qqzj
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 28, 2017
- Messages
- 3,747
In general, Napa has higher prices. So I normally equate it to higher quality. Recently, I noticed that with the Napa Rewards promotion going on, which is not very often, Napa auto parts can actually be cheaper than the other three. If so it becomes an attractive option. I am wondering from your past experience, are Napa branded auto parts better than the rest? I am talking about mechanic parts, like CV axle, struts, strut assembly. Not starters or alternators. Thanks!
71firebird400
Well-known member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2016
- Messages
- 142
Not in my experience. The opposite, actually. It seems to vary on a part-by-part basis but I've been left unimpressed.
2ndGearRubber
Well-known member
Not really. Theres only a few actual manufacturers of a lot of parts. You can buy from all the major parts stores and get the same POS crank sensor in a bunch of different boxes.
Napa exhaust is Walker. Which is trash. Lots of their struts are monroe rebrands. Napa solutions, is dorman. Chassis parts are okay, not great.
Man, 20 years ago I was a die hard Napa man.
However it seems like all their parts, pretty much across the board, have become lower quality.
Most of what they sell can be purchased elsewhere under the mfg name for less $ (doorman, Monroe, moog, federal mogul, etc). Frankly, I'm tired of buying their premium line, and ending up with a mid grade part.
When I'm shopping for myself, my first stop is rock auto to get a basis on cost/parts. If i need it quick, most parts stores have easy to navigate apps and I'll compare. I find that Napa now gets about 50% of my business, when a decade or so ago they were pretty much my only source.
They're all about the same imo. And lately their prices have increased to point that you're sometimes better off going factory OEM (at least with Nissan and Subaru in my experience). Factory OEM manufactured starters and alternators, etc, can also very good as far as quality and price.
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I think they're all about the same. I know NAPA has a good, better and best line but I think most other vendors do as well.
For the most part I have had very good experience with NAPA parts as long as I stick to the higher grade line. Most of them are name brand manufacturers just reboxed into NAPA boxes. Other parts suppliers have the name brand boxes so pretty much the same parts as you'd find in the relabeled NAPA boxes.
How many places are making rotors for a 2018 Accord? Probably not many so most of them all come from the same place. There seems to be economy, mid grade and OEM level parts available for most things. Lots of parts come in a plain white box now.
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
It might depend on the part but, I'm against the current here and think NAPA parts are better than anything coming out of Autozone and most stuff from Oreilys. However, I think the quality of all parts, too include OEM, have declined over the last several years. Even jobbers like Factory Motor Parts seem to be racing to the bottom to offer cheaper parts. 
Maui
Well-known member
I still buy their Napa Gold filters that are made by Wix.
I typically order parts online when I have the luxury of advance notice. But I do go to the napa because it's the closest of all the parts stores to me, and the old dude in there knows his stuff. Plus, I can walk right up to the counter and get my stuff. The other chain stores nearby are busy, and like to ignore customers in favor of phone calls (which I believe we just discussed in another thread).
I don't believe I have ever got a "junk" part from Napa though.
RAS61
Well-known member
gmcgeo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2019
- Messages
- 2,790
Good question, my brother who wrenched for a living thought NAPA parts were better, and I've been very happy with their batteries
There are only 3 battery manufactures that make batteries and they sell to all auto stores with rebranded stickers on them...... Napa has the same as Auto zone and advanced auto.
there are 4 deep cycle manufactures
gmcgeo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2019
- Messages
- 2,790
Napa has a very good commercial side to it, and they do not hassle on warranty. They have always taken care of me and the company.
Auto zone, well i worked for them on weekends for extra cash.... very bad experience. Never again have i walked into any of there stores again.
RAS61
Well-known member
There are only 3 battery manufactures that make batteries and they sell to all auto stores with rebranded stickers on them...... Napa has the same as Auto zone and advanced auto.
there are 4 deep cycle manufactures
Could be, but while they may come out of the same factory are they really the same, or are they made to the buyer's specs? Actually I'm now getting Interstate Batts from Costco
gmcgeo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2019
- Messages
- 2,790
Could be, but while they may come out of the same factory are they really the same, or are they made to the buyer's specs? Actually I'm now getting Interstate Batts from Costco
good question, ill have to find out.
As far as i know they make it a general spec and send them out. If you ever see ppl test the cold crank amps and see they are not putting out near what they should be?
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
There are only 3 battery manufactures that make batteries and they sell to all auto stores with rebranded stickers on them...... Napa has the same as Auto zone and advanced auto.
there are 4 deep cycle manufactures
Not necessarily. Last I checked Duralast batteries were being made by Johnson Controls, or a subsidiary thereof. NAPA's Legend batteries are made by Deka/East Penn. BIG difference in my opinion in quality between Deka/East Penn and Johnson Controls.
gmcgeo
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2019
- Messages
- 2,790
Not necessarily. Last I checked Duralast batteries were being made by Johnson Controls, or a subsidiary thereof. NAPA's Legend batteries are made by Deka/East Penn. BIG difference in my opinion in quality between Deka/East Penn and Johnson Controls.
I thought East Penn and Johnson Controls are associated with each other? They own each other? ill have to look into that
zmotorsports
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I thought East Penn and Johnson Controls are associated with each other? They own each other? ill have to look into that
No, Deka/East Penn is a completely different company than Johnson Controls. We have been using some Deka/East Penn industrial batteries here at work in our electric forklifts for the past few years running a test and they are far outperforming some of the other brands. However, they are a bit higher priced than their competitors. In my opinion well worth it though. I have been using Deka/East Penn batteries in our coach as well as our daily drivers for about the past 8 or so years now and have been more than impressed.
Odd-job
Well-known member
Not necessarily. Last I checked Duralast batteries were being made by Johnson Controls, or a subsidiary thereof. NAPA's Legend batteries are made by Deka/East Penn. BIG difference in my opinion in quality between Deka/East Penn and Johnson Controls.
Have been buying my AGM batteries from Napa lately because of the East Penn sourcing after Pep boys stopped carrying Bosch. Seem to be of a higher spec than other manufacturers.
minke
Well-known member
I still buy their Napa Gold filters that are made by Wix.
I do the same, but buy their platinum if they are on sale. Are they any better? I just accept the marketing hype and feel stupid.
finn
Well-known member
Simple answer is no.
NAPA doesn’t have any of their own remanufacturing facilities. Everything they sell comes from the same supply chain vendors the entire industry uses.
I doubt they even hold warranty reviews at a high level with all of their hundreds of vendors.
NAPA, and the others, are wholesale warehousing and distributing companies, with retail outlets that mostly cater to small repair shops.
Some of the others, like AZ seem to market more to the weekend mechanic too.
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
I’d say yes on most things. Napa first, Auto Zone second, Advance third and last O’Reilly because they are so rude to customers all the time it never fails. At work if we don’t have a part it comes usually from Auto Plus because it’s closest and we can get name brand parts there like Wagner and Raybestos and others. Auto Zone is second and then Advance and O’Reilly we don’t even bother Napa because they are so far away from where I work and the other places sometimes take hours to deliver lol. But for my personal parts I do like Napa. They also have the best tools and the best stocked shelves too in my opinion and the most offerings as far as things like penetrating oil and other stuff.
I’d say yes on most things. Napa first, Auto Zone second, Advance third and last O’Reilly because they are so rude to customers all the time it never fails. At work if we don’t have a part it comes usually from Auto Plus because it’s closest and we can get name brand parts there like Wagner and Raybestos and others. Auto Zone is second and then Advance and O’Reilly we don’t even bother Napa because they are so far away from where I work and the other places sometimes take hours to deliver lol. But for my personal parts I do like Napa. They also have the best tools and the best stocked shelves too in my opinion and the most offerings as far as things like penetrating oil and other stuff.
Our O'Reilly people are really nice and helpful. Sounds like you've got a bad batch down your way. I always liked the old NAPA tools and the new Carlyle seem nice.
jayemm
Well-known member
I'm just a DIY as needed which isn't much anymore, I still remember some of the beautifully remanufactured starters and alternators I got at NAPA 25-35 years ago. I was told they had their own place down south somewhere (Georgia?) that did them. Rayloc was the brand I think. They had good quality stuff. Used to buy Echlin points and tools there. Seemed like NAPA or the dealer got most of my money. There was a midwest auto parts store chain called Nationwise before Autozone came on the scene. They both carried some sh*t parts even back then. I always bought the best quality alternators and starters I could afford. Didn't want to be laying on my back in the snow replacing some sh*t starter and thinking about the $20 (or whatever) I saved at one of those places. But it has a 'lifetime' warranty. "Just bring it back if it fails". Lifetime supply of junk is more like it. My opinion is that aftermarket parts is a real crapshoot. I don't know how you professional guys do it.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
O"Reilly's has the better jingle hands down.
We used to have a chain called Forrest City Auto. It was madding, you would call for a price they would give it to you and when you went there it would be another price. They would say who did you talk to, and if you didn't get the name of the guy on the phone you were screwed because it seems it was always more.
5-10 years ago, when the local parts house went from Advance to NAPA they simply re-boxed the rebuilt water pumps, starters, alternators, etc from AAP to NAPA boxes. I avoided their parts for several months, not because of quality, but I knew the two knotheads that did the re-boxing and didn't like my odds of getting the right parts!
BonzoHansen
Well-known member
The closest NAPA to me keeps banker hours, so if you need parts after 5 or 6- it's O'Reilly's, AutoZone, or Advance Auto. Sometimes all three to get everything you need to do the job.
this is why i dont use napa too much anymore. i use them when i need to
BlakeTheCarGuy
ALLIANCE MEMBER
Our O'Reilly people are really nice and helpful. Sounds like you've got a bad batch down your way. I always liked the old NAPA tools and the new Carlyle seem nice.
I agree. Even though Napa would not warranty my old Napa wrench. They said they have to replace it with the Evercraft tools since that would be the equivalent and since they aren’t sold individually at this location we can’t warranty it I’m like you can’t just replace it with a Carlyle? And they are like no because back then the Napa wrench would of been considered our DIY brand and the Sparta would of been our professional brand I’m like ok whatever. I still like Napa though because of all the cool stuff they sell.
Our NAPA sells Carlyle tools individually I've never tried to warranty any of my old NAPA stuff, never broke any of it yet, but it seems like different NAPA stores have different rules. I might try taking it to another store and trying to get a Carlyle.
NakeDiesel
Well-known member
I mostly use the local napa here in my small town. Know the owners and I have a shop account with them, using my shop name of "smart ass garage". They close at 5 during the week, noon on sat, but if I can't get there by 5, they will leave parts for me in their drop box out back. Oriellys is 15 and 20 miles away, bumper to bumper 20 miles as well.
Ton ton
Well-known member
No comment on Napa's auto parts. But I really dig their hand tools and friendly lady. I also like Carquest and fisher auto parts.
johnny_boy02
Active member
Not in my experience. The opposite, actually. It seems to vary on a part-by-part basis but I've been left unimpressed.
Agreed. And the last time I had to exchange a clutch master cylinder that went bad after 2 weeks with a receipt the parts counter guy accused me a trying to scam them because it had flash rusted where the leaking brake fluid removed the coating. I was pretty pissed and haven’t been back there in a few months.
I mostly use the local napa here in my small town. Know the owners and I have a shop account with them, using my shop name of "smart ass garage". They close at 5 during the week, noon on sat, but if I can't get there by 5, they will leave parts for me in their drop box out back. Oriellys is 15 and 20 miles away, bumper to bumper 20 miles as well.
One of the advantages of living in a small town. But the hours really suck for most people with jobs that get off around 5pm. Or NAPA is the same way, so I end up going to O'Reilly's or AutoZone both real close to my place.
NakeDiesel
Well-known member
I guess I should add, I run trucks till their dead then rebuild them. 99 dodge 2500 4x4 diesel has 350k miles, 05 dodge 3500 2wd diesel has 400k miles. 07 ram 3500 4x4 diesel has 278k miles. Wife's avalanche had over 300k when we traded it for her equinox, which now has 95k miles. I've had good luck on napa parts.
We had an independent parts place years ago and the guy that ran it was old enough that he probably dated Henry Ford's mother. Not only did he sell parts but could tell you the best way to put them in and what tools you would need to do the job. I sure hated it when he passed away.
slowtwitch73
Well-known member
rockinacummins
Well-known member
If I can wait long enough for shipping, I use Rock Auto. If I need something today, we have a store in the nearest significant town called “Motor Sales.” They have 3 divisions all in the same store, one for the sale and service of outdoor power equipment, one for industrial tools and supplies, and the final one is NAPA branded auto parts. They keep a huge selection of tools of all types and brands, including Carlyle, but they come at a high price.
The closest Autozone isn’t close at all (30 miles), and the last parts I bought there were tie rod ends for a 2000 Ram 2500. The new Duralast ones literally had more play than the old ones. Never again.
Only other option around here is Oreilly’s, and I will use them for some things in a pinch. I generally shy away from buying critical parts from them; 7-8 years ago, the water pump went out on my 07 Ram 3500. Limped it into Oreillys, got a new one, swapped it in the parking lot, and took the core back inside. No more than 2 months later the new water pump disintegrated on the way to the lake. Pulled it off, got a ride to town, they warrantied it, put the new one on, and I’ll be damned if it didn’t do the exact same thing in no more than 2 months. Pulled it off, went to NAPA, bought new one, and haven’t had a single problem since.
I don’t remember the question, but I pretty much only use NAPA unless I order online.
