Doesn't anyone at least try to fix things before just going out and buying OEM or NOS parts anymore?

For example, gauge hoods. The things get old and brittle, and the tabs break off. It's a common question, and the most oft posted answer on m.net is to buy a new one. Sheesh, anyone ever hear of JB Weld? Steering wheels is another one. Sure, the leather is worn. But rather than attempt to fix it, they all recommend wheelskins. Cover it up, but don't address the problem. Must be nice to be able to just throw money at it, I guess.

I find it comforting that this forum tends to be more about the DIY aspect of Miatas than the "just buy a part" crowd. I guess my background of helping dad restore cars where parts just aren't available colors my attitude. We rewound starter motors (a huge pain in the ***), replaced bushings in alternators and generally rebuilt what we had.

Hell, I could afford to go out and buy a new (or newer) Miata and just drive it. But I like working on the car, bringing it back from neglect. Maybe I'm just an old fart. Must everything be disposable?

 

fix that ****. "KrazyGlue" is bad ***.

I hate working on cars, but I don't have enough money to not work on them.

 

I am Russian, I come from a culture where you couldn't just go out and buy things. They were just never available or you had to grease a lot of wheels to get what you needed. So I was raised under the mentality that you should always try to fix first, replace if needed.

But I rather like living in a culture of replacers. You cant imagine how many things I have dragged out of other peoples garbage, fixed, and used and still continue to use.

 

Fixer, and if it breaks again, replacer....
Much better at fixing round the house, but still learning on the car...I just love taking things apart, and if its already broken...welll then there's no risk in taking it apart to try and fix it...

 

depends on what it is. most often my time is the issue, i'm not gonna **** around with something for a few hours when i can just replace and and not risk having to do the job twice anyway

 

breaker. im a breaker.

 

+1

 

I'm a fixxer too... if i can't get it to look right or act as it's supposed to, I'll destroy it and get a new one. More fun that way!

 

I'm a replacer, but not by choice, seems like everything I've try to fix ends up being more broken than before I touched it.

 

Certain stuff simply can't be fixed, or at least not by my limited skills. Had to change out an O2 sensor in the wife's Buick, and decided to open up the old one to see what was inside (rather disappointing).

If I can take it apart, I will. Luckily, I rarely have parts left over after reassembly.

 

I am a "remover".

 

i breack and if it is expensive i fix but if cheap and easy i replace with better used lol. I love to take random **** and fix alot of the problems that occur on the car and around the house ingeneral.

 

I go with the "upgrader" path. I look for something to break to use it as an excuse to buy a better piece.

 

I am a fixer. A few years ago I bought 2 broken home theater tuner/amps on ebay for a total of $40 shipped. I spent nearly a week with a multimeter running down the problems with each and then found a way to steal parts from one unit to make the other work. At the time that model was worth several hundred bucks, I got it for under $50.

I'm also restoring an old kitchen table and chairs (1950s era) right now that was donated by my wife's great aunt. I bought several black stained lamb skins to recover the vinyl seats with and will be replacing the original formica top with black ceramic of some kind. I'm also going to send out all of the frame work for re-chroming and/or powder coating. If I even finish I'll post before and after shots.