Car spareparts

[jeanmarcJ202]

Hi,

Is it easy to get spareparts for all the second-car Japanese imported models in NZ?

Some of these models are really convenient but sometimes it become nightmare to look for spareparts.

JM

[JandM]

Japanese cars are probably the most common on NZ roads, and there is full backup for them - spares, new or second-hand, mechanics with specialist knowledge, etc..

[ralf-nz]

I second JandM: With the exemption of Ford and Holden the maintenance costs for "European" / "US-American" cars are higher than those for Japanese ones.
I am not sure about the Korean cars now - or "even" Chinese.

[jeanmarcJ202]

I second JandM: With the exemption of Ford and Holden the maintenance costs for "European" / "US-American" cars are higher than those for Japanese ones.
I am not sure about the Korean cars now - or "even" Chinese.

Thanks..Always wanted to opt for a Japanese car, based my experiences here with a Mazda & Honda...Nothing to complain as at date in terms of reliability.

[alan999]

I've found parts for Jap models that have never been sold NZ new can be very hard to find and for new ones the parts ppl at Toyota close to me took extreme pleasure in telling me that it will cost $$$$ and take 6 weeks to bring in from Japan. I even resorted to bringing back some discs I bought off ebay for £35/pair in my luggage rather than pay the $200 each from said dealer.

[KelvinAng]

I've found parts for Jap models that have never been sold NZ new can be very hard to find and for new ones the parts ppl at Toyota close to me took extreme pleasure in telling me that it will cost $$$$ and take 6 weeks to bring in from Japan.

I've once asked for a quote to replace my window/roof rubber seals as it's beginning to leak in heavy rain. It's a Toyota MR2 (targa-top).

The cost is a whopping $500.

Per side

Plus GST

In the end I fixed it with a $5 tube of silicon.

[mylesdw]

I recently had to replace the ABS unit on my wife's Honda. The choices were:

1. New from Honda $1200
2. Scrapyard in Auckland $600 plus freight 6 months warranty
3. UKP 3.99 from UK ebay.

So I went for #3 and had the whole thing bought, freighted and fitted for around $150!

So it pays to shop around...

[fye]

It's pretty much simpler if you can still drive around your car while looking for alternatives. I'm afraid of cases where your car is not drivable at all and you need replacement ASAP

By the way, the prices you guys quoted, were those from authorized service centres or chained/privately owned workshops?

[KelvinAng]

By the way, the prices you guys quoted, were those from authorized service centres or chained/privately owned workshops?

The $500 per side for rubber seal replacement on my Toyota is from one (of the two?) Christchurch Toyota agents.

[alan999]

It's pretty much simpler if you can still drive around your car while looking for alternatives. I'm afraid of cases where your car is not drivable at all and you need replacement ASAP

By the way, the prices you guys quoted, were those from authorized service centres or chained/privately owned workshops?

The discs were priced from a main South Auckland dealer. I also went to B and T (brakes and transmissions), a major parts chain we use a lot at work and was told they were not available, couldn't give me a price and wouldn't entertain even as a pre paid order.

I have since found out that although my car was never sold new in NZ, the Estima was and uses the same discs. I'm sure they could have been more helpful, then again I don't know what the cost would be.