Bikes > Blogs > Official Motortopia Blog > Where Do You Go for the Info?
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Where Do You Go for the Info?
Oct 21, 2008 | Views: 280
I read auto parts catalogs like a kid reads the Sears Christmas Wish Book. I spend happy hours flipping the pages of the latest Summit or YearOne catalog, reading descriptions and specs, checking to see how much parts cost. Before the next issue arrives the pages have folded corners and sometimes the cover is missing.
Imagine the shock I felt when I asked a vendor at a car show for a catalog and he handed me a CD. A CD? I love my laptop but really… I do not want to surf the web in the garage where we usually are when we need to check the price of a part or to see if it’s even available. Grease, chemicals and such don’t mix well with a standard, non-industrial type laptop. That’s why we searched until we found a print copy of the service manual for our car instead of buying the CDs/DVDs that are available. Who wants to run to the computer in the house to look up something in the service manual?
This got me thinking about where I go for information to research, purchase, repair and enjoy classics and muscle cars.
Truthfully I do a lot of car research on the web. There are great people on sites like Motortopia. On sites sub-groups form; Corvette owners or Ford truck owners or people from a particular state begin to communicate. They share ideas, experiences and information that you can’t get at your local speed shop or auto parts store any more. (Warning: some tech forums aren’t heavily used and your car can become an antique while you wait for a reply to a technical question.)
I compare prices on the web, too. After I’ve reviewed the catalogs, found the part number and price, then I go to the PC to see if I can find it cheaper. I also check out the going prices of muscle cars to see how much I’ll have to save for the next project. The same as with parts, different vendors can have very different prices on muscle cars for sale! Car enthusiast magazines are an awesome resource, too. But yes, I want to read them in my hand and not on the computer screen as some now offer.
While print and online sources give immediate answers, there are many times talking to a person live can’t be replaced. Casual conversations at car shows and cruises have given us some true gems of information that we didn’t even know we needed…not to mention referrals to body shops or car parts places that specialize in just the one missing piece we’d been looking for. I’ve even had the good fortune to meet up with people at car shows that I’d only known before online. That’s the best of both worlds coming together.
So where do you get your information? What is the best source for you? What magazine, catalog or site (besides Motortopia) couldn’t you do without?
Imagine the shock I felt when I asked a vendor at a car show for a catalog and he handed me a CD. A CD? I love my laptop but really… I do not want to surf the web in the garage where we usually are when we need to check the price of a part or to see if it’s even available. Grease, chemicals and such don’t mix well with a standard, non-industrial type laptop. That’s why we searched until we found a print copy of the service manual for our car instead of buying the CDs/DVDs that are available. Who wants to run to the computer in the house to look up something in the service manual?
This got me thinking about where I go for information to research, purchase, repair and enjoy classics and muscle cars.
Truthfully I do a lot of car research on the web. There are great people on sites like Motortopia. On sites sub-groups form; Corvette owners or Ford truck owners or people from a particular state begin to communicate. They share ideas, experiences and information that you can’t get at your local speed shop or auto parts store any more. (Warning: some tech forums aren’t heavily used and your car can become an antique while you wait for a reply to a technical question.)
I compare prices on the web, too. After I’ve reviewed the catalogs, found the part number and price, then I go to the PC to see if I can find it cheaper. I also check out the going prices of muscle cars to see how much I’ll have to save for the next project. The same as with parts, different vendors can have very different prices on muscle cars for sale! Car enthusiast magazines are an awesome resource, too. But yes, I want to read them in my hand and not on the computer screen as some now offer.
While print and online sources give immediate answers, there are many times talking to a person live can’t be replaced. Casual conversations at car shows and cruises have given us some true gems of information that we didn’t even know we needed…not to mention referrals to body shops or car parts places that specialize in just the one missing piece we’d been looking for. I’ve even had the good fortune to meet up with people at car shows that I’d only known before online. That’s the best of both worlds coming together.
So where do you get your information? What is the best source for you? What magazine, catalog or site (besides Motortopia) couldn’t you do without?
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Read comments on this blog post 1 – 10 of 11
- Oct 29, 2008 at 7:22 pm
- I let my mechanic handle this stuff, and also a guy he knows who belongs to a Chevy club. But I'd rather have a catalog than a CD. A friend just got a new Nissan and she got a CD along with the manual.
- Oct 24, 2008 at 8:41 am
- I like to use JC Whitney, Mustangs and Super FORDS as well.
- Oct 23, 2008 at 11:10 pm
- I like to have a catalog, It's easier to refresh your memory when you have it in print. I print out everything I need from the computer. Word of mouth is the best recommendation.
- Oct 23, 2008 at 9:29 pm
- I like physically holding a magazine and catalogs. Online stuff is ok if the website is cool. But there are too many idiotic websites out there that are just plain stupid and a waste
- Oct 23, 2008 at 4:07 pm
- For a Mopar Enthusiast such as your self, I suggest MOPAR COLLECTERS GUIDE, MOPAR ACTION, and MOPAR MUSCLE! Three of the must have mags on my list.
- Oct 23, 2008 at 2:13 pm
- I agree, I hope the real catalogs continue but I can see the day coming when they go the way of LP's and Cassette tapes...
I deal with a few warehouses that sell to us small-biz types but still like to hit the Summit's Jegs and Doug Herbert sites as far as the 'net goes.
Gene
- Oct 23, 2008 at 8:41 am
- I usually find what I need locally, NAPA, Autozone and checker for new parts. I peruse craigslist daily for anything I might need for the old ones.
- Oct 22, 2008 at 10:24 pm
- Well for me it subjective to Corvette outlets. Ya'll all know I'm a car guy with Corvettes. My parts suppliers are pretty much limited to specialized vendors. There are many out there but for the quickest deliveries of the best quality parts and the best prices, I order from Ecklers and Mid-America.
- Oct 22, 2008 at 9:12 pm
- Wow! Some great new resources, Jerry! Thanks much.
- Oct 22, 2008 at 1:22 pm
- This is one more that I think is pretty good. www.ididitinc.com for steering columns and accessories. I suggest not ordering until you order their free catalog.
Jerry
Bikes > Blogs > Official Motortopia Blog > Where Do You Go for the Info?
