Mike J

After seeing another thread on parts to your mechanic, I thought it would be useful to see what the profile of some of our members is. Here goes:

I am category (1), 100% DIY and am not afraid to take apart and fix everything on the car.

How about you?

Cheers,

Mike

95 C4 993

I only put gas in, check the oil, and wash it. I get zero joy working on cars and have absolutely no issues of paying people do work on them. I'd rather scrub a toilet than tinker with a car.

ilko

I've always been Category 2. If I had more time I may have been a 1, but the way things going I might be a 3 soon, seeing how little time I have lately to wrench on the car.

ginch

Definately pay others to do work on the car. I will do small things like change out wheels/tires, bulb replacements, IY's but anything that requires any real mechanical know how gets done others.

Mark in Baltimore

I love working on my car and becoming intimate with it, but I also wish I had more time to work on it. I'd much rather make money than spend time wrenching my vehicles. That said, there are some projects where I'm the only one who can install or set up properly. Harnesses, racing seats, cool suit plumbing and racing radios come to mind. I almost always change my pads and rotors and bleed my brakes, but I leave the major stuff to my mechanic who can do the work in 1/3 the time that I can do it on my best day.

IXLR8

I'll do everything from A to Z with the exception of wheel balancing...cars, motorcycles and aircraft.

geolab

.
built this space just for DIY

.

cabrio993

Geo, you have 2 engines? You swap them every week?

IXLR8

And when you take the hourly rate in a shop into account, isn't it amazing how the cost of those expensive tools gets recouped in no time flat.

Which is why I do not have an issue spending big coin on things like quality torque wrenches, measurement instruments and tools. One little job just paid for my $300 torque wrench that I can use year after year.

Is there beer in that mini-fridge?

swmic

I try to do everything myself. That's why I'm here to learn how to the things I don't know. Since I have a couple of backup vehicles, I can take my time. I've got a rebuild coming up in the next year or so. I've got a lot to learn since these cars don't have a SBC.

jhummel68

I've never opened a transmission or the bottom end of a motor but I've done most everything else on one car or another. I would still farm out a transmission or bottom end rebuild unless I found someone who was willing to let me help/watch while they do it. I'd like to learn how to repair those two things when the time comes.

Slow Guy

I did not vote in the pole simply because I didn't like this statement "would not let a mechanic near my car with a 10' pole". We have a couple of good shops in Nashville and I would have no problem letting them work on my car, it's just that I enjoy doing most of those things myself. I get (perverse ??) pleasure from knowing I can do that myself and proving it. When I did my engine drop and LWF install I had a couple of local RL'ers volunteer to assist me (thanks for the offer guys!) but I wanted to do the entire job myself, and I did. I get satisfaction from that.

However, like Mr. Hummel, if I ever need internal transmission or bottom end work I know I won't be touching that myself. I do know my limitations (I hope)!

trophy

I do everything except touch the transmission, with that being said, I am going to tackle the install of an LSD with a friend soon, (have access to the very expensive tools) so I may be voting 1 before you know it...

Chuck W.

I wish I could no more. But Alas, I have thumbs and a poor mechanical ability. So, I, "I do the simple things like oil changes and tire changes, but let others handle the rest". I can add in there; seats, radios, steering wheels, trans oil, muffler swaps and brakes and brake fluid. Without this forum I could not do most of those.

Slow Guy

And even being all thumbs you're an expert at 993 radio issues!