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Following this rule is best for many drivers, but by no means all. What is right for you depends on two factors: what kind of parts you need, and what kind of car you drive.

In general, all replacement parts can be divided in two types:

"Sacrificial" parts are used for regularly scheduled maintenance. The manufacturer designs these parts to wear out, so they need to be replaced frequently. Some examples of sacrificial parts are: air, oil, and fuel filters; brake pads and shoes; belts, hoses, tires, wiper blades, spark plugs and batteries.

"Replacement" parts are used for repair, rather than maintenance - to replace parts that are NOT supposed to wear out or break. Replacements for some internal engine parts, such as pistons, rings, cranks, rods, or seals, MUST come from the OEM (original equipment manufacturer). Transmissions and transaxles may be rebuilt by third-party shops, but originally, they, too, must come from the OEM.

No after-market firm sells these parts, because they are so expensive to make, and the demand for them is so low. Only cars with very serious mechanical problems ever need them, and often such cars are just junked instead of fixed. After-market companies specialize instead in sacrificial parts (and some common replacement parts) that are less expensive to make, and are regularly needed by most every car on the road.

The issue with after-market parts is that they cost less, but do not always perform as well, as OEM, or "genuine" dealer-approved parts. After-market parts can be used in SOME cars without causing any problems, but should be avoided in others. What's right for you depends on your car's age, condition, value, and warranty status.

If you drive a high-price, high-performance car (like Mercedes, Lexus, Infiniti, Ferrari) that's still in good condition, you would be a fool to use anything but genuine OEM parts. In expensive, highly-engineered vehicles like this, the difference in performance between OEM and after-market parts can be huge. In this case, you are better off going to the dealer for service. If you need to pinch your pennies on car parts, you should not buy such an expensive car in the first place.

With more run-of-the-mill vehicles, like Toyota, Honda, Ford and Chevy, it's best to stay away from after-market parts, at least as long as your car is under warranty. The reason is that anything but genuine, dealer-supplied parts usually voids the warranty. What you save on after-market parts won't

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