A society is inexorably intertwined with its economic, commercial, and social systems. So, I stand by my remark about capitalism failing. Failing less quickly than various forms of socialism or fascism, but failing nonetheless. Why? Because of human nature. Capitalism was supposed to be better than those other systems because we dropped the pretense of trying to make everyone "equal" and just let the goody-grab dictate activity. I don't know that capitalism's founders anticipated the extent to which human greed and selfishness can reach. So, it's not a bad system. We just have some bad players. A few bad players wreck the system for everyone. So, you end up with rules that penalize the good along with the bad players.
oil change + apartment living
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Originally Posted By: DBMaster
A society is inexorably intertwined with its economic, commercial, and social systems. So, I stand by my remark about capitalism failing. Failing less quickly than various forms of socialism or fascism, but failing nonetheless. Why? Because of human nature. Capitalism was supposed to be better than those other systems because we dropped the pretense of trying to make everyone "equal" and just let the goody-grab dictate activity. I don't know that capitalism's founders anticipated the extent to which human greed and selfishness can reach. So, it's not a bad system. We just have some bad players. A few bad players wreck the system for everyone. So, you end up with rules that penalize the good along with the bad players.
O Kay....
A society is inexorably intertwined with its economic, commercial, and social systems. So, I stand by my remark about capitalism failing. Failing less quickly than various forms of socialism or fascism, but failing nonetheless. Why? Because of human nature. Capitalism was supposed to be better than those other systems because we dropped the pretense of trying to make everyone "equal" and just let the goody-grab dictate activity. I don't know that capitalism's founders anticipated the extent to which human greed and selfishness can reach. So, it's not a bad system. We just have some bad players. A few bad players wreck the system for everyone. So, you end up with rules that penalize the good along with the bad players.
O Kay....
When I lived in an apartment, I just did all work on the car in the parking lot and when the office was closed.
About 5 years ago I was living in an apartment as my house sold, but we had not yet found one.
There was nothing in the lease agreement about working on cars, so I did oil changes on the property.
They posted notes about not working on cars. I went back to my lease, nothing in there, so I continued my practice.
But I tend to agree with others, it was very miserable living in an apartment complex after years of owning my own home. I now enjoy a three car garage, and can usually get three cars in there.
There was nothing in the lease agreement about working on cars, so I did oil changes on the property.
They posted notes about not working on cars. I went back to my lease, nothing in there, so I continued my practice.
But I tend to agree with others, it was very miserable living in an apartment complex after years of owning my own home. I now enjoy a three car garage, and can usually get three cars in there.
I would say to remember that the community at large do not work on their cars and see car work as dirty, oily, greasy, stinky, low-brow, redneck, and undesireable. It's a good thing not to conform to that stereotype when you work on your car in a place where it may be dodgy. Keep your car clean, your tools lined up, rags/papers/towels at the ready, and some semblance of order evident.
Each complex would have their own ideas about what would be acceptable and what would not. A body can get away with things when they appear to know what they're doing and are concious of the concerns of others. I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Small maintenance items I wouldn't see as a concern, and leaving no trace when completed is the way to keep it that way. It's your home, too, and as mentioned above, there are many more ways to abuse your neighbors that are worse.
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
Each complex would have their own ideas about what would be acceptable and what would not. A body can get away with things when they appear to know what they're doing and are concious of the concerns of others. I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Small maintenance items I wouldn't see as a concern, and leaving no trace when completed is the way to keep it that way. It's your home, too, and as mentioned above, there are many more ways to abuse your neighbors that are worse.
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Agree 100%. That's what I'm going on.
I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Agree 100%. That's what I'm going on.
Originally Posted By: Bottom_Feeder
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Agree 100%. That's what I'm going on.
+2
When I lived in an apartment, I kept my rent paid on time and the apartment spotless. The couple of times that the complex manager caught me fiddling with my vehicle, I just got the wink and a nod motherly scolding from her and she moved on never mentioning it again.
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Agree 100%. That's what I'm going on.
+2
When I lived in an apartment, I kept my rent paid on time and the apartment spotless. The couple of times that the complex manager caught me fiddling with my vehicle, I just got the wink and a nod motherly scolding from her and she moved on never mentioning it again.
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
I would say to remember that the community at large do not work on their cars and see car work as dirty, oily, greasy, stinky, low-brow, redneck, and undesireable. It's a good thing not to conform to that stereotype when you work on your car in a place where it may be dodgy. Keep your car clean, your tools lined up, rags/papers/towels at the ready, and some semblance of order evident.
Each complex would have their own ideas about what would be acceptable and what would not. A body can get away with things when they appear to know what they're doing and are concious of the concerns of others. I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Small maintenance items I wouldn't see as a concern, and leaving no trace when completed is the way to keep it that way. It's your home, too, and as mentioned above, there are many more ways to abuse your neighbors that are worse.
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
If the apartment/condo lease agreement states that NO maintenance work, including oil changes, is to be performed on the property....they all other discussion is really pointless. Excuses, dissecting the terms of the lease, and/or trying to figure out some sort of hidden intent....it's really not worthy of anything more than discussion. The lease is the terms that both parties agreed upon. The renter doesn't own the property. They are fortunate enough to be able to have a place to rent. It would not matter if the lease agreement said "no red cars on property between 6:00pm and 4:00am". If you AGREED to it by signing a lease, then that's the end of it. A property owner has the right to decide the rules.....you have the right to not agree to them. Pretty simple to me. It always astounds me how we've become so self-righteous and smug these days....even when we've agree to the terms of a CONTRACT. It's as though our word means nothing anymore....because we are somehow 'special'.
As I've stated before....if by chance, the apartment manager (preferably the owner of the property) says you can change your oil, then fine.
In your last paragraph of your post you say this...."But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well." Really? Really?? It's rude for a property owner to insist that THEIR property is well cared for? Perhaps if a renter ever becomes fortunate enough, through hard work and many years of toil, they can own some rental properties....and then have an open rule policy when it comes to oil changes and such. I'm sure they will quickly regret not being a 'stickler'. When you speak of these 'sticklers' for rules....what is your criteria for a 'stickler'? I suggest telling a cop when you get pulled over for breaking a traffic law that he's being a 'stickler' and that he's 'rude' for pulling you over.
I would say to remember that the community at large do not work on their cars and see car work as dirty, oily, greasy, stinky, low-brow, redneck, and undesireable. It's a good thing not to conform to that stereotype when you work on your car in a place where it may be dodgy. Keep your car clean, your tools lined up, rags/papers/towels at the ready, and some semblance of order evident.
Each complex would have their own ideas about what would be acceptable and what would not. A body can get away with things when they appear to know what they're doing and are concious of the concerns of others. I think the rule against apartment parking work is most often to allow an out for management when a real rube comes along and starts their own car repair business in the lot or thinks they can change an engine, tranny, and repaint there.
Small maintenance items I wouldn't see as a concern, and leaving no trace when completed is the way to keep it that way. It's your home, too, and as mentioned above, there are many more ways to abuse your neighbors that are worse.
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
If the apartment/condo lease agreement states that NO maintenance work, including oil changes, is to be performed on the property....they all other discussion is really pointless. Excuses, dissecting the terms of the lease, and/or trying to figure out some sort of hidden intent....it's really not worthy of anything more than discussion. The lease is the terms that both parties agreed upon. The renter doesn't own the property. They are fortunate enough to be able to have a place to rent. It would not matter if the lease agreement said "no red cars on property between 6:00pm and 4:00am". If you AGREED to it by signing a lease, then that's the end of it. A property owner has the right to decide the rules.....you have the right to not agree to them. Pretty simple to me. It always astounds me how we've become so self-righteous and smug these days....even when we've agree to the terms of a CONTRACT. It's as though our word means nothing anymore....because we are somehow 'special'.
As I've stated before....if by chance, the apartment manager (preferably the owner of the property) says you can change your oil, then fine.
In your last paragraph of your post you say this...."But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well." Really? Really?? It's rude for a property owner to insist that THEIR property is well cared for? Perhaps if a renter ever becomes fortunate enough, through hard work and many years of toil, they can own some rental properties....and then have an open rule policy when it comes to oil changes and such. I'm sure they will quickly regret not being a 'stickler'. When you speak of these 'sticklers' for rules....what is your criteria for a 'stickler'? I suggest telling a cop when you get pulled over for breaking a traffic law that he's being a 'stickler' and that he's 'rude' for pulling you over.
Originally Posted By: DBMaster
A society is inexorably intertwined with its economic, commercial, and social systems. So, I stand by my remark about capitalism failing. Failing less quickly than various forms of socialism or fascism, but failing nonetheless. Why? Because of human nature. Capitalism was supposed to be better than those other systems because we dropped the pretense of trying to make everyone "equal" and just let the goody-grab dictate activity. I don't know that capitalism's founders anticipated the extent to which human greed and selfishness can reach. So, it's not a bad system. We just have some bad players. A few bad players wreck the system for everyone. So, you end up with rules that penalize the good along with the bad players.
Are you a failed Amsoil salesman?
A society is inexorably intertwined with its economic, commercial, and social systems. So, I stand by my remark about capitalism failing. Failing less quickly than various forms of socialism or fascism, but failing nonetheless. Why? Because of human nature. Capitalism was supposed to be better than those other systems because we dropped the pretense of trying to make everyone "equal" and just let the goody-grab dictate activity. I don't know that capitalism's founders anticipated the extent to which human greed and selfishness can reach. So, it's not a bad system. We just have some bad players. A few bad players wreck the system for everyone. So, you end up with rules that penalize the good along with the bad players.
Are you a failed Amsoil salesman?
Originally Posted By: Mr_Incredible
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
This is an interesting discussion. I can see Andrewg's points but I also like to think some rules are made to be broken. I like and tend to follow rules that make good sense to me.
I have my own garage now and I do find it a challenge to change oil without spilling a drop - using a large sheet of cardboard is a good practice. I can understand objection to sloppy oil changes and i have known at least one person who rebuilt an engine in the living room of their rental apartment (it wasn't me).
Back when I lived in apartments and rental suites I managed to do lots of work on my cars and do oil changes. One of the tricks I used was I would drive one side of my car up on the curb, on a public road (out in front of the basement suite I was renting). I could then quickly crawl underneath and change the oil with no need for jacks or jack stands.
I also have fond memories of my roommate and I working on our cars in the Canadian tire parking lot. This way we had instant access to tools and parts. We cleaned up after ourselves but I have noticed that they now have signs up forbidding this activity. I am thinking that too many people left behind pools of oil and piles of old greasy parts.
I am interested in this discussion because as I near retirement I am considering moving back into an apartment but I don't want to give up my tools and working on cars. One of the best arrangements I have seen was an apartment that had underground parking with small individual locking single car garages with garage doors and a small storage area.
But, there are always people around that are absolute sticklers for adherance to all rules, regulations, signs, and stickers. It's good to have one's life in order, but I think it quite rude to insist on keeping everybody else's lives in order as well. Try not to poke then with sticks if you can, and maybe they'll leave you alone.
This is an interesting discussion. I can see Andrewg's points but I also like to think some rules are made to be broken. I like and tend to follow rules that make good sense to me.
I have my own garage now and I do find it a challenge to change oil without spilling a drop - using a large sheet of cardboard is a good practice. I can understand objection to sloppy oil changes and i have known at least one person who rebuilt an engine in the living room of their rental apartment (it wasn't me).
Back when I lived in apartments and rental suites I managed to do lots of work on my cars and do oil changes. One of the tricks I used was I would drive one side of my car up on the curb, on a public road (out in front of the basement suite I was renting). I could then quickly crawl underneath and change the oil with no need for jacks or jack stands.
I also have fond memories of my roommate and I working on our cars in the Canadian tire parking lot. This way we had instant access to tools and parts. We cleaned up after ourselves but I have noticed that they now have signs up forbidding this activity. I am thinking that too many people left behind pools of oil and piles of old greasy parts.
I am interested in this discussion because as I near retirement I am considering moving back into an apartment but I don't want to give up my tools and working on cars. One of the best arrangements I have seen was an apartment that had underground parking with small individual locking single car garages with garage doors and a small storage area.
Another good option for apartment dwellers is to go to a good synthetic oil and longer oil change intervals.
There are two lines of thought in this thread:
Black and white and
shades of grey.
Some will say that one way to renegotiate a contract or a treaty is to just go ahead and break it and see what happens. This is, naturally, appalling to some others. Or stretch a definition: Lease says no repairs, I'm just changing oil, that's "maintenance."
Or watch the gov't, they are masters of this. Pass a law but don't fund enforcement of it. Make something a crime (riding without a bike helmet) but make the fine zero dollars.
FWIW my wife got a parking ticket and I'm looking the thing over. In the city of Portland, ME, it's a $25 fine for "Washing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle except for repairs necessitated by emergency." If one can only get one ticket per day, they could essentially "rent a bay" for $25.
Black and white and
shades of grey.
Some will say that one way to renegotiate a contract or a treaty is to just go ahead and break it and see what happens. This is, naturally, appalling to some others. Or stretch a definition: Lease says no repairs, I'm just changing oil, that's "maintenance."
Or watch the gov't, they are masters of this. Pass a law but don't fund enforcement of it. Make something a crime (riding without a bike helmet) but make the fine zero dollars.
FWIW my wife got a parking ticket and I'm looking the thing over. In the city of Portland, ME, it's a $25 fine for "Washing, greasing, or repairing such vehicle except for repairs necessitated by emergency." If one can only get one ticket per day, they could essentially "rent a bay" for $25.
It's been so long ago . . . but I would just take the vehicle to the furthest corner of the parking area, away from where people lived, and quickly do the work.
Tire rotations, oil/fluid changes, minor maintenance, never a problem. I was much younger then and worked very fast, though. No more than an hour or so. Never a mess or noise. Cars were a lot simpler then, though.
I think if you're going to leave a car on stands for a few days, that's asking for trouble, and probably rightly so. You should find a friend's place for stuff like that.
Tire rotations, oil/fluid changes, minor maintenance, never a problem. I was much younger then and worked very fast, though. No more than an hour or so. Never a mess or noise. Cars were a lot simpler then, though.
I think if you're going to leave a car on stands for a few days, that's asking for trouble, and probably rightly so. You should find a friend's place for stuff like that.
When I was in college - not that long ago - there were no such rules. I asked before doing a spark plug change for a friend of mine.
I saw a few people doing small little things.
Biggest thing I came across was someone swapping an entire subframe, engine, trasnaxle and struts ... I found this when the whole setup was leaning AGAINST MY CAR? That was pretty stupid, IMO.
I live in an apartment. Hate it; but due to a ridiculous amount of student loans, I'm not able to save up for a downpayment on a house.
I have done smaller things in the driveways ... probably the biggest was a set of front brakes on a vehicle that had ejected a brake pad (that's a good one!). Managed to do it in about 50 minutes for both sides!
List of stuff I've done in my two apartments drivewyas
- Brake Job
- Changing Starter
- Changing Tires (constant)
- Changing starter ***
- Changing drive shafts
- Changed spark plug coil
- Replace rad cap
- Filled diff fluid
- Changed A/T oil with a pump through the dip stick.
** the stater job was HORRIBLY messy. Ugh. I replaced the starter for the first time in my Jeep's 13 year history. 13 years of oil changes dropped a TON of sludge/grease in the driveway.
I *DID* do the right thing. Grabbed a brush and a fwe gallons of water and went to town with dish soap and some degreaser.
In all honesty, these were really out of desperation more than anything. I try to avoid things like this . Most of my work is done at my parents (oil changes, wheel bearings, coolant flushes, spark plugs, etc)
I saw a few people doing small little things.
Biggest thing I came across was someone swapping an entire subframe, engine, trasnaxle and struts ... I found this when the whole setup was leaning AGAINST MY CAR? That was pretty stupid, IMO.
I live in an apartment. Hate it; but due to a ridiculous amount of student loans, I'm not able to save up for a downpayment on a house.
I have done smaller things in the driveways ... probably the biggest was a set of front brakes on a vehicle that had ejected a brake pad (that's a good one!). Managed to do it in about 50 minutes for both sides!
List of stuff I've done in my two apartments drivewyas
- Brake Job
- Changing Starter
- Changing Tires (constant)
- Changing starter ***
- Changing drive shafts
- Changed spark plug coil
- Replace rad cap
- Filled diff fluid
- Changed A/T oil with a pump through the dip stick.
** the stater job was HORRIBLY messy. Ugh. I replaced the starter for the first time in my Jeep's 13 year history. 13 years of oil changes dropped a TON of sludge/grease in the driveway.
I *DID* do the right thing. Grabbed a brush and a fwe gallons of water and went to town with dish soap and some degreaser.
In all honesty, these were really out of desperation more than anything. I try to avoid things like this . Most of my work is done at my parents (oil changes, wheel bearings, coolant flushes, spark plugs, etc)
I do a few little things at home, but I have stopped changing oil myself in either one of my cars. Both run of the mill GM cars.
The final straw was me going to autozone, and them not having any oil on sale. Then me paying 17 dollars for a conventional oil jug, plus 6 bucks for a filter.
The goodyear two miles from my house changes oil every day for 22 dollars with valvoline and one of their house filters.
The private shop changes oil with quaker state and a house filter, and rotates tires for 29 dollars.
Firestone runs a coupon all the time for 17.99 oil change with kendall oil and a house filter.
I bought tires from goodyear earlier this year, and the guy said that they had to send a guy to pick them up at the warehouse, and it would be about an hour to get them, and an hour to put them on.
He offered to drive me home in a shuttle van and have one of the guys drop the car off at my house when it was done. Now that is service.
The final straw was me going to autozone, and them not having any oil on sale. Then me paying 17 dollars for a conventional oil jug, plus 6 bucks for a filter.
The goodyear two miles from my house changes oil every day for 22 dollars with valvoline and one of their house filters.
The private shop changes oil with quaker state and a house filter, and rotates tires for 29 dollars.
Firestone runs a coupon all the time for 17.99 oil change with kendall oil and a house filter.
I bought tires from goodyear earlier this year, and the guy said that they had to send a guy to pick them up at the warehouse, and it would be about an hour to get them, and an hour to put them on.
He offered to drive me home in a shuttle van and have one of the guys drop the car off at my house when it was done. Now that is service.
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