Exterior Car Door Handles

Upkeep for cars can be a hassle and replacing exterior car door handles can be no exception. For all the talk that people here about the amazingly high cost of living to live in places like New York City and London one seldom discussed topic is the tremendous amount of money that can be saved by living somewhere that public transportation is so prevalent that it is not necessary to own a car (or two). Cars and trucks can be very expensive in many respects. For starters the most obvious expense is the actual cost of the car. While this may seem like the largest of all the expenses associated with owning a vehicle it is really only the tip of the iceberg. However you look at the initial cost there is a significant amount of money involved. If someone is in the position to pay all cash for their vehicle true accounting practices would suggest that in determining the ultimate cost of the car that someone analyzing this situation not only account for the actual lump sum spent at time zero but also account for the opportunity cost in terms of conservative investment of that money over the lifetime of the car. Logic dictates that if the purchaser of the car did not have to spend the money on the car they would presumably be able to at minimum invest the money in a safe asset class that would conservative yield between two and four percent per year. In reality of course there is a small possibility the investment could be lost and also a small possibility the money could go towards a home run investment that quadruples the initial principal. While we all realize these extremes have very small possibilities of occurring given an investment in a conservative asset class (think treasury bills) it is worth mentioning to further the discussion that all assumptions in this scenario are just that - assumptions. The two to four percent per year that was previously mentioned is just a benchmark for estimation purposes. Actual results will vary but for the purposes of exploring this formula it is important to fill as many variables as possible with as realistic data as possible.

Unlike bedroom door handles getting a new exterior car door handle is not as simple as going down to Lowe's or Home Depot and simple picking up a replacement for $40. Depending on the age, make, and model of the car or truck you're working with the time line for receiving a matching replacement can take weeks. Part of the expense for both newer and older car door handles is in the fact that cars today are basically sophisticated computers on wheels and as such everything must be linked up in sync. This was not the case just a generation ago. More than ever computer sophistication has increased the hassle and expense of many once simple tasks like replacing exterior car door handles. It is important to keep in mind that unlike run of the mill vintage door hardware for doors within a home only certain dealerships have access to the equipment required to sink of a replacement door handle with the original machine. The expense for car maintenance has become increasingly a problem for individuals, especially during slow economic times when certain industries more than others have been extremely affected. Getting a handle on door handles costs is really just the beginning of the multitude of costs associated with automobile ownership. Insurance costs are pricey and if you ever get in an accident and need the insurance your monthly payments will go up. In many instances for younger Americans car insurance quotes can be prohibitively expensive and many people illegally are essentially forced to drive uninsured. The reality of this situation simply adds to the costs associated with insurance for the rest of us. What the long term solution to this is unclear. Perhaps it will take an act of congress stepping in the way they've done for health care insurance for there to be some legitimate solution to the car insurance issue.

Among the other issues facing drivers as the annual cost adds up is the very expensive issue of car maintenance. Without a comprehensive coverage policy many Americans are in positions where they are forced to spend over time more than their cars are even worth to continue to fix vehicles that repeatedly break down. The solution of how to handle this is not clear but one suggestion is that car owners take more personal responsibility in properly practicing preventative maintenance to lessen the likelihood of traumatic events occurring that can instantly zap thousands of dollars from an individuals checking account through no fault of their own. Everything from tires, to oil, to windshield wiper blades cost money. This does not even begin to delve into all the expenses associated with all of the increasing complicated inner workings of the car. Any routine check in to a dealership is going to instantly run a few hundred dollars and in most dealerships even a routine problem quickly ticks up to a bill of over a thousand dollars. Unfortunately the best way to combat these problems it to either have a car (probably newer) with a comprehensive maintenance coverage policy or to learn about items like fixing and replacing exterior car door handles yourself.

Read more...