Getting Old -> Dislike Wrenching

[RWebb]

Jiffy Lube should be paying for a shop to do all this work

[Hugh R]

The last time I rebuilt the DB4 I loved doing it until I spent a week screwing bleeding the brakes. Old parts replaced with crappy aftermarket parts like Girling seals that were so poorly made they leaked after spending a day putting them in, only to have to take them out and get another crappy set and do it again. I got tired of what little hair I had on my head being soaked in anti-freeze and brake fluid.

When I sold it, I basically took a five year hiatus from cars.

I'll still do small stuff on the Targa, clutch cable, front brakes and rotors, fluids, plugs, etc. I'm just happy that I have a zero rust CA car. The biggest pain for me is the upping and downing for tools and a difficulty focusing underneath the car on a project, even with progressive lenses. You can only back away so far when the object and the concrete under your head are a fixed distance apart.

I have a friend with a nice lift, which I use once in a while.

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

I have a friend with a nice lift, which I use once in a while.

Hugh, I'm guessing that you have a pretty decent income. Why don't you have a lift? Seriously.

[mattdavis11]

I wrench on my vehicles because I do not trust anyone else to get the job done right. I will wrench on a vehicle belonging to another, but prefer not to.

My GF's Buick sits in the driveway needing an engine, but she's driving my spare vehicle until we figure out what would be best. She still owes on it, but not much. I'm strongly leaning towards no busted knuckles and profuse bleeding, cussing, etc... However, we can't afford the repair right now.

I bet I'll be wrenching on it, but I'm not looking forward to it.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by tweezers74

Doesn't your wife help you? Or do you guys prefer your women to stay out of the way? Or are you needing strength? I want to be able to hang out in the garage and watch, hand over tools, ask questions, watch how things work, help out whenever I can...

My wife help? HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAAH

I can get her to come pump the brakes if I am bleeding them but that is about it.

[FLYGEEZER]

At 71 + years old, I don't much more than gas & bath for my cars.

[wdfifteen]

The check engine lights are on on both by 2003 Tundra and 1999 Z3. I'm thinking of getting one of those scanners to see if I can start taking care of some things myself. I don't want to, but I never get out of the shop for less than $500 anymore. What is the best brand/type to get?

[A930Rocket]

I got a scanner at Advance Auto parts for about $50. Reads the code and can reset.

I do have to look up on-line what the code means.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

The check engine lights are on on both by 2003 Tundra and 1999 Z3. I'm thinking of getting one of those scanners to see if I can start taking care of some things myself. I don't want to, but I never get out of the shop for less than $500 anymore. What is the best brand/type to get?

[Tobra]

For me, it is my back ever since that wreck about 2 years ago. Shame, I really enjoy working on cars. Would not own one that was PITA to work on, hence the only VW I would own is air cooled.

Like playing baseball with the grandson too, but just can't throw, maybe if I switch to lefty.

[scottmandue]

I must admit to slowly becoming a checkbook mechanic... I bought the Miata thinking a drunk money could work on it... turns out not the case.

Oh well, mechanics need to eat too...

Seeing as I just bought the Miata and dumped some money into it I need to keep it for 5-10 years to justify the price of admission...

But got to admit it is a heck of a lot of fun to drive with the top down.

[McLovin]

I grew up wrenching on cars and loving it.

At 14 I was changing the oil on my parents' BMW, doing tuneups, etc.

In HS I was working on my own Porsche most weekends, and during the summer working in a BMW shop.

As an adult, I've always had at least 3 cars at any given time, and often 4 cars and a motorcycle, and I've NEVER taken any of them to a shop for service. (Well, except once when I couldn't get a rear wheel bearing off).

Over those years, I've done some fairly extreme wrenching. I've painted 2 cars in my garage. Pretty much completely disassembled and reassembled 914 and 911. Rebuilt engines. I converted my automatic BMW into a 5 speed manual.

I'm no Tim Hancock, but I've done far more DIY than 99% of enthusiasts. It's been a huge part of my life, and I've greatly enjoyed all of it.

That being said, as I near 50, I feel like that flame is gone. I really have very little desire to wrench on cars anymore. I still do all required maintenance and repairs, and I have a feeling of satisfaction when it's done (knowing it's been done right and knowing I didn't get ripped off), and I don't hate doing the work, but I can't say I love it.

I haven't done a "non-necessary" job on any of my cars in a few years.

[Zeke]

Seems unanimous. Wayne won't like this thread.

[Miguel Antonett]

Youth is a wonderful thing!!!

[mossguy]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Seems unanimous. Wayne won't like this thread.

Zeke - Do you think there might be enough new, young owners signing on to balance out us "retiring" geezers?

Tom

[McLovin]

I don't think there's anywhere near enough new DIY'ers to replace us geezers. Not even close.

That is for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is these youngins are growing up in a very different automotive era.

[McLovin]

My guess is that at best, for every 4 of us that "retire" from wrenching, there's 1 new guy to replace us. It may be much less than that.

[RWebb]

Originally Posted by McLovin

I grew up wrenching on cars and loving it.

At 14 I was changing the oil on my parents' BMW, doing tuneups, etc.

...

I screwed with my parents cars without their knowledge - "hotrodded" both of them & they never figured it out.

[jyl]

DIY wrenchers on Porsches vs DIY wrenchers on Asian compact cars - I would guess the trends are different. Be interesting to see data.

I do think there is a general trend away from motorhead-ness, but that could be limited to a few urban places. Again, be interested if there's data out there.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by RWebb

I screwed with my parents cars without their knowledge - "hotrodded" both of them & they never figured it out.

lol, me too.

although my parents knew I was working on the cars, they just didn't worry about interfering.

When my mom's 320i needed new tires, I convinced her to replace the factory 13 inch wheels with 15 inch Alpinas and P7s.

Then I got them to buy Bilsteins and lowering springs, which I installed using a borrowed spring compressor.

Of course, I knew it would eventually get handed down to me, which it did, and I drove it during college for a couple of years. It was parked in the lot at a BMW dealership while I was picking up some parts one day, and a couple saw the car and said it would be perfect for their daughter. They made me a big offer for it, and I sold it on the spot!

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by jyl

DIY wrenchers on Porsches vs DIY wrenchers on Asian compact cars - I would guess the trends are different. Be interesting to see data.

I do think there is a general trend away from motorhead-ness, but that could be limited to a few urban places. Again, be interested if there's data out there.

I'm sure there is, but I think the current generation's lack of interest in cars is pretty well known.

I've seen articles about it in AutoWeek, etc.

Kids are not only much less interested in working on cars, they are less interested in even driving cars or getting a driver's license when they are 16.

There are a lot of reasons for it. For example, kids are chauffered around by parents and siblings much more these days than in our day. So why drive? Also, with social media, kids don't get out as much. They can have social interaction without having to drive somewhere. Etc.

It's a well documented phenom., and I've certainly seen it in my area.