Do you ever wonder if your kids will ever have YOUR level of mechanical skill? - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

benhogan · #1 06-14-2012, 12:39 PM

I grew up taking my toys apart and learning how the mechanical toys worked. I put together models of cars, boats and planes.

My kids just play video games and show very little interest in anything automotive or anything mechanical.

What are you guys doing to counterbalance the video game problem?

Air&Road · #2 06-14-2012, 12:44 PM

From what I've seen, this doesn't indicate that your kids are not capable of achieving it, but like almost ALL kids today, they have absolutely no interest in it.

When I was growing up, not only was I hanging around my Dad's shop, but I was always tinkering, fixing, dismantling, destroying or whatever. Kids just don't do that any more.

I work in a large plant with LOTS of sophisticated automation. It is REALLY difficult to find electricians and mechanical maintenance people. We've had lots of discussion about this and we have come to the conclusion that the explanation above is why that is.

I may be WAY off base with this theory, because it is at least partially based on anecdotal evidence, but I think it's true.

Chris W. · #3 06-14-2012, 12:49 PM

I don't wonder about it, I know about it, as my boys are 18 and 21. One has a fair bit of mechanical skill, but doesn't care much about cars, the other is a car encyclopedia, but doesn't care much about the mechanicals.

Rgds,
Chris W.
'95 E300D, 370K

Pooka · #4 06-14-2012, 01:05 PM

My children had no desire to learn any of this stuff except to wonder why I had so many different kinds of tools.

And then one day I showed my Son how to replace the brake pads on his Porsche. He was stunned at how easy it was and he was even more stunned at how much money he had just saved since all he paid for was a set of pads.

Why did the shop charge so much for such a simple job? That was all he wanted to know. Because they can do it and you can't was the only reason I could give him.

So he got interested pretty quick and so did the other Kids. Even my Daughter knows her way around a set of tools now.

All I had to do was to show them how it was to their advantage to learn and they went after it.

retmil46 · #5 06-14-2012, 01:33 PM

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.

benhogan · #6 06-14-2012, 01:42 PM

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.

good points man

Air&Road · #7 06-14-2012, 02:17 PM

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.

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.

Zacharias · #8 06-14-2012, 03:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retmil46

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.

I can remember the big machines in stores that let you test your own radio tubes. For some odd reason where I grew up they were in drugstores as I recall.

TV repair shops. Shoemakers. Tailors. Small appliance repairs. Hell, GAS STATIONS that aren't just self-serve pumps and a convenience store full of junk food. I was in one last summer that was very large, easily 1100 square feet, but had maybe four square feet of shelf space devoted to auto needs.

My neighbour repairs lawn mowers and sells them. Many come out of people's garbage. I bird dog them for him on a regular basis. Some are 2-3 years old. They are so new he actually rings the doorbell and makes sure they're really in the trash, not just badly parked.

I see kids' bikes in excellent condition in the trash every summer. Not only do we have a charity locally that is actually devoted to recycling bikes to needy kids, every other thrift-store charity takes them to resell too. Wow.

I can't make up my mind if we've become too complacent to care about fixing or recyling perfectly good things, or instead it's just an indicator of worn out adults running around chained to crackberries who haven't got the energy to do anything outside their regular routine.

lorainfurniture · #9 06-14-2012, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I can remember the big machines in stores that let you test your own radio tubes. For some odd reason where I grew up they were in drugstores as I recall.

Like one of these?

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strelnik · #10 06-16-2012, 04:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zacharias

I can't make up my mind if we've become too complacent to care about fixing or recyling perfectly good things, or instead it's just an indicator of worn out adults running around chained to crackberries who haven't got the energy to do anything outside their regular routine.

Speak for yourself. It's 04 43 on a saturday morning. I have two stents. So who doesn't have energy?

have to go now, am going out to the property to mow it by hand.

tbomachines · #11 06-14-2012, 01:05 PM

I'm not much ahead of your kids...but I've got the mechanical interest. Despite growing up in the age of video games, I still tinkered and tore apart and put things together and stuff...I think it's just some people's nature. As far as video games go, I think there would be a good bridge between the subjects if the kids are playing stuff like Gran Turismo or Forza, which rely on technical aspects that can be demonstrated in practice.

Air&Road · #12 06-14-2012, 01:21 PM

My son and my daughter did what was necessary to be on wheels. My son and I restored a 65 Chevy pickup before he was sixteen. He did a lot of work because it was necessary to have wheels, not because of an interest in it. He is capable but not interested.

My daughter probably had more interest than my son. We raced karts together and she was a great driver. When she showed up all the boys knew that they were racing for second place. She didn't do much work on her kart, but she had no choice but to do the work on her first car, an 81 300D. Under my supervision of course, she put brake pads, shocks, a voltage regulator, did her own oil changes and a few other things. I was amazed at her natural ability to handle tools.

There again with both of them it was just a price of having wheels, not an interest that drew their attention.

t walgamuth · #13 06-14-2012, 01:29 PM

My son has never had any interest. My youngest daughter (the Architect) seems interested in mechanical things.

I have some grandsons who seem interested in cars and such. I hope to be able long enough to autocross with some of the grankids. The oldest now is 10. She is going on 17 though.

Yikes!

I hope she has better judgement than her grandmother did.

Stretch · #14 06-14-2012, 01:30 PM

I involve my three children in lots of my car building projects and the DIY projects around the house. The eldest who is nearly seven has his own saw and hammer. I try to not let him run down the battery on the cordless screwdriver though...

...my twin daughters are not yet four but they're allowed to pass tools and hold ends of wood that are being cut etc.

Everyone is allowed to climb up the step ladder to look at what needs to be done. As a result it takes about ten times longer to get things done - but hey if you want to involve your children in this type of work I guess you need to spend the time doing it with them.

Do my children all love computer games? Yes sure! But they also want to help out their old Dad once in a while too. I hope I'll be able to keep my helpers for a little bit longer. I guess Dad will always be useful to know when the bicycle / scooter / motor bike / boat / car / plane needs some maintenance doing to it.

MTI · #15 06-14-2012, 01:59 PM

No wondering here . . . number one son has already owned more cars in the past five years than I have in my lifetime; done engine transplants, worked on his friends cars, done bodywork and paint, parts fabrication and is now absorbed by tuning his new Ducati . . all financed by himself. Geez, he turns 25 on Saturday.