Most people on this forum like to repair things they use so I wonder what cars do you folks own? Modern cars can't be easily repaired with screwdriver and hammer so should be something 20 or 30 years old?

On all my cars I do all the work myself, I either do it in the driveway on my back or on a lift in the man cave
The only thing I couldn't do myself was retune the GTI's computer...

I own a 2012 jeep patriot,I'm use to these newer computer cars. I haven't fixed anything on it yet but I have upgraded a bunch of stuff like, lift kit, skid plates..



Before the jeep I had a 2005 Vw GTI 1.8T, now to that I upgraded turbo, lowered it, too much too list :-D

No one actually Taught me hoot about cars, but, I was determined,, & about the time I started understanding them, daggum if they didnt just Up & change how they worked! I was just starting to understand the points & carbs & such, when, POOF! Understanding points became pointless.. then, here comes fuel injection,, & computers & readers & codes & OHH MY Gawd, NEW shaped screw heads, ever few weeks it seemed I needed another set of tools! ( I figured that scheme OUT, boy! The tool makers came up with the new screw head designs & paid for the tooling to make them for the screw makers,,JUST so they could make a fortune selling tools)
Anyway,, a power steering pump on an 03 Taurus? Wanna change one? REally? YOU think YOU can wheel it in the garage & do that? OHH NO you cant,, YOuve got to get the pulley off of it, so it will go thru the cast bracket.. & THAT tool runs about 50 bucks,, & when youre pulling connections, youll see a skinny, white, plastic washer,, & YES it has to be there & NO it doesnt come with the kit,, & if you go together w/o it its GONNA leak,,

Ive never actually been happy to see a car break down in that "Its now worth fixing" category, but it did, I have an 03 Taurus lawn ornament,,transmission is dead, it needs a steering rack, & the windshield is cracked, about $2,000.00 to fix a Maybe $2,500.00 car,,

OHH, I COULD get a used transmission & rack, problee have both for $350.00,, BUT, ya gotta drop the entire sub frame & get the engine & tranny out,, kinda need a lift & a special dolly
Cars just arent user friendly any more,,
So, I have an 87 F150 300 CID 6 banger w/ a 4 speed..
fuel injected,, computerized,, phhhht!

Can't afford to keep my job


Ive had jobs like that,, heck, even roughnecking can be prohibitively expensive early on. Ya dont want to start out in the winter, because the cost of clothes will destroy a check,
When you make it past this level & youre a real, no kiddin employee,, you gonna make enough to stay on? I forgot what youre doing,, if you ever said.

I have a 2000 ford f150 4x4 that runs fairly good on warm days, on cold days it bucks like a bronco till it warms up. I know its the coil over plugs and have 2 to replace, but my reader says coils b & e need replaced and the manual reads in 1,2,3 ect.... and i'm not really sure which coils to replace, guess i'll have to get another reader.

I've already replaced the seal in the back window because it leaked when raining, replaced the water pump and radiator and hoses.

I also need to replace a abs switch or sensor cause the light always stays on (was on when I bought it but the brakes work so what does it matter) and will do that once my back gets fixed.

It just went over 200,000 miles this past month an still runs good and gets fair gas mileage for a pickup with a 5.4 L v8.

Here it is with my new truck tent installed

Thanks for sharing experience folks. So what would you recommend to buy if I would like to have car, that I'll be able to service by myself? Preferrably not truck .

Yes, I'm in "thing county wa" . Thanks for the hint, looks very reasonable. If you would try to find some optimum between fun to drive, reliability, access to spare parts and self-servicability what it would be from the list above?

I thought that Mustangs were decent cars, what specifically is wrong with electronics and suspension? From original "gone in 60 seconds" I've got impression that mustang suspension is pretty strong .