Originally posted by Kremithefrog:
Originally posted by MeanGreen2:

$3K is nothing to any mechanic that I know of, period.

And if your dad works bumper-to-bumper, I'd sure like to see what tools he has. Around here, 1" impacts are well over $1K...1 wrench can cost $100.00 or more, sockets $50.00 etc...but I'm talking quality...not junk.

And I won't say it again, I don't overcharge...my labor is 10 dollars per hour less than everbody else in the area, I don't oversell jobs and I never go over suggested retail, so just get off of that and face the facts that tools cost money...the more work that you do, the more tools are needed...more money is needed.

And $7K for a real tool box is cheap...I've seen mechanics spend closer to $20K

You just seem sour...and p*ssed because a pro knows more and owns more tools than you. Big shocker.




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He doesn't have to buy his own impact wrenches. He has a couple torque wrenches that cost about $200 each, and he does have expensive wrenches, sockets, etc. but maybe not as expensive as the ones you get, but they seem to last him long enough and do the job right.



Don't defend him. 2 - 3k as an investment for tools is nothing, and I think you know it.

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I don't care if you won't say it again, in fact that would be good. You obviously charge too much,



Libelous lie duly noted

On this thread alone, I've noticed mechanics trying to charge about 2 hundred dollars more than I just did, for the same job, only I did more.

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and if it's less than others in the area, then they really charge too much. Suggested retail is often way too much, and I've never paid it. I realize there is a cost for the right tools,etc...



"right tools,etc..."

See, you know that it's better to do it right, with the right tools...probably why you'd go to an actual dentist, instead of letting some DIYr use a pair of pliers on your teeth, and a rubber mallet on your head.


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but there is a limit.

Again, yes I've seen people waste money as well. I have never met a mechanic (in south georgia, like I said, you HAVE to be overcharging)



I undercharge [fact].


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that has spent/or been able to spend $20k on a tool box. Mechanics around here simply don't get paid well enough to do that. There are some that spend $3k-$4k on a tool box, but they don't have families yet to care for, and they also have multiple credit cards. My dad has only bought used tool boxs, because even though he is the highest paid mechanic in his shop, he can't afford even a $2k tool box, atleast not if he expects to pay bills, support a family,etc.



Too much information.


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I'm not sour or pissed, though it certainly seems you are. I'm not gonna doubt that you know more than me (when it comes to fixing cars anyways) or that you own more tools than me (I know grandmas that own more tools than me). I just disagree with you when it comes to the fact of you saying you "need" certain tools to work on a zetec, when I and countless others have proved otherwise.



Are they the ones that "remove" their upper covers during the winter, because the belt keeps hitting it? And if you weren't so blinded by your rage and the economy in your area you'd realize that when I made mention of the required tools, it was for the person that was going to a professional...that's why I informed them that if they don't have the right tools, look confused, or get offended for being asked, the person might try finding another shop.


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I also, again, don't like your know-it-all attitude, because even though you may know a lot (about working on cars, or atleast you know what the books tell you), you don't know it all. Neither do I or your customers. But if I came to you with my car, you seem like the kinda mechanic that would act like I know nothing,



If you came to my shop and I informed you that you're in luck because I have the right tools, and I never cut corners when it comes to procedure, like some lazy uncaring mechanic might, and you got in my face and tried to tell me that doing the job right is the wrong way to do it, I would hand your keys back to you and tell you to scoot.

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which is obviously untrue, and I wouldn't have you work on my car if you won't discuss intelligently with me what's wrong with it.



Just so you can tell me how you would do it in your backyard? Well, guess what...that's what my shop is for, for those that don't believe in backyards and trust that doing it right with the right tools is right, not wrong. A lady had her Honda towed to us about three weeks ago. She was looking for a mechanic in the area to replace her timing belt and see what her coolant leak was...her "know-it-all" backyard friend said he could do the job and charge her a lot less than the pros...he ruined her engine for her and made her miss several days of work. He turned that job into nearly a $2,000.00 job, when it would have been much closer to $500.00 [C/Belt, B/S belt, W/P and B/S seal]...he wasn't out a dime though, just a little bit of his valuable time.


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The only reason I don't really enjoy working on cars is because I find it boring after doing it for more than a few minutes (except when diagnosing a problem using a scanner and recording/comparing information). I find working on cars to be very easy to do, and not much of a challenge.



Tell that to the next pro that you come across, expert.


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I think it anybody could work on a car. I think even someone like my mom, who acts like she could never work on a car, actually could, if she wanted to. That's why I wanna design cars, not just work on them, hopefully (and I'm sure it will be) it'll be more of a challenge.




Could she do a timing chain and a water pump on a quad engine, or figure out and repair a reoccuring no-start problem on a BMW, replace a heater core on a F-body, while the customer waits because they're already late for an appointment? She's up to the challenge, expert?

Dream on.