A year and a half ago I brought my car for the last time to a mechanic. After paying the guy $250 for a job I could have done easily myself I decided that if I have the time I will do it myself. I like to work on my own cars, it somehow relaxes me and it's very satisfying at the end if all went well.

Just replaced the water pump, ball-joints, brakes, replaced some front bushings with new poly's. And now that I have an understanding of the front suspension I will replace all the bushings for poly's, new struts, springs and steering rack. And a major tune-up is needed soon: spark-plugs, new timing belt, head gasket. Basically bringing it to stage O, so that I'm ready to squeeze some more horse power out of the engine. What will be the next step.

But to answer your question I think I spent at least two days a month doing something on my car, all is preventive work and common maintenance, my cars hardly ever break down. The only time I got stranded was when the sway-bar came lose and that was because the damn mechanic didn't torque it right when he replaced the bushings. Another reason to do it yourself.

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1979 Black on Black, 300CD (sold), 1990 Black 300SE, Silver 1989 Volvo 780, 1988 300CE (vanished by the hands of a girlfriend), 1992 300CE (Rescue).