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That’s an interesting question.
In my neighborhood I never see anyone working on their cars. No tire rotation, no new brake pads, and no oil changes. They don’t even wash their cars in the driveway with a bucket and hose, preferring the commercial wash.
Auto parts store for DIY have become scarce.
The oil filter section in big stores like Walmart has gotten pretty small. Ditto for wiper blades, oil, batteries, and lights.
The cars are more complex, people are short of time, and demographically automotive technology is little interest to youth and middle age adults. A few old timers like myself remain.
I do a lot of car service as I save money, avoids rip-offs, do it right (sometimes twice!!), enjoy using tools, and have a sense of accomplishment and independence.
I think it might depend some on the area you are in. In my area, within a 20 minute or so drive, I have two locally owned auto parts stores, as well as 3 chain stores, with at least 3 other chain stores and one more local less than 40 minutes away.
My local Wal Mart has a pretty good selection of oil, and filters, as well as wiper blades, batteries and cables, air filters, and even some spark plugs.
I do see a fair bit of DIY work happening around my town, and I will tackle nearly any job myself. I don’t know much about other local youth, but my 18 year old daughter spends plenty of time helping me on the car, as does my 9 year old son. Admittedly, he seems a bit more interested than my daughter does, but not by that much.
I suppose, DIY’ers might take some money out of the hands of technicians, but around here at least, the shops are busy enough, that I wonder if they would be able to keep up with demand if all the DIY’ers started going to them.
Great points. Where I live most of the younger people, middle aged and older people will not touch their vehicles. I’m the only one on my street that will do repairs on my own vehicle. People are just not that interested in doing this type of work.
I agree with the location theory. I’ve lived in neighborhoods where people fix their own cars because they HAVE to, and neighborhoods where they WANT to. Big difference between the two, mostly income. As an Automotive Tech who also does side work, I know what the profit margin and savings is on both sides of the DIY and DIFM isle. So I’m definitely aware of a certain amount of “lost” business to the backyard mechanics. (No disrespect, I used to be one.)
I get a lot of customers who will pay the couple bucks to identify exactly what suspension part needs R&R and some will even pay for a check engine diag, but then they never get the work done. I say “lost” because sometimes they DO come back, after an incorrect repair.
As a technician that also does side work the DIY doesn’t bother me there are several people on my block that
attempt working on there own cars and it has actually brought me busniess when they get in over there head or dont have the proper tools the way I look at it is there are enough people who are not willing to work on their own cars to make up for the small percentage of people that doI have no idea how DIY’ers are affecting mechanics but I can tell you that after being gone from the US since ’03 and coming back….this aint the same place I left. The middle class is becoming extinct and the distance between the haves and have not’s is getting greater. The cost of running a business is much higher driving up repair rates. This IMO creates DIY’ers simply because a lot of families that are trying to make ends meet taking care of children don’t have an extra $400 to drop on a repair. When push comes to shove you do what you have to do.
My nephew took his Honda Civic (2007ish..around there) into the local Goodyear to have his brakes done. They sold him a new set of pads and rotors for the front and “cleaned and adjusted” the rear and hit him for $680. Luckily he is a nurse in a management position and his wife is gainfully employed so he could absorb it but even for him it was a hit. He has since gotten rid of the Honda and now has a Jeep Wrangler (is no longer on the road and is in an office) – he recently needed brake pads on the front so he called me up….$70 later he’s got new pads, rotors are turned and he’s good to go.
I believe good mechanics are worth paying for but the current state of the economy, cost of doing business and rising labor rates will IMO continue creating DIY’ers where there were none in the past. Guys like my nephew will start to collect knowledge and tools and start tackling repairs he would have taken his vehicle to a shop for in the past. At some point – it will effect the market. IMO its more and indictment of the economy than anything.
Great point. Where I live in Canada. Things are really tight for most people. Most people don’t have high paying jobs and are looking for cheap prices on everything. However, most people will not touch their own cars because they feel it’s out of their skill level. America is more revolutionary in that people will step up to save themselves.
P.S what does IMO stand for ?
I’d rather work on my own than to let anyone touch it “if possible” Now granted I’ve ran into some issues in the past that I didn’t know how to do but rather than letting “any tech” just fix it and move on I’d ask for them to show me how it’s done so I could do it the next time myself. But yeah many people are scared to get dirty and hit it head on,not me lol
That’s a good point. Fear is a self fulfilling prophecy. It keeps you in a low down position and makes sure you don’t get ahead.
The guys at the local Autozone know me by my name as much as I am in there. I do repairs for friends and neighbors all the time. I find the rates that some shops charge are outrageous. Midas wanted 1300 clams to install new shocks and a fuel filter on my girlfriends car(07 cobalt). I bought all the parts for $300 and it took me 3 hours to do everything. The only time I would go to a shop is it is to the dealership for warranty work. I can see the reasons why shops charge more (insurance + labor) but imo it isnt worth it for me as I can do all the work I need to my car or my friends’ cars.
I would like to work on my own car, but sometimes I feel I just can’t handle the pressure. I have to figure out how things work, I might need a spare part and might not be able to find it with ease as most technicians can do. Sometimes, it is just for the technicians. About taking money away, hey… remember that sometimes we screw it up really bad, or at least some of us; and then, we are forced to go to the experts.
[quote=”TheXDS” post=74667]I would like to work on my own car, but sometimes I feel I just can’t handle the pressure. I have to figure out how things work, I might need a spare part and might not be able to find it with ease as most technicians can do. Sometimes, it is just for the technicians. About taking money away, hey… remember that sometimes we screw it up really bad, or at least some of us; and then, we are forced to go to the experts.[/quote]
I totally agree. Many times its always better to take your vehicle to a qualified shop/tech. Some people should NEVER work on a vehicle…but…..when that $1000+ estimate hits you….a lot of times there is no choice. If you don’t have the money you don’t have it. Some will break out the credit card, some will get loans but many families are financially maxed out. If you can get the parts for $300 and save $1000 that is incentive to get to work learning how to do it yourself. After all, its a huge part of the reason a business model like ETCG works.
Thanks ETCG! I honestly feel like the information that is provided through this site and the YT vids is doing a huge service for families.
[quote=”BIGKAHUNA” post=74694][quote=”TheXDS” post=74667]I would like to work on my own car, but sometimes I feel I just can’t handle the pressure. I have to figure out how things work, I might need a spare part and might not be able to find it with ease as most technicians can do. Sometimes, it is just for the technicians. About taking money away, hey… remember that sometimes we screw it up really bad, or at least some of us; and then, we are forced to go to the experts.[/quote]
I totally agree. Many times its always better to take your vehicle to a qualified shop/tech. Some people should NEVER work on a vehicle…but…..when that $1000+ estimate hits you….a lot of times there is no choice. If you don’t have the money you don’t have it. Some will break out the credit card, some will get loans but many families are financially maxed out. If you can get the parts for $300 and save $1000 that is incentive to get to work learning how to do it yourself. After all, its a huge part of the reason a business model like ETCG works.
Thanks ETCG! I honestly feel like the information that is provided through this site and the YT vids is doing a huge service for families.[/quote]
So true.All of this is mind over matter. You need 3 things to do repairs on your own vehicle. 1) Research
2) Equipment 3) Determination.If a tech is a person just like you. Why can’t you do it too.
[quote=”SLow182″ post=74597]. I do repairs for friends and neighbors all the time. I find the rates that some shops charge are outrageous. The only time I would go to a shop is it is to the dealership for warranty work. I can see the reasons why shops charge more (insurance + labor) but imo it isnt worth it for me as I can do all the work I need to my car or my friends’ cars.[/quote]
I agree with you slow182. most maintenance stuff is easy and can be done from home and the shops charge alot in labor. Not only does it save me money doing it my self i also know its done right. Cant pass up the option to have them do warranty work though. 😛 . As with most that have commented on this post i dont see or know many people doing their own work. Some people i know actually will pay a shop to just have the light bulb or oil changed. Because of people like this i think their ill always be work for technicians.
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