justsqueakingby.com » catalytic converter http://justsqueakingby.com Practical financial advice to revitalize your wallet. Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:06:55 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 Saving Even More Money By Ordering Auto Parts Online http://justsqueakingby.com/2008/deals/saving-even-more-money-by-ordering-auto-parts-online/ http://justsqueakingby.com/2008/deals/saving-even-more-money-by-ordering-auto-parts-online/#comments Wed, 20 Feb 2008 23:15:59 +0000 JSB http://justsqueakingby.com/2008/deals/saving-even-more-money-by-ordering-auto-parts-online/ Earlier this month I outlined how I saved some money by buying a radiator online and having a local mechanic install it. Well, I’ve once again saved a pretty decent amount of money by shopping online for car parts. This time I had to get a new exhaust. After talking to a mechanic, I quickly discovered that the most expensive part I needed was the catalytic converter. For my particular application, the price ranged from $200 to $350. That didn’t include any of the hardware or gaskets and I still needed an intermediate pipe and a muffler. Those numbers, to say the least, didn’t make me happy.

So I hopped online and visited the same site I bought my radiator from earlier this month. It only took me about 30 minutes to pinpoint all the parts I needed. I ended up ordering the following parts:

  • Catalytic Converter
  • Intermediate Pipe with center muffler
  • Rear Muffler
  • 3 Gaskets
  • 2 Spring Bolt Kits

The total cost for these parts – $353. That total includes a $30 off coupon I found online and free shipping. (Any order over $50 gets free shipping). So I bought a complete exhaust for a little more than one catalytic converter would have cost me here in town.

Because I got a good deal last time, I called the mechanic who installed my radiator. He remembered me and said he could install the exhaust for $80.

Doing a little bit of research saved me a fair amount of money – thought it’s hard to say how much exactly because I never really got a quote for anything other than a catalytic converter. If I had to guess, I’d say I saved at least $200. Some people might say it’s a hassle to order the parts online and then lug them to the garage, but I’m happy to do so – especially if that extra little bit of work saves me a few hundred dollars.

How about you? Are you someone who’s willing to do a little extra work to save money on things?

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