Techie, Wrench-head, or Both?

An Anonymous Coward throws this spanner into the works by asking: "OK, a response to another Slashdot question has made me wonder... Can techies fix cars? I know computers very well, I can fix VCRs, and I can wire home theater systems but I don't know the slightest thing about my car. I am not sure I even want to but I thought some other Slashdoters might want to way in on that. Could it be the whole "getting dirty" thing with cars? What do you think? How well do you know the inner workings of that thing that sits in the driveway?" I used to think I liked taking anything apart, not just computers, but after spending a few frustrating afternoons maintaining my car, I figured such things were best left to the professionals. However, I may be a minority in this, based on the responses from the last auto-related question.

Comments

Not for me

[redcliffe]

Too much grease and oil. I don't know about other geeks, but I hate to get grease and oil and rubbish all over my hands because it's hard to clean off your hands, and then you get it on your keyboard :-(. I do have a car project though, but it will be a once off to remove all the internal combustion engine related gear in my car, and replace it with an electric motor. Once the old stuff is out it shouldn't be as messy.

David

Re:the grease is a turn off

[tooth]

Computers don't have messy fluids, and they aren't grimey inside.

Where did the dust puppy from UF come from then?? ;)

Re:To some its a strange combination.

[SpacePunk]

His reaction is understandable when you take a look at the majority of the techs, and most of the wannabe techs here on Slashdot. They are all expected to be latte-drinking, limp-wristed, liberal, Will and Grace watching, twig-boys that are too effimate to risk busting a knuckle on anything harder than a case thumbscrew.

-

Re:to analog, to much work :)

[mrzaph0d]

hurt yourself with tools and parts with sharp edges

i can't tell you how many times i cut my hands up trying to unplug an IDE cable from a hard drive on those stupid HP Vectra's at my first tech job. any work inside those computer usually involved at least one cut on my hands from the unfinished metal inside..