Or Best Offer
Hello, Honda Tuning. I would like to start by saying thank you for providing me with the necessary ideas and advice to bring my project this far. I am currently the owner of a '95 Civic coupe with big plans; right now though, that's about it. I had built a few other street monsters in the past but this is going to be my first track car. Looking back, I don't think I had this much trouble getting the parts I needed. Part of that is because, when buying used parts, it seems as though everyone is trying to juice as much for each part as they can and aren't interested in haggling. Secondly, there just seems to be a lack of money in my account to make it all happen. I thought that it was just me until I posted a few parts for sale online and those who were interested in them all had to make special arrangements to get what they needed. This could be due to the economy or, more likely, the deterioration of a culture. With the loss of Turbo magazine and the predicted bankruptcy of a few of our favorite parts manufacturers, it seems all but definite that this culture is to fall apart. I do think that with the help of the diehards that we can bring it back. Instead of hating on the people with bad mods and bad cars, help them make their cars gems. I've been doing this for the past few years and, although it is demanding, the reward is amazing and it comes back threefold. Most importantly, parts need to be available and at a lower price. As a group we have to remember to help others and be willing to make some deals when selling parts or taking trades. We all enjoy tuning, and when it comes down to it, we all have to wait for parts and, occasionally, we have to wait so long that we have to scrap the project. Let's try to keep the tuning market alive and always be willing to help our fellow tuner.
-Jake Koenig, Manitowoc, WI
We agree with you on your last point, Jake, in regards to keeping the tuning market alive and helping others, but not much else. Somewhere along the line, an inclination toward haggling became prerequisite to selling used car parts. It shouldn't be that way. To the extent that the seller isn't looking to blatantly rip someone off, it's his or her prerogative to set an appropriate price. The marketplace should determine whether or not the item sells, not some kid PM'ing the seller with ridiculous, low-ball offers or off-the-wall trades. If the price is too high, buyers can look somewhere else, which will ultimately force the seller to lower it. The term "or best offer" has been so widely misinterpreted that it has little meaning anymore. We'll go one step further and disagree with you that the so-called "culture" that you refer to is indeed deteriorating. Enthusiasm for the Honda brand is stronger than ever, but you'd have to have been involved for more than "a few years" to recognize this. Many who've strayed from the brand at the turn of the decade in search of factory-turbocharged power, AWD configurations, or gas misers have returned. But you need to look at the big picture to see this. Helping your fellow enthusiast by lending tools or a workspace, or by simply sharing your knowledge is what will push our industry in the right direction, not selling used parts for low-ball prices or manufacturers undercutting one another with the cheapest part. The only thing this will do is weaken our industry with inferior parts. Cheer up, Jake, the tuning market is alive and well, and will continue to stay strong so long as guys like you are willing to offer help when help is needed.
...
>>next page