Why so few DIYers

[dem00n]

Originally Posted by xxscaxx

I like to "do it myself".

Important to know how your car works just in case. I will never let anyone else touch my car besides myself or one of my close buddies who is just as meticulous as me.

Some shops are good, but most like to half ass things as my friend and I are slowly discovering working on a few local cars for people. My buddy had an expensive set of Recaro's put into his Z06 and they scratched the hell out of the back plastic, didn't use washers on some bolts which dug into the seat brackets pulling up paint and screwing them up, and scratched his very expensive door cards.

Not saying all shops are like this, but its unfortunately more common than I'd like to imagine.

My friend is 19 years old and works at an Infinti dealership as a mechanic, they had him do a full engine swap on his own on his 3rd week. All by himself, he thinks it went well. First time. You don't know what happens behind close doors?

[xxscaxx]

Originally Posted by dem00n

My friend is 19 years old and works at an Infinti dealership as a mechanic, they had him do a full engine swap on his own on his 3rd week. All by himself, he thinks it went well. First time. You don't know what happens behind close doors?

lol i'm all for throwing yourself in with the wolves to learn, but on a customer car, not too sure on that

I mean thats how I learn, and learned on older cars (my cars of course). There is SO much information on the web today. Even when i'm sure of something, I usually still do a refresher and double check on things before pulling something off (some things). If you are unsure of something most of the time the answer is out there. The only way to learn is to dig into it, but thats a little extreme

pulling the motor on my STi was so easy. The thing was light too, if it wasn't for it being an awkward leaned over position I could have pulled that thing out without a hoist lol

[STV3]

The main reasons I do everything on my cars my self are:

1. I don't trust other people to car about my car as much as I do when it is being worked on. So when I do it, I know it was done properly and don't have to drive in fear of something falling off or blowing up.

2. Taking things apart and putting them back together has always been something that has come naturally to me every since I was a kid.

The two most extensive things I have done was a replacement motor swap and replacing my input shaft. For the input shaft I did have to bring the shaft with the gear set on it to a trans shop. I had to get the gears pressed off the old one and pressed onto the new one because I don't own and press and wasn't about to go at it with a hammer lol.

[SirBrass]

Doing it myself helps keep me from buying more car parts. Seriously! Wrenching on my car, taking care of it instead of throwing money at someone else helps satisfy my "got to drive or mod!" urge. It's like that's satisfied and I can settle for "naaaaah, I'll wait till when I originally decided to get x part." When just throwing money at it, no effort expended and you sit around while someone else enjoys working on your car instead of you.

Certain things I WILL let someone else do. New radiator and installing an oil cooler? Yeah, I'll let someone else do that. Exhaust system? I did/am doing that myself (though fixing that troublesome leak turned out to be best taken care of by taking it to an exhaust shop... I only spent $15). Coilovers or springs (if I do them)? Yeah, I'll do that myself. Obviously tire mounting is done by a shop, and might as well let them put the new wheels and balance them while they're doing that. FI install? I'll get a few friends to help with that. Oil changes? Do it myself once dealership oil changes are expended. Transmission/diff oil? Did it myself.

I'm enjoying this car far more by doing the work myself. I'm not just the automobile owner, I'm the driver and I take care of it. It's like the difference between being the owner of the Packers and being the head coach.

[tahdizzle]

I like to do all the clean stuff myself.

Installing a differential? I'll pay someone to have that headache.

[tmcmullins]

Originally Posted by tahdizzle

I like to do all the clean stuff myself.

Installing a differential? I'll pay someone to have that headache.

^ This!

I don't trust anybody but myself when it comes to cleaning my car.

[mx5 2nr]

I echo the reasons mentioned above.

I pride myself in that I've never had a shop touch my Miata for anything other than mounting tires on wheels - including extensive interior work; full suspension install; fairly extensive brake work; and teaching myself bodywork (sanding/primered body; shaved bodyline & antenna; hand fabricated headlights & rear panel/tails); not to mention taking care of a LOT of mechanical issues along the way. It's easier for me on that car since it's not a daily driver & it can be put up on jackstands for months at a time.

On the FRS, it's pretty much always been a daily driver (just bought a truck a couple of months ago to flip in a few months). I need that to be ready to go at any time. If there's something easy that can be done in a couple of hours (assuming I have a couple of hours free), I'll do it. When I did my coilovers, I had to enlist the help of a local shop because I couldn't afford to not have a car for more than a day.

Lately, I've been working 70+ hours a week & whatever free time I can get is going to be spent with the wife, or knocking shit out around the house on the "honey do" list. I love working on cars (and driving), it's my release from the world & IMHO the next best thing to sex and drugs, but there's just not any time...

[Churnobyl]

Originally Posted by Annahra

There's a certain amount of risk I'm willing to take on myself without guidance. Installing a new HD on my $1000 laptop, sure. Removing the bumper from my $28,000 car, no.

I would do more if I had friends/family nearby who could give me guidance, but my dad is really the only car guy I know and he's four states away.

I'm also a perfectionist, and I need things to come out EXACTLY RIGHT.

Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk

This. My skill set is somewhere else. if its obviously easy I'm in. But screwing up something major has an intimidation factor. Leaving two options, "Just do it because YOLO" Or Paying someone that will back their work, and Has hte expertise.

But I get OP's question because I laugh at people who take their computers to a shop.

[Rayme]

It's amazing what you can do to a car with a jack and good weather. I'm a gearhead and just recently became a mechanic. I work on my friends car when possible since I have no kids I got enough time...it's quality time really! Beer and friends wrenching away.

As for tools they are one of the few things in life that you can buy and are an actual investment, especially if you plan on driving all your life. I loooove buying tools. Saying cars are getting too complicated is an excuse, the drivetrain, suspension components and brakes are things that can be tackled easily. You just need to plan and be ready to have the proper tools.

The worst of wrenching is the occasionnal rust/broken bolts. The more you work the less you'll worry about them.

A great mechanic/DIY will also fix EVERYTHING around the house (maybe minus 120 AC electricity). Save money and buy the lady flowers

[jvincent]

Originally Posted by ZionsWrath

I find very few people are interested in working on their vehicles. Physical limitations and workspace constraints aside, what is the reason?

I was never really a car guy until I got my FRS. I would change tires and some other really basic stuff, but just couldn't be bothered on the other cars.

Different story with the FRS. Since I am planning on tracking it there will be more maintenance required and in most cases specific things that I want to try.

As far as cost goes, by doing my transmission fluid, oil changes, and brake changes myself I will have paid off the new tools I required in one or two change out cycles.

That said, time is still a factor for me. The kids aren't an issue, but I have other hobbies/stuff that takes most weekend time so anything that will take a long time will need to be scheduled.

[rice_classic]

DIY auto repair shops are pretty common in the UK. They're like the "self checkout lanes" of auto maintenance. When I saw this on a few British car shows years ago I thought it would be a good business idea around here but haven't had the balls to borrow 1/4 million dollars to start one.

Here's one in Kansas:
http://diyautorepairkc.com/

Connecticut:
http://diyautomotivecenters.com/Services.html

Colorado:
http://diyautorepairshops.com/index.html

Even found one close to home in Kent, WA
http://selfservegarage.com/about

[SirBrass]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

DIY auto repair shops are pretty common in the UK. They're like the "self checkout lanes" of auto maintenance. When I saw this on a few British car shows years ago I thought it would be a good business idea around here but haven't had the balls to borrow 1/4 million dollars to start one.

Here's one in Kansas:
http://diyautorepairkc.com/

Connecticut:
http://diyautomotivecenters.com/Services.html

Colorado:
http://diyautorepairshops.com/index.html

Even found one close to home in Kent, WA
http://selfservegarage.com/about

Mesa, Arizona: http://www.ufixitautomotive.com/

[Ammonia]

I LOVE DIY projects. Doing everything myself on my 135i allowed me to save thousands over the long run, and gave me that sense of satisfaction. Also gave me peace of mind knowing where everything was and how it was installed, and that no corners were cut in the process.

[xia]

IF you have the space and tools, youd be tempted to DIY 100% of the time. When i was still living with my parents, i went to the shop a lot because of limited space and lack of tools. Now that i have all the space and tools in the world, i absolutely love working on my car 200%!

But with kids these days, they want their car project finished quick so they just pay the shop and BOOM show off time lol.