* Competition and Market Saturation: The US market has a larger number of parts suppliers for American cars due to the higher volume of vehicles sold, leading to increased competition and lower prices.
* Manufacturing Location: While some parts for American cars are sourced internationally, a significant portion is manufactured domestically or regionally, keeping transportation costs lower. Japanese manufacturers often source parts from their home country, leading to potentially higher shipping and import costs.
* Part Complexity: Some argue that Japanese vehicles use more advanced and complex parts, leading to potentially higher manufacturing and replacement costs.
It's crucial to check prices for specific parts for your specific car models before making any assumptions. Websites like RockAuto.com allow you to compare prices across various makes and models.