I live in Portland, Oregon - and am fortunate to have IPD 10 minutes away and a Volvo dealership parts counter about 5 minutes away. I have had good luck with eBay for some cosmetic stuff, and have had really good luck with people parting out cars on CraigsList. I get to come see the car and pick the stuff I need/want and maybe pick up a spare, too. We purchased my girlfriend's 1985 240 wagon 6 months ago, and with some patience and attention to detail, the car looks almost showroom new. Lots of new little bits that didn't cost much, but make a huge difference in overall appearance and performance - all for much less than a few new car payments.
I like to check a few placed (IPD, Volvo Dealer, FCP Groton, CraigsLIst), then decide how much my time is worth and how much I really want to spend. We want to keep this car for a long time, so we see these parts as investments.
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