CROSSPOSTED and OT: question about mechanics - Page 2

Isn't it the greatest feeling when you see an unusual site early in the
morning?  Once we were driving back to the US after a bad time in Mexico
City, not the people, they were wonderful, it was a situation.  Anyway, when
we came across the top of a ridge overlooking the city of Monterey just as
the sun was coming up, and the entire city looked as if it were bathed in
gold.  Gorgeous!  All of us stared in awe and then we knew we'd be okay and
we got home later that day.
When DS isn't working, we take day trips all around wherever we live.  I
never knew so many small towns/hamlets/villages were scattered out around
Houston.
Emily

What a wonderful experience!  You saw the true City of Gold! ;-]

In Australia we are paying $ 1.30 a liter for petrol (I'm in the country, it
is cheaper in the cities) There are approx. 3.78 liters to a gallon so we
are paying $4.91 Aust  which is in US $3.73. a gallon , so you don't have it
to bad!
We are in a tiny rural town and our nearest big town is over an hour
away!.......Amelia in Australia


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romanyroamer wrote:

Possibly your government does not subsidize the oil industry in your
country.

Not only do they not subsidise, our Government makes about 30-40% tax off
every litre sold so maintaining pricing parity with overseas is in their
best interests.  Overseas oil goes up so overseas petrol goes up, so our
petrol goes up so tax revenue goes up.  I am also in rural Australia and the
cost is now so high it is a political issue.

Cheryl


country, it
we
have it

We are definitely spoiled when it comes to fuel prices, this I know!!!
Helps put it into perspective!  Thanks!

Diesel is even higher. When we bought a new (for us ) van we made sure it
was diesel as it was then a cheaper fuel source, however since then the
price has steadily increased and costs more than petrol. Sometimes you just
can't win!! .....Amelia in Australia

the

I know exactly how you feel..... At least we can do out back trips ( Mt
Dare was the dearest at $!.65)

Dee in Oz

$1.37 a litre here in NZ and that is in a major city.

Shona popping in just quietly in NZ

Unfortunately it is only going to get worse. We've known since the
70's that there is a worldwide limit to the amount of
oil/gasoline/petrol available. There is an irrevocable supply/demand
law of economics that results in increased prices for shortages of
goods. And if there wasn't competition for oil before, China's greatly
emerging  middle class has fallen in love with the auto. I heard a
report that last year alone, China had a 60% increase of automobiles,
and they are expecting an increase this year on top of that of 80%.
So if you don't believe we need a new energy policy in the US, be
prepared to throw your refrigerators out on the lawn and garage those
vehicles for longer periods. Oh, and the cost of energy affects the
price for every type of goods grown or manufactured.
Alas!
Sharon

wrote:

I'd love it. Also, IMO it would be very cool to have a car repair place that
allowed me to learn how to do it myself, now and then.
Roberta in D

Yes please!  I can do some of this stuff but now that I have the van, I
can't always reach what I need to reach.  I enjoy doing it!

uttered




Ummm .... dream on! These people have a living to make! PMSL!

I know of a few women mechanics. They still have a hard time finding a
job here. Or at least one comparable to their male counter parts. I
would have no problem going to a women. I do a lot of my own mechanical.
I would at least give them a try first. If I got good vibes I would
continue to return. Men are the same way. If I don't get good vibes then
I don't go back. Because I know a lot about mechanical things if they
try to lie to me or make things up or try to make things seem worse then
they are I'll call them on it. A few mechanics don't like me because of
this but that's their problem.
Joanna

CNYstitcher wrote:

I would feel no different.  Most people choose a profession - at least
initially - because they love doing it.  Most people who love what they do -
do a good job.  You notice I said "most" - I think burn out plays a big part
later on down the road for "some."

I don't have any views either way, whether it is a Doctor, Dentist,
Accountant if they are good at their job,  but tend to relate better to men
as I work with men only and have 3 in the family. My friend's daughter is
training to be a mechanic at College, but there are some things she will not
be able to do physically, in my opinion. My daughter in law was a deisel
engine fitter but hurt her back as she again did not have the physical
strength.  I am very strong for a woman but cannot use some of my husbands
hgv sockets, we have a 7.5 ton lorry.  We have a business selling tools to
the motor trade and have never had a woman customer in 23 years. We operate
a van sales organisation locally and have about 350 customers, so it is not
common. I do see more hgv women drivers now as the modern vehicles are
easier to drive, also a few women bus drivers. But try to get on a course at
your local college before committing yourself, modern mechanics are very
different from the old engineers when my husband did his City and Guilds
nearly 45 years ago.He now has classic cars, which leads me onto the fact
that they maybe easier to work on and there are not many engineers around
who can fix those. Perhaps there is a niche in the market there.
Liz

liz hall wrote:


Some women are stronger than some men.  Then there is leverage.  Years
ago I took an auto mechanics course in which I was the only woman in the
class.  I was able to do everything the men did, and more than some
could.  After this class ended, they began offering a class for women
specifically.  It was a big success.

Some women are more mechanically talented than some men.  My husband
says a hammer has too many moving parts and he can't find where to put
the batteries.

For some years I took my car to a woman mechanic.  She and her husband
own their own shop.  Cars have changed, though, and repair now consists
of replacing parts.  For newer cars, you have to have the computer
diagnostic machines.  It's great when you get your smog inspection and
they just plug a cable in under the dash.  But the days of actually
fixing cars is now limited to the classic cars -- like those now lining
the streets of Reno for Hot August Nights.

Personally, I would go to a shop where they knew what they were doing,
regardless of the employees or owners sex.  You said yourself you don't know
as much as you like, so until you learned alot, then got experience at
someone else's shop, you have no business opening a car repair business.

Joy

trust me, i would learn and learn, then go for a job, and after a few
years try opening my own place...this is a long term project :-)

Joy wrote:

When we have something wrong with either of our vehicles, we go straight to
the dealer, that's it period.  Also, it is the same with all my children and
almost all appliances, and/or any expensive equipment except my Pfaff sewing
machines.  I didn't get along with the dealer near my house, who BTW, is not
a certified Pfaff dealer any longer.  I take my machines to someone who used
to be a Pfaff dealer.  That is the way my DD and DM was and I taught the
children the same.  Apparently, their spouses go along with them.  Of
course, if I never had to deal with someone like Beverly has endured.
Emily