Why Mechanics Drive Junk Cars -ETCG1 

I’m a technician at a dealership,Once you’ve worked on brand new cars for so long you lose any ambition for owning one.

I am not a mechanic, but I drive junk cars. I can afford a new car, but why spend more than you need?

Years of payments... or a few repairs here and their. Drive it till the wheels fall off. Then fix the studs and drive it again 😂😂

Good video. Mechanics drive beaters for the same reasons pimps don't fall in love. Driving beaters saves piles of money and you don't have to worry about them. I payed off my mortgage early instead of buying new rides.

I like to threaten my car. I tell it that if it ever stops running, I won't repair anything and send it to the junkyard. And it keeps running.

My dad is a fence maker... We have a shitty fence lmao

Yeah, the average payment on a new car is $482 a month. A better question than why do mechanics drive "junk cars" is to ask why don't mechanics have car payments. I'm mechanic in my 40s, I've never had a car payment, never had a car that ran when I bought it. In fact my first car was a vehicle that was abandoned at my father's shop because the owner didn't want to fix it or even bother having it towed away so he handed my dad a title told him to do whatever he wanted with it. A week and a $180 in parts and machine shop cost later, I had a car.

more fun trying to keep the older stuff on the road give us a sense of accomplishment and we don't have worry as much about someone steal it

I think there's two types of mechanics, those who repair/maintain and those who do performance/mods. The mods/performance guys kinda have to drive a nice an awesome mod/performance car to advertise their work. Where as a repair/maintain guy drives a junker also to advertise their skills of being able to keep a POS running like brand new.

plus no one is going to steal a piece of crap

IM A licensed truck and coach mechanic. After work in on vehicles everyday it's nice to have a reliable vehicle that you don't have to fix every week .Drive a 1995 Suburban,great old truck.

I am a DIY mechanic with absolutely no aspirations to do it professionally. Before owning my first car, I had no interest in working on cars. It came more out of necessity. Now that I owned one, I had the mindset of "why should I pay someone to fix this for me. If he can do it, so can I." And so it began. I absolutely love working on my own vehicles. That being said, I agree 100% about the "junk" car thing. I've always had older vehicles because they're cheaper, simpler and easier to work on.

Eric my father and grand father were both master mechanics. before they passed away they always said to never trust a mechanic who isn't driving a "junker". they said that it meant they were more worried about their own car and not enough about yours. Love your videos.keep it up

As a female, I try to learn what I can to remain independent (as well to save money LOL). When the alternator went out on my 2001 forest green Mazda 626, I researched, unplugged the field because it was actually draining my battery, drove around all day on overnight 5 amp charge for a week until payday. Purchased a new alternator and installed it myself. Car is fully paid for & I wish more women were like me at least so they know they are not being scam by repairs. Great video because to me as long as the car is functional (reliable) I care not about its cosmetics.

Some of the best running cars I've gotten in my 30 yrs of being a tech were out of the trade in wholesale line at the dealer. People get tired of putting money in their cars but don't realize that by the time they're sick of it they've pretty much finished fixing it but they worry what the next thing is going to be and what it will cost. New vehicles have new problems.

I started doing mechanics because I was poor and junk cars where my only option , and didn't know squat. Now that money is no longer an issue, a new car wouldn't be an option for me because knowing how to fix them I don't need them , seriously people only buy new cars for the warranty and ease of mind . Thks Eric for the super fine videos I pulled throw the learning process thks to them👍

I'll save you some time with the short version: Why do mechanics drive junk cars? BECAUSE THEY CAN.

Back when I worked as a mechanic, my philosophy was that I can drive farther in ten $1000 dollar cars then I could in one $10,000 dollar car. Especially if those ten cars had interchangeable parts. Same engines, same transmissions etc..

I love the old cars, they are easy to maintain and cheap, whereas the modern cars are just like a big TV/Computer on wheels

I'm almost 17 and I'm taking my dad's 1990 Volvo 240 DL sedan on the road again. It's been off the road since 1997 and was a parts car for my grandma's 240. Given that these cars are so reliable, not much was taken but the essentials have. It needs a starter, sending unit and secondary fuel pump. I've got the old, worn out starter from hers on it now but it seems a wire is missing. I don't need to work on it. I get to!

Most Mechanics see a car as an amalgamation of mechanical parts. There is no mystery or mystique about a car; it's just a machine made of replaceable parts. Non-mechanical people see a car as a complete mystical living unit, like they see a dog or cat, tree or human; a car is a "Mustang", "GTR", "Ferrari" or a "Chevy Truck!" ... or they see it as an appliance like a refrigerator that you ignore until something goes wrong.

If your $1500 blows up, who cares? If your $20,000 car blows up, you're screwed.

I'm not a mechanic, but I've experienced the phenomenon you described. I managed movie theaters for twenty years, and can no longer enjoy watching movies in theaters. I notice every little detail most folks miss or don't care about, and end up missing parts of the movie lost in thought.

I Worked for a Dodge dealer and other dealers as a mechanic, I always noticed that a lot of new devices, accessories, technology that goes into cars has a time period of falling apart before they get it right, that is why I will never buy a new car. Great Video, Thanks

I'm not a mechanic anymore, but I still learn a lot about cars and how to maintain hem the best way possible - I bought my first car that required a loan about 3 years ago, and next year i will finally be done with the payments, and I never want to buy another car ever again!!! It is a huge pain to constantly have hundreds of dollars blocked each month for your car payment, and in the end cars are nothing but a negative investment only to show others as a vanity symbol. I am 28 years old now and learned a lot about how the world really works and just how much buillshit society is filled with, all those fucking house wives in their husband's entry level bmws stretching themselves thin just trying to act like they are better than everybody else - it just makes me sick and its completely stupid. I worked couple years at a dealership and I am 100% convinced that cars are one of the biggest wastes of money in the lives of Americans.

I've been a mechanic for years and frankly most all of my cars have been hand me downs from customers. The car I drive now is a 1976 Monte carlo that i've drivin for 16 years. I fixed a wiring problem on a truck and got that car and a new set of plugs for pay. I guess my reasons are I can't afford a new car I buy tools. As cars get newer I like them less. I would rather fix a car that I like rather than drive a car I hate. And mecahnics CAN fix a junker. You can drive them forever if your willing to keep fixing it. You can never really get stranded. You are the master of the car, not the other way around.I have had some of the mose fantastic cars that i've been privledged to drive and I miss them all. And they were all junk cars.

Getting quite philosophical, you’re evolving before our very eyes. Thank you Sir!

Perfect vlog. This articulates exactly how I am as a mechanic with cars. I constantly drive junk cars and do not care about looks

Why I never wanted to be a gynecologist...

Although I'm only a DIY mechanic, I've always preferred basic junk cars. For the following reasons: 1. I hate to buy from dealers, and I feel very nervous spending big bucks on a private sale. The price is low, therefore the risk is low if I buy a lemon 2. Cheap Junk cars are a lot more easy to bail on than something that costs a lot more. You can always just drive the car to the junkyard when it's too far gone, and you are never in the position that you have to spend money because it's too "good" to throw away 3. A good understanding of cars makes you realise that even a new car can give problems, and even the cheapest oldest car can be just as reliable if it's a good buy and it's maintained well 4. You don't have to worry about dents, scratches, where you park it, if it gets stolen 5. The biggest one is that I see so much more value in a car that's 500 and lasts for 5 years than one that's new. You can never get this kind of value from a new car. Its very satisfying to get 5 years worth of driving for so little money.

Hey Eric, Thanks for the shrink job. Good job! I am not a professional mechanic, but I started working on cars as a teenager. It was a relief to hear that even you get angst when working on cars. Me too. I am constantly in angst that I may loose a bolt and can't replace it without a lot of time and grief, or I may make a problem worse, or buy an expensive tool only to find it is not the right one, etc, etc. So far, it all comes out right for me in the end. Usually, in the end, the only thing I have lost is about 10-times the amount of time I thought it would take. I like new cars, but as you said, a new car causes more angst because I am always thinking about that miss hit ball as I drive by a golf course or a rock chip, a wet swim suit or some other danger that can dirty or damage the car. They all turn to junk eventually anyway. If you start with junk, all you have to do is junk it when you are tired of putting it back together or when cleaning it no longer brings instant gratification because it looks the same before and after.

Im a mechanic and i daily drive a 67 impala!

I drive a junk car and this more or less nailed it. For one thing I invest a lot in my tools, my box, my home box and tools so I can do side work, etc. As a result I have less disposable income for a nice new car, but also as a result I kind want to get the maximum return on my knowledge and my tools. I'll drive a POS because I know that mechanically it's sound, but also because I know that if something DOES go wrong, I know how to work around it and how to fix it. If you knew a great mechanic who would do your work for peanuts, wouldn't you be inclined to roll the dice a little more and cut a few corners on your car purchases? If you're a great mechanic yourself, then you know a great mechanic... yourself. When I knew nothing about vehicles, I always wanted a newish car, because I wanted reliability that I couldn't guarantee myself. The idea of a car breaking down, having a big repair bill, and never knowing when to "cut bait" so to speak and ditch that car was a nightmare, so I just accepted the higher cost up front. That the car looked nicer too was a side benefit. Now I look at cars differently. I see an older car on the road and I think "Hmm, the body is okay. The tires are bald. I can hear the brakes squealing. The engine sounds good. I wonder how much they'd want for it?"

for the same reason a painters house needs paint,

Thanks Eric for all the work you have done and all the how-to videos you have made they are extremely helpful, almost crazy that its free. Thanks bud.

I've been a mechanic for over 23yrs, thank you for saying it for what it is.....keep it real and keep up the good work bro.

Eric, I wish everyone were as well-spoken as you are. It's a gift!

By driving older cars I KNOW what to expect from it. It's like hindsight before you buy. For example I sought out a 1998 Buick Park Avenue because they're roomy and LIGHT. The calipers and engine cradle are all aluminum. The one I bought got 36 mpg highway and I thought it looked great with it's peaked fenders etc. My wife HATED IT! She thought it was an "old person car." I bought it for $800 with a leaky fuel rail o-ring and some noisy struts. I sold it (per my wifes request) after 3 years of use and $400 or less in parts for $3,000. That just makes DOLLARS- not just cents.

Eric, you are so right about that feeling changing when you do it as a job rather than a hobby. Also, cheap cars are life.

My driving years are behind me now; but when I did drive, my favorite vehicle of all time was a '71 VW Vanagon. I had it rebuilt from the ground up: new tires, brakes, engine, tranny, windshield, etc. But I never did anything about the cosmetics. It had a dent all across the front, just above the bumper, where the previous owner rear-ended another car. I spray painted it flat black and painted the bumpers safety orange (think Harley colors). The interior was stripped down to the bare metal walls (I lived in California and didn't need the insulation), and removed the rear seats. It ran like a champ, but looked like it wouldn't make it to the next corner; but nobody ever tried to steal it, or break into it. I could park it anywhere, unlocked, and not worry about it. And if it got a scratch... out comes a can of paint for a quick touch up.

It was actually my high school auto shop teacher that told me "never make your passion into your job, you will only grow to hate it." That has stuck with me ever since. I did not become a mechanic, but I kept learning and working on my vehicles. Now I find that at the end of the day I am anxious to get home and work on my car. I don't think there are too many mechanics that feel that way. Nobody wants to spend all day doing a job just to go home and keep doing that job in their off time.

Worked as a restoration tech and mechanic among other auto related trades. I much prefer the old cars from the pre computer era. They are much easier to work on and don't require near the types of tools, and expensive ones at that, a new late model will require. Making you have to constantly buy "specialized tools" to keep up.. I drive a 64 Chevy II Nova everyday. Rebuilt it from a wreck with parts from the local salvage yard and 2nd hand parts nobody wanted that I would typically barter for. Has an inline 6cyl that I rebuilt / upgraded myself from the bare block out from parts off several junk engines..Been driving it everyday for the last several years. Only problem I've had is with this crap ethanol laced fuel That I have to sometimes run in it..I can get to everything on this engine with ease and doesn't take long to remove and replace something if it does go wrong. Unlike these late models that require you to do some of the dumbest things to get to the once simplest stuff. Example: Change a serpentine belt on a 03 saturn and you'll find you will need a engine hoist to hold the engine up as you have to remove the passenger side engine mount , after taking off an bunch of other non related stuff first , in order to even get the belt off to change it. Takes time to do it..., My Nova takes less than 5 mins to change the belt in my driveway. change the thermostat on that same saturn engine and it requires disassembly of the entire induction system to get to it under the intake plenum. My Nova take maybe 15 mins to change it..After working on this complicated new late model stuff, you learn to appreciate old and simple.

Thanks Eric, my last new car was in 1994. I prefer getting at least a 3 or 4 year old car to have others deal with huge depreciation. I also own two very old cars a 1968 Chrysler 300 and a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle. I like to tinker with them as much as I can.

I'm a mechanic and i drive a 2001 Tahoe. I got it used and love it. It had a few problems but I got a good price on it because of the problems. I replaced both front wheel bearings and tie rods and brakes and rotors and she is in fine running shape now. Love your videos man.

You are an amazing guy sharing your context and cognition with the world, helping many benefit. People like you are real gems of this earth.

Reasons us mechanics drive older/junky cars? 1 - Cheaper and easier to fix and keep on the road 2 - Cheap to buy 3 - We have better things to spend money on, like a $15,000 scanner from Snap-On :) 4 - We get a thrill out of taking a "junk" car and making it good again 5 - We don't want to ruin the interior of a new car 6 - Tools, Tools, and More tools! (oh yeah, don't forget the toolbox too!) 7 - We have a perspective about cars that the general public lacks. We fix these things daily and know what is good and what isn't in general. 8 - Most mechanics/techs that I know loathe new cars because of their expense to repair and complexity. I worked as a diagnostic tech for my step-dad for 15 years (and still do on occasion) in his little shop that he has had for 50 years. One time we went to a guys house that he was selling to tow away 2 junk cars that he had to remove. One of them was a 1988 Grand Am that sat in his backyard for 12 years because some mechanic told him it would cost him a thousand bucks to fix a bunch of things on it, right after he had a new manual transmission, clutch and flywheel installed in it. We aired up the tires and jumped the battery and DROVE it back to the shop (other one needed a wrecker, it was totaled). I bought that thing off my step-dad for junk price (like $200 at the time), and fixed it up. Needed tires, belts, hoses, thermostat, rear brakes and wheel cylinders, exhaust, all stupid stuff that costs us next to nothing, and I drove that car for 10 years and had it pushing almost 280k miles. I loved it. It was ugly but it never once let me sit on the road, I never cared if i had grease on my butt or anything and got it dirty, and I could fix nearly anything on it for less than $100 and 3 hours of time! I would still be driving it if someone in an F-150 wouldn't have fallen asleep and pushed me into a guard-rail on the interstate therefore totaling it (I wasn't hurt either). New does NOT mean better! I'm not a full time tech anymore, but I still have old cars. 2001 Chevy K1500 with 289k miles on it and a 1992 Oldsmobile Toronado, and a 2003 Saturn L200 are what I have now, and probably the newest cars I will ever drive! So don't judge your mechanic because he has an old car. He has to practice on something! :)

Great videos Eric. We have the same needs lol I daily a 38 yo german coupe. Rescued her cheap and took many hours to get both engine and body harnesses repaired. One was butchered the other melted. Shes been on the road since this April and cranks right up every time. She still has rust but I cant disassemble the car just yet. I have a 39 yo Caddy I want to get drivable by month's end. The german coupe is my favorite. I think people that arent car enthusiasts would say she's a hooptie or clunker. The smile I get while driving her says otherwise.

Mech Tech here - 17+ years in industry. Society vehicles, military equipment, (currently) quarry equipment. 2018 Buick Regal (daily) and 86 GMC Jimmy full size square body (toy). Joined industry excited to learn "how" and "about", "function" and "repair". In the beginning, waited for the stock 350 in the GMC to pop and finally dropped a 383 stroker in the bay. As years progressed, completed a number of modifications to the GMC but found my enthusiasm tapering off. Point being - You nailed one of your points - I do this all day. I want to get in my daily driver and have no hassles. Just go. Come home and really don't have "as much" desire to wrench on the GMC (It's in great condition currently from how I found it, but there's always something "else" for an idea to do.). I take the GMC to work maybe once every 2 weeks - really once a month - and drive the Buick everywhere else. The GMC was junk when I found it - But I fixed it and made it gorgeous (w/ a monetary expense). The Buick I don't see as a monetary loss tho - I keep my vehicles for around 2 decades (seriously). Prior to the Buick was a 2000 Dodge Neon, sold to brother (2017) in tip top shape (other than horizontal paint peel) - Knew it inside and out, no problems, and any problems easily handled. The Buick is the next century set of wheels. :) Awesome change for the channel - Just found it - Now I have twice as much tubing to view. Keep up the great work, stay healthy.

I'm not a mechanic, I'm more of a RU-vid tinkerer. I've had my 98 Honda Civic for almost 9yrs now. Started to lose some faith in it 6months ago when I noticed it just didn't run as good as it used to. Started using the web to diagnose the problems and RU-vid to start fixing things myself. After a proper tuneup my civic is running good again. It saves me money working on my car myself and I gives me a better understanding of how the car works. Thanks for the videos, they help guys like me out allot. Keep on the good fight

I'm a motorcycle builder and mechanic and I ride old junky bikes I have brought back to life. I

I got a 91 mustang 79 f150 92 Taurus sho....... the mustang is only for once and while in the summer the old truck is in really good shape and super easy to work on.... the Taurus sho..... not so easy to work on but thanks too Eric the car guy video's for helping it runs like a swiss watch, this car being front wheel drive and pretty zippy and still good in the winter its somewhat of a sleeper year round, anyhow thanks Eric great videos every single time oh and you have helped on a couple other vehicles too had a head gasket go on a 6.7 cummins, with a simple test I learned from you I knew right away it had to go to a mechanic.

im a self taught mechanic and i love my car because of the amount of space under the hood and whatever start breaking up i can easily recognize so i agree about the mechanic "stress" factor.

I was a professional mechanic & I spent my whole life working on cars & trucks, now that I'm retired, I bought a new truck b/c I'm tired of working on stuff! lol

I'm 31 and have been a mechanic for most of my adulthood. I daily drive a 1999 Honda CR-V with 346k on it, it had been hail damaged, dented down each side, scraped up all over, punched by drunks on the street and I wouldn't have it any other way, lol, it starts every time and goes anywhere I want it to and the factory AC still works fine after new AC clutch, pulley and electromagnet. I only paid $519.50 for it and that was to three different people just to get it. $100 to the owner, $220 to the state to register it and $199.50 to retrieve it from police impound. and this is just one example of the over 400 cars I've owned in the past 14 years of doing this. You are 100% on this, we drive them so we don't have to worry about them. love the videos @EricTheCarGuy

im absolutely amused how well this video has withstanded the test of time! 8 years dayum! awesome job eric! on a side note it has been almost 4 years ive been driving that junk of a french car (from 92) and she still not trying to die, it has taken absolute good care of me for so long and ive only spent $400 on it... but finally the water pump said no more and overall the engine and trans are very tired after going for a measly 17.5 laps around the globe... now i got a newer junker for basically the cost of fuel to go pick it up and shes a non runner! 😂 imma have fun with it!

I'm glad you shed some light on this, while i ride my bikes bicycles allot, i live in the city so not much needs for a car, how ever i share the same mentality, as a bike technician & mechanic in the Shimano service center, my job is fixing people's bikes, and i can tell you bikes are getting more advanced and full of little things that make them a pain to service, an example a front dampening fork can house up to 40+ seals and gaskets, electrical systems to control it etc, i my self have 2 rides, one mainly for the deep snow and cruising, my most expensive bike too, how ever i also have that junky looking one, i mean it looks lie crap but it isn't, i service the bearings, lube it and take care of it, mechanically it's great, i'm having this bike so that as you said if someone run into it with a shopping cart, well so what lol, paint is all mat which once used to be glossy, it's flaky somewhere, it's seen allot of riding and it shows, but at least i don't need to be paranoid every time i head for the store or leaving it somewhere, and if something happened to it, stolen per say well i didn't loose much, keeping that one piece of junk as some would refer it as isn't a bad idea, i would never ever dare to take my 4K USD bike and leave it outside the store or ride it on the salty roads in the winter. Always have an alternative.

In my mind a mechanic driving an old beater is in a way a badge of pride, and even advertisement for your skills. I could see someone getting the feeling of "Well, if he can keep that on the road, he'll be able to keep mine going." Also, if I see a mechanic driving a shiny new expensive car, I would suspect that I can find a more honest mechanic with better prices somewhere else. And in terms of practicality, mechanics can get an old rustbox back on the road quicker and cheaper than anyone else. Most mechanics I know have pretty much full use of the shop after hours. They know which problems are serious, and which are cosmetic. They know where to go for the best price on parts, which parts are built well enough to try the pull it yourself junkyard, and which other cars they can pull from. Mechanics are more likely to know someone that can get them a free tow. Combine these with the fact that the vast majority of mechanics make a fairly modest living while having to provide their own tools, and it just doesn't make financial sense to buy new. Leave that for a guy who might lose a sale or get passed up for a promotion if he showed up at work one day with grease under his fingernails and some bashed up knuckles.

I'm a mechanic and I drive a 97 camry. love that car.

Very interesting to hear your perspective on this!

I am a 63 Year old recently (last year) retired mechanic with 41 years experience. I was fortunate enough to never have worked for a stealerdealer, I spent the entire 41 years working for a large city fleet services department. I have been a car guy since before I was even a teenager, mostly '50s and '60s cars. I rebuilt my first engine, a small block Chevy, at age 14. Over 5 years later it was still running when the owner of the car sold it. I started my job as a shop rat with a lot of mechanical experience, and actually became a professional mechanic while working there. I not only got a lot of experience, but they paid for me to go to school a number of times. At first it was a great job, but as cars became more and more like computers than cars, I started disliking and eventually actively hating it. I am a wrench turner, not a computer technician. I noticed just how much less reliable cars became as they became more computerized, how much harder and more expensive they were to fix, and how much less fun they were to work on. I have always driven beater cars. Being a government fleet department, one of the cars that I spent a huge amount of time around was the Ford Crown Vic. They were one of the few computer cars that did not seem to break down constantly, and they were mechanically simple. They were built like tanks, tougher than some trucks. I started driving them over 25 years ago, and am still driving them, my current car is a 2006 Crown Vic with 217,000 miles on it. It used to be white, but about half the paint has peeled off (all the white models, which is all my employer bought, had defective paint) It looks like crap, but is mechanically sound. And there is nothing about it that I cannot fix. So far, after driving it for 7 years and over 150,000 miles, it has been extremely reliable. Very few things have gone wrong, and they were simple and inexpensive to fix. They quit making them in 2012, just before cars really started getting loaded down with trash technology. There are a zillion of them on the road, and they will be around a lot longer than I will, and so will parts. While I have never bought a new car, I know a lot of people who have, and they all got scammed big time. When you consider the actual OTD price of a new car, which is going to be WAY over MSRP, plus interest on the loan assuming you financed it, plus full coverage insurance for at least the term of the loan, plus the insane depreciation over that same time, I could buy seven or eight nice used Crown Vics for less than the overall cost of just ONE new car, and it will be a LOT more reliable. It's also a big comfortable car, V8 engine, rear wheel drive, solid rear axle, and body on frame construction. Mine even came with a cassette player stock. They are also very conservative looking cars. When I parked it behind my recently sold 1964 Ford Fairlane, the basic shape was almost exactly the same. They are well suited to someone my age. As for why mechanics drive old junk cars, first of all, they are rarely junk. They make be old and LOOK like junk, but most mechanics take very good care of their cars. I seriously over maintain mine. I also have many of the same reasons Eric mentioned. You can get them cheap, a mechanic knows how to keep them going, how to fix things and where to source parts, you don't have to worry about them, they are not likely to catch the attention of thieves and vandals in a parking lot, I don't even wash mine. All I clean are the windows and lights. I also drive it wearing dirty greasy work clothes, and carry tools and dirty greasy car parts in it. I may be retired, but I still work on cars, just not newer ones. I can sit my steel tool box and car parts on the hood or trunk and not care if I scratch something. I personally think that anybody who buys a new car is just plain STUPID, or has more money than they know what to do with. Or maybe they feel the need to impress others with their expensive new cars and go without everything else to have them. But it's an expensive trap. In order to keep an expensive new car, you have to keep replacing them, because they become cheap old cars in a hurry.

mechanics drive junkers, maids have messy houses, landscapers have overgrown lawns......this isn't for all people in the above mentioned careers, but generally speaking people don't like to bring work home. PS. nice video, I'll be watching more ETCG.

I have worked on cars my whole life and I own a 92 Ford Ranger that I have had for 16 years and replaced everything but the axle and engine. It has 220k and I keep it because I know every bolt, parts are cheap, and it is very easy to work on it. It is all banged up and is a little rusty. I do abuse it but I also take great care of it. It does not burn oil, with sandbags gets around great in winter. Someday I will likely do the body work. But mechanically it is perfect. I have had several other nicer cars along with it and sold them all. I even sold my restored 74' Satellite before I sold my Ranger. There is something to be said about having an old beater lying around that you know you can start it up anywhere and anytime and will not break down. For me I buy another car in part to make sure I keep the miles low on my Ranger. I have a special attachment to my Ranger and would find it very difficult to get rid of it, even if it was a desperate situation. So I totally get it.

As a mechanic you stated very well that we spend a lot of money in tools, and it's a life saver to have a cheap reliable car, I have a 2001 Mitsubishi Montero and hasn't failed me at all. I'm planning to change the rotors and breaks soon, just basic stuff. Loved this video.

This is a more complex question than I originally thought. Liked your explanation and thoughts on the matter Eric. Sometimes we just get used to things. I literally just retired my '97 Pontiac Grand Am with 1271000 KM (789763 miles). It's not a popular car but for me it's like losing a body part. My newer fancier replacement ('04 Focus LMAO) just isn't the same. It runs better, uses a ton less fuel, etc. but I still miss my GA. In the end what matters most is that a car is reliable.

I'm an electrician, some lights in my house don't work (but they are safe), can't be bothered hahaha

A plumber's pipes always leak.

I had this question and ask myself the same question and had my reason why. But this really summed it up really well. Thanks!

Great video! I’ll have my car paid off in two years and can’t wait to upgrade my tools!

Easy. Don't even have to watch the video. They're too busy working on family, friends, friends of friends, and neighbors cars.

I'm a shade tree mechanic. I've always bought used cars. I will not buy a new one. It is to much hassle and you get ripped off at the Dealership. Since I have RU-vid to figure out how to fix things. It is so much simpler and people like you have helped me out tremendously. Here's a couple of examples. I had problems with my Heater and air-conditioning vents in my car. They had to go into the - to change out a part. They're going to charge me $500 So I looked it up on RU-vid found out how to do it. It was $25 for the part and One hour to fix It. Had a security light go on. Stayed on. So I looked it up on RU-vid found the problem went to RadioShack. Bought some resistors for $10 fixed it in an hour. The dealership told me there had to pull the steering wheel and replace the key For $800. I have never buy a new car. Thank you for all your videos. They are awesome

Just subscribed. This guy's seems way cool and down to earth. I look forward to seeing the videos and learning.

DIY here I have a 17 mustang but also a 88 I am restoring/rescuing..... also just picked up a 87 Aerostar 75k 1owner..... lol so now I have a van I can get stuff from the box stores and also get larger parts from junk yard etc.. and take my time on the 88. less miles on the 17.

You are the realist mechanic I've seen. Great video sir. Liked and subbed.

My brother is a mechanic and his car is a mid-90s Chevy Cavalier. 200K+ miles, body panels from 3 different cars, recently acquired a motor from another car. Just a real dog of a car. But it turns over every time, always gets to the destination and back home. It won't win any car shows but it does the job.

The way you explain the special affects make up reminds me of myself after I got into the industrial maintenance world. Once you work in a factory as a maintenance mechanic it ruins a trip to a roller coaster park. The entire time you just notice all the welds, cables and 3 phase electric motors lol

As a 25+ yr automotive/ Diesel/ V-Twin motorcycle Technician I always drove older cars/ Bikes because your literally always being offered great deals so damn cheap you can't pass up by your customers and you can get some incredible deals, only for the last about 7 years have I been driving a new Quad cab truck and a newer Harley because it's just so much easier as you get older to load up the family for a long trip and not have to worry if old Betsy is going to break down as she is also aging. I have not stopped purchasing or driving cheap project vehicles but there comes a point when you need to tow or your family (that can get cranky on breakdowns) is involved that dependability, free towing, loaner cars so your not all sitting on side of the road while Dad wrenches and a warranty all come in pretty dang handy.. just my two cents, just found your channel and I Love the great down to earth vlogs from a true brother in the automotive world please keep them coming.. John, Pennsylvania

step-sister works @ ford dealership, ragging on my "beater-with-a-heater"... 1. i got no car payment. 2. i got cheaper insurance. 3. i bought new tires, it doubled in value!! 4. i've spent more on gas than i paid for it!! 5. not really worried about incidental damage; scratched paint, etc. 6. repair parts are usually cheaper 7. i can modify it any way i like! p.s. she's still making payments......

basically this video makes me think of something i've often said and still to this day truly believe. Want a good way to ruin a fun hobby? Do it 40 hours a week.

I had a repair shop for close to 15 yrs and drove a 3 speed 235ci 1960 belair with a heater as the only accessory for $600 and two used tires, never worried about it , and i think i since i worried about customers cars so much it was like taking a break , and i totally agree with what you said about movie makeup , i loved music and played bass in a touring band and taking the fantasy out of somthing your passionate about really fucks up your daydreams

Awsome chat man... listened to entire video no because of you being a mechanic but because your interesting... keep it up..

I'm a mechanic and i drive Mercedes S600 v12 AMG .why not , i got it for cheap fixed it drove it enjoy it .

I'm not a mechanic. But the opinion I get from most mechanics is after spending the day greased up under the hood of a car. The last thing they want to do when they get home is work on another car. So they're cars tend to become neglected

I'm a mechanic from over the pond in rainy old Blighty. My vehicles are 28yr old mk2 Golf Gti, daily beater 20yr old BMW e46 touring & work van 2009 Citroen Nemo. They were all very cheap when bought & with maintenance they all run faultlessly. I would never buy new, complete waste of money, plus old vehicles have a personality - just something you cant really describe, that makes them so much more rewarding to roll in. Oldskool kool!

Great vid love it. 18 year old Vauxhall Corsa owner. 16 years of them mine. Cars are made of parts. Parts wear out. Replace them. Keep the inside of your engine clean (oil changes) That's about as much as I do. Never let me down once. Never worry about in the car park. I enjoy parking it next to the most expensive / newest car in the car park. Makes the owner worry.

Even though my finances allow, I agree it's a waste of money to drive a new vehicle. I would much rather use that money for the entertainment/travel portion of my budget. I have a 2001 Dodge Ram for my landscaping business and a highly modified, 1997 convertible Eclipse Spyder. Would like to add in a CJ series Jeep at some point. But all are easy to work on, easy to pay cash for and don't drain my account for insurance payments.

In other words, when the blinders come off, it's a textbook case of 'The honeymoon is over and the magic is gone'.

“Blinders are off” best and most applicable statement. Also depreciation value as you’ve mentioned is a hard knock lesson and nature of the beast. It makes me feel real stupid to buy something that I can’t get no where near the value for when I go to turn it around. There are so many cars to choose from these days when buying, its best to find the one that matches your needs or personality and stick with that one, even if it’s standards or value viewed by others has Diminished.

@ETCG1 i was a mechanic for 32 years myself,have know mechanics who drive junkers and new cars.only car i ever bought new was an 1987 pontiac grand prix,305-4bbl. drove that car with minimal work until 2001 when it got totaled by an unlicensed uninsured driver. best car i ever owned.

you drive customers cars every day. all kinds of different ones. so after a while , they are just cars that bring you front point A to point B.

Have a 2001 Taurus. only 128, 000 km's on it mechanically perfect (need to change the front breaks though) but hella rusty and denty. If a shopping cart gets in the way I ram it out of the way. If I back into something, zero fucks. If someone opens their door and hits my door, could give two shits less. It's a beautiful thing.

I had an Acura Vigor in Japan but I was called a Honda Accord Inspire. Loved it. Ran so smooth and comfortable. That 5 cylinder was taken for granted.

Daily driver is a 98 Chevy Astro mini cargo van, 4.3 vortec, with over 260k miles, have it for 15 years. Moved from California to plains state in it in 2012. Here bought a 92 Toyota 4runner 4wd 3.0 manual transmission for the winter driving.

I think it's similar in other professions, too. I'm an IT (network/hardware) expert yet I'd never spend $4,000 for latest and greatest gaming or high-end PC. At the house, I run an 8-year old dual-core with Windows Vista as our home multi-media center. In fact, my 70-year old neighbor has more powerful computer than I do but I'm fine with that! (You won't see me buying an Alienware or the latest Macbook anytime soon!) When I see people driving the latest vehicle all I see is a huge monthly car bill...I'll keep our paid-off 2008 Toyota Corolla and 2014 Tundra running as long as possible!!

Love your videos Eric! You and Scotty Kilmer are my heroes. The two of you, and a few other RU-vid folks, have helped me through many car repairs. I'm not a mechanic, but I'm a DIY'er on a fixed income. I drive a 15 year old Ford Focus wagon. Love it. It's got some dings and dents, and a mismatched driver's door, I don't care. It runs great, gets good mileage, and I don't worry about it. I can drive it down through the field to the hen house (almost a daily event) haul feed and straw or whatever in it. My husband was always much more hung up on a car's looks than I am. I love not having payments or higher insurance premiums to deal with.

A car - unless its hauling your tools, is not an asset.

i have been a tech my hole adult life. i try to have one late model /new vehicle and also have several old classics in various shape i drive and fix. love working on cars trucks and hd equipment 24/7 just love it. it is the onley thing i am truley good at. you keep doing what you are good at i guess.

odd, my dad was a construction worker and our house was always falling apart. ...

I'd say after fixing a whole load of stuff on a car you become attached a little better the devil you know...

The last few yrs the wife and I both have been driving s10 s. She's got an 03 blazer and mine is the same yr truck as daily's and they are dependable I expect I'm gonna have to do a spider soon as I the miles are racking up and I've never done one but I'm sure I can get it done when the time comes I enjoy my s10 4.3 5 speed it's pretty fun to drive lol 2nd and 3rd wind out a littt.e can be impressive good videos keep em coming

I've watched several of your videos, very good information. I typically drive a older vehicle until it's just not worth putting more money out on. I currently drive a newer truck because after work and then fixing everyone else's stuff I just don't want to crank wrenches when I get a little free time. I know MOST of the new stuff is mearly snap together plastic and parts made by the lowest bidder with a higher fail rate. But hey what are ya gonna do. Money can be made and lost, then reaquired, but time is the only thing in life you can't get back once it's gone so spend it wisely!