How many people actually work on their own cars

[Darthomas]

Getting old really sucks. I have had a 8 3/4 to change for 3 years now but just can't bring myself to do it. Nothing wrong with the one that is in it, just wanted to change the ratio. Now farm out anything on the daily driver.

What is too old to wrestle a pig?
I'm 55, and think I'm still up to it.

 

[metaldad]

i used to pfutz around on everything, when i was younger.
work, wife, work, kids,emergency overtime work ........... newer cars, i hired it out
now, starting to slow down. dont touch mommas' car. do not enjoy laying on a creeper having rust fall in my eyes. do the menial things on the durango and ram.
just got the coronet, dont know if i could attempt to tune it ( i have now a pacemaker. yippee)

 

[metaldad]

i used to pfutz around on everything, when i was younger.
work, wife, work, kids,emergency overtime work ........... newer cars, i hired it out
now, starting to slow down. dont touch mommas' car. do not enjoy laying on a creeper having rust fall in my eyes. do the menial things on the durango and ram.
just got the coronet, dont know if i could attempt to tune it ( i have now a pacemaker. yippee)

and with that.......... thanks to @MarPar ,(been meaning to call you), that shop on main street is great!. they did my new motor mounts, and in b.s.'ing, suggested i change the brand/weight of engine oil. 'found' a guy on another board locally to supply the oil at a really good price........... turns out the oil guy, and the garage guy, indirectly 'know' each other from the track!

 

[Bobo]

I do all I can on my 65 coronet if I can't tackle it I pay a pro and lately it hasn't gone well major problems with getting seat covers installed properly just had a Dana 60 installed in the welds broke no penetration it's being done over as we speak and just look at the spaghetti bowl 2014 Durango RT I was looking for the battery today and couldn't find it I got to take it to the dealer thank god it's under the warranty with extended

 

[MarPar]

and with that.......... thanks to @MarPar ,(been meaning to call you), that shop on main street is great!. they did my new motor mounts, and in b.s.'ing, suggested i change the brand/weight of engine oil. 'found' a guy on another board locally to supply the oil at a really good price........... turns out the oil guy, and the garage guy, indirectly 'know' each other from the track!

Sweet @metaldad!! glad you like those guys over there. super cool and they what they are doing!

 

[theman440]

35 years at least.

 

[roadrunnerh]

I do all the work on my Road Runner and Scamp. The newer stuff - 2006 Fusion and 2010 Commander I do brakes, oil changes, and other easy stuff only.

 

[cudajunction]

I work on everybodys cars in the close three countys cars plus all the old mopars.

 

[rakort]

My old muscle cars are what I grew up with. I learned how they work and learned how to fix them. Today a big part of having my old cars is working on them. It's an important part of the hobby for me. Not having to rely on them for transport is a big deal and makes fixing them fun as opposed to a chore.

This point is huge. I got out of the automotive industry because of was totally sick of fixing everyone's daily drivers/junk including my own. Seriously, I have been working in/on/around cars since I was maybe....4th grade...how old was I IDK, and it was a good many years that went on. Now that I have long ago released that I can enjoy working on a car. I don't work on my driver as well.....change oil, are you kidding me!? $30(ok maybe a lil more now) and 20 minutes its done. No going to the store buying a filter, oil, and making a mess on the driveway etc etc and after after 3 hours of total commitment where is the satisfaction?

 

[flypaper]

do most everything myself mechanical and body,paint
except for a few choice componants that i don't have the time,tools or parts to do properly.

 

[WileE]

Yes, for 45 years & counting, mechanical, body, paint & trim... anything except machine work & Automatic trans.

 

[steve from staten island]

I do brakes,general maintenance,struts,belts,stuff like that on newer cars. My hobby car,i try and do almost everything except rebuild the 727 and steering box. My problem is as i get older often i get dizzy when I'm under the car. Not all the time but sometimes you turn your head a certain way and it happens. Tough to get old but I'm still turning wrenches,welding and fabricating and don't plan on stopping anytime soon

 

[moparnation74]

Old school, Yes! New cars I leave to the warranty/dealer.

 

[67440chrg]

On my charger I do everything except front end alignment and tire mounting. although I may have a muffler shop do some work for me soon. My newer stuff I do what I can that takes no special tools or lift like brakes belts hoses and oil changes. Now days even a belt can be a pain.

 

[barbee6043]

i'm 68. I do all I can myself for 2 reasons: $$ and self satisfaction. I am no mechanic nor bodyman, but I can make a good driver paint job, get rid of rust, get it reasonably straight ( would be perfect but do not have the muscle or desire!) .. but I do everything that does not require a lift ( I have not). I am lucky I have NO major health issues, and that makes a big difference as we age, no doubt!
things I do not do: upholstery. goes to the shop. ( I can do headliners, carpet)... rebuild transmissions. alignments.

 

[Lionized]

I do virtually zero work on our newer daily-drivers. The old ones....anything I can do, that doesn't require a professional with correct tools and knowledge.

This.

 

[Bart K]

Yesterday I installed new arm rest bases and window cranks on all 4 doors....thinking about tackling pulling a door and installing new hinge pins and bushings on the driver door. I still enjoy doing some things that I have the knowledge and tools to do without crawling around on the floor!

 

[YY1]

I work on 98% of the Satellite and the older stuff.

About 75% of the Dakota, about 50-60% of the PT and the wife's Hyundai.

We just rented a '15 Caravan, and I might even be scared to change the tires on that.

 

[TxDon]

Newer cars under warranty I let the dealer do everything. I do as much as I can with my hobby cars because I enjoy it but my old body can't do the heavy stuff anymore. In the old days I did just about everything myself or at least gave it a good try...

 

[BIGSHCLUNK]

As I get older.... the less crap I wanna mess with. Just like an argument with the wife I pick my battles... And yes BIGS has AAA