I'm going to try starting a Carrameow type thread. He has posted so many threads that stimulate thought and draw thoughtful and humorous replies.

My thought and question is about myself, but SURELY there's someone else here with a similar disease. Normal people spend their extra money on season tickets for the ball games, ski trips, concert tickets and other things that are very easily recognized as entertainment.

Now that I work at home, I just don't bother with things like that anymore. I enjoy the peace and quiet of where I live and thoroughly enjoy going into the shop to build or fix something. I spend my extra money for things like a two post lift, a new MIG welder, woodworking tools, and such. Also, of course, for car parts.

Am I the only one with such an ailment? I probably should change my moniker to TooManyTools.

Merry Christmas,

Larry, I have learned not to be critical of what people do that make them happy. IF that does it for you, more power to you.

Mu father has about 5000 cassettes and video tapes of news programs and I just shake my head. He tapes them for the hell of it. God forbid yo umake him miss the 6 o'clock news.

HE bakes bread for the hell of it as well as paints and writes and stares at squirrels. I get befuddled yes, but like I said whatever makes him happy, as long as it doesn't interfere with others.

Personally, I wish I had the time and space to learn woodworking, cabinetry etc.....if I could do things over again, I would have like to become a contractor. I find it very interesting.

My problem is I get bored quickly.

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Enough about me, how are you doing?

If what you characterize as a disease is, indeed, a disease, then I have had a severe infection for the last thirty-five years. I enjoy my home and shop and spend money on tools and photographic gear and rarely anything else. I am a contractor and spend my days building and spend my nights doing woodworking. I read about woodworking, metal working (lathe and mill), welding, Mercedes and photography. I find both reading and the activities relaxing. I will take my wife to the occasional theatrical production or NFL game, but , if I had my druthers, I would be in my shop. Outside the shop I want to photograph people and places, and, so take my wife out of the house once in a while on these excursions. I find it not strange, but, comforting, to know that others feel as I do.

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Mike

2000 SL500 22,000 miles
1981 300CD 188,000 miles
1979 450 SEL 266,000 miles
2005 Cadillac CTS 25,000 miles

Must be feeling my age because I look forward to getting home and playing with the cars in my garage also. The rudeness and rage of the general public any more has completely removed any desire to venture out of my comfort zone much. I've been all over this great country of ours and have seen some of the greatest sights known to man, but am still happiest in front of the fire at home, listening to Vince Gill sing Christmas music.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Yes, I have traveled extensively. Almost every state except Alaska and almost every Western European country. If I'm going to venture away from here it will definitely be a big trip, not a short one. I can't stand driving to Dallas any more. I went there last night for my Dads birthday. The traffic is nuts.

My wife and I plan on going to Germany and Switzerland for our anniversary in May. It's the local stuff that I don't care for any more. I grew up playing baseball and love the game. I would rather go watch the local High School team than to give any money to the cry baby pro players.

Merry Christmas,

...and I have my shop with music, airconditioning and heating and a close by toilet. Life is good.

I truly do love being able to do this stuff. The heady confidence of 'scheduling' a master cylinder RR/brake flush between breakfast and taking the family out to cut the X-mas tree at noon. The knowledge that, with the right tools and a little effort, you will have the best car on the road year after year after year...Jeez, I'm actually looking forward further justifying my purchase of $600+ worth of spring compressor by tearing into Sybill's front suspension right after the first of the year (new bushings, upper control arms, guide rod bushings and subframe bushings). And, there's something simply unreal about knowing full well when you buy a $650 beater, you're going to be the one able to make it whole again. The "Mercedes Mystique" is even further enhanced when you answer someone who asks about the astronomically high repair bills: "No, it doesn't go to the dealer, I do ALL my own work."

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Intresting post....
Being 21 has its advantages and disadvantages...I've never taken any of my cars to a dealer or to a mechanic. From swapping transmissions in my old 89 mercury sable to engine swaps and the infinate number of problems any of my vehicles have had. I think it is a lot of fun to turn nothing into something...My profession is not a mechanic, but I do enjoy doing it and could probably persue it. Only problem is that my hobbies are all over the board, I have intrest in computers, cars, atvs and electronics. It makes allocating funds for each hobby VERY tricky!!! Seems like my snap-on toolbox gets the majority of them

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1992 300TE 4matic - Just obtained 12/22/06
1983 300D - SOLD
1997 Dodge 2500 - CTD 400+HP, 1100ft/lbs torque

Hey,
I always enjoyed mechanics and always fix my own cars and motorcycles. But I must admit, I get a lot more satisfaction from working on my Mercedes that I have gotten from any other vehicle. I really love that car! I put 2 coats of wax on it this past weekend.
I can't put my finger on one reason why it's a combination of easy to work on, I'm learning a whole lot, and the satisfaction of doing the job and doing it right.
It's the unplanned maintenance that I don't like so much. Like replacing glow plugs last week in the cold morning and being late for work! But that could have been avoided by checking and replacing them before they went bad. Lesson learned!

Also, in 3 weeks I'm going on a week long vacation to Jackson Hole Wyoming. It's gonna be the first time in 6 years that I've been skiing and I can't wait!

YEEEHAAAA

Danny

If I step back and think about what Larry is really asking, I think life comes down to participants and spectators.

On our family vacations we go to our home in Scotland that we are renovating, so trips involve quite a bit of home remodelling stuff. When travelling I take pictures, when at home I develop and print them. I've never been on a beach vacation in my life, I don't know what I'd spend the time doing.

I don't go looking for things to tinker with on the car, but I don't object to taking care of things as they arise. I'm also quite happy paying a mechanic friend to take care of things if I don't have the time, or inclination.

I guess I don't feel right about sitting on my backside watching TV and then paying someone else to do something that I could have done myself, if I'd got up off the chair.

Kevin

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'85 300SD

I don't think it has anything to do with being normal or not normal. Different people have different things that they are in to. Some people are really into sports. Some people are really into computers. Some people are really into music. All of us here happen to be into our cars. We are probably a smaller group than these other people but nevertheless it's just our thing.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

Beer drinking and babe chasing!

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)

I am in my 40's now! Sometimes I still feel 20; other times I feel 80...
All I know is that I love doing it.
A couple of months ago I got Down and I thought about all the time, money and energy I wasted on this Hobby (aka Religion) and I wished I had put it into something like the Stock Market, or a Small Business, or Real Estate..but i dont have a passion for the Stock Market, or a Small Business, or Real Estate..if I had been a landlord i doubt i would have had the stomach to evict someone out of work, and if it had been the Stock Market, I would have been penniless by now...

Well, I can't contribute too much as I'm a total "newbie" to the whole mechanic thing. To be honest, I never thought I'd be into cars until a year and a half ago when my dad gave me his old 300D. To be really honest, I wasn't even that excited about getting the old car, because I had no appreciation. Until I got behind the wheel of it, and it's been a love affair ever since. I still take my car to the mechanic, because at this point I do not have the knowledge to safely fix things on my own.
I would love some day to be like you all, and do all (or most) of these things myself ... I think the appeal for me is the idea that I would be able to take something non-functional, or something that most people would never bother with, and turn it into something functional and meaningful. Most people would have junked my car and gone out and bought something new and under warranty, but I take pride in making an effort to salvage something that is to me still very "valuable." In some ways it is also like artwork ... even little things like putting a new grille insert on or detailing leave me with a sense of pride. That is, it's MY car, not just a car I drive.
I guess when it comes down to it, when I get into something, I really get into it, and I get into it for life. I also love baseball (watching it, reading about it, writing about it, etc) and running (major injury made me unable to compete, but I still hobble along). But with all of it, I never get into the flash or commercialism. Guess I just like simple things and good old hard work.

When it comes to cars, I also believe when one has control over something so powerful as a car, they better have an idea of how it works. It amazes me how many people accelerate emphatically up to red lights and then slam on the brakes, with absolutely no concept of energy expenditure or waste. My car serves me well and I think it deserves the same in return.

But right now I have a lot to learn.

All three of my benz's are asleep with a blanket over them hibernating for the cold winter ahead. I drove my 300 D today for the last time this year and I wondered for just a moment, If I died, that would have been the last time I'd ever drive it! And then I thought, your not gonna die stupid!

Oh well, sometimes I worry about things like that, I guess it means I really love my car and I'll miss driving it. So I started to think about all the time I'll have this winter to research and order needed parts like that darn ignition switch that I thought I repaired last week is on the fritz again, and the new master brake cylinder I need, and oh yes, motor mounts for both the 107 and the 124.

First job in the spring, I like 50 degrees and above, is to replace the lifters in the 603, new emergancy brake cable, dreaded motor mounts, install rebuilt injectors! Then new tires, alignment, state inspection sticker, then I'll be bored again.....Oh no, wate! That's just one car, there are two more with bigger issues......I'll be happy all the year long! BB

I don't quite understand those who sit around staring at a square box day and night. I don't see it as being good for the brain or body. I like to work on things and work my mind and body.

I've started to build an airplane. I'm building the garage addition myself (except cement work). I just got my black belt this year and halfway to another. I'm finishing the kitchen and now I'm in the basement. I'm also rebuilding the engines on an SD and an SDL.

If anything, I may have too many projects, but I can't work on some so I work on the others.

I have to get the last bit of trim installed in the kitchen and finish that new door opening. Maybe this next week while I'm off.

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Michael LaFleur

'05 E320 CDI - 86,000 miles
'86 300SDL - 360,000 miles
'85 300SD - 150,000 miles (sold)
'89 190D - 120,000 miles (sold)
'85 300SD - 317,000 miles (sold)
'98 ML320 - 270,000 miles (sold)
'75 300D - 170,000 miles (sold)
'83 Harley Davidson FLTC (Broken again) :-(
'61 Plymouth Valiant - 60k mikes
2004 Papillon (Oliver)
2005 Tzitzu (Griffon)
2009 Welsh Corgi (Buba)