One of my neighbors may look under the hood but I'm the only one under the car
Are you the only neighbor who works on vehicles?
- Thread starter The motor guy
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Originally Posted By: mcgophers
I think I'm the only one in my apartment complex brazen enough to work on their cars in the parking lot or on the gravel lot attached to it.
Do this all the time as well. Got the OK from management to do own oil changes within the complex. So any auto work being done is just another "oil change."
My lease states that cars cannot be left overnight on jack stands, so I finish before sunset. Other residents have had the mobile mechanics come over in the past.
I did once borrow a neighbor's garage once. I don't see it worth the extra $200/month to rent. I couldn't even wheel-in an air compressor with my car in the garage. I still gave my neighbor $20 for the day, plus a 6-pack of IPA.
I think I'm the only one in my apartment complex brazen enough to work on their cars in the parking lot or on the gravel lot attached to it.
Do this all the time as well. Got the OK from management to do own oil changes within the complex. So any auto work being done is just another "oil change."
My lease states that cars cannot be left overnight on jack stands, so I finish before sunset. Other residents have had the mobile mechanics come over in the past.
I did once borrow a neighbor's garage once. I don't see it worth the extra $200/month to rent. I couldn't even wheel-in an air compressor with my car in the garage. I still gave my neighbor $20 for the day, plus a 6-pack of IPA.
my 2 neighbors are at retirement age so they do less on their vehicles then they use to. They are into home and yard stuff. I'm the young neighbor being 35.
A couple of sundays ago I saw my next door neighbour with with an engine suspended on his chainblock over a Ford Laser. I go to work on monday and at 8.30 our counter guy is bleating because my next job hasn't turned up, there is supposed to be a Ford Laser turning up for me to do an engine swap on. ''Ah, I think it's already been done.'' I haven't talked to him about it yet.
By my neighbors, not so much as a popped hood in our neighborhood. Me, of course. If I'm going to do something noisy, like beat the rust off a rotor, I'll wait until after 9:00 AM (12:00 noon on Sundays). Nobody bothers me about it.
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Yes I live in an executive neighborhood but my home is the least expensive home.
There is a surgeon who buys what I'd call hulks(burned up 78 Porsche) or rotted vw bug convertible and restores them to perfection. They appear brand new. He has 7& turbo Porsche, cobra, vw bug. His normal vehicle is Outback and pilot.
There is a surgeon who buys what I'd call hulks(burned up 78 Porsche) or rotted vw bug convertible and restores them to perfection. They appear brand new. He has 7& turbo Porsche, cobra, vw bug. His normal vehicle is Outback and pilot.
You have to look to see me when I'm under a truck. No neighbors within several hundred feet.
I have had one neighbor comment on how he couldn't believe that truck would ever run again after he came over to borrow my mower. I can easily have half the truck pulled off and sitting next to it waiting for reassembly...
I have had one neighbor comment on how he couldn't believe that truck would ever run again after he came over to borrow my mower. I can easily have half the truck pulled off and sitting next to it waiting for reassembly...
I'm only aware of one neighbor that does their own regular vehicle maintenance. He owns a couple motorcycles and several vehicles including a new brand new Jeep, and I've seen him servicing them. Beyond that, think most go to the local indy shop or dealer to get the work done.
He's also is the only other guy I see washing his vehicles too.
He's also is the only other guy I see washing his vehicles too.
Originally Posted By: Pajamarama
There's one guy up the street who one would call a "ricer". He's always working on his car.
Other than him and me, I think the most anyone else does is wash and polish their car in their driveway.
There's actually HOA rules that state you're not allowed to work on your car in your driveway but I have always ignored those. I clean up after myself, I don't use air tools and well, f them regardless.
My dump recently added a detail in the lease that says we're not even supposed to wash our cars on the property. One more reason why I want to leave. I see people washing their vehicles on the weekend, when the office is closed; they can't watch us 24/7. As you put it so eloquently, f them regardless.
There's one guy up the street who one would call a "ricer". He's always working on his car.
Other than him and me, I think the most anyone else does is wash and polish their car in their driveway.
There's actually HOA rules that state you're not allowed to work on your car in your driveway but I have always ignored those. I clean up after myself, I don't use air tools and well, f them regardless.
My dump recently added a detail in the lease that says we're not even supposed to wash our cars on the property. One more reason why I want to leave. I see people washing their vehicles on the weekend, when the office is closed; they can't watch us 24/7. As you put it so eloquently, f them regardless.
Only one... everybody knows me as they guy that is always under the car wrenching on something
I'm the neighborhood "go to" guy for all things mechanical. Just kind of happened over the years whereas I'm now the youngest one and the "go to" guys before me have retired and are starting to slow down. I guess that title got past down to me over the years. I don't mind. Enjoy helping them out and chatting them and listening to their old vehicle stories like when you HAD to change the oil every 3K. I'm SLOWLY converting them into the "it's OK to go past 3K" mindset. Most of them DO NOT trust an OLM. Old school I guess. Got to work on an older Mach 1 in the past and that was pretty cool. I also take care of their mowers and yard stuff, not to mention adjusting sprinkler systems or just narrowing down certain problems. Kind of cool actually.
Originally Posted By: Rick in PA
By my neighbors, not so much as a popped hood in our neighborhood.
Saw a Taiwanese teacherette with the hood up in the car park last week, to my complete astonishment.
She was cleaning something with a paper tissue with one hand, while holding the bonnet (hood) up with the other.
I went over and asked if there was a problem. Apparently not, so I showed her where the bonnet stay was and what it did.
Didn't look like she'd seen it before.
I am now officially a mechanical genius and hero.
By my neighbors, not so much as a popped hood in our neighborhood.
Saw a Taiwanese teacherette with the hood up in the car park last week, to my complete astonishment.
She was cleaning something with a paper tissue with one hand, while holding the bonnet (hood) up with the other.
I went over and asked if there was a problem. Apparently not, so I showed her where the bonnet stay was and what it did.
Didn't look like she'd seen it before.
I am now officially a mechanical genius and hero.
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Only two of us in the neighborhood that will get our hands greasy and the rest take their cars to a shop or the dealership. We also have that one guy who knows everything about everything, and won't hesitate to tell you how to do things but never helps or does any work himself.
Yes, but anything more than changing fluids, or a couple of hours work, I take it to my small shop behind the warehouse of junk.
A guy that lived down the street from our primary residence is now futilely running for the Senate, so, not really a DIY neighborhood.
edit - take it back, guy a couple of houses over had a Model T for a while. So, once, there were two of us.
A guy that lived down the street from our primary residence is now futilely running for the Senate, so, not really a DIY neighborhood.
edit - take it back, guy a couple of houses over had a Model T for a while. So, once, there were two of us.
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Neighbor on north wrenches on his motorcycle and less so on vehicles. Have never seen a hood up in the rest of the neighborhood. One neighbor has an enormous roll away with pristine tools that have never been used.
Yep. A few blocks over there are some others. I've been doing A LOT of work the past several months, both regular maintainence & new issues. I have a few who have displayed rather insecure behavior about my ability to do my own work. Evidently it causes unwanted internal feelings in them! One replied I made him "look bad". Another said "there are places that do that you know..." Yet another referred to me as an "addict". Geesh....all because I was turning my own wrench.
Reminds me when I had to live with relatives for awhile in college. Uncle & his son began teasing me about wrenching on things, working on my sailboat, keeping my car clean, etc. They were mostly indoors watching TV. Looks like they "looked bad" in comparison as well.
The reality though is that I've only owned two cars since 1984. Both of them Swedish. The last time I had a car payment was decades ago. Works for me!
Reminds me when I had to live with relatives for awhile in college. Uncle & his son began teasing me about wrenching on things, working on my sailboat, keeping my car clean, etc. They were mostly indoors watching TV. Looks like they "looked bad" in comparison as well.
The reality though is that I've only owned two cars since 1984. Both of them Swedish. The last time I had a car payment was decades ago. Works for me!
None of my neighbors do any 'menial' work. I'm one of two people on my street that even owns a lawn mower. They're super nice people, but they look at me like I have two heads when they see me underneath my car...or washing it myself
They can have their Jiffy Lube oil changes. I know mine are being done right.
They can have their Jiffy Lube oil changes. I know mine are being done right.
Originally Posted By: funflyer
We also have that one guy who knows everything about everything,
I know an Idiot like that too! Had to check your location, thought it might be the same guy.
We also have that one guy who knows everything about everything,
I know an Idiot like that too! Had to check your location, thought it might be the same guy.
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