I've had good luck with Spectra Premium rads and heater cores. I have done Spectra rads in my Sonoma, Trans Am & Camaro, great fit, and no issues...The Sonoma one has been in there 10+ years. I also have a Spectra heater core in the Trans Am, 6-7 years on it now with no issues. Plus, they're a Canadian company and readily available locally (PartSource) so no bulky shipping.
I'm all for supporting local companies in the sense that if I can buy the same part from a Canadian online retailer or local store rather than Rockauto, I would even if it's for a small premium.
However, when it comes to the part itself, I tend to trust the established brands for reasons no further than this particular case. I don't have enough experience to tell which brand is local or if the part is good quality, if it's a direct OEM fit, etc... I got burnt more than once so no more second guessing. You certainly have a different perspective from your position, the nature of your job and hands on experience.
And then it's the price - for example the Spectra Premium rad you mentioned is $292+tax at partsavatar.ca after 8% discount ($317 regular). I paid $277 CAD for the Denso shipped, tax in, despite shipping being unusually high for this particular transaction ($85 CAD). The rad itself was $160 CAD before tax and after my 5% discount. I just noticed that partsavatar.ca now has the same Denso P/N in stock selling for $276+tax....
I could've also bought Nissens for $222 CAD shipped, tax in, but decided to go with Denso option instead hoping for better quality and fit given Denso's status as OE manufacturer and a Toyota owned company.
I admire your tenacity, but I seriously wonder what you value your time at with the amount of price shopping that you do...
You seem to constantly promote the wrong idea that I'm "price shopping".... I spend time shopping as necessary when I need something just like everyone else and of course I get to check out prices, make comparisons, etc... Just because I acquire some info in the process, doesn't necessarily mean I spend a lot of time doing so. Not sure about you, but for me it only takes few min to check few sites I have bookmarked and get an idea of the parts available for what I need, stock, prices, P/Ns etc.... make a decision and place an order.
For us mortals, who don't have our own shop and people to delegate to this trivial nonsense called car maintenance and the associated costs.... well, we have to do it ourselves.... ![Grin ;D](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/grin.gif)
I mean, I also do my own research, but you're one of the most particular people I've ever met. It's not a bad thing necessarily because it means your vehicles are always perfectly maintained - you're definitely the kind of person I'd buy a car from.
Let's not forget, when we did your first service when you got the car, which was effectively a brake job and fluids, there was a 68 email thread (not exaggerating) to ensure that the exact part numbers were used for all parts, the specific brands you're looking for because those are what you'd like, and that it's exactly what you'd be paying sourcing it yourself. Let's not kid ourselves though, it's 100% price shopping.
I get it that you don't want to be ripped off or overpay for something that you can source yourself online cheaper, and I'm not trying to insult you - I think it takes a lot of patience to be particular to the level that you are. I used to be this way when I had more time on my hands, though not to the same level, but I have an obsessive spreadsheet for all my cars' maintenance schedules and every little thing I do to them down to rust proofing / tire rotations. You're right - I now just delegate the actual labor, but I do shop around a couple places quickly and ensure I get the best price for the part(s) I want.
Not sure why you insist on repeatedly bring up the email correspondence we've had over a
two weeks period and create an inaccurate narrative here, but it's your choice. Anyways, I refrained in previous occasions to say
why some of those emails were necessary and I will continue to do so as I don't think will benefit anyone here to respond so I will leave it at that.
Yes, I asked for specific brands/parts to be used - I don't see anything wrong with that as I believe any car person has his/hers preferences and there was nothing special with what I asked as all parts were common and and widely available (rotors/pads, filters and a P/S reservoir essentially). All this happened BEFORE I brought the car in, YOU said yes, I can supply them all and it all ended there.
Yes, I had a spreadsheet readily available from my previous research/budgeting exercise and I attached it with the idea that it will help with ordering. I had prices in the spreadsheet as well and YOU said you can source them all at those prices (they weren't the best as they were from Germanparts.ca) and it all ended there as well. Nothing out of ordinary I believe to make a shopping list and put P/Ns and prices beside the items in the list, but you or others can think otherwise.
If you were to be fair and accurate, you would also recognize that I did not "price shop" in any way shape or form AFTER the car was in the shop and I asked for additional work (belt, idler, tensioner) or had to buy parts that were not planned (dust shield, sway bar, ground cable). I merely accepted whatever price you gave me on the spot (I already knew the prices from Germanparts.ca on those few items anyway as they were in my extended shopping list already). I still asked to have specific brand, which again, were very common parts for this car and wildly available.
To this day, I fail to understand why do you repeatedly make our dealing sound like I was unreasonable or a PITA to deal with. Maybe next time we meet you make me understand over a beer
![Beer :cheers:](https://www.autos.ca/forum/Smileys/CarTalk/cheers.gif)
Am I specific on the brand of parts I use in my cars (if not OEM)? Yes I am.
Am I shopping around for part prices? Yes I am (who doesn't?)
Do I expect to always to buy parts at the absolute lowest price? No, I don't.
Do I ran away if a shop doesn't give me the absolute lowest price I found myself? No, I don't.
Do I think it over if the shop gives me a much higher price than what I can get the part for myself? Yes, I do.
Do I educate myself on parts, prices, work involved, work effort estimate before going into a shop for service? Yes I do (quite enjoy it actually for the time being)
If any/all of the above make me a PITA to deal with, so be it.... You (and others) are free to have your own opinion.