random thoughts and opinions

[enjenjo]

Fords and Chevrolets are the most popular for street Rods/Machines with Mopar a distant third. The Mopars are out there, but have become so expensive I think the owners are afraid to modify or even drive them for the most part.

55% of men under 40 can not change a tire, or unclog a drain without help. Any skilled trade you can mention has a shortage of new people entering the field, and the ones who do don't want to start at the bottom. In the meantime, 40% will be retiring in the next 10 years.

The car with the most American content is the Honda. Fiat Chrysler is second, GM third, and Ford fourth.

[Crosley.In.AZ]

I had a interesting chat like your comments with the owner of my work place last week. He has 2 daughters..  one in her 30's just entered the family business.

The other owner (his sister)  has 3 sons that are like your description.  Can barely put gasoline in a vehicle. No interest in the family business

So, the owner Jeff had just bought a 1950 Hudson 2 door. Nice car. Low miles , OE  flat head 3 speed power train.  Turns out his 2 yr olde grandson is named Hudson. The kid follows grandpa around, likes to mess with car stuff, mechanical stuff.. Jeff hopes the mechanical - car bug thing  hangs on with his grandson.  The  grandson's mom in high school had a stick shift diesel VW Jetta... None of her friends could drive a stick shift and it made Jeff so proud of his daughter to be like that.

[chimp koose]

Was at the gas station today and a guy had to ask the clerk how to boost a battery . He said he is 43 years old and has never done it before .

[butch27]

Sad--but the facts are that when WE are gone the car hobby will  probably end and our cars won't be worth a dime..

[kb426]

C.K., I found that to be hilarious. The word here is helpless, I believe. I have tried to train young people for the last 30 years. I hope some of it stuck.

[Charlie Chops 1940]

I haven't lost all hope yet. I sold my 2005 Cadillac CTS'V 6 speed manual with 187,000 miles on it a couple weeks ago to a young man in his early 20's.  

His father who is a GM parts guy came with him to look it over. The kid knew how to drive a stick and paid for it with his own money.

Dad knew all about LS engines and pronounced the car soun but left the young man to drive it and decide. I haven't heard anything back they drove off in it.

[phat46]

Some of the blame can be put on our generation. Our fathers, for the most part, taught us this stuff, made us do it whether or not we wanted to. I had two daughters, both can do things. I taught them. Both can change tires and have jump started cars. One has taken on a remodel of an 1880's victorian. The other has welded, know more about electrical than I do, she's a Mechanical Engineer with a degree from University of Michigan. Granted, some kids don't want to know this stuff, but many were never taught. Somewhere the ball was dropped, probably when it was thought, and preached, that the way to success was to get a college degree.

[chimp koose]

too true phat46! My parents fought me tooth and nail to stop with the cars and get an education. I think they were resigned to the fact that I was getting some sort of education when I took up machining training even though my father was a tradesman . That persistant scrapping about my career choices led me to just encourage my kids to look into whatever interested them and not try to train them about doing what your dad does .

[idrivejunk]

Now see here! You want random thoughts and opinions, buddy? Hold onto your hat, because they are comin at ya right now!!!!




I just wanted to burst in yelling and make a scene.

My Dad fixed typewriters and copiers and stick welded. I could fix PCs and carburetors. The world pretty much paved everything and decided not to let nut jobs claim land by force so now basic mechanical engineering principles are no longer evaluated by how well a machine works when packed in mud. We gotta get to work in space if you ask me.

I went to two years of art school for a degree but did not get it. Strange story there and I'll spare ya. Dad taught me if its yours and broken, fix it.

School told me this: Live the way you think or you will end up thinking the way you have lived.

Man its gonna be good and messed up when I'm some of youse mugs' ages.

What are we up to now, five genders?  :?

[idrivejunk]

Aw gee whiz Frank, I didn't mean to be myself and shut down the random flow.  :oops:  It was sunny and my disposition was jocular. May have missed my behaving. Speaking in excited tones while flailing my inflatable arms rarely gets me anywhere. Shushing before mouthful of soap or doghouse. I will use my library voice, promise. Thoughts and opinions can be fun though.