I hae a couple of honest mechanics, and they're gold man. there are lots of things I'll do at home, and on the 51' everything is possible. on my newer cars, 2003 and 2006, I don't bother. I'll do the brakes, fuel filter, stuff like that, but not oil changes or anything major.

my wife does appreciate it though. dealer wanted 500 to do the brakes on her car, I did it for about 170 maybe, new pads and all rotors turned, and was a damn sight easier than on the older cars. these new "floating rotors" are slick as greased owl poop.

Plumbing, I do all my own now unless it involves a snake. fortunately I have a friend that is a plumber, before that I paid a HUGE sum to have a faucet installed ONCE, that was the end of me calling plumbers for anything short of blockages.

on the other hand, considering what they work with, they deserve what they charge. you couldn't pay me enough!

Red