Scion is a division of Toyota Motor Corporation. Intended solely for the North American market, Scion cars are models not previously sold in the U.S. The intended market is young and “hip.” The marketing hinges on Japanese youth culture, and is slanted toward exclusiveness and coolness by using so-called “viral” marketing techniques.

The cars, however, are just Toyotas. Toyota has invested a lot in tooling left-hand-drive versions of these cars. Intended to have a separate sales network, Scion is now an auxiliary brand at Toyota dealers. This is fortunate for Scion owners, because service is typical high-quality Toyota. Toyota dealers have mixed feelings. On the one hand, it brings in buyers who wouldn’t consider purchasing a Toyota. On the other hand, Toyota is popular with the American youth market and an additional line forces the dealers to pay for keeping more cars on their lot.

Scion models are simpler than the range of Toyota cars, and they are cheaper and easier to repair. To save on investment, Scion uses engines that are emissions-certified by Toyota. This means that parts and repairs are straightforward, and Toyota mechanics can do the work. Parts will mostly be bought at the dealer, because the cars haven’t been on sale long enough for the aftermarket or salvage industry to build up an inventory. Assuming that Scion survives the recession, parts supplies should increase with each passing year. Commonality of parts with Toyotas ensures that they will never be complete orphans.

Scions are offered with few options, so finding the correct part will not be a problem. Still, the VIN and under-hood engine code should accompany trips to the parts store or dealer. Being Toyota products, Scions should not be needing many repairs in the near future. The brand has only been sold in the U.S. since 2004, and only high-mileage cars will be needing more than routine service. It will be interesting to see how Scion’s foray into the world of unusual and entertaining cars turns out. It has certainly resulted in a more colorful stream of traffic on the streets.

Porsche is just another auto maker, or so some say. The truth is that Porsche uses processes and components that aren’t found on other cars. Even the Italian exotics lack the extreme precision found in Porsche’s products. This makes the parts issue a difficult one for mechanics and owners.

Mechanically, Porsche shares no parts or technology with any other maker. Parts can sometimes be swapped between different Porsche models, but not with other manufacturers. This has to do with the concept of excellence, a word frequently used with Porsche cars. The engineers at Porsche practice it religiously. They have designed and evolved the car and its philosophy for sixty years. The concept is simple: no part is included that doesn’t enhance the car’s performance. What owners call excellence is actually thoroughness, and closer to the practices of the aircraft industry than to the automotive world. This means there are no half-measures to be taken in the repair of these cars; dealer-sourced parts, or good used ones, are a must.

Porsche dealers are very good about carrying a complete supply of needed parts, and their network makes anything available within a day. These are complex cars, and have so much technology crammed under their sheet metal that a non-specialist mechanic is not going to be able to deal with it. An example is a good body shop that repaired a 911 rocker panel which had been squashed against a curb. They didn’t know that there is a large-diameter pipe behind the rocker panel that carries oil to the cooler, and it had been collapsed. A few miles down the road from the body shop the engine seized up, totally ruined because the owner had not taken it to a specialist.

So, when it comes to parts for a Porsche, the only source is Porsche or a reliable specialist salvage yard. The exception is high-performance parts, and we know that they are sold without warranty for a very good reason. Porsche ownership is not to be undertaken lightly or on the cheap, but it is hugely rewarding.

Plymouth was the bargain alternative to buying a Chrysler. Some say that was Dodge’s role, and today that is what it has become. But Chrysler couldn’t trust that their customers would go down the street to the Dodge dealer. There was too much danger that they would stop at a Chevrolet or Ford dealer on the way. So they had the Plymouth line, identical to the Dodge line, waiting on the lot with the high-dollar Chryslers.

Of course, now that Chrysler has been rationalized, there is no Plymouth. But there are millions of Plymouths plying the American highways, and they will all need repair. As expected, parts are very easy to find, both at the dealer and the local parts store. It’s still important to present the classic information when buying parts, though. Make, year, and model are usually all that is needed.

Plymouths, after years of co-production with Dodge, have fallen prey to the same problem as Chevys. Again, the buyers assume that “they’re all the same.” And, with Plymouth, they’ve an even chance of being right. Still, especially with engines, they are not all the same. In the early eighties they used three different four-cylinder engines. Many owners don’t have a clue and will just say “four cylinder” in answer to engine questions. Later mini-vans have three different six-cylinder engines, as well. For this reason it is important to have the VIN when shopping for parts. Every good counterman can read the VIN and determine which engine is under the hood.

Used parts for Plymouths, even some body parts, are frequently identical to those of Dodge. Here, though, one has to trust the salvage yard’s expertise. Given accurate information he can find the part from a Dodge that will do the job of a missing Plymouth part. It is never good for the parts shopper to assume that he knows more than the professional counterman. Salvage yards are full of used Plymouth parts, mostly because of their low intrinsic value, so it’s a good idea to consider any major repairs carefully before spending money on an old car.

Mercury is a division of Ford. It has gone through changes over the years, and its parent company has not always given it the best treatment. But it has been involved in some interesting marketing attempts, and has been the home of several entertaining cars. Ford has treated it as a mere adjunct to the high-profit Lincoln models, but even that has changed over the years.

Mercury was a brand of its own in the fifties. Although they used Ford engines, the cars were different in appearance, and they were aimed at a separate market. Ford’s failed attempt to expand their market share with the Edsel scared management to the extent that they reduced the Mercury division to the sale of rebadged Fords. Mercury dealerships have sometimes been given imported Fords to sell, usually European models. Ford felt that the Mercury franchise was too small to suffer from the failure of these attempts, and they may have been correct. Some cars on this list are the Pantera, German Capri, Merkur, and Australian Capri. These cars were considered odd by Americans, and none of them sold well.

Repairing a Mercury is exactly like repairing a Ford. While some of the trim and sheet metal is different from the equivalent Ford model, Ford dealers are happy to sell them. Parts are, therefore, easy to obtain. With the exception of Mercury-specific parts, and those of the foreign-made cars, parts are also widely and cheaply available at aftermarket parts stores and salvage yards. VIN numbers are important when parts are needed for the newest cars, but that’s always the case.

Interestingly enough, there is a sales trend applying to the Mercury products of the last half-dozen years that even Ford did not anticipate. Market research shows that Mercury cars and SUVs appeal more strongly to women than their Ford counterparts. Ford has begun to exploit this more openly, and has given Mercury some of the most stylish interiors in the business. This has not affected the parts business much, as women seldom do their own repairs.

Lincoln is the luxury division of Ford. It is traditionally teamed with Mercury in one dealership. Although Lincolns share basic structures and power plants with Ford, they are not always interchangeable. Buying parts for a Lincoln requires a little planning.

Engines in older Lincolns are generally identical to those found in their Ford counterparts. Since the advent of emissions regulations it has been too expensive for Ford to build special versions of any power plant just for Lincoln. Some of the latest models do allow Lincoln a few unique features, resulting in a bit more power, but they are still Ford engines. Transmissions are always shared, as most buyers do not care so long as the car goes when you tell it to.

Sheet metal and trim are completely different on Lincolns, but a number of components are shared beneath the surface. Crash parts for Lincolns are as easily obtained as those for Ford, and Ford dealers will not have any problem furnishing replacements when the Lincoln dealer is not convenient. Most electrical parts are shared between the brands, but Lincoln items are frequently furnished with different finishes or decoration. Depending on the item, one shouldn’t be afraid to give the Ford item a try when the price differential is great.

Undercar components unique to Lincoln are very few. Their exhaust systems frequently will incorporate additional resonators and other features designed to keep the noise level down. Isolators and bushings will sometimes be specified from softer materials for the same purpose. Brakes use materials selected for noise reduction, but very few mechanics will source brake parts at the dealer because of the large price difference. Usually the Lincoln dealer will be the only source for noise abating parts.

Used parts for the Lincoln are readily available, and are preferable to new parts in many instances. Body repair with good used sheet metal is always much cheaper and frequently gives a superior result. Salvage yard operators will know which items from Ford cars can be substituted successfully for Lincoln parts, so don’t hesitate to ask for them.

Land Rover has long set the standard among off road and utility vehicles worldwide. Since 1944, its name has continued to represent durability and reliability. The latest 2010 Land Rover LR2 and LR2 HSE Sport Utility features new trims, color options, and customization options like never before. While shopping for new vehicles, consumers will be pleasantly surpised by these options, which have yet to be disclosed to the general public.

The British-made Land Rover is legendary in its own right. Since 1944, its name has been synonymous with all-terrain maneuverability. As the vehicle of choice for British military squadrons, it must meet specific, stringent guidelines. These guidelines are not easily matched by other competitor makes or models. Likewise, Land Rover auto parts are few and far between, primarily because replacement parts are in less demand. Used or recycled parts are equally hard to find, since the vehicle is less likely to find itself in a used car or salvaged car lot.

Theall-new 2010 Land Rover is highly advanced in terms of all-weather and all-terrain driving capabilities. Modern technological features allows the vehicle to immediately adapt to various and ever-changing road conditions. From climbing mountains to racing along flat, continuous plains, from crossing frozen rivers to blazing through a scorching desert, the Land Rover is designed to conquer them all.

Replacement LandRover auto parts typically require factory direct orders. Few used or recycled parts are available on the market today. Consumers may also find replacement parts at LandRover dealerships or certified Land Rover repair shops.

While the Land Rover in and of itself is a mechanical masterpiece, some consumers prefer to customize their driving experience. Some of the most common after-market Land Rover auto parts include rims, seats, accessories, stereo systems, GPS navigation systems, and storage compartments. While some of these parts can be interchanged easily, others require simple tools and a bit of elbow grease.