‘Tis the question – especially considering everyone is “running lean” financially these days, why would anyone buy new car parts if cheaper, remanfactured, used parts are available. Well, there isn’t an easy answer. My recommendation – it depends on the car part you are replacing.

If it is a gearbox or rack and pinion, which in most cases are remanufactured anyway, you don’t really have a choice. It would be wise to consider the history of the rebuilder and the level of workmanship. A good way to gauge the quality is to look at the company’s warranty policy.

Other suspension parts, such as wheel hubs, struts, shocks, brakes, rotors, etc. you always want new. Last thing you want is a “spray and pray” part and be stuck with hundreds of dollars in labor plus the cost of the reman./used part.

Apply the same philosophy to your car’s air conditioning system. Rule of thumb: you always want to buy new, with a great warranty, unless a new compressor is not available anywhere and remanufactured is your only choice.

Same goes for turbochargers and superchargers – buy new. However, I have noticed the quality of rebuilt forced induction parts is improving. Do your research. When in doubt, check the warranty.

At the end of the day, if its mechanical, buy new, otherwise don’t bother. Car radios, car navigation units, and other interior parts might be important to you but they won’t keep your car from functioning. In other words, if it doesn’t affect the drivablity of your car, shoot for used/reman. The ultimate scenario you must avoid is your car out of commission, sitting at the shop because you “ran lean” on the wrong part.

Put yourself in the driver seat when your car was 20K miles younger. How about 40k? Dare to wander past 60k? Compare how your car feels now versus back then. There is, most definitely, a change in ride quality.

One component which often gets overlooked is the wheel hub assembly. It is the lone part which connects the tire to the vehicle. The wear and tear of the wheel hub can translate into the steering drifting lose, ghost road noises and insistent vibrations.

The idea is to keep the ride quality consistent. when the odometer approaches 90k, and you are seeing the aforementioned symptoms, it might be time to hone in on wheel hubs. You always want a complete wheel hub assembly with brand new bearings, sensor, and all. If a single bearing on the current hub(s) is out, it is best to replace the entire wheel hub assembly. Your car might never ride like it did 60K miles ago but this is one, often overlooked, way to maintain a consistent ride quality over the lifetime of the car.

I am a little frustrated. My car radio decided to leave me for eternity; it was time for us to part ways. The solution seems pretty simple right? Just go to the dealership and get a replacement CD changer. WRONG. I don’t understand how someone can ask for such a large amount of money for a 7 year old part. I know I am not getting the best bang for the buck. I know I am not getting the most up to date, audiophile quality head unit.

Truth is, I don’t want to. I am a simple human being. I want a simple replacement to what I’ve had in the my car for the past 7 years. So I try Best Buy, Fry’s, and other local electronic stores. Again, nothing. After banging my head online for a few hours, I found a great car radio replacement solution. Best Buy size selection and warranty in car audio minus the outrageous stealership prices – all for stock car radio parts.

Why aren’t there more of these? I am still searching but quite frankly, getting tired of stolen car stereos on ebay and craigslist and the lack of warranties from other stores. I am curious, am I the only one who likes my car audio the way it is – stock? And willing to go through all this to get my car back to its simple, clean look? Call me crazy but I’d rather rebuild my CD changer than part ways with it for eternity.