail the service advisor for an appointment and get a quote for the work you want done. This will give you a chance to review the charges and compare the quote with other dealerships or independent garages before you commit to using their services.
Alternately, you might call several dealerships, ask for the service department and get quotes. Make sure you get the advisor's name for future reference. Once you've decided who you're going to take your car to, you can call them back to set a time to bring in your car.
Before you go to the dealership, you should check for recalls and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) that have been issued for your car. Print out any information you find and give this to the service advisor. (A good service advisor should automatically clear all recalls and TSBs on your vehicle but this doesn't always happen.)
At the Dealership
When you arrive at the dealership, you will be welcomed by a "greeter." Often, this person will take the vehicle identification number (VIN) and the vehicle's mileage and write this on a form that is given to the service advisor. Your car is about to be driven away so take your wallet, purse, computer and anything else you need. You will then meet with the service advisor. If it is early in the morning, it could be busy in the service department and the service advisor could be rushed and impatient. Don't be pressured. A lot of money is at stake here.
Often, the interaction will begin with the service advisor saying, "How many miles do you have on your car?" You should understand this is their opening gambit for a sales pitch. You can answer, "There are 20,000 miles on my car, but all I want is an oil and filter change and tire rotation." The service advisor might then whip out an official-looking list of "dealer-recommended services" and say, "We recommend this service be done at 20,000 miles." If you look at this list, you'll see that many items on it are not shown in your car's service manual.
At this point, many people will accept the recommendation of the service advisor. After all, the service advisor is an expert who is acting on your behalf. Right? Well, not exactly. It's not uncommon for the difference between the "dealer recommended services" and the maintenance listed in your car's manual to be more than $100. In other cases it has been much more.
Later, while inspecting your vehicle, the technician may sometimes notice additional items that need attention on your car, such as an oil leak or a worn hose. He then makes those recommendations to the advisor. Be aware that not all of these suggestions need to be taken care of that same day. If you agree to additional work, your basic service could turn into an expensive one. Feel free to get a second opinion, or hold off on non-emergency repairs until it fits your budget.
Saving Money on Service
In some cases, the service advisor will offer service packages that include an oil change and other repairs or changes, supposedly at a discount. Often, there really is a savings here. But make sure the package covers only the items in your car's manual and not costly and unnecessary service items.
It's not uncommon for a service advisor to provide a discount or coupon for service. This can knock the price down a lot. But it also complicates this situation and makes it hard to see the real cost. Be prepared for this and take a moment to calculate the bottom line costs. It's all too easy just to agree to the extra costs in the heat of the moment.
You will then be given an estimate of the charges involved. It should approximately match the costs listed in our car maintenance section. If it doesn't, you should ask why the charges are higher. Use the information listed in our maintenance section. If the disparity is high and the service advisor doesn't adequately justify the extra costs, you can leave and shop for a better deal at another dealership.
Important Points To Consider:
- Don't always assume that more frequent oil changes than indicated in your owner's manual are beneficial for your car.
- Remember that the service advisor profits from work and parts he or she sells you.
- Understand the maintenance schedule in your car's manual.
Source: Edmunds
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Car Tip of the Week: Aftermarket Versus Manufacturer Car Parts
When you take your car to the dealership's service department for repairs, you know you're getting Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car parts. However, if you take your car to an independent shop, you'll most likely get aftermarket car parts. Is there anything wrong with that? Does a less expensive part mean a poorer-quality part? And in what situations should you use only OEM parts?
To answer these questions, we've created a list of pros and cons to help you make a more informed decision when choosing what parts go into your car. In this way, you can strike a balance between cost and quality.
Aftermarket Parts
An aftermarket part is any part for a vehicle that is not sourced from the car's maker. If the parts are direct replacement parts, they will not void your car's warranty. A number of companies make parts designed to function the same, or in some cases even better than the original. Tom Torbjornsen, host of America's Car Show, estimates that about 80 percent of independent shops use aftermarket parts. "Be an informed consumer," said Torbjornsen."Shop around, make sure you're dealing with a good mechanic and request high-quality aftermarket parts."
PROS
- Less expensive: Aftermarket parts are usually less expensive than OEM parts; how much you save varies by brand. Shop around to find the best price and to get an idea of how much that part usually costs. If the price of a part seems too good to be true, ask questions about its quality.
- Quality can be equal to or greater than OEM: In some cases, you may end up with a better part than you started with. "The aftermarket companies reverse-engineer the part, and work the weaknesses out," said Torbjornsen. For example, when an automaker designs its brake pads, it has to strike a balance between cost, durability, noise levels and performance. If you want better performance and don't mind some extra brake noise (some brake pads squeak even though they are stopping the car effectively), an aftermarket pad may be your best choice.
- More variety: There are hundreds of companies that make aftermarket parts. Some specialize in specific parts, and other companies, like NAPA, make almost any part you can think of. More variety means greater selection and a wider range of prices.
- Better availability: You can walk into any gas station, auto parts store or local mechanic, and they're bound to have a part that fits your car. This gives you more options on where to take your car for service.
CONS
- Quality varies greatly: The saying "you get what you pay for" rings true here. Some aftermarket parts are inferior because of the use of lower-quality materials. Stick with aftermarket brands you're familiar with or are recommended by a mechanic you trust, even if these parts cost a bit more.
- Overwhelming selection: If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, the selection could be overwhelming, and there's some chance you may get a bad quality part. Even a part as simple as a spark plug can be made by dozens of different companies and comes in numerous variations. Consult your mechanic for advice or simply stick with the OEM part when the price difference isn't significant.
- May not have a warranty: To keep costs down, some aftermarket parts are sold without a warranty.
OEM Parts
OEM parts are made by the vehicle's manufacturer. These match the parts that came with your vehicle when it rolled off the assembly line.
PROS
- Easier to choose your part: If you go to the parts counter at a dealership and ask for any part, you'll usually get one type. You don't have to worry about assessing the quality of different brands and prices.
- Greater assurance of quality: The OEM part should work exactly as the one you are replacing. It is what the vehicle was manufactured with and provides a peace of mind in its familiarity and performance.
- Comes with a warranty: Most automakers back up their OEM parts with a one-year warranty. And if you get your car repaired at the dealer, they'll usually stand by their labor as well.
CONS
- More expensive: OEM parts will usually cost more than an aftermarket part. When it comes to bodywork, OEM parts tend to cost about 60 percent more, according to the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI). There is more of a burden on parts and service to increase a dealership's profit, since the sales departments have been underperforming. But the gap in pricing might be closing, says Torbjornsen. "We've seen a balance in the scales; dealers are now trying to compete with independent shops."
- Need to be bought at the dealership: Even though there are other ways of buying OEM parts (eBay, online wholesalers), most people will go to a dealership to buy their car parts. This limits the number of places you can buy from. You can request OEM parts from your local mechanic, but it may take longer to get your vehicle repaired since the parts must be ordered.
- Quality may not be superior: You paid the extra money for an OEM part, hoping that it was vastly better than an aftermarket part. But that may not always be the case. As Torbjornsen mentioned earlier, some aftermarket parts are equal to or in some cases better than OEM parts. So you might be paying extra just for the name.
When Should You Request OEM Parts?
When it comes to collision repairs, make sure you are getting OEM parts, since aftermarket body panels may not fit properly or have proper crumple zones for crash safety.
If you lease your car, there are also economic considerations. Since aftermarket parts decrease a vehicle's book value, using them to repair your vehicle's body may cost you part or all of your security deposit.
But here's the rub: In 21 states and the District of Columbia, a body shop's repair estimate does not have to indicate whether aftermarket parts will be used. You'll often find that your insurance company will favor aftermarket parts because they are cheaper. If you request OEM parts, some insurance companies ask you to pay an additional fee. Check with your insurance provider beforehand, to see what parts they will cover.
Which Is the Best Way To Go?
All aftermarket parts are not created equal — but all OEM parts are. This creates its own set of advantages and disadvantages. If you're familiar with a number of brands or work on your own car, aftermarket parts can save you a lot of money. If you're not familiar with aftermarket brands, prefer to have everything done at the dealership and don't mind paying a bit extra for that peace of mind, OEM is a good choice for you.
Source: Edmunds