Guess the cost of the part
 

When I started flying I knew that it was going to be an expensive pasttime, at least the way I chose to do it it is. My decision to buy my very own aircraft took this to a new level but I thought I had researched the costs from insurance to new engines to resprays to avionics upgrades and thought I could have no big suprises.

Well I have been proved wrong ...

I have just received a quote for a new Cessna 172N door shell. It took a while to get one but it was well worth the wait as it has amused me no end.

The question is how much was the quote? I will accept to the nearest $5,000.
Prize? None.
Clue? I will be looking for a good second hand door!

(This is open to anyone not involved with getting the quote as you will spoil the fun).

$18,500?????????

Good guess JB, but you are cold! :eek:

Sitting down waiting to hear the exact price.... can't be that much surely???

£257.23 - removed from the one that went through the hedge after a poor (complete lack) of weight and balance calcuation.

OC619

OpenCirrus619 (or anyone else for that matter!) if you know of a good second 172N door (or even two) going anywhere, even if it has twigs sticking out of it, please PM me! :ok:

The cost of a replacement lower cowl is in the order of $30,000..
..so my guess is $23,249.95

Dubtrub, you disappoint me! you are cold! :eek:

I'm goin' out on a limb.... $35k.... :ooh:

The door will cost more than a limb! you are cold, but getting warmer! :eek:

:ok: Can't resist - $54,500

EGBKFLYER, now you are being ridiculous :}

Ok, I'll tell you .....

List price, without attachments, spraying or fitting is .... (drum roll)

$41, 437.00 !!!!!!!!!!!!! :eek:

I told them I would let them know :hmm:

:eek: :eek: :eek:
I don't think I'm the one being ridiculous!!! That makes car repair look like a Ryanair ticket. I wonder how much a whole Cessna would cost if you bought it in parts like that....

OK - I'll 'fess up. I've been for an early Friday lunch and was being a little silly :O

OC619

P.S. There was a very sad looking 172 at XXXX a couple of years back which had gone through the hedge at the end of the runway - allegedly well overloaded. Supposedly the pilot had been heard to say "It would have been fine if we hadn't then hit the lamp-post on the other side of the road" :sad:

P.P.S. Can't you get an entire 172N, keep the doors and throw the rest away for only a little more than the cost of 1 of these doors?

$41K - thats impressive!

I'm kind of assuming that its not a door shell for a brand new current model C172, and that a 2006 C172 has a different door to that of a (e.g) 1973 C172.

So its fair to assume that there are no door shells in stock, and that someone, somewhere has the original tooling to make a door outer and and a door inner panel.

Whoever has the tooling will have to fit the tools to a press, stamp out the parts, roll the edges together and prime them.

I'm still assuming that these doors are un-trimmed, no glazing, handles, interior trim etc.

But its still an eye-watering wodge of dosh - £23,587, I do hope that includes VAT.

For that sort of money, you could actual buy a complete C172.

OC619, You are a tease. :{

The thing is my doors aren't that bad but have very slight stress damage where the door stops are fitted to door skin inside. I can get used ones from the States but shipping makes it more expensive, albeit not $41,437.

I could get a 172N shipped over with good doors, swap mine over and sell the Cessna for slightly less due to the doors, I might even make some money.

Kolibear : Yep untrimmed, no glazing etc, just the shell. It's for a 1977 172N.

many yrs ago I had both alternators on Seneca "fighting each other" - eventually one failed so decided to replace them both at the same time - about £400 each i think........ " do you want the rubber drives as well ?" said the man from Piper dealer near oxford..... " just as well I say" thinking might add £30 to bill................ £ 1100 + VAT each !!!!!!!!! these are little cotton reel size toothed drive with rubber ( cushion) inserts ---- now that was 18 yrs ago darent think what they are nowadays

Someone recently asked for the price of the nose bug on an early Bonanza. This is the formed metal sheet part that makes up the nose. It is aluminium and weighs no more than 2 or 3 pounds.

The price quoted from Raytheon: 152K $ !.

Better to buy a few used Bonanzas, pick the best part and throw away the rest, it will be cheaper.

One might think these high prices were "finger trouble" upon computer entry, perhaps putting the decimal point in the wrong place.
It would appear not...what they want is for you to buy a new aircraft.
It would be interesting to compare these "current production" spares with those of obsolete models.
DT

Good point, although I think Cessna will be disappointed if they are waiting for me to buy a brand new one.

The figures are believed to be accurate, no finger trouble I'm afraid. $414.37 would be nice, I'd take 4 of them!