The influx of diverse car models into the island has raised concerns about the availability of parts for these various imports, but president of the Used Car Dealers Association (UCDA) Ian Lyn says that there is no cause for alarm.

According to Lyn, auto parts stores either stock accessories and parts for most of the popular brands, or are able to import them “within a week or two”.

“There should not be a problem there are so many parts stores if they haven’t got a part it can be imported quickly,” Lyn told Auto. “Less than five per cent of vehicle owners should have difficulty getting parts,” he added.

Lyn advised that any purchaser having problems after purchasing a car from a dealer should report the case to the Consumer Affairs Commission to have it properly addressed.

He said, however, that instances of individuals importing specialised vehicles could pose problems with the availability of parts, but added that those cases were few.

Errol Brennan, managing director of Sunshine Auto Parts, argues that while sourcing parts is not a problem the current economic climate could make it difficult. In addition Brennan warns against persons buying rare or discontinued models.

“It’s like everything else . you should be prudent,” Brennan cautioned. “Sometimes you find that something is cheap but there are reasons, sometimes it’s that the vehicles have been discontinued,” he said.

Brennan, who has been in the parts business almost thirty years, advises that consultations about local support service for a vehicle should be done before a purchase.

“There are definitely issues getting parts for some of the less popular models,” Andre Hylton of Andre’s Auto Supply agreed.

Hylton also recommends that unusual models be checked before a purchase to be certain that there is local technical support.

He explained that many used vehicles imported into Jamaica were not manufactured for the export market and therefore support, in some cases, was lacking.

“If you are going to buy a car that there are only five in Jamaica then you are going to have a problem with parts,” Hylton remarked, adding that the costs for these are likely to be high.

Typically new-car dealers routinely offer service contracts and stock parts for models they sell.

However, some authorised dealers also stock parts for modes not sold through the dealership, or offer special-order facilities.

Toyota Jamaica for instance tells Auto that they sell parts for the Tundra and Tacoma pick-ups although the dealership does not market the vehicles.

“We stock service parts for them and some parts are interchangeable with other models that we sell,” marketing and sales manager Howard Foster said.

He added that most Toyota parts not normally carried in stock were sourced from a warehouse in Fort Lauderdale. “We can get it quickly,” he declared.

ATL Motors, Honda dealer, say they also offer special orders for Honda parts not normally carried in stock.

“If its service parts we have it but certain parts, on the Acura for example, would have to be a special order,” parts manager Mark Wilmot said.