Dieselhead Lament: How come people don't fix things anymore? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Carrameow · #1 08-04-2007, 10:17 AM

In my new neighborhhod to the Left of me is the Homeowner Association President. He has two new SUV's and his groceries are ordered on the Internet. The house are spaced closely and the arrangement is claustrophobic, its almost like living in a Townhouse.
When he saw my car jacked up, he came running over and tried to cite the HOA Clause about having a disabled vehicle. I said its not disabled, its under repair.
I noticed that most neighbors here live "inside their house" They all drive new cars for the most part and drive right into their garages at night and out in the morning. Inside comes the glow of 36" LCD TV's, the jangle of phones ringing and people on the Internet. Most people hire others to cut the Lawn.
I'm the only oddball who lives outside my house. To me the lawn, driveway and backyard are my living room, especially in the summer. I love the smell of cut wood or burnt steel.
The sight of me on a Saturday is not pretty. No Dockers, or Izods. Just grease from head to toe as I keep my 5 junkers running. I think most neighbors think I am either 1. DUMB 2. POOR 3. OWN NO GOOD CLOTHES 4. NUTTY 5. Cant wait until I move. 6. THINK I AM FROM THE 1950"s
The thing that makes me wonder, is how do these people survive financially? Contractors cut their Lawn, 8 year old Washing machines are discarded and TVs and Computers sit on the Curb with "Free" signs on them.
I may not be rich, but i have few debts. I shop on Craig's List and from Trading Times. The only guy I feel a kinship with is the Russian immigrant who is a blue collar guy of some sorts who lives nearby who speaks no English, and even he has a nice Lexus.
Well they have over 50 communities. Someday i wish they would have a community wher you could not live unless You could weld aluminum, owned a engine hoist and dessed sloopily on weekends.

Brian Carlton · #2 08-04-2007, 10:20 AM

Who's the President of that HOA?

Got to petition to get this guy Carrameow out of the neighborhood...........he clearly isn't one of "us"...........

#3 08-04-2007, 10:44 AM

I suspect it's just a symptom of the fact that many people have more money than time. They are basically just paying for their free time. If it's worth paying someone else $80/hour so you don't have to crawl around under your car, you get to spend a few extra hours hanging out with the family, watching the game, whatever.

Jeremy5848 · #4 08-04-2007, 11:19 AM

Modern cars, TVs, and such are almost impossible for the average consumer to repair. They are designed to be as inexpensive as possible to build, since people in general and Americans in particular want to buy the least expensive products. Repairability adds cost so it's left out.

Electronic auto components are also non-repairable. Even the dealer's expert doesn't repair stuff like that. They run a test and replace the component that the test tells them to replace. Electronics used to be repairable down to the component level -- not any more. You can't even see the components.

Then there's the question of labor cost. Anyone who faces a big repair realizes that labor is often the biggest factor. That's one reason why the car dealer's service technician "replaces a module" rather than repairing it (even if that were possible).

Finally, and especially where electronics is involved, advances in technology make today's marvelous gadget obsolete tomorrow. The future replacement will be improved and possibly less expensive. Computers, celphones, etc. spring to mind. Why repair? Throw it away and buy a new one.

All of that means that Carrameow's neighbors and our neighbors stay inside and play their video games while we work on our 20-year-old repairable cars, our 40-year-old vacuum tube hi-fi equipment, and our other repairable toys.

Jeremy

JimmyL · #5 08-04-2007, 11:20 AM

I know it isn't feasible, but that clearly is not the place for you! You need to live next door to me, or Mustang Man298, or WhiskeyDan, etc........
Ah, the joys that would bring......

pizzachef · #6 08-04-2007, 11:27 AM

Sounds like you're in the wrong neighborhood...there's got to be cooler people in Seattle.

pdxwaker · #7 08-04-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pizzachef

Sounds like you're in the wrong neighborhood...there's got to be cooler people in Seattle.

Definitely. With the desirable living conditions you listed I'd suggest avoiding HOAs at all costs! The main goal of HOAs is to create uniformity. If you don't fit into the mold, you're an outcast.

Mark DiSilvestro · #8 08-04-2007, 11:48 AM

There's this recent credit commercial starring some guy on a big yard tractor, cutting the grass of his 'mini-mansion' while he's lamenting about his wealthy lifestyle, and whining "I can barely afford my finance charges! Won't somebody help me?"

As for repairing things, aside from the 'newer is better' mentality, many things just aren't built to be fixed anymore. And even when you'd prefer to repair, if you're mechanically unskilled, there's the fear of getting a repair person who's incompetent or a crook.

I have friends that think nothing about charging 3 or 4 grand on all new appliances, as soon as the first one breaks, or the color goes out of style.
Fortunately, my mechanical talents can usually keep mine going until they're at least a couple decades old. Then I shop for newer replacements at local thift-stores, yard sales, the Habitat store, or curbside.

Happy Motoring, Mark

chomamma · #9 08-04-2007, 11:53 AM

Dont worry much about them. They are funding the rest of us......

NC Benz · #10 08-04-2007, 11:55 AM

MAN OH MAN... what a bunch of nasty neighbors!

It is GOOD to live in the country! Heck, I have had two neighbors come over to see if they could help me! One has a couple of MBs as projects as well. We are now planning a wrench day (hopefully soon!) so that all of the local Benz owners can come over and we wrench together.

It helps that I have a nice big garage with an air conditioned rec room above with a Brunswick pool table and a Tiki bar...... My wife calls it the "Man Shed".

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carrameow

In my new neighborhhod to the Left of me is the Homeowner Association President. He has two new SUV's and his groceries are ordered on the Internet. The house are spaced closely and the arrangement is claustrophobic, its almost like living in a Townhouse.
When he saw my car jacked up, he came running over and tried to cite the HOA Clause about having a disabled vehicle. I said its not disabled, its under repair.
I noticed that most neighbors here live "inside their house" They all drive new cars for the most part and drive right into their garages at night and out in the morning. Inside comes the glow of 36" LCD TV's, the jangle of phones ringing and people on the Internet. Most people hire others to cut the Lawn.
I'm the only oddball who lives outside my house. To me the lawn, driveway and backyard are my living room, especially in the summer. I love the smell of cut wood or burnt steel.
The sight of me on a Saturday is not pretty. No Dockers, or Izods. Just grease from head to toe as I keep my 5 junkers running. I think most neighbors think I am either 1. DUMB 2. POOR 3. OWN NO GOOD CLOTHES 4. NUTTY 5. Cant wait until I move. 6. THINK I AM FROM THE 1950"s
The thing that makes me wonder, is how do these people survive financially? Contractors cut their Lawn, 8 year old Washing machines are discarded and TVs and Computers sit on the Curb with "Free" signs on them.
I may not be rich, but i have few debts. I shop on Craig's List and from Trading Times. The only guy I feel a kinship with is the Russian immigrant who is a blue collar guy of some sorts who lives nearby who speaks no English, and even he has a nice Lexus.
Well they have over 50 communities. Someday i wish they would have a community wher you could not live unless You could weld aluminum, owned a engine hoist and dessed sloopily on weekends.

Brian Carlton · #11 08-04-2007, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

I have friends that think nothing about charging 3 or 4 grand on all new appliances, as soon as the first one breaks, or the color goes out of style.

There are people, right on Mercedes-Shop, who think nothing of dropping $5K on a stove. Now, seriously, does anybody really need a $5K stove?

$3.5K would get you three very good appliances.....but, certainly not extravagant.

Mark DiSilvestro · #12 08-04-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Carlton

There are people, right on Mercedes-Shop, who think nothing of dropping $5K on a stove. Now, seriously, does anybody really need a $5K stove?

$3.5K would get you three very good appliances.....but, certainly not extravagant.

For $5K, it needs to be airconditioned, have a nice audio system, and be capable of driving comfortably on the interstate!

As it happens, over the past two years I've had to install a washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwwve and kitchen faucet. Total cost around $250 (And a sore shoulder!)

Happy Motoring, Mark

Brian Carlton · #13 08-04-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark DiSilvestro

As it happens, over the past two years I've had to install a washer, dryer, dishwasher, microwwve and kitchen faucet. Total cost around $250 (And a sore shoulder!)

Happy Motoring, Mark

I've got two good stories:

Always coveted the bottom freezer fridge (I'm 6'4"). Cost for a new one is well over $1K. Well, I think not, since there is nothing wrong with the top freezer unit........other than the fact that it's old and the gaskets are shot.

Check on e-bay and find a pristine KitchenAid over in NJ. Opening bid is $100. I bid $150. Nobody else bids.

So, for $100. and $50 in gas and tolls, I've got, effectively, a $1K machine that will probably last another 10 years.

My washing machine also functioned fine, but it was also over 20 years old and I wouldn't mind a larger tub. Find a "recon" fellow who doesn't recon anything. He picks up the perfectly good units that the people toss out after three years. I find a pristine GE in the shop/warehouse with all the bells and whistles. He gives it to me for $125.

funola · #14 08-04-2007, 12:46 PM

Well, definitely not me. I try to fix everything. Just took apart the courtersey light in the 240D, cleaned the rocker switch contacts and it's fixed!

Like others have said, you live in the wrong neighborhood. Looking forward to future stories of your encounter in the "hood"

crashone · #15 08-04-2007, 01:17 PM

Man buy an old pickup truck and start hitting the curb for their free stuff, sell it on craigslist or fleabay, pay for your new parts and laugh at them.

After all they would be bank rolling your fix or repair MB shop everytime they put something out. Of course you would have to do this under the cover of darkness so the peoplethatbe don't complain about the junkman living down the street. (As I'm sure I'm well known as!!

) Good luck.