Re: A question for experts

I guess you are just discovering Toyotas famous high part costs,
particularly when you consider they are primarily made in low wage
counties. ACDELCO and DAYCO make good belts and as you note they are half
the price. If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well. ;)


mike


"Sasha" <agalkin@audible.com> wrote in message
news:1167337551.675776.163980@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>I recently bought Toyota Corolla 2001 with 80K miles. I brought it to
> my mechanic amd he said I need tune up because spark plugs do no look
> good and also to replace serpentine belt that indeed has multiple crack
> across the belt. He gave me quotes for parts and labor. Parts quotes
> seem to be way too high for me. I am trying to find online parts
> myself.
>
> Can someone advise me what spark plugs and serpentine belt I should be
> and where. For instance my mechanic gave me quotes for NGK iridium
> spark plugs for $19 each. The most expensive spark plugs for 2001
> Corolla I found are $6.99. However I found several models all for the
> same price and the same description and all for corolla 2001.
>
> About serpentine belt he insists on original belt. I could not find
> online original Toyota serpentine belt but found from ACDELCO and DAYCO
> for half of the price he quoted. How is it really important to have
> original serpentine belt installed? Is it really worth paying twice as
> much for this?
>[/color]

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:38:58 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:
[color=blue]
> If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
> domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well. ;)[/color]

Not really...

I can only guess you don't shop domestic dealerships often, if that is what
you believe. When I was still in retain we always charged higher shop rates
on foreign cars, at least 20%. My grandchildren that work were I was GSM,
tell me that is still the case. The kicker was we had central service areas
that serviced several of the brands we sold at the various locations and the
same techs did the work. We also gave lower new car discounts on import
brands and lower trade prices as well, Why? because we could Import
buyers are generally not as astute, although they think they are LOL


mike


"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:ufZkh.5921$6f4.1383@trndny08...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:38:58 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:
>[color=green]
>> If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
>> domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well.
>> ;)[/color]
>
> Not really...[/color]

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:42:46 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:
[color=blue]
> I can only guess you don't shop domestic dealerships often, if that is
> what you believe. When I was still in retain we always charged higher shop
> rates on foreign cars, at least 20%. My grandchildren that work were I
> was GSM, tell me that is still the case. The kicker was we had central
> service areas that serviced several of the brands we sold at the various
> locations and the same techs did the work. We also gave lower new car
> discounts on import brands and lower trade prices as well, Why? because
> we could Import buyers are generally not as astute, although they think
> they are LOL
>
>
> mike[/color]

Astute enough to know $65 an hour is $65 an hour, no matter WHERE it is!

What, ya think we all just fell off the Turnip Truck?

When I call and ask for an hourly rate, I don't say, "What's your rate for
Toyotas?" Even the Chrysler dealership I worked at charged $65 an hour,
just like the Toyota dealer next door...



[color=blue]
>
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
> news:ufZkh.5921$6f4.1383@trndny08...[color=green]
>> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 17:38:58 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>>> If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
>>> domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well.
>>> ;)[/color]
>>
>> Not really...[/color][/color]

In article <eaKdnWdep7MS2gnYUSdV9g@ptd.net>,
"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> I guess you are just discovering Toyotas famous high part costs,
> particularly when you consider they are primarily made in low wage
> counties. ACDELCO and DAYCO make good belts and as you note they are half
> the price. If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
> domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well. ;)[/color]

So, if $17 for a Toyota spark plug is so "high," can you explain
why a Ford spark plug is $12 more, and how that equals 'domestic
is "lower?"
(bearing in mind that replacement of that $29 ford spark plug may
well involve removal of the cylinder heads and removal of the
cylinder heads may well involve removal of the body.)

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 02:27:54 +0000, aarcuda69062 wrote:
[color=blue]
> In article <eaKdnWdep7MS2gnYUSdV9g@ptd.net>,
> "Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> I guess you are just discovering Toyotas famous high part costs,
>> particularly when you consider they are primarily made in low wage
>> counties. ACDELCO and DAYCO make good belts and as you note they are
>> half the price. If you price the cost of having the work done in on of
>> the domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as
>> well. ;)[/color]
>
> So, if $17 for a Toyota spark plug is so "high," can you explain why a
> Ford spark plug is $12 more, and how that equals 'domestic is "lower?"
> (bearing in mind that replacement of that $29 ford spark plug may well
> involve removal of the cylinder heads and removal of the cylinder heads
> may well involve removal of the body.)[/color]

Nah...you put the truck up in the air, and then drop the subframe/motor
assembly! It's SIMPLE, esp. if you have a 6-ton lift in your back yard!
While you're at it, might as well replace the headgaskets, cause if you
blow one, you'll be doing it all over again!

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:_K_kh.17849$sz5.12075@trndny03...[color=blue]
> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:42:46 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:[color=green]
>> Astute enough to know $65 an hour is $65 an hour, no matter WHERE it is![/color]
>
> What, ya think we all just fell off the Turnip Truck?
>
> When I call and ask for an hourly rate, I don't say, "What's your rate for
> Toyotas?" Even the Chrysler dealership I worked at charged $65 an hour,
> just like the Toyota dealer next door...
>[/color]

I wish our local (California) Toyota dealer only charged $65 an hour
labor..... It's $88 an hour there. I realize that the techs are
(supposedly) well-educated, but are they all PhDs?

About parts, I think the prices must be all over the map.
Some years ago, I had to get a parking lamp assembly for a '90 Mercury
Cougar, which was as I recall, about $80 and change. It was just a hunk
of fancy plastic.
Shortly thereafter, I had to get a similar parking lamp assembly for my
daughter's '86 Camry, and it included the little wiring harness and the lamp
bulb itself. It was in the low $40 range.

Actually, I will find that at my dealership, which handles Toyota and Buick,
the shop rates are identical for all cars.


"Mike Hunter" <mikehunt2@mailcity.com> wrote in message
news:eaKdnWdep7MS2gnYUSdV9g@ptd.net...[color=blue]
>I guess you are just discovering Toyotas famous high part costs,
>particularly when you consider they are primarily made in low wage
>counties. ACDELCO and DAYCO make good belts and as you note they are half
>the price. If you price the cost of having the work done in on of the
>domestic brands shop you will find their shop rates are lower as well. ;)
>
>
> mike
>
>
> "Sasha" <agalkin@audible.com> wrote in message
> news:1167337551.675776.163980@79g2000cws.googlegroups.com...[color=green]
>>I recently bought Toyota Corolla 2001 with 80K miles. I brought it to
>> my mechanic amd he said I need tune up because spark plugs do no look
>> good and also to replace serpentine belt that indeed has multiple crack
>> across the belt. He gave me quotes for parts and labor. Parts quotes
>> seem to be way too high for me. I am trying to find online parts
>> myself.
>>
>> Can someone advise me what spark plugs and serpentine belt I should be
>> and where. For instance my mechanic gave me quotes for NGK iridium
>> spark plugs for $19 each. The most expensive spark plugs for 2001
>> Corolla I found are $6.99. However I found several models all for the
>> same price and the same description and all for corolla 2001.
>>
>> About serpentine belt he insists on original belt. I could not find
>> online original Toyota serpentine belt but found from ACDELCO and DAYCO
>> for half of the price he quoted. How is it really important to have
>> original serpentine belt installed? Is it really worth paying twice as
>> much for this?
>>[/color]
>
>[/color]

On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 23:34:11 -0800, mack wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
> news:_K_kh.17849$sz5.12075@trndny03...[color=green]
>> On Thu, 28 Dec 2006 19:42:46 -0500, Mike Hunter wrote:[color=darkred]
>>> Astute enough to know $65 an hour is $65 an hour, no matter WHERE it
>>> is![/color]
>>
>> What, ya think we all just fell off the Turnip Truck?
>>
>> When I call and ask for an hourly rate, I don't say, "What's your rate
>> for Toyotas?" Even the Chrysler dealership I worked at charged $65 an
>> hour, just like the Toyota dealer next door...
>>
>>[/color]
> I wish our local (California) Toyota dealer only charged $65 an hour
> labor..... It's $88 an hour there. I realize that the techs are
> (supposedly) well-educated, but are they all PhDs?
>
> About parts, I think the prices must be all over the map. Some years ago,
> I had to get a parking lamp assembly for a '90 Mercury Cougar, which was
> as I recall, about $80 and change. It was just a hunk of fancy plastic.
> Shortly thereafter, I had to get a similar parking lamp assembly for my
> daughter's '86 Camry, and it included the little wiring harness and the
> lamp bulb itself. It was in the low $40 range.[/color]


Where did you get the parts?
For my LHS, I needed a taillight assy and a front turn signal. The
taillight was $65 from Chrysler, I believe, and the front turn signal was
$85!!! I bought the front assy from Certi-fit for $45. It fit quite well.

Then, I backed into a truck in front of my house (the only complaint I had
with that car..it had a TERRIBLE blind spot RIGHT where the truck was
parked. He parked there between the time I looked and the time I hit him!)
Another new taillight, from a bone yard for $30...

"Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
news:z2blh.4$Am5.0@trndny03...
[color=blue]
> Where did you get the parts?
> For my LHS, I needed a taillight assy and a front turn signal. The
> taillight was $65 from Chrysler, I believe, and the front turn signal was
> $85!!! I bought the front assy from Certi-fit for $45. It fit quite well.
>
> Then, I backed into a truck in front of my house (the only complaint I had
> with that car..it had a TERRIBLE blind spot RIGHT where the truck was
> parked. He parked there between the time I looked and the time I hit him!)
> Another new taillight, from a bone yard for $30...[/color]

Both lamp assemblies for the Cougar and the Camry were from parts counters
at the Mercury and Toyota dealers.[color=blue]
>[/color]

On Fri, 29 Dec 2006 11:05:37 -0800, mack wrote:
[color=blue]
>
> "Hachiroku ????" <Trueno@AE86.gts> wrote in message
> news:z2blh.4$Am5.0@trndny03...
>[color=green]
>> Where did you get the parts?
>> For my LHS, I needed a taillight assy and a front turn signal. The
>> taillight was $65 from Chrysler, I believe, and the front turn signal
>> was $85!!! I bought the front assy from Certi-fit for $45. It fit quite
>> well.
>>
>> Then, I backed into a truck in front of my house (the only complaint I
>> had with that car..it had a TERRIBLE blind spot RIGHT where the truck
>> was parked. He parked there between the time I looked and the time I hit
>> him!) Another new taillight, from a bone yard for $30...[/color]
>
> Both lamp assemblies for the Cougar and the Camry were from parts counters
> at the Mercury and Toyota dealers.[/color]


Gee, I can't remember what the price was for the marker light thingy from
Toyota for an '86 Camry. It was in the $50-60 range, I think...and I was
WORKING there!

I wound up getting one from a wrecker about 35-40 miles away, but they ran
deliveries every day, and had it delivered AT the Toyota dealer for $27...