• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

Why is Everything So Expensive?

Share this page

AngliaGT

AngliaGT

Great Pumpkin
Silver
Country flag
Offline
When I had the Cortina fixed by a shop (electrical-
problem),the replaced the points - $35.00 +!!
When I asked my friend who works at the parts place,
he told it that was correct - it's a "supply & demand" thing.
I need an owner's manual for our '95 Dakota.I've seen
them on eBay - $40,or so.I also contacted a seller on craigs-
list that wanted the same amount.When I made a counter offer,
I was told "No thanks!".

- Doug
 
Why? 'Cause we're old and remember how much things used to cost. On the other hand, my Mazda is misfiring and we think it is the coils and they are $70 each and there are 6 and you have to remove the plenum to install three.
 
How many people need points for a Ford Cortina these days... supply and demand it is. And probably not much supply or demand for manuals for a '95 Dakota either. Heck, I'm happy that I can get the parts I can for the MG as easily as I can.
 
Points for that probably fit other cars too.
Can't really be hens teeth
 
Was the 35 materials and labor. I think it probably was which is about correct
 
You can always go to a resturant and bring your own uncooked food and ask for them to cook it and charge you. i think you know what will happen.
 
Don,

The price was JUST the points.

John,

What's that got to do with the price of points?

Jody,

Thanks! - I have a Haynes manual,+ I've got the factory -
service manuals coming,but still need the owner's manual.
If this was a Lotus Cortina,or something unusual,
I might understand the price,but this is a fairly common
vehicle.

- Doug
 
AngliaGT said:
If this was a Lotus Cortina,or something unusual,
I might understand the price,but this is a fairly common
vehicle.

- Doug
Click to expand...

Sorry to burst your bubble Doug but if it's got points, it ain't common. Not for 35 years or so. (sorry) :nonod:
grin.gif
 
:lol: Waay too true!

That's not taught in ASE training anymore. :wink:


My fee would be at $125/hr for anything over 1975 manufacture... and NOT by any ~book~ rate.

Older cars got discounted: $85/hr, still no "book time". It takes whatever time it takes. Don't like it? Find another wrench or do it on your own. Sorry.
 
Kellys and I were just discussing this in the grocery store. They didn't have points on sale either. IMO $35 is way too high for points.
 
Geez Doug, 8 bucks from our local flaps
But that is no what a shop will charge. But 35 is a little out of line. I could see 20
 
You guys should be happy your not building a T series! Most other parts are cheap by comparison. Supply and demand. Just dig deeper in the pockets, grin and bare it, it ain't going to get better.
As the saying goes, "If you want to play, you've got to pay"! Sorry. :rolleyes:

Knitting is cheaper! :devilgrin:
 
I paid $35 bucks for 2 sets of points for my very early TR2. Different points than a TR3-4.The parts guys show them in the catalogs,but no one had them. Not even the distributor specific guys had them. Stock up on stuff if you're going to keep the car. If you see the real NOS stuff for sale,jump on it. As for the total bill,Im sure being in the land of Lala{California} has something to do with the super high price of repairs. State,Federal,and Environmental Regs,High Taxes and Insurances,all take their toll.You can always do the repairs your self
 
we buy things like points and filters - or anything else we might need when we go to shows as they are normally very good prices. So I have a box full of service parts, switches, relays and other things ready for when needed. Sometimes original parts come up cheeply on ebay so we buy those too. But then again we do our own work on the cars.
 
15 years of professional wrenching, and in that time (Not including the vintage shop) I set points on 1 vehicle that was a customer car. It was an old Chevy van. Had to set them using dwell.
Like John and Doc say Points ain't common anymore. as a matter of fact, a lot of the younger tecs are lost if you give them a car without a plug for a scan-tool. At least the on-the-job trained ones. they only learn what comes through the door. Tecs with a degree usually have had exposure to the old stuff in school at least. It just gets glanced over because, like I said, It's a rare day if a car with points or a carburetor comes through the door. Mechanical fuel pumps went out with carbs too.
 
Back
Top