Getting older and working on your car

[sl500amgsport]

Working on my car has never been an issue for me. I don’t get sore, a stiff back or tired. I hate working on cars and have always paid others to do it.
When I purchased the SL I did decide to install the SmartTop myself and regretted it for a week or so after I finished.

The importer of Smart top is a classic Porsche specialist garage just a 15 min drive from me so got them to fit it as you can admire the 911s in their showroom while you wait

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[A.J.]

I seem to be at the senior end of all you who have posted here. I feel tired reading just reading what you have posted. I have never been a mechanically minded person. I could probably diagnose the problem but put a spanner in my hand and all of my enthusiasm drains and I am lost. It suits me better just to explain the problem to my local Indy.

 

[DREAMER NO2]

I have owned cars from the day i passed my driving test . Never had a stash of cash that i coild pay other people to do my jobs for me ,,so i had to learn how to do it myself . The total number of cars are to date around 30 the last time i went through the marks, And at one time i had my own garage repair shop. I love doing the jobs on my car, and enjoy doing cars for others that ask me .

 

[rorywquin]

The importer of Smart top is a classic Porsche specialist garage just a 15 min drive from me so got them to fit it as you can admire the 911s in their showroom while you wait

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

Us poor folk up north get nothing like that....

Speaking of Porsche, my son has just ordered a Taycan (not sure which model) and they have told him delivery is not before May next year..... - I really feel sorry fo him - has to runaround in his 2019 E53 for another 8 months.

 

[sl500amgsport]

Us poor folk up north get nothing like that....

Speaking of Porsche, my son has just ordered a Taycan (not sure which model) and they have told him delivery is not before May next year..... - I really feel sorry fo him - has to runaround in his 2019 E53 for another 8 months.

How can they offer a "Turbo" version of the Taycan when it doesn't even have a combustion engine. Surely that would fall under the Misrepresentation Act 1967?

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[Naraic]

How can they offer a "Turbo" version of the Taycan when it doesn't even have a combustion engine. Surely that would fall under the Misrepresentation Act 1967?

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

It is one of the more stupid things a car manufacturer has done...and not what you would expect from Porsche. They explain it by saying people think of "turbo" in their range as a lifestyle rather than an actual turbo...sounds tosh to me.

 

[SL63 Mark]

Porsche has become a VW marketing brand.

To answer the original post.

I no longer spend much time under the SL, there is not much point as it goes into Star in Reading every year for a service/MOT and they have a car lift. Also not much has needed doing lately, but I will happily do odd jobs on it that don't require a lift.

I do get underneath our Land Rover Defenders as needed, because,

1. You don't need a lift or jacks because they have 2 feet of ground clearance
2. Most things are fixable by a man in a shed (me)
3. It's a nice place to be, gives you a different perspective on life.

I don't touch the Beemer, like most modern cars it is a sealed box, and you can do very little to it.

None off the above has been affected by my increasing age, but I am only late 50s as yet.

 

[Frontstep]

You have to keep fit and supple as well as fixing your car that isn't really much cop as exercise more a way of making things ache.
Joints that don't go through their range regularly soon get troublesome.

My mother at 90 still did her garden to a high standard and could put her hands flat on the floor when touching her toes.

 

[monument7]

Well.
Went past government retirement age on Saturday, so now have my old age pension and i do not pay national insurance anymore, but decided to carry on working until mortgage paid off next year.
I am, at the moment, quite bored (as you can tell) as have yet another operation for osteoarthritis related issues. Cannot remember or spell the name of the operation, but involved removing a bone at base of thumb, cutting a tendon and doing something to make it all work again, it was done 7 weeks ago, and still hurts !!!
That along with both knees replaced, spinal fusion, and having a heart attack and stroke last year, is making me feel older. (hips are ok though, well at the moment).
I have had to buy tools now that i would never have considered years ago, long breaker bars, rattle gun etc, as i do not seem to have the strength to get some of the tight nuts and bolts to slacken off. I also feel quite knackered when working under cars now, for example, replaced a rear damper and spring on the W163 couple of months back, and it took me longer than when i did both sides a few years ago, defiantly slowing down.
I will continue as long as i can doing the simple things, like oil changes and brake overhauls, but at what age do you think "thats it, its going into a garage to be done".
How to other older members here get on ?
And what other items of tools can i consider to make life easier ? ( i just love buying tools !!!!) I have a shed full of the dam things.

No fun getting old, i got to 60 and fell apart, 67 now and it takes longer to recover than itdoes to do the job. Getting down to do the job is easy but staying awake and getting back up is a chore . Secret is planning, as many power tools and magnet on a stick to pick up the bits you drop ha ha. Good luck and hang on in there

 

[rorywquin]

You have to keep fit and supple as well as fixing your car that isn't really much cop as exercise more a way of making things ache.
Joints that don't go through their range regularly soon get troublesome.

My mother at 90 still did her garden to a high standard and could put her hands flat on the floor when touching her toes.

My father in-law was still riding his bicycle and going up the ladder to clean upsatirs windows at 91. If you’ve always done it, it seems your body can handle it better.

 

[SL63 Mark]

I fully intend to keep riding a bike into my 90s, I think it really helps with fitness. I see a lot of older people on bicycles and it inspires me to keep going. It can be as vigorous or as gentle as you like, you don't have to go too fast.

 

[sl500amgsport]

I fully intend to keep riding a bike into my 90s, I think it really helps with fitness. I see a lot of older people on bicycles and it inspires me to keep going. It can be as vigorous or as gentle as you like, you don't have to go too fast.

You can't really go too fast, it's a bicycle .

Unless, of course, it is being towed by an SL55?

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[DREAMER NO2]

frontstep your are right about exercise it is the key to good health ..The day i had to have my dog put to sleep was my downfall. Just do nothing most of the day thats if there are no jobs that need doing around the house, or on my car , so i play on this computer . My dog was a big help to get me fit after my operation.. She had to go for her walks without fail ..I did try going on my own with out a dog walking over the fields and local farm .But i felt so funny meeting people and having no dog by my side . War depot [wife] said no more dogs ,,breaks your heart when they go .

 

[sl500amgsport]

frontstep your are right about exercise it is the key to good health ..The day i had to have my dog put to sleep was my downfall. Just do nothing most of the day thats if there are no jobs that need doing around the house, or on my car , so i play on this computer . My dog was a big help to get me fit after my operation.. She had to go for her walks without fail ..I did try going on my own with out a dog walking over the fields and local farm .But i felt so funny meeting people and having no dog by my side . War depot [wife] said no more dogs ,,breaks your heart when they go .

It's like losing a family member, awful.

My wife said the same due to the stress of the loss, we missed having a dog but not the vet bills and travel restrictions they bring. We ended up looking after other people's dogs when they went on holiday as a home from home service.

Best of all worlds, you get to enjoy all the different breeds and characters without bills or ties, you meet and make new friends and get the exercise!

Sent from my SM-G988B using Tapatalk

 

[littlebrooklyn]

frontstep your are right about exercise it is the key to good health ..The day i had to have my dog put to sleep was my downfall. Just do nothing most of the day thats if there are no jobs that need doing around the house, or on my car , so i play on this computer . My dog was a big help to get me fit after my operation.. She had to go for her walks without fail ..I did try going on my own with out a dog walking over the fields and local farm .But i felt so funny meeting people and having no dog by my side . War depot [wife] said no more dogs ,,breaks your heart when they go .

I agree about exercise being so important, our dog is 9 so hopefully will be around for a few years yet. We take her to the park twice a day, it's only a mile each time but it all adds up. I also hula hoop for 20mins every day so I know I get an hour of exercise. I don't work on cars, to be honest I don't even think I would know where the fuel goes and if I did I'd probably fill up with petrol instead of diesel, so it's probably best I don't even try!

My mum is 98 and can still touch her toes

 

[DREAMER NO2]

A dog is your best friend ,some where nice and warm to sleep,, pleanty to eat and drink ,,and you will have a friend for life .. My dad said to me when i was very young ,,,you keep going up to dogs and fussing them up like you do ., and one day you will get bitten ..You know in all my life its not happened yet ..i can tell by looking at the dog if he is friendly ... my old Bonnie gone but not forgotten

 

[Frontstep]

I agree about exercise being so important, our dog is 9 so hopefully will be around for a few years yet. We take her to the park twice a day, it's only a mile each time but it all adds up. I also hula hoop for 20mins every day so I know I get an hour of exercise. I don't work on cars, to be honest I don't even think I would know where the fuel goes and if I did I'd probably fill up with petrol instead of diesel, so it's probably best I don't even try!

My mum is 98 and can still touch her toes

You can't beat having frostbite.

Where does she keep them?

Seriously if more kept moving the hospitals would be a lot emptier for when I need one!!

My GP relative sighs at the number of electric carts she gets to her practice

"It usually signals the start of their rapid decline" and "many would have no need of them with some modest measures"

The UK has the highest sales in Europe.

Save them for those with no choice.

 

[coxyhog]

I started being an aircraft mechanic at the age of 17 so mechanical stuff was easy & I used to do all sorts of stuff from a couple of clutch changes on the street outside my parents house to stripping a Norton Commando engine down to the big ends in their coal shed.
However as I got older I got fed up with working on cars and aeroplanes and with the increasing complexity of cars and them not fitting into my garage I gave up on them.
I carried on doing my own bike maintenance but apart from an oil & filter change I've given up on that as well.
At 68yo I'm still pretty fit,go to the gym 3-4 times a week & do a bit of walking but too much of the last 20 years have been spent crawling around the bilges of aircraft & if I'm on my knees for any length of time now I suffer for it badly.
I do not miss DIY on cars & bikes one little bit.

 

[Paul Garrett]

Well as im writing this, i am in Poland with my Wife having a right knee replacement as its taking too long in blighty!! Left one will need replacing at some point too, both due to severe osteoartharitis, most likely due to kneeing on cold concrete floors whilst in the motor trade and doing every sport going and martial arts in my 20's seem im paying the price now? Did some bodywork on the beast last year whilst on furlough and had to admit even then it was a struggle, hoping to do more work on it next year depending how i can cope with left knee pain and other ailments in coping with at present. Im 60 next January and that is still young by today's standards, but i certainly was not expecting these problems as im normally very active, but heyho never mind , just have to adjust to new way of doing things?

 

[Timeandleisure]

Well as im writing this, i am in Poland with my Wife having a right knee replacement as its taking too long in blighty!! Left one will need replacing at some point too, both due to severe osteoartharitis, most likely due to kneeing on cold concrete floors whilst in the motor trade and doing every sport going and martial arts in my 20's seem im paying the price now? Did some bodywork on the beast last year whilst on furlough and had to admit even then it was a struggle, hoping to do more work on it next year depending how i can cope with left knee pain and other ailments in coping with at present. Im 60 next January and that is still young by today's standards, but i certainly was not expecting these problems as im normally very active, but heyho never mind , just have to adjust to new way of doing things?

Hope all goes well and your recovery is smooth...