German Repair parts shortages?

[HughO]

Europe's industry is in big trouble right now with sky high fossil energy prices and sectors that need gas as feedstock to their manufacturing like metals, glass , casting and smelting are being hit especially hard. If Germany cannot access enough energy soon I think we will see our quality german repair parts drying up for our old diesels. There is Asia of course but It might be time to get essential parts you need from Pelican while the shelves are still full. If you don't think a recession is immanent, you probably haven't been paying attention. Supply line issues will be with us for the future.

[vstech]

Or get a few spare cars for parts like I did…

[barry12345]

Old days are gone. Average lifespan of vehicles on the road are probably declining in years. Not profitable enough anymore to supply parts for older cars. For lack of parts demand.

I look around at the shopping malls. The vast majority of cars are much newer percentagewise than they used to be. Years ago you could keep an old car on the road using professional mechanics. Gets far too expensive these days. So the majority of cars hit the wrecking yards earlier.

Just one reality of the times we live in. Also in general the quality of cars may have been sinking over the years. Today for the new costs there are a huge amount of brands to stay away from. Unless one has no concern at all about ownership costs I suppose.

[BillGrissom]

Biggest problem I see is too many different vehicles. Every time I look, I see a new model or even a new brand, and the Chinese have only begun to sell in the U.S. It would be impossible to source parts for all of them without the web. But I still wonder if you will find parts for some when 15 years old, or perhaps like Harbor Freight tools where no parts are available.

In the 1960's, it was mostly the big three, with a few models each, declining AMC, vanishing Studebaker and others, VW, and a few quirky Euro and Jap cars. Much early, the Model T dominated so much that supposedly small town stores carried suspension parts.