How Much Time Do You Spend On Your Car? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

al76slc · #1 05-25-2007, 09:25 AM

My son wants to have a catch, my wife wants me to do something with the yard.... and the house.... and go with her to visit her Mom.....

Meanwhile I'm cleaning my cars and I'm really enjoying it.

I went to art school; I haven't been in a museum in years, and my favorite form of art now is painted sheetmetal.

What is it about taking a toothbrush to the treads of a spare tire that beats out vacuuming, washing windows, weeding, mowing, etc?

300SD81 · #2 05-25-2007, 09:33 AM

Well, I don't have a job, I don't do anything around the house other than mow the lawn and fix whatever breaks, don't have any kids, don't run many errands, and haven't watched much TV lately.. so, all of the above

Pete Geither · #3 05-25-2007, 10:06 AM

In the nice weather there is nothing better than rolling around the garage on my Snap-On seat, doors up, Sirius channel 5 or 61 or 128, drinking an MGD and shining the cars,,,, life is good during those times and I spend way too much time doing it.

John Doe · #4 05-25-2007, 10:35 AM

Three years ago, I impulse bought an orbital buffer during an unscheduled stop at harbor freight. I washed and waxed one of my cars. That was the last time I washed a car.

E150GT · #5 05-25-2007, 10:41 AM

I spend most of my time at work, but thats cause I need to make money to play with the car. I spend way too much time on the car. so says my girlfriend

TheDon · #6 05-25-2007, 10:50 AM

I dont spend much time on it unless I have to really

SwampYankee · #7 05-25-2007, 10:55 AM

At this stage of my life with 4 kids under 10yo, my vehicles would be #7 on that list of choices close behind my boat. The oldest 2 are involved with sports/dancing/Scouts and I'm running like crazy. I can't imagine what it will be like when the youngest 2 get into the fray.

Outside of oil changes and tune-ups, I have the shop that takes care of all of our work trucks do my dirty work. Over the next few years I hope to be able to spend a bit more time working on them. Right now time is just at such a premium. I will be quitting my PT job in a few weeks so that will free up a few hours every morning before work and the rest of the family wake up.

The Swede · #8 05-25-2007, 11:06 AM

During the winter, the cars get taken to a car wash every other week. I give them a spring detail job, then wash them as needed throughout the non winter season.

Jim B. · #9 05-25-2007, 11:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

I dont spend much time on it unless I have to really

MENTIRA!!!
No lo creo, amigo!!!

TheDon · #10 05-25-2007, 11:21 AM

most I spent on it last time was 3 hours to do an oil change and do the oil pan with new gasket.

riethoven · #11 05-25-2007, 11:25 AM

My workshop situation sucks right now. I am trying to get that into better shape then maybe I will spend more time on my car. I probably spend less than 1 hour per week at the present time. I would like to spend much more but am busy with my side business. But that is OK, because that is where the money comes from to work on my cars.

PaulC · #12 05-25-2007, 11:26 AM

I come from a long line of anal-retentives. I had an uncle (German, with oak-leaf clusters) who would maintain his vehicles to an insane standard. When he finally passed away, I took his 7 year old, 130,000-mile Ford Bronco to a few used car dealers to get a price for the estate. The first dealer eyed the truck up and down, including the five-digit odometer, marveled at how beautifully preserved this vehicle was, and gave me a an excellent offer. I then had to tell him that the vehicle had 130k on it and his eyes bugged out. His offer bugged out as well.

Me? I used to dissassemble the instrument cluster on some of my past vehicles in order to clean the back side of the clear plastic lens over the guages. A few times I would apply Bleche-White on the inboard sidewalls of the tires, a part of the car that is usually only reviewed by an errant squirrel on the roadway. Today, there is a layer of dust on my Tahoe's dashboard and I don't really care. Priorities shift, I guess.

riethoven · #13 05-25-2007, 11:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SwampYankee

At this stage of my life with 4 kids under 10yo, my vehicles would be #7 on that list of choices close behind my boat. The oldest 2 are involved with sports/dancing/Scouts and I'm running like crazy. I can't imagine what it will be like when the youngest 2 get into the fray.

Outside of oil changes and tune-ups, I have the shop that takes care of all of our work trucks do my dirty work. Over the next few years I hope to be able to spend a bit more time working on them. Right now time is just at such a premium. I will be quitting my PT job in a few weeks so that will free up a few hours every morning before work and the rest of the family wake up.

You sound like me except on the north side of the Sound. I have three kids 10 and under and a 1 year old Viszla. I call him my brown son.

I have determined that it is hard to get any real deferred maintainance or restoration done with the car on the road. It is so much easier when I don't have to worry about driving the car Monday to work.

Hatterasguy · #14 05-25-2007, 11:53 AM

I don't have much time anymore. The SDL is the only car I care enough about to really keep clean, and even that car is living with a layer of dust on it now.

My next decent daily driver I'll just take to the car wash when its dirty, and have a good detail guy I know go at it a few times a year.

Priorities shift, I rather spend my limited free time doing other things.

Mistress · #15 05-25-2007, 11:58 AM

Not enough.....

View Poll Results: I spend more time (per week in nice weather) working on my car than...
Working at my job	4	50.00%
Working around my house	5	62.50%
With my kids	3	37.50%
Running errands for household (including grocery shopping, etc.)	3	37.50%
Watching TV, reading, listening to music	5	62.50%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 8. You may not vote on this poll