Genuine vs. Aftermarket Parts: Making the Right Choice for Your Mazda

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When it comes to fixing your car, are you happy with using aftermarket parts are do you prefer genuine parts for your vehicle? This has been a question that has been disputed over by vehicle owners for decades and probably won’t subside anytime soon.

On the one hand, people believe that genuine car parts are heavily overpriced and unnecessary, and when you can simply purchase an aftermarket part, that’ll do the same thing. So, where does the answer lie? Should you purchase aftermarket parts for your Mazda, or should you go for genuine parts?

What are Genuine Parts?

When we refer to genuine parts, these are the car parts that come differently from Mazda. They’re parts that come directly from the manufacturer and are designed specifically for your vehicle model. Purchasing genuine parts usually comes with a warranty if the part is faulty and statistically, genuine parts are also higher quality, meaning that they’ll last longer.

What are Aftermarket parts?

Aftermarket parts are made by third-party manufacturers to suit the needs of your car, which, in this case, is a Mazda. These parts are usually more affordable and available, making them a convenient solution for people on a budget and with older cars.

1.   Ensuring Quality

When you purchase a Genuine Mazda Part, you’re investing in a component that Mazda engineered and manufactured itself specifically to fit your vehicle. This means you can trust that the quality will be high, ensuring that the part fits perfectly, like the last missing piece of a puzzle. Having this precision will ensure that the part not only functions correctly but also guarantees you that your car will run well with it.

With aftermarket parts, you don’t always know what you’re getting. While you can get high-quality aftermarket parts, the market is also flooded with subpar options, so it becomes a gamble. Finding a trustworthy aftermarket part manufacturer requires time and research, which could be time without a car. Even then, these high-quality parts aren’t guaranteed to work perfectly with your vehicle. So, yes, you might be getting a cheaper part, but how much will it cost you in the long run?

2.   Warranty

Most original parts for a Mazda will have a set mileage that they’re developed for. They’ll also come with a warranty for this mileage, showing you that the manufacturers trust their parts. However, with aftermarket spares, the materials used to make them might be less durable, causing them to wear sooner and giving them less mileage. Aftermarket parts generally don’t come with the same kinds of warranties as well.

Their warranties will vary depending on the product or manufacturer, so there’s some uncertainty already. Once again, because of the saturation in the aftermarket spares market, you’ll probably have to spend a decent amount of time researching manufacturers or suppliers with a good reputation and warranty.

3.   Pricing

There’s a saying, “The poor man always buys the same item twice.” While this isn’t pointing fun at the poor, it is illustrating that when you buy cheap you’ll probably have to replace the item again soon, essentially buying the same product twice.

Aftermarket parts are generally cheaper. This is because they’re more available. On the surface, this might make them more appealing and, in some cases, the better of the two evils. For instance, if you’re in need of repairs ASAP and haven’t got the money for genuine parts. However, when purchasing these parts, you’re making a gamble unless you know 100% that the company you’re buying from has a good reputation.

Genuine Mazda car parts, on the other hand, are going to be more expensive because they come straight from the source. Buying genuine parts is seen as an investment, one where you pay more for quality and reap the benefits of a car that performs well for longer.

Making the right choice: Should you buy genuine or aftermarket parts

When it comes down to it, choosing the original Mazda car parts will always trump getting the aftermarket spares. The reason for this is quality and performance. While some third-party manufacturers make some pretty good spares for Mazda, they’ll still never be the real deal.

However, there is a time when opting for aftermarket parts is necessary. If you’re in a situation where you rely on your car daily and don’t have the finances for the original parts, going for the aftermarket parts is your only choice. Just be sure to do your research well and look for the top-of-the-line aftermarket spares.

Final Thoughts

Hopefully, this puts an end to the debate. Genuine parts are engineered specifically for your car. Because of this, they’re more reliable and will give you better mileage. However, this hasn’t ruled out aftermarket parts yet. They’re a convenient quick fix if you’re unable to purchase the originals.