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Alright, time to look into another aspect of automotive stuff. I will probably get laughed at for this but screw it…
I kind of hate driving. I know plenty for a backyard mechanic and can fix quite a bit of stuff, and have done so. Yet, no matter what kind of car i own, I have this constant worry of something breaking. “How come the transmission shifted like that? what was that noise in the engine?” Go ahead and laugh but sometimes I hear, see, or feel things happen in the car and get images of the car doing a “Final destination” scene like the car crash.
The reality is my 97 acura CL hasn’t given me any serious reason to worry but still. But with it or any car, it is just nerve racking. I don;t really want to go replacing stuff because it “might” break with no warning or whatever.
Is that worry just a side effect of knowing everything in a car that CAN go wrong? Or maybe it is just all the crap wrong with my nerves?
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Before answering you’re question, let me give a little of my background for the sake of better context.
I’m a hobbyist mechanic turned professional, and I definitely know what can go wrong and have had a lot of experience with breakdowns and flat towing them home in my early years of learning and making mistakes. I also recently bought my newest car ever, a 99 Accord with 196k on it. Previous to that, my newest car out of 6 was a 1992 (which I bought in 2000 and still have), so I also drive cars that regularly need work and are old enough to possibly have a major component wear out or break.
I’m a spirited driver who pushes the limits of all of my cars and I have no worries whatsoever about what could break down. Even if I think there is a likelihood of a breakdown, I know I’ll just deal with whatever happens, get it towed, and get it fixed. It helps that I don’t have a smartphone or kids and I’m never in a rush, I’m sure. I certainly know that I could choose to worry about anything, especially what could happen to one of my decades old cars, but I don’t like to feel stress.
You should probably focus the automotive knowledge you have towards feeling better knowing that IF something happens, you’re far less reliant on a professional than the average driver (meaning it’s generally cheaper for you to need work than for the average driver). If you do need professional work done, you will have a better understanding of the repair so you will have less of a feeling of being out of control than the average person who just pays for the job with question marks floating above their head. You also may pay less than average under some circumstances.
You’re using the fact that you have mechanical skill to fuel anxiety levels that someone who is helpless (and therefore in a much worse overall position than you) with their car doesn’t even feel. That doesn’t really make sense.
You drive an older car so you are saving lots of money – no car payment. So, do proper maintenance and upkeep. If it still decides to break down, get it towed and repaired. You are still money ahead. A breakdown, sooner or later, is just a normal part of driving. Accept that fact and forget it.
[quote=”barneyb” post=118851]…If it still decides to break down, get it towed and repaired. You are still money ahead. A breakdown, sooner or later, is just a normal part of driving.[/quote]
I try to remember that.
Money ahead – I guess the fact that I replaced BOTH rear calipers/all rear pads for the price of parts and did the p0401 EGR passage repair (honda common problem) is at least $1500 I didn’t pay a mechanic.
Part of my problem is I lterally get depressed at the though of messing with the car, unless it is a fun thing like detailing or painting calipers.
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