Mr.t Vs Mr Copycat.

[JoBaxi]

Yeah, just wondering do copies fare up aswell as original toyota parts.

Example would like apec brake pads and discs, and other copies with regards to suspension and clutch/starter moters/etc fareup the same as mr.T's parts?. Is the more expensive one better? or are they usually exactly the same part, manufactured from exactly the same company but just different prices?

Plan to do maybe 30,000miles a year but am more of a quality over quantity type of person (unless its just quality of pounds vs quantity) for the same part.....

Thanks for any replies.

[irishjay]

back brakes went last week got apex for £25 out car parts shop , it cost me a further £10 from my local mechanic to fit them , total cost=£35 , if i had of went to mr t to fix them i think you could have put another 0 at the end of that price , if i wasnt a taxi driver and doing say 10k a year i would use proper pads etc , my car has 50 k on it so i have to get my next service done in toyota to keep the warranty , but as soon as warranty is up i will not be any where near them fingers crossed , my car needs serviced every 10k thats about 8 weeks of driving for me , i just simply could not afford genuine parts serviced by the dealers all of the time , my pads are a tiny bit squeakier and maybe need to wash the alloys more often because of black dust ,but its a small price to pay , i have a vauxhall vectra with 240,000 still being used (when avensis is in main dealers!!!) serviced every 10 k with non genuine parts in my local mechanic , goes first time every time, genuine parts dont work out that much dearer , but if you do as many miles as i do then it is a lot of money ,ive seen no difference in the parts apart from pads and the dust and the price!!!!!

[Parts-King]

Very often you see OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) on boxes of non-genuine parts, this gives you the assumption that the parts maker makes the same parts for the manufacturer. He might very well make brakes or starters or whatever for all the main manufacturers, but what they wont tell you is that they also make a cheaper varient for the after market, so with brake pads for instance, they might make a pad for Toyota at a very high spec, but also make a pad with a lesser spec for the after market. This is a very common practice and misleads you into thinking you are buying the exact same part at a better price, you're not!

There are however many manufacturers who make excellent quality parts, and in the case of brake discs, exceed the quality of the genuine part, you pay your money and take your choice, it is often difficult to know what to do. I have worked in the motor trade for over 30 years and there are very few manufacturers of after market parts that I would trust. At least with the genuine part, you have the full back up of Toyota should anything go wrong

Kingo

[Beagh1958]

In the real world ideally it makes perfect sence to use original parts ( despite the cost ) every time. But if your out of warranty or running high milage car it MAY be a false economy to use genuine parts, but you should never use INFERIOR parts.

Using braking components as an example, brake pads, discs, master cylinders etc etc. You should never skimp on quality allways go for branded name ie: ATE, Bosch & Lucas to name but a few.

These companies supply OEM parts straight to manufacturer depending on car brand & as we all are aware are available across the counter to the general public. So some parts you can make a significant saving on without dropping the quality.

Another example DENSO GLOW PLUGS i can go to my local motor factor and buy four g/plugs for 2/3rds the price of the same components in Toyota box from MR.T ( I will stand corrected on this if you know otherwise ) quite a saving.

Allways use the best quality oil you can buy or is available ( an exception for me is fuel filters & cambelts always always use original parts ) & forget long life servicing at 20,000 miles, myself i carry out full major service every 10,000 miles. If you have tools & time in this case.

Remember some parts you will have to buy from Toyota, electrical modules for example so its to your advantage to know your storeman & always ask for discount they can only say yes or no. It will not hurt to ask.

Hope this helps, others may disagree completely. Just my view.

[JoBaxi]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

On previous cars, braking wise its always been named brands (etc.ferodo, mintex) and I agree that I should not skimp out on such important parts. It's just iv not been so sure with regards to suspension and clutch. I plan to use the car as a taxi, and a lot more miles than yourself irishjay. On average, was doing 2000miles a month over 18months (38,000miles), with most of this being done in the last 3months (1000miles a week!) - helping dad at takeaway using car as on delivery as tempory cover. The other 15months was just driving around "nomally".

My biggest concern is suspension, as when it comes to clutch and braking parts, theres always naned brands - lucas, ferodo, etc. where i get a good discount in my local carcraft (know almost everyone on firstname basis, and its always "oh steve i left my trade card at home, and he just smiles and i get it trade price).

So on suspension, who would you recommend? - Mr.T or copies?

And i'l service the car every 10k just like yourself. Talking bout the service one is due now, intermediate so thats (air filter, fuel filter, oil filter and oil ryt boys? - and buy the fuel filter from Mr.T?

Sorry, but just one more question, should i use the "toyota oil" , u knw the one which toyota logo on there? or other - example comma, Shell?

Thanks for your help in advance boys.

[irishjay]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

On previous cars, braking wise its always been named brands (etc.ferodo, mintex) and I agree that I should not skimp out on such important parts. It's just iv not been so sure with regards to suspension and clutch. I plan to use the car as a taxi, and a lot more miles than yourself irishjay. On average, was doing 2000miles a month over 18months (38,000miles), with most of this being done in the last 3months (1000miles a week!) - helping dad at takeaway using car as on delivery as tempory cover. The other 15months was just driving around "nomally".

My biggest concern is suspension, as when it comes to clutch and braking parts, theres always naned brands - lucas, ferodo, etc. where i get a good discount in my local carcraft (know almost everyone on firstname basis, and its always "oh steve i left my trade card at home, and he just smiles and i get it trade price).

So on suspension, who would you recommend? - Mr.T or copies?

And i'l service the car every 10k just like yourself. Talking bout the service one is due now, intermediate so thats (air filter, fuel filter, oil filter and oil ryt boys? - and buy the fuel filter from Mr.T?

Sorry, but just one more question, should i use the "toyota oil" , u knw the one which toyota logo on there? or other - example comma, shell?

Thanks for your help in advance boys.

:)

[irishjay]

Thanks for the replies everyone.

On previous cars, braking wise its always been named brands (etc.ferodo, mintex) and I agree that I should not skimp out on such important parts. It's just iv not been so sure with regards to suspension and clutch. I plan to use the car as a taxi, and a lot more miles than yourself irishjay. On average, was doing 2000miles a month over 18months (38,000miles), with most of this being done in the last 3months (1000miles a week!) - helping dad at takeaway using car as on delivery as tempory cover. The other 15months was just driving around "nomally".

My biggest concern is suspension, as when it comes to clutch and braking parts, theres always naned brands - lucas, ferodo, etc. where i get a good discount in my local carcraft (know almost everyone on firstname basis, and its always "oh steve i left my trade card at home, and he just smiles and i get it trade price).

So on suspension, who would you recommend? - Mr.T or copies?

And i'l service the car every 10k just like yourself. Talking bout the service one is due now, intermediate so thats (air filter, fuel filter, oil filter and oil ryt boys? - and buy the fuel filter from Mr.T?

Sorry, but just one more question, should i use the "toyota oil" , u knw the one which toyota logo on there? or other - example comma, shell?

Thanks for your help in advance boys.

jobaxi i do 10,000 miles every 8 weeks mate lol my average weeks driving is 1200 miles lol

i always use non manafacturs parts if the car is out of warranty because of my mileage , but i always use the good quality oil that manafactuers sell or suggest and with my last cars changed filters every 10 k and maybe an oil change after 5k, im a TAXI DRIVER lol i do 10,000 miles every 8 weeks around 1200 a week, suspension parts havent needed to do anything so far , but will be using a good non genuine part , and the filters are oil fuel and air again copes lol thats what my budget allows and to be honest have never had a problem as long as its regulary serviced and with good oil

[JoBaxi]

Mr Jay, smiling at questions does not work......(well not with the police anyway!)

Yeah, I serviced the car today, got the oil and fuel filter from toyota (paid £29) and oil filter and air filter from local carcraft (£21)

But need an answer to this question boys, my flywheel is knackered! arghhhhhhh!! but eff it, question is, lucas or Mr.T? - toyota guy, very friendly told me not to get a replacement kit, get the older "solid" flywheel and clutch and it'l work out cheaper than gettin a flywheel on a 2001 car alone, and it'l fare up better.....(so me thinking yeah, this guys is the nuts) - thought pursue his friendly nature a bit further, asked him for a quote on the new flywheel and he goes it'l be in the region of £600.

[Beagh1958]

Sorry. On suspension "BILSTEIN" superbly made suspension components, you would have to check price against MR.T yourself.