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I personally don't hear people being talked down to because they do their own wrenching. I do hear a lot of, "It is just easier for me to pay someone", or something along those lines.
I personally don't hear people being talked down to because they do their own wrenching. I do hear a lot of, "It is just easier for me to pay someone", or something along those lines.
Another thing people forget...just bc you don't do it doesn't mean you don't know how.
The value of time must be figured into any activity you do not enjoy, whether it's cleaning a toilet or changing oil.
It's a hobby for me to detail and maintain my cars myself. Once the initial included maintenance intervals are done on new car purchases, I take over most of the maintenance except for what I don't want/have time for.
If someone else doesn't like my hobby, good for them.
It's possible, in fact, extremely likely, that I'm the only guy in my entire county who changes his own oil on a Mercedes E550.
Can't find an oil filter in stock for that car locally within 50 miles of me, has to be ordered online. When I went into an auto parts store and asked for one, they looked at me like I had three heads LOL!
I often hear folks at my work say that working on cars is a waste of time and just lease it and drop it off at the dealership and they love talking about the new Courtesy car the dealer just let them have and they're thinking about swapping it when the lease is up.
Who gives a hoot, Vision?
Although I have two vehicles (one 30 plus years old), my access to proper tools and space as well as adequate knowledge completely limits me accomplishing anything more than basic maintenance . . . and I do mean BASIC MAINTENANCE.
However, I have the utmost respect for anyone who is willing to make the attempt.
It's possible, in fact, extremely likely, that I'm the only guy in my entire county who changes his own oil on a Mercedes E550.
Can't find an oil filter in stock for that car locally within 50 miles of me, has to be ordered online. When I went into an auto parts store and asked for one, they looked at me like I had three heads LOL!
Same here. Back when I had a new C300, I did the oil change myself. Walked into a dealer, asked for a filter and they looked at me like I was crazy.
Honestly, I've seen it argued both ways. I've seen guys make arrogant statements like "the only two tools I need are my checkbook and a pen", and other guys claim that people who don't know how to do anything with their hands aren't fit to contribute to society.
Personally, I don't care either way. If I want to change my own oil, what's it matter to someone else?
Not really. I work in management at a large company and when people find out that I change my own oil and do minor maintenance on my car they reaction is "wow, really? That's cool!" I wouldn't say look down and in fact they are semi-impressed, but it's very uncommon.
I had a so called friend that used to own his own garage before he retired and I say used to because whenever I asked him some advice for repairing my boat or cars he would call me nothing but a shade tree mechanic that knows just enough to get myself into trouble. There came a time when I stopped asking his advice but he sure wasn't done with giving his to me so I cut him off.
Who needs some old crotch putting you down?
He knew that years ago before I met him I had built my own car that he thought was cool when I drove it over his house but he was never that interested I think because he was a GM guy and mine was a Ford.
I never claimed to be a mechanic but I am more of a parts swapper and I know my way around the outside of an engine but there are guys out there that look down on people who do their own work.
Most mechanics today are parts swappers.
Quote:
Originally Posted by headingtoDenver
I personally don't hear people being talked down to because they do their own wrenching. I do hear a lot of, "It is just easier for me to pay someone", or something along those lines.
That's what I hear. And that's fine. If you have the money or don't have the knowledge or just don't want to do it that's fine. Looking down on someone because they work on their cars is wrong.
I never had anyone say anything. I don't mind working on my cars. And if someone looks down on me that's their problem
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