"Lew Hodgett" wrote in message
nk.net...

Trying to do your own auto repairs today is a lose-lose proposition, IMHO

IMHO, TOTALLY incorrect.

New cars are easier to fix than the old stuff ever was (and need a lot less
of it) and the service garages are MUCH more expensive than they used to be.
Most of the dealer shops (and the franchise specialty garages) are staffed
with apprentice parts changers (not mechanics) who have no diagnostic skills
or inclination. They just keep on changing expensive parts till the
problem stops. The self serve scrap yards are a source of very cheap used
parts and the jobber parts stores sell parts of as good or far better
quality than the dealer for a fraction of the price, and often give parts
warranties that you can actually collect on. When a garage fails to fix a
problem usually YOU just keep paying them more and more until they (or
another shop) get it right.

When you buy ANY service,
- You are paying an inflated price (often for parts that are never installed
on your vehicle) + overhead + an excessive markup + lots of hidden taxes
plus added sales taxes AND you are paying in after income tax paid dollars.

When you DIY,
- You are paying wholesale, for only the parts you need, are saving ALL the
sales and other taxes on labor and overhead AND you do not pay any income or
sales tax on YOUR labor OR on the cash you save.

- You also do not need to have the work done at the shops convenience or
travel to (and from, TWICE) the shop for delivery and pickup, or to leave
the vehicle for several days. You do not need to wash grease off the
steering wheel and seats and fenders or clean out food scraps and garbage or
cigarette burns and smoke and butts and ashes.

- AND the chances are better that the job will be done right.

- And when you DIY you can watch for and keep track of the preventative
maintenance that will prevent the need for repairs (and towing) caused by
breakdown.

Now you want to talk about diesel engine maintenance on a sail boat,
that's another matterG.


BOAT = break out another thousand.

just my .02 YMMV