Expensive parts/accessories
 

Is it just me or does anyone else think the parts/accessories for our cars are crazy expensive? I can understand the performance parts being expensive but some of the stuff out there is ridiculous (Ex. $80 for BRZ Fuel Tank STICKER). I hope this is because it's still early in the game and there aren't many companies out there yet producing stuff for the FR-S/BRZ.

OEM stuff is universally expensive.

I agree completely. $100 for stick-on chrome fender trim, ~$750 for that skinny little plastic "diffuser" which diffuses nothing but your cash, $80 gas door sticker, the list goes on. I understand the need to make profit but really? It sucks because I really, really want the diffuser. Even if I get it at dealer cost (which I can't), it's still like $700. Time for someone to make replicas, only ones that actually extend over the exhaust and act as a diffuser.

Look at porsche parts and youll redefine what expensive me ants; its all relative.

people still buy it so that's why they do it.

Want to be happy with car part purchases? Stop looking/shopping by price, and shop by value.

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphoto...40581423_n.jpg

Like the $900 rear end cover?

the parts are made in japan, and the yen to USD conversion isn't exactly in our favor.

Exactly.

What you're talking about are not "parts", they are fashion accessories and priced accordingly.

It is some of it, but not a large part. After all the whole car would be affected by this.

There is no way, for example, that the headlights are 10% of the cost of the entire car, yet that is their replacement cost.

Nothing unique of this to Toyota/Subaru of course.

They also like to add on options to the cars so you are FORCED to pay for them like I was. I found my BRZ in another state and drove to get it, and it had that wonderful $100 stick on chrome fuel door sticker, plus the chrome vents, and a few other things. They wouldn't take it off the invoice even though I didn't want them.

This.
Even if someone makes one just like the OEM diffuser, if it could be sold for like $200 I would buy that in an instant. $750 is just a stupid tax (sorry for those of you who bit the bullet and paid for it). C'mon, it's a bolt-on piece of unpainted black plastic. Maybe Carsmo or 5Axis could make it.

the car wouldn't sell if they priced it any higher given the current competition. i'm sure there's some hedging going on to offset the currency conversion.

speaking of hedging, that's probably why those replacement headlights are so expensive -- to offset the price of the vehicle. if toyota isn't going to make that much on the entire vehicle, then they will price gouge the replacement parts. after all, you can decide not to buy a car if it's too expensive, but you can't really buy any alternatives when your headlights shatter from an accident.

no one will ever know unless your sources are directly from toyota's internal finance.

My last car was a Infiniti M45 and they make absolutely nothing for it in the US. Everything had to be sourced from VIP makers in Japan and nobody stocked it so it all required crazy shipping.

Everything cost an arm and a leg, bodykits started at $4,000 and the only performance mod was a stroker motor from IMPUL for $15,000.

The car before that was a 911 and those parts make the parts for our cars look like they should be sold in walmart.

I am very happy with the offerings and price points for parts for this car.