[libertarian27]

You can’t tinker around with the cars of today like you could ‘back in the day’ - other than putting on nifty wheels, fat mufflers and a rad sound system - you aren’t fiddling with the motor, etc.... You pretty much have to buy them 100% rolling and take them to the dealer when the lights go off...

[SVTCobra03]

“You can’t tinker around with the cars of today like you could ‘back in the day’ - other than putting on nifty wheels, fat mufflers and a rad sound system - you aren’t fiddling with the motor, etc.... You pretty much have to buy them 100% rolling and take them to the dealer when the lights go off...”

au contraire mon ami. I am just about to order the following aftermarket parts for my 2008 Shelby GT500: Upgraded supercharger, handling package(suspension), larger heat exchanger with electric fans, larger throttle body, 3.73 gears, axle-back exhaust and short-throw shifter.

[xp38]

The um motor for the top of the line Lexus doesn't exactly look inviting to tinker does it?

[MediaMole]

The skill set for tinkering is different, but with a cheap ODBII reader, it’s still possible to work on your own car. If anything, I think it’s easier to work on new cars since you don’t have to do things like synchronize carbs.

[Gaffer]

Much of what you say is true, but you should, for instance, know a few basic facts....one case in point...most people today when buying tires also get alignments. The sales people try to add all the trimmings: valve stems, lifetime balancing, blah-blah-blah......4 wheel thrust alignment, etc....

I had my truck in for tires and he got to alignment and said you need 4 wheel thrust alignment....I asked him how exactly they were going to align the rear wheels of a truck with rear-wheel drive and a differential/axle, etc? No reply.....the difference in cost was $30.....