Is it me, or are car parts getting more and more expensive?!
Discussion
As per the title - I've had to buy a battery this week and I'm having to buy a new set of plugs. I'm sure average sized (decent) batteries were below fifty quid a couple years if you shopped around - they're 80-100 at the likes of Halfords (retail price) and ECP! Plugs are now about a tenner each or more - I'm sure you could get a set of 4 NGKs for around 10-15 a couple years back!
WTF is going on?! Is it due to the Euro, and the general f
king mess of the UK economy?! Really annoyed!
WTF is going on?! Is it due to the Euro, and the general f
king mess of the UK economy?! Really annoyed!I just paid about £60 for a battery for our Octavia which is probably fairly average size. Are you sure it's not something odd about the particular battery you need?
Spark plugs do appear to have gone up a bit. I think last year I paid £20 for a set; the same place is now charging £25.
ETA: For mainstream I tend to use carparts2less, which I think is the online brand of ECP (exactly the same stock but tends to be cheaper). Or eBay if it's for components where quality isn't dreadfully important.
Spark plugs do appear to have gone up a bit. I think last year I paid £20 for a set; the same place is now charging £25.
ETA: For mainstream I tend to use carparts2less, which I think is the online brand of ECP (exactly the same stock but tends to be cheaper). Or eBay if it's for components where quality isn't dreadfully important.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 22 October 14:02
You’ve got to be really desperate to shop at Halfords. Slightly less desperate to shop at ECP, but they’re heading in the same direction. ECP sent me a flyer about 40% off batteries, and yes with 40% off, they were slightly cheaper than Halfords. Nowhere near as good as Tayna.co.uk, which were 40% cheaper again.
Similar on brake fluid. 1/2 a litre, 12 quid at Halfords. One litre, branded, 7.50 delivered from eBay.
Similar on brake fluid. 1/2 a litre, 12 quid at Halfords. One litre, branded, 7.50 delivered from eBay.
Battery prices have increased because the tech has had to adjust to keep pace with the demands of modern cars with start/stop, smart charging, high fuel pressure demands (and the high starting rpm that goes with it) etc. Your bog standard lead acid battery has been superseded by the likes of silver calcium, enhanced flooded and AGM. All of which cost more to produce, particularly the AGM type. There are still reasonably priced options though, especially from Euro Car Parts when they're having a 30-40% discount weekend.
'High Street' prices of some parts have definitely increased. My track car needed a battery after being laid-up, and £90 at ECP was the only solution on a Sunday afternoon (Halfords £115!). If I'd been patient, I could have had a new Lucas battery delivered for £50 from the web.
It pays to shop around and have time on your side.
It pays to shop around and have time on your side.
tannhauser said:
As per the title - I've had to buy a battery this week and I'm having to buy a new set of plugs. I'm sure average sized (decent) batteries were below fifty quid a couple years if you shopped around - they're 80-100 at the likes of Halfords (retail price) and ECP! Plugs are now about a tenner each or more - I'm sure you could get a set of 4 NGKs for around 10-15 a couple years back!
WTF is going on?! Is it due to the Euro, and the general fking mess of the UK economy?! Really annoyed!
I remember Alfa wanted £20 per spark plug (8 of them please!!) nearly 20 years ago...WTF is going on?! Is it due to the Euro, and the general f
king mess of the UK economy?! Really annoyed!Rat_Fink_67 said:
jkh112 said:
Which is every weekend.
Pretty much yeah 
But I'm suspicious of the "economy " order, that can be sent by RM and take up to 7 days to arrive ( instead of their 4-5 ESTIMATE), against the "pay us an extra £2", and you'll get in 48 hours ( by courier).
the truthkambites said:
I just paid about £60 for a battery for our Octavia which is probably fairly average size. Are you sure it's not something odd about the particular battery you need?
Spark plugs do appear to have gone up a bit. I think last year I paid £20 for a set; the same place is now charging £25.
ETA: For mainstream I tend to use carparts2less, which I think is the online brand of ECP (exactly the same stock but tends to be cheaper). Or eBay if it's for components where quality isn't dreadfully important.
Nope, it's pretty standard. At ECP it's coming back at way in excess of £100 for an 027 battery - even after their silly weekly offers, it is still expensive.Spark plugs do appear to have gone up a bit. I think last year I paid £20 for a set; the same place is now charging £25.
ETA: For mainstream I tend to use carparts2less, which I think is the online brand of ECP (exactly the same stock but tends to be cheaper). Or eBay if it's for components where quality isn't dreadfully important.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 22 October 14:02
I'm aware of CP4L and always cross check them too. Mister Auto is always worth a look too.
Edited by tannhauser on Sunday 22 October 15:52
rxe said:
You’ve got to be really desperate to shop at Halfords. Slightly less desperate to shop at ECP, but they’re heading in the same direction. ECP sent me a flyer about 40% off batteries, and yes with 40% off, they were slightly cheaper than Halfords. Nowhere near as good as Tayna.co.uk, which were 40% cheaper again.
Similar on brake fluid. 1/2 a litre, 12 quid at Halfords. One litre, branded, 7.50 delivered from eBay.
Generalising there somewhat! Trade prices are reasonable, and the batteries are absolutely fine - at least you can exchange them easily and nationwide if/when they play up! Agree that ECP is becoming more retail orientated and losing its way. Always pisses me off how long you often wait to get served too!Similar on brake fluid. 1/2 a litre, 12 quid at Halfords. One litre, branded, 7.50 delivered from eBay.
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