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Frugal Shopper: Pricey Parts Can Push Ownership Costs Upward

By Bengt Halvorson
Bengt Halvorson Bengt Halvorson
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Bengt Halvorson is Deputy Editor of High Gear Media's portfolio of car sites, overseeing the production of reviews, evaluating vehicles firsthand... More

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2008 Mercedes-Benz ML550

2008 Mercedes-Benz ML550

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The Yugo sure doesn't have a reputation for reliability or durability. But they sure are cheap to repair. Meanwhile, for several Mercedes-Benz AMG models, the cost of parts alone for routine maintenance could leave a much larger hole in your wallet than you might anticipate—even if can afford the monthly payments.

The auto-parts shopping-comparison Web site FrugalMechanic.com has released an Auto Parts Pricing Index report that includes hundreds of models and helps show what a significant role parts cost can have in longer-term vehicle ownership.

FrugalMechanic, which helps power the auto parts shopping functions on High Gear Media sites including TheCarConnection.com, looked at six different parts that are commonly replaced as part of routine or major maintenance: air filter, brake disc, a set of brake pads, oxygen sensor, oil filter, and a spark plug, factoring in prices from more than 100 online retailers like JCWhitney.com and even Amazon.com. When all the numbers were crunched, the company found a very wide variance between models.


Over just a few service visits, it really adds up

2009 Scion tC

2009 Scion tC

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The difference can be very significant over the long run. For instance, the Yugo Cabrio cost just $113, while the Mercedes-Benz ML550 cost $493 for the equivalent parts. A single front brake disc for the Yugo Cabrio costs less than $22, on average, but an ML550 brake disc costs more than $235. Although older vehicles tended to have cheaper parts, it's not entirely a new-versus-old thing. It costs just $158 to get those six parts for a 2009 Scion tC. All said, the difference between vehicles could add up to thousands of dollars over a few years if you have to deal with less-common (or major) repairs.


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Comment (1)

  1. Adam Posted: 3/29/2010 9:34am PDT

    Having owned a Porsche myself, I wholeheartedly agree that Porsche parts consistently cost more than any other make. The parts are expensive and so is the labor. I had to pay over $1,500 to replace one of the rims. And that's just for one rim! Porsche makes some phenomenal cars, but you better have a big bank account to keep them running.
     
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