Key

Key

As some of you may or may not know, I recently bought a car. It was a replacement for my old beater that I'd been driving around in for the last 13 years and quarter-million miles. The new purchase was a used car. I believe I've probably bought my last new car. I just don't think you're getting the value from a new car that you get with a “newer” used car. And a lot of cars last a long time nowadays so you're not taking as great a chance on a previously-owned one as might have been the case years ago.

This wasn't the first automobile purchase I've made in my life. I've bought others over the years, both new and used. So I'm not totally clueless when dancing the “buy a car” cha-cha. The first step in this dance is the decision about what make and model would be acceptable. (1-2 cha, cha, cha.) The next step is the calculation as to what we can afford. (3-4 cha, cha, cha.) The last step in the dance is to amble around the car lots and to complete the dance between the salesmen and yourself. (5-6 cha, cha, cha.)

Been there and done that. I'm certainly not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, but not totally a doofus either.

This time around we used the internet instead of hitting a half-dozen lots and did most of our looking and selecting online. This time the dance was much easier.

So...

We ended up buying a 6-year-old Honda Civic. A nice, dependable car – not heavy on the flashiness but stylish. At least in our eyes. We were comfortable with the choice and liked the ride and the feel of the car. And it was our third Civic. The comfort level was high.

After having the car about a week we realized that it only came with one key. Uh-oh! This was a fault that we needed to rectify before too much time went by as my wife and I always have a spare of each others keys in case of one of us locks their keys in the car or does some other stupid move. We've always done that.

Before continuing I want you to be aware that our previous cars were 1998 models. That's important to the rest of the story.

We'd received a small income tax return check from the state late last week, so I told the wife it'd be a good time to get the spare key made for her.

We went to a local hardware store on Saturday morning to have this little chore accomplished. I'd gone to that particular store a couple years ago with my son to get a spare key made for his car, another 1998 model, an Accord this time. It was one of the newer “smart” keys and had a chip in it. The hardware store was able to make a new one for him and program it at a cost of around $50. I thought that was an atrocious price but, what can you do?

You see, I'm one of the old timers and remember when getting a spare key was a dollar or two. So you got a few, stuck one in the house, gave one to each member of the family and no one was bothered to give up their key so someone else could borrow the car. It was the way things were done then and it was the way things were done on our older cars.

I guess life was simpler then.

Anyhow, we went into the hardware store and I told the man there that we needed a key made. When I showed him my key he stopped me and said that they couldn't make copies there. It was one of the newer “special” ones and was unable to be copied by him. He showed me the reason. The keys edges, where the grooves on a regular key would be were smooth. The grooves were on another layer of the key (both sides) and were grooved on that, exterior layer. In other words, it took a very special machine to cut that key. Apparently ones that weren't available to anyone but a dealer.

That news disheartened me. I knew that a dealer would charge more. But I didn't know HOW much more. I thanked the man at the hardware store, took a deep breath and headed out the door and up the road to the Honda dealership.

I pulled in, parked the car and went to the parts department inside our local dealership. I showed the technician the key and said I wanted a copy made. And that started the process. They had to get the VIN number of the car to make the key. They also had to move the car into the shop. Haven't got a clue for what reason.

An hour later (that's not a misprint – it was an hour) I was handed my new key and a bill. Let me relate the charges for your perusal.

Charge one: One key – blank $58.02

Charge two: Programming charge $25.50

Charge three: Shop supplies $3.83

Total charges: $92.81.

I want you to read that again. NINETY-TWO DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-ONE CENTS!!! For a KEY!!!

I can feel the anger again rise in me as I type this. For a doggone KEY! Something that used to cost a dollar or two! Something that should STILL cost a dollar or two!

I looked at the new key laying in my hand. Not gold-plated. Not ruby/diamond incrusted. Not finely-wrought silver or platinum. Steel, plastic and an electronic chip.

Once more before I continue – NINETY-TWO DOLLARS AND EIGHTY-ONE CENTS!!!

Sigh...

I think the shop charges that they padded to the bill at the end were the ne plus ultra of the charges. Shop charges (and I quote) “cover disposals of fluids, tires, rags, filters and any hazardous materials.” I'm no mechanic, but gee whiz, Nelly. You made me a KEY!

Sigh (again)...

So I told my wife to be careful of the new key as there wouldn't be another one.

By the way, I tried the key and it did work. Thank God for small miracles.

As an aside to those who read my last blog about saying goodbye to my old car. My neighbor bought it. I told him all the things that were wrong with it but he said he was a good mechanic and could fix most of her ailments. He had the asking price in cash so I handed her over to him. He's already put new rubber on her wheels and is getting her clutch repaired. I think she's in good hands. And... I get to see her most days!

That's nice.