Hi quick question. I need parts for my 2010 toyota rav 4 to do a tune up but I hear so many different things about these stores with either the wrong part or bad parts so which store do you guys recommend? Auto zone ? O'Reillys? Or Napa auto parts ? Or maybe another suggestion outside those 3 ?
NAPA used to be better than the other chains many years ago but I don't think that's necessarily the case any more. I have found that you're still more likely to find people that know what they're doing at most NAPA stores than at AutoZone, etc. Last time I needed an alternator for one of my vehicles I bought one at NAPA and it's been fine for several years now.
If you have an old-school full-service independent auto parts store in your area, staffed by people who actually know cars, that might be a good option but these days they're stuck with many of the same crappy parts suppliers as the others. (Parts stores like that are a vanishing breed but there are a few left. There's at least one still operating in my area.)
Eh, burgers or burritos, it’s all fast food. Auto zone probably has the best on line ordering, and they all have pretty quick home delivery.
For me, it mostly depends on which one I can walk to when my car is all taken apart (which is Oreilly) 😉
I used various sources for parts or tools, RockAuto online, Amazon, and the three you mentioned, Oreilly, AutoZone, Napa, and also Advanced Auto. And if I want genuine OEM that I can’t find anywhere else, the dealer.
For batteries and tires, I usually go Costco.
I usually price compare with RockAuto and Amazon (Actually Amazon, not the third party stores using Amazon).
RockAuto usually has the best prices, but make sure to calculate the shipping, as sometimes it can add up. Where it is cheaper to go Amazon or even brick and mortar.
I have a love hate relationship with the dealer (mostly hate), because their prices are crazy high, but sometimes you can haggle them down. Often times, they are the only ones to reliably get an OEM part unless you look at the far corners of the earth.
I try to find who the actual manufacturer is for the OEM part and get them at RockAuto or Amazon.
As far as brick and mortar, by AutoZone, Oreilly, AdvancedAuto seem the most consistent from store to store, more corporate. NAPA seems more mom & pop like, where each NAPA is independently owned and operated. I don’t know if that is true or not, just the vibe I get walking through there stores.
I used to frequent AutoZone, until they changed their scan tool to be practically useless for me.
Now I frequent Oreilly.
NAPA and advanced auto are usually too far for me but I don’t have anything against them.
