35 replies to this topic

[SKperformance]

Depending on your level of expertise ,always been interested in how much our members actually do themselves.

[Gareth Coe]

looking at the results surprised me. I expected Lexus owners to be unwilling to get their hands dirty! Seems I'm not the only muckyun here

[Lambo Travis]

with all the cars I've owned (buying/swapping/bartering/etc... is a hobby) - I really don't do much MYSELF -
I've learned to diagnose many prob's & know roughly what has ta be done -
but I don't have the patience ta do it myself -
I know a few guys who will do it in their spare time for $$ or ??? -

my father & younger brother love messing with cars, but they don't flip'em like I do -
they keep theirs forever -

I know where ta put the ignition key -
that's all I need ta know

~T~

[rickgus]

I've done engine rebuilds and such on older american vehicles, and a few older Japanese. I've done alot of my own work on my '84 Benz, too. Got handy repairing electrical issues on the Audi's I've owned. But if this Lexus needs anything near major, I'll pay someone else to mess with it. Cars ain't near as fun to tear into as they were 30 years ago!

[lenore]

I wrenched on British sports cars back in the late 60's and 70's, have rebuilt Jaguar XKE engine, Mercedes 190e engine, Ford A4ld automatic transmission. (all successfully) and maintained all of my other cars. I did not rebuild my Lexus Tranny because I thought Lexus was going to help compensate, ( yeh right) . Have done everything else on my lexus including adding Filter on the transmission, Left Axle shaft, and any and all electrical problems.. Rebuilt the Alternator (new bearing and brushes) just trying to keep ahead,,, Replaced both front shocks and shock mounts. Many years ago used to race a Triumph TR-250 over in Spain and maintained all of my friends Bristish cars...Yea I can do it, but dont enjoy it anymore...

[Cory]

The only thing I ever go to a mechanic for is wheel alignment. I have several friends who went through technician training and one who builds custom cars in his garage, so I can get diagnostics from them if I can't figure it out myself. I just hate the thought of paying double just because I don't want to put in the effort myself.

One of my New Years resolutions is to be able to tear down and rebuild an engine with little to no assistance by the end of the year.

[Boost_Junkiee]

Been wrenching with my dad since I could walk, he was a tech. I went to school and got my degree and the whole bit and now I work at Lexus here in Texas.

[SexyLexy430NY]

i can change a fuse :whistles:

[Magnus357]

I answered I let somoene else do the work, but I used to work on my car.

After college and with work, I just don't have the time. I find it's better to pay someone else to do it because personal time as gotten too valuable to me.

[Lexls]

I do as much as I possibly can myself, and when I can't or don't have the necessary tools I bring it in. Mainly, I'll do most everything except pulling out engine/tranny and rebuilding.

[kenenfuego]

I actually just started wanting to do stuff on my own. Mainly to save money, but I like the fact that I know how to do certain things. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

[SOMEONE ELSE'S GOT MY NAME]

looking at the results surprised me. I expected Lexus owners to be unwilling to get their hands dirty! Seems I'm not the only muckyun here

Stay clean is my motto. Hey, that's what latex gloves are for. I've been an aerospace machinist (25+ yrs ... we're the folks who take apart and put together your helicopters, 747's, space shuttles etc) and an attorney (14+ yrs bankruptcy & tax), all bunched into one person. Just because you CAN do it doesn't mean you have to / want to. The complexity of both fields are like taking apart and putting together puzzles. But after years & years ... ANYthing is bound to get old. Heck, just making it past age 50 makes it a whole lot tougher to get accross the lap pool

[Step Hen]

Didn't like how my father gave so much money to his mechanic without really knowing what was going on and not really getting the problem solved. This was a person my dad thought he could trust. In the end, he was overcharging for shoddy work, even with my dad taking him out to eat for all the work we gave to him.... In the end, found a better mechanic and good person to handle his car.

So the lesson I took away, learn to do maintenance and repairs, and leave the big jobs to a good indy or dealership!

[Step Hen]

But after years & years ... ANYthing is bound to get old.

That's what I hear many mechanics tell enthusiasts who are interested in becoming mechanics. Fun to work on your car in your spare time, but once you do it for a living, it becomes a grind!

[zeus87gn]

I will only go to a mechanic if (1) I don't have the knowledge or the tools or (2) I don't have the time. If time is an issue, there are only certain places I will allow to touch my vehicles. I'm just glad I know these places. I have been taken by a few and have not returned to the business. Otherwise, I will do it myself.

Most importantly - I will flat our refuse to go to any dealership (pronounced -> STEALERSHIP) unless there is sbsolutely no way the parts or knowledge are no where else to be found.

Hearing storeis of people being taken to the cleaners by fix it shops just burns my ***!