What all FLAPS do you use?

Hippie · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 7:42 pm Post subject: What all FLAPS do you use?

It seems I only hear about Autozone on this site. What gives? I shop at Autozone too but are there Advance Auto Parts, NAPA, O' Reilly's, Carquest users too? Just curious.

EZ Gruv · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:20 pm Post subject:

Autozone is the most prevalent here, plus best selection. We have Chief, Checker, and Pep Boys too.
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spiffy · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:22 pm Post subject:

I have a schuck's ( kragen/checker ) warehouse up the street from me so I use them for a few items.
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thevanillaninja · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:36 pm Post subject:

we're a pretty small town but have an autozone and advance, and while autozone sucks the least between the two I'd almost rather suck it up and drive 15 miles to o'reilly
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VDubTech · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 8:45 pm Post subject:

Foreign Autopart

daves_ale · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 9:09 pm Post subject:

i've got all the big chains. I goto Autozone for oil and Bosch plugs.

For everything else I go about 45 minutes South to Ft. Worth to a place called Automotive Machine and Supply. They do only imports and have 37 years exp. with VWs. I've been going there since I was 16. NOw I'm 35. These guys rock and have an 800#.
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ratwell · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 9:34 pm Post subject:

I've had to use all of them. Evening with the same chain, the stock varies from store to store.
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earthmuffin · Posted: Sat May 21, 2005 10:02 pm Post subject:

Portland Oregon.

In this order.

Discount Import parts (awesome)
Napa
Autozone
Schucks can kiss my butt. I hate them. Very Happy

Since we have moved to Longview, Wa, I foresee myself doing more Cip1. Their free shipping only takes about 3-4 days to get to me. PDX is about an hour drive now.
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spiffy · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 7:56 am Post subject:

CIP 1 definitely rocks if you live up here, I got my CV joints in 3 days and was able to hit the road....I like schucks because I get a 10% discount on filters, moly grease and the such.
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vdubyah73 · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 8:11 am Post subject:

autozone if I know exactly what I need. napa If not. Napa rocks for old detroit iron they keep a lot of stock on hand. For VW stuff I mail order from Cali. different vendors for different stuff. I'll overnite stuff I need rite away. Prolly not a beam tho,that 'd be pricey , huh? Shocked

TeamSpatula · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 8:18 am Post subject:

In my experience, I wouldn't buy anything "serious" from any of them...by that I mean anything more than oil, grease, stuff like that...After going through 3 of the Lifetime Warranty starters in less than 2 years, and hearing all sorts of horror stories for other parts there, I'd stay away...I'm luck enough to have a good foreign car parts store locally, but I try to plan and order ahead whenever I can.
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Hippie · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 9:56 am Post subject:

Lucky I live close to a bunch of these. In my town auto parts stores are in several clusters about 2 miles accross and the clusters are each in different parts of town. I'm in a cluster.
I mail order almost all ACVW parts but use Advance the most for of the shelf (sealants, oil, etc.) rather than parts. (walking distance) I usually go to the dealer and cough up the $$ if I need an actual repair part for a non VW (rarely do) so I get the right one. ....Can't stand aftermarket-rebuilt-lasts 2 years if your lucky crap. O' Reilly for some specialty tools and a kick-ass paint shop that'll color scan my paint and mix anything and hand it to me in a rattle can for touch-ups.
We used to have a good locally owned foreign car parts store but they're long gone.
I can get Jerry's Bug Shop to go out back and strip me off used VW parts for a few bucks locally and they have some parts new in the box on hand.

Schmooey · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:15 am Post subject:

I suppose Autozone is the most widespread store, while many of those mentioned above are regional. I use a local place, Worldwide Auto, that has drawers of metric fasteners, brake nipples, wavy washers and other hard to find stuff. You don't have to wander the aisles looking at those "Help!" packages to find a brake shoe retainer, and the counter guy doesn't need to see a picture on a CRT to know what it is.
An even better one, Service Auto, recently closed. They could tell you what Ford part would replace a Triumph part without looking it up.

I bought lifetime warranty starter at Kragen that failed to work. I returned it and the counter guy tested the three he had in stock. NONE of these Malaysian "rebuilts" would turn over. I suspect they were simply sprayed with silver paint and packaged. Bought a US-made cap and rotor at Autozone that failed to fit. And so on...

For VW parts I drive a few miles to Veeparts in National City. Great people and inventory.

stevemariott · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 10:26 am Post subject:

Within a few miles from here are Brooks Cut Rate Auto Parts, Springfield German Import, and Knechts. Brooks has a pretty huge inventory of just about everything, but a lot of it is the Empi chrome and blister pack variety. They are open Sundays though, and that has saved me once or twice. Springfield German has a good amount of quality Bosch Parts, and puts on a show/swap meet once a year. Knechts has a lot of misc. parts pretty cheap, but I don't think I would buy much there beyond fuses, light bulbs, and oil. If I can't get it from one of those places I buy it online.
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Duncwarw · Samba Member Joined: August 25, 2003 Posts: 3094

You left-coasters are lucky.
NAPA and a good local hardware store.

NAPA because it's not only all there is close by, but having worked there many moons ago, I saw the difference between Echlin ignition stuff and most others. Hell, even the Chrysler dealer sold distributor caps you could actually flex in one hand. Plus, they have a good warehouse network so most reasonable stuff is overnight. On top of that, MY NAPA is a small business and I try to support those operations while we still have them.
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Hippie · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 3:02 pm Post subject:

shiningstar76 · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 4:17 pm Post subject:

I'm out of the loop.....what does FLAPS stand for?
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ratwell · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject:

VWGirl · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject:

i mostly use a local import store as they generally have all i need in stock... only go to autozone and advance for lifetime warranty parts like brake pads and alternators/startes etc... advance pretty much sucks and has screwed me the last 3 times or more i have used them. and i really think their parts quality is not as good as autozone... i worked at both advance, autozone and pep boys... pep boys has good tires... dont really buy anything else from them as they are far away... as is napa... i rarely have to order anything off the web... oh yeah i buy parts at the vw dealer as well

Hippie · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 5:36 pm Post subject:


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