I’m the opposite of a lot of people here. I work M-F building and fixing “virtual” stuff (software) and actually enjoy going out in the garage on the weekend and using my hands to work on something tangible. The money savings is nice, but if I hated working on cars I’d just pay to have the majority of the stuff done.
Since I enjoy the work I do everything from oil changes to the transmission swap I’m preparing for on the Expedition.
There are some things that the PITA level + lack of tools cause me to take it to a shop. Like the exhaust I had put on the on truck. Looking at the invoice from Mufferman the labor was less than $20. Their parts costs were very similar to what I would have paid for the parts to do it myself. $18 in labor vs me spending an afternoon cutting, torching and cursing at a rusted old exhaust that has fused into one solid piece? Go for it Mufferman.
The only other thing I’ve had done by a pro was the rebuild of the rear diff in the truck because repacking the shims was going to require some special tools and skill that I simply didn’t have.
if its not under warranty, it depends on how I’m feeling. I work on my car because I enjoy it these days, not because I have to. It is great not having to dick around with big stuff any more, it just isn’t worth it.
I do 98% of all my own work. That other few times are when I need tires mounted or warranty work. Although with the last project I did on my truck, that changed a bit. I got about 10min into doing the injector swap, and the first time I yelled “MOTHER FUCKER!!!1!!!” I stopped, put it back together, and called the only person I trust to work on any one of my vehicles. Recently I realized that sometimes my time/frustration is worth more than what it costs to pay someone else to do it.
everything is a different situation. Usually if I don’t do it its because of a combination of them all but Mostly because things just turn into a huge pain dealing with rusty stuff.
Then sometimes diy is more convenient and saves money. Also have a hard time trusting anybody else to do anything.
I’ve been working 6 day weeks for about 6 months. I’ll take every bit of OT I can get. I really have no time to wrench. Getting a haircut is a PITA for me right now.
OT = more go faster parts
And the other on going problem for the last 3+ years is space. If I posted a pic of my garage, you’d see why.
Proper know how, lack of tools, and time are the things that have stopped me in the past. I do a lot of my own work, but there are certain things I just won’t try my own hand at yet, ie. pulling the Lotus engine by myself…
I will take on projects that I can handle and have time for. Other then that I will take it to a mechanic to take over. Also I would take it somewhere else due to a lack of tools.
Man am I quite surprised. I don’t really have the space (I do my work in a parking lot out in the rain/cold/dark), Barely have the tools (A socket set from Nappa (that I have had since I tuned BMX Bikes), a click torque wrench, 2 jack stands, a jack, a set of screwdrivers, and I think that’s about it. I did have to buy a 32mm wrench for my engine fan. Don’t really have much experience with anything other then building Chevy small blocks with carbs, much simpler then working on anything OBDI and especially the miles of wire in my OBDII car. Experience is gained along the way. Sure I have made mistakes, but never until I decide to take a short cut or I rush something. Probably wouldn’t happen if I had a garage to work in, didn’t have to worry about finishing before the downpour (fuckin’ blower motor)…
I’m surprised there are even this many people that don’t do there own here.
When I was younger I did everything. I rebuilt my roommates blown plymouth in 10" of snow… in the parking lot.
Lots of the people that have been around the “WNY / forum scene” since its inception are now old (and curmudgeony) and have both the resources to have someone else do it, and a lack of desire to break nuckles all day. It is hardly a lack of knowledge, or tools, or space (on my part) but rather the fact that I pick my battles. I’ll do the stuff I enjoy, I’ll do the mods. But replace a clutch? After having done them on my back on jackstands on all of the vehicles I owned through college i don’t see myself signing up for that any time soon.
There is a difference between not wanting to replace your own flywheel and being a “credit card tuner”.
I am not swapping a clutch in my parking garage, I did do FCAB, RTAB, brakes, bleed everything in it, it just sucks I forget a tool I have to go from the 5th floor of my parking garage to my 1st floor storage unit…
I just pay my friend Dan to do the work, and sit and watch. I buy all my own parts though. Never do I let anyone buy parts for me. (Especially a garage.)