At 12:20 AM 9/20/97 -0400, Nory wrote:
>Debbie,
>
>You've got the Haynes manual, and this list. Start teaching yourself to
>be your own MG mechanic. Look at it this way: You couldn't do any
>worse than the mechanics you have in town!
>
>That's what I did. Oh, there's still plenty I DON'T know, but, after
>four years of learning, I don't feel as if I need an "MG mechanic"
>anymore (at least, not too often). It's really not all that hard and
>it's fun, too. AND what a great sense of accomplishment when you've
>spent two days trying to figure out what's wrong, and finally fixing it
>YOURSELF! (Sure, mechanics work faster, but I work cheaper) When it
>finally starts and runs right, you say "Damn, I'm good!" and walk (or
>drive) around with a smile on your face all day! It's a joy every
>British Car owner should experience.
>
Except, having gone through this with a Bug I was trying to use as a daily
driver, it's not fun at all. You limp the car through the week, because
god forbid you get it apart on tuesday evening, and need a part. Then you
spend Friday night trying to line up the parts you need, work on it in a
mad panic all weekend, knowing it has to be done by Monday morning. Folks,
if you live in an area where you need to have a car, working on your daily
driver when you're no sure you know what you're doing is not a joy, it's
pure hell.
I've been there, done that, got the greasy t-shirt. I'll pass, thank you.
Yes I enjoy working on my Midget, but unlike the bug, I don't worry if it's
not running come monday morning, I just hop in the truck and drive to work.
On the other hand, if you can be real confident of what the problem is,it's
not too big of a problem initially, line up the right tools, and maybe
someone nearby with some mechanicla experience you can call. Then you
might consider doing it yourself. Gradually your confidence builds and you
can tackle bigger jobs. But still in the back of your mind when you
replace that head gasket is "what if I snap one of the studs?" It's alot
less fun when the car is your daily driver and you're dependent on it for
your livelyhood.
>You'll still need your local mechanic while you're learning, but you
>will need him less and less as time goes by. Start reading your manual
>and asking questions of the list, and you're on your way.
>
>-NORY
"But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet;
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams."
Yeats
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