All you need to know is learn about your vehicle, new car terminologies, and product availability and specifications. Know more than just the model of your car but also its year and version since different versions may have different automotive parts. Search for the most commonly used terminologies online. If you're not familiar with a given term then ask your mechanic about it. For newer cars, their parts may not be made immediately available in most stores. In this case, proceed to your nearest car dealers or check for your car's warranty policy. Lastly, make sure to double-check the part you ordered for its specifics. Some parts may not fit it in to your car just because they have a different number.
Whatever you decide to do, you should get the right car and the auto parts that go with it, for you. This may not be an obvious thing to see, but you can do it if you try. Many people will just jump in the car and not think about any of the issues that may go with it. Don't make that choice and get the one that is good for you.
Let us start with ease of obtaining. Obviously newer car parts will be easier to get than older ones. A friend of mine still has a 1975 Pontiac Lemans. To obtain parts for this car he has to literally go to junk yards and even online. No new car dealers keep parts beyond 10 years or so and even auto parts stores limit their inventory to cars under 20 years. A 30 year old vehicle is almost impossible to find parts for. Plus, if you can find the part, depending on where you get it, the cost could be anywhere from 20 to 100% over the original part cost. To say that late model car owners are taken advantage of would be a gross understatement.
This is true for both new and used parts, but I would highly recommend only buying used auto parts online if it is your only recourse. Used parts can be very difficult to determine quality even with the product in hand, much less through someone's web page who is trying to sell it to you.
Last and this is very important, make sure that the title transfer is handled smoothly. Request a bill of sales to insure that the transfer is clean and legal. Once you have sold the car you may want to take a portion of the proceeds and hold a neighborhood barbeque for their pain and suffering.
Many times I do hunt for my Mercedes car parts in the Mercedes
jackson acura parts and I have not been disappointed at all. Instead of having to dig deep in my wallet, I bag a bargain in this sort of places. The point is that, there are certain car parts that never go out of fashion.
If your car is looking drab on the outside, go ahead and get that makeover. A little paint job can do wonders for an older car. It will make your car look shiny and new. Some people may even ask you when you got a new car. Especially if you get new rear view mirrors too; that will really add to the new look.