Quote:
Originally Posted by retmil46
Video games are not entirely to blame -
Re the "PO Syndrome" thread in DD and the comments concerning the inflated cost of parts -
that seems to be the business model for the past couple of decades - either makes it so complicated and expensive to fix (ie, vehicles), or the opposite extreme of so cheaply made it isn't worth fixing - that the most economically feasible route for most people is to trade it off or throw it away and simply buy a new whatever.
I'm old enough to remember when TV repair shops were commonplace. But even by the early 90's, when I had the picture tube go out on a small 13" TV, the replacement tube by itself was more expensive than simply buying an entire new TV and trashing the old set.
And with cars - everything is now computer controlled, EPA or NHTSA mandated "thou shalt not touch", not even a dipstick for checking the tranny fluid or engine oil on some models - you're supposed to take it to the dealer or a professional to have every little item done or void the warranty - without some serious funds for aftermarket parts, there's nothing left for kids to tinker with except the stereo system and bling wheel rims.
Even PC/video games - which I agree fully share a good part of the blame - have devolved in the two or three decades they've been prevalent - I remember quite a few PC strategy and simulation games back in the 90's that required thought, decision making, and planning skills to enjoy and play successfully - nowadays it seems that all are "first person shooter" games - liitle more than the shooting gallery at a county fair.
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You might be onto something there retmil. When I was 13 I bought my first car for $12.50. It actually was sort of like a permit to get enough parts out of his wrecking yard to make a car. About $75 and a year later had a car, as long as you're not TOO strict about the definition.
That said, the $100 or so that it took seemed like $50,000 to me at the time.
A related factor though is that the 48 Chevy that I cobbled together was a VERY simple machine to deal with. For a kid to do this with a 25 year old car today would be much more of an electrical and mechanical challenge.