Automakers to gearheads: Stop repairing cars
09-21-2016, 08:19 AM
#21
Team Owner
My daughter likes her work done by a dealer.... So, she ran in her 2009 Altima (with 107,000 miles) in to the Nissan place for new brakes (way overdue). They quoted her $549 for the front and close to that for the rear). WTF ?
I was busy so I ran them over to my pal and had them done for about $300 total (including new front rotors)...
I was busy so I ran them over to my pal and had them done for about $300 total (including new front rotors)...
Last edited by Frankie the Fink; 09-21-2016 at 08:20 AM.
09-21-2016, 09:00 AM
#23
Melting Slicks
I have no desire to work on the computerized cars so as far as I am concerned they can do whatever the heck they want. My wife and I each lease a car every 3 years. Doing that eliminates any need for me to tune or repair them. The new styling bores me and the sophisticated equipment needed to diagnose and work on them is rediculously expensive. I lost interest in these cars some years ago when I opened the hood on my father in laws new MBenz only to see.......another semi-permanent hood. I knew then it was over for home mechanics like me working on modern cars. I am happy enough to have 3 Harleys and a 66 vert that keep my wrenches busy enough plus helping my son with his projects.
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Forgot to add that it probably isnt too far into the future where all cars (are these still really a car?) will be electric and
sat guided, auto driven. State your destination and off you go. Of course it will be illegal to alter or work on them (by nesessity) in any way.
At that time cars like our Corvettes will need an expensive special permit to be used in restricted non public areas.
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Forgot to add that it probably isnt too far into the future where all cars (are these still really a car?) will be electric and
sat guided, auto driven. State your destination and off you go. Of course it will be illegal to alter or work on them (by nesessity) in any way.
At that time cars like our Corvettes will need an expensive special permit to be used in restricted non public areas.
Last edited by phil2302; 09-21-2016 at 09:26 AM.
09-21-2016, 09:24 AM
#24
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Just a few in our house.
I've modified this one with a rotary dial inside.
I have several of these, all are working.
This came out of a train station.
This came from behind the counter, out of an old auto parts store
This came from an old drugstore, I went to college with the pharmacist
I have 2 of these
I have 3 of these
Oh ya, we DO HAVE some touch tone phones, cordless phones and 2 cell phones (I HATE CELL PHONES, and I keep mine off as much as possible-----------------really pi$$e$ off the wife!).
I've modified this one with a rotary dial inside.
I have several of these, all are working.
This came out of a train station.
This came from behind the counter, out of an old auto parts store
This came from an old drugstore, I went to college with the pharmacist
I have 2 of these
I have 3 of these
Oh ya, we DO HAVE some touch tone phones, cordless phones and 2 cell phones (I HATE CELL PHONES, and I keep mine off as much as possible-----------------really pi$$e$ off the wife!).
Last edited by DZAUTO; 09-21-2016 at 09:26 AM.
09-21-2016, 09:48 AM
#25
Race Director
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[rant]
I live in a gated, HOA community; its goal "purportedly" is to maintain a certain standard in the development; not protection of intellectual property or to reduce liability. People moving in are given the Covenants and Conventions at closing; promptly do NOT read them and wonder what happened when they are cited with an infraction. So, you have the @hole trying to park his 80' RV in front of a house permanently with a 125' wide lot.
They buy into a neighborhood because of the look and feel of the place and then yank it down to trailer park status because THEY want to do something outside the rules. I served on the HOA board and tried to be even handed in allowing people latitude while maintaining a certain standard - a thankless job [/rant]
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I live in a gated, HOA community; its goal "purportedly" is to maintain a certain standard in the development; not protection of intellectual property or to reduce liability. People moving in are given the Covenants and Conventions at closing; promptly do NOT read them and wonder what happened when they are cited with an infraction. So, you have the @hole trying to park his 80' RV in front of a house permanently with a 125' wide lot.
They buy into a neighborhood because of the look and feel of the place and then yank it down to trailer park status because THEY want to do something outside the rules. I served on the HOA board and tried to be even handed in allowing people latitude while maintaining a certain standard - a thankless job [/rant]
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In the beginning
Today
Oh ya, and sometimes, we, as well as the neighbors, leave out garage doors open. In the summer especially, I leave them open front and back to provide flow through ventilation in the garages.
No one on our street complains!
09-21-2016, 10:27 AM
#26
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As a guy who works on newer cars, I can tell you this: they are appliances. Nothing more. I don't care how much you spend on one, or if it's a Mercedes, Lincoln, or Tesla. In 20 years it will be recycled into something else. The CAN systems and earlier computer systems are not supported forever, and are obsoleted quickly. Many new service parts are not available for ten year old vehicles, never mind the out-gassed plastic, expired air bag modules, and baked out leather. Pre-1980 vehicles are low enough tech to keep running forever, and pre-1970 ones, even easier due to the lack of plastic that degrades over time. You can make a VW beetle or a '65 Chevy run forever, with simple overhauls every 100-200k miles. A 2012 Navigator or Jaguar? Not happening. In the scrap pile. NOBODY is going to be restoring a 50 year old Lincoln or Escalade.
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Stan's Customs (09-22-2016)
09-21-2016, 12:17 PM
#27
Team Owner
I looked into a gated HOA community one time and was handed a Covenants and Conventions book that was 2" thick, I handed it back and said no thank you.
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mcb55-210 (09-25-2016)
09-21-2016, 12:39 PM
#30
Race Director
That legislation will happen about the same time we get a flat tax - meaning NEVER!
Just as a flat tax would 'downsize' whole legions of tax advisers and accountants; a ruling in this vein would cripple the whole aftermarket, DIY automotive industry.
Not gonna happen IMO.
Just as a flat tax would 'downsize' whole legions of tax advisers and accountants; a ruling in this vein would cripple the whole aftermarket, DIY automotive industry.
Not gonna happen IMO.
My guess is that it would apply only to new cars in any case. Heck, the dealers and manufacturers don't want to or know how to have anything to do with the old ones like ours anyway!
09-21-2016, 12:39 PM
#31
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09-21-2016, 12:40 PM
#32
Race Director
09-21-2016, 12:47 PM
#33
Le Mans Master
No problem here with manufacturers wanting to protect the systems they develop. BIG problem with manufacturers failing to recall and repair/replace defective products.
That's called having it both ways and that isn't right.
That's called having it both ways and that isn't right.
09-23-2016, 10:05 AM
#35
Burning Brakes
Member Since: Jun 2005
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WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh well, I don't have ANY of these issues with my 51 Chevy, 23 T-bucket, my son's 68 Chevelle, the 70 Chevelle, 76 Cutlass. Yes, we do have 2 computer controlled cars (04 Impala SS, 12 Tahoe), but so far, there has not been any issues with them.
Overall, I much prefer the 70 Chevelle. It runs as fast as I need to go (and yes, it can exceed the posted speed limits, even on the turnpike), the power steering works fine, it has good brakes, the R12 air cond system is great, I can rebuild the engine, Muncie, 12 bolt posi myself when needed, and it's a VERY nice car.
If the Rochester FI on the 56 Vette or T-bucket has a problem, I build them myself, so no problem there, and the tags are cheap.
All my neighbors like and admire me and they know I have a carry permit, so we get along just fine.
Last, I just have NO respect for computers which could control my daily functions or life.
Oh ya, and I love rotary dial phones--------------------got about 20 connected in the house.
Oh well, I don't have ANY of these issues with my 51 Chevy, 23 T-bucket, my son's 68 Chevelle, the 70 Chevelle, 76 Cutlass. Yes, we do have 2 computer controlled cars (04 Impala SS, 12 Tahoe), but so far, there has not been any issues with them.
Overall, I much prefer the 70 Chevelle. It runs as fast as I need to go (and yes, it can exceed the posted speed limits, even on the turnpike), the power steering works fine, it has good brakes, the R12 air cond system is great, I can rebuild the engine, Muncie, 12 bolt posi myself when needed, and it's a VERY nice car.
If the Rochester FI on the 56 Vette or T-bucket has a problem, I build them myself, so no problem there, and the tags are cheap.
All my neighbors like and admire me and they know I have a carry permit, so we get along just fine.
Last, I just have NO respect for computers which could control my daily functions or life.
Oh ya, and I love rotary dial phones--------------------got about 20 connected in the house.
Life was great before computers.
Bill
09-23-2016, 06:56 PM
#36
Drifting
Member Since: May 2006
Location: Santa Barbara California
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Interesting dialogue regarding regulation(s) and restriction(s). IMO, it is just too many attorneys trying to create work for themselves by regulating/over regulating. I often wonder when common sense and fair play will prevail again.
09-24-2016, 08:33 AM
#37
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '20-'21-'22-'23-'24
I read the other day that TV manufacturers are doing the same thing. Some shops are starting to spring up where you can actually take your flatscreen in to get fixed instead of hauling it to the dump. TV manufacturers are trying to shut them down using the same copyright argument.
It's all about the $$$, my friends.
Steve
It's all about the $$$, my friends.
Steve
09-24-2016, 06:00 PM
#38
Race Director
I read the other day that TV manufacturers are doing the same thing. Some shops are starting to spring up where you can actually take your flatscreen in to get fixed instead of hauling it to the dump. TV manufacturers are trying to shut them down using the same copyright argument.
It's all about the $$$, my friends.
Steve
It's all about the $$$, my friends.
Steve
I remember the days when if the TV went on the fritz my Dad would open up the back, visually inspect all the vacuum tubes (remember those?), and take any that were suspect to the local hardware store to check on their test machine. Replacements were readily available. I loved going with him on those trips.
He also taught me how to work on cars!
09-24-2016, 07:43 PM
#39
I still have vacuum tubes in my guitar amplifier. In fact, for those that do not know this...the absolute best sounding guitar amplifiers being made today use vacuum tubes. Over the last 15 years I've tried several digital amps, but they do not compare.
09-25-2016, 07:58 AM
#40
