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60ragtop 
Samba Member
Joined: March 13, 2006
Posts: 2453
Location: Big Wonderful Wy
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 Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:28 am Post subject: |
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| Paul Windisch wrote: | | I've gone down to talk to him about a few things,. |
This in a nutshell, why it is hard to make a living working on air cooled VW's these days.  "I want to pick your knowledgeable brain but I want to do the work myself with parts I buy off the internet because they are cheaper." |
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Paul Windisch
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Joined: September 02, 2009
Posts: 2257
Location: Fraser, Michigan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:34 am Post subject: |
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No, it was nothing like that! I asked him if they could tune my carburetors (not for free) but he said they didn't really do that anymore and suggested another person. Ultimately, I decided do purchase a wideband oxygen sensor and do it myself. I also offered my Cadillac expertise in case he ever needed it. It wasn't low balling, it was networking. 
I have since sent them several customers with Jettas and Golfs.
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*ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*
1984 Mexican Beetle
2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 (the loser cruiser)
Heidebreicht Chevrolet
http://www.heidebreicht.com/HomePage |
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Gary
Person of Interest
Joined: November 01, 2002
Posts: 16962
Location: 'Murrica
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 9:45 am Post subject: |
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| 60ragtop wrote: | | Paul Windisch wrote: | | I've gone down to talk to him about a few things,. |
This in a nutshell, why it is hard to make a living working on air cooled VW's these days. "I want to pick your knowledgeable brain but I want to do the work myself with parts I buy off the internet because they are cheaper." |
The days of being able to swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting an ACVW are long gone. Anyone hoping to make a living repair them will starve.
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Download this spreadsheet for NOS/OE parts inquiries--> http://vwjudsonregister.tripod.com/IMAGES/2013-parts-spreadshhet.xls |
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drnewman
Samba Member
Joined: July 14, 2010
Posts: 305
Location: Groveport,Ohio
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 11:12 am Post subject: |
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| Paul Windisch wrote: | | You would be better off working on contemporary vehicles and advertising that you have the ability to do ACVW. |
That's pretty much it in a nutshell if you want to turn a wrench for a living. Although, I think if I had to do it over again, I would have been a service advisor instead.
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'70 bug -never ending baja project |
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doc1369
Samba Member
Joined: March 31, 2010
Posts: 3054
Location: Las Vegas, NV, again
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Paul Windisch wrote: | No, it was nothing like that! I asked him if they could tune my carburetors (not for free) but he said they didn't really do that anymore and suggested another person. Ultimately, I decided do purchase a wideband oxygen sensor and do it myself. I also offered my Cadillac expertise in case he ever needed it. It wasn't low balling, it was networking.
I have since sent them several customers with Jettas and Golfs. |
Spoken like a lifer. I just fixed a VT750 yesterday for a guy that will help me with the wife's Envoy. I miss the days of trade dollars...
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Fatchicks: Daily drivers, donor cars, collectibles. What can't they do? |
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Paul Windisch
Samba Member
Joined: September 02, 2009
Posts: 2257
Location: Fraser, Michigan
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| Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2012 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| doc1369 wrote: | | Paul Windisch wrote: | No, it was nothing like that! I asked him if they could tune my carburetors (not for free) but he said they didn't really do that anymore and suggested another person. Ultimately, I decided do purchase a wideband oxygen sensor and do it myself. I also offered my Cadillac expertise in case he ever needed it. It wasn't low balling, it was networking.
I have since sent them several customers with Jettas and Golfs. |
Spoken like a lifer. I just fixed a VT750 yesterday for a guy that will help me with the wife's Envoy. I miss the days of trade dollars... |
Exactly. The desk I built for the computer I'm using right now is comprised of kitchen cabinets I got from a friend, in trade for fixing some stuff on his 1983 Sedan DeVille.
_________________
*ASE Recertified Master Automotive Tech*
1984 Mexican Beetle
2013 Chevrolet Volt DD
2005 Pontiac Montana SV6 (the loser cruiser)
Heidebreicht Chevrolet
http://www.heidebreicht.com/HomePage |
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ToolBox
Samba Member
Joined: January 27, 2004
Posts: 1641
Location: Detroit, where they don't jack parts off my ride in the parking lot of the 7-11
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 9:48 am Post subject: |
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| Paul Windisch wrote: | | You would be better off working on contemporary vehicles and advertising that you have the ability to do ACVW. Down the street from my dealer is an independent shop that specializes in European vehicles (VW, Audi, BMW, Porsche, Mercedes). They have a tech there that was a total wiz with air cooled stuff. I've gone down to talk to him about a few things, and even they don't really do ACVW too much anymore because there is really no demand for them in our area. He told me they might do about two per year. |
Even better than that is working on the R&D side of things and being able to break things on purpose for a living. I am currently working on the 2015 Mustang and the Jeep Liberty replacemant. |
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69 Jim
Samba Member
Joined: September 27, 2004
Posts: 6621
Location: Chickengeorge's Neighbor
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| Posted: Tue Feb 14, 2012 10:38 am Post subject: |
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| Gary wrote: | | 60ragtop wrote: | | Paul Windisch wrote: | | I've gone down to talk to him about a few things,. |
This in a nutshell, why it is hard to make a living working on air cooled VW's these days. "I want to pick your knowledgeable brain but I want to do the work myself with parts I buy off the internet because they are cheaper." |
The days of being able to swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting an ACVW are long gone. Anyone hoping to make a living repair them will starve. |
Don't forget the standard cheapness from so many AC drivers. It seems like there could be heavy liability repairing old rusted and neglected vehicles. |
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borninabus
Samba R&D Dept.
Joined: May 18, 2006
Posts: 2694
Location: Prescott, AZ
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| Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2012 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| 69 Jim wrote: | | Gary wrote: | | 60ragtop wrote: | | Paul Windisch wrote: | | I've gone down to talk to him about a few things,. |
This in a nutshell, why it is hard to make a living working on air cooled VW's these days. "I want to pick your knowledgeable brain but I want to do the work myself with parts I buy off the internet because they are cheaper." |
The days of being able to swing a dead cat by the tail without hitting an ACVW are long gone. Anyone hoping to make a living repair them will starve. |
Don't forget the standard cheapness from so many AC drivers. It seems like there could be heavy liability repairing old rusted and neglected vehicles. |
these are all valid points & concerns.
we keep a 3 minute egg timer (hourglass) on the counter for the "full of questions types"
i do have work to do, ya know 
we get a lot of these types and it seems just as many who don't understand that GOOD old VWs aren't just sitting around in people's yards for $500 anymore...
unless we're talking about Gary's yard, that is
that a longblock costs 2 grand in parts alone...that wiring work is expensive...that an oil change is over 50 bucks...etc
we just raised our labor rate because beer went up like $2 a twelve 
i have no problems what-so-ever writing a non-op disclaimer at the bottom of someone's bill if i feel a car is just plain dangerous.
it's usually for brakes or wheels or front end though.
at least i picked a place where i don't have to deal w/ much rust.
it's pretty sorry; the "i just bought's" that show up here sometimes 
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BenJAMin
Samba Member
Joined: February 01, 2004
Posts: 169
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 2:28 pm Post subject: |
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| I think the answer is to be an "old car" mechanic who isn't afraid of anything. I have a local guy who quit working at the GM dealer and went into business for himself. He has a good business repairing anything. I get work on my Beetle and my Citroen there. It's not uncommon to see Austin Healeys, MGs, Volvos, and plenty of American cars there. |
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Tram
Samba Socialist
Joined: May 02, 2003
Posts: 16848
Location: The human race, AKA 'God's Edsel'
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:20 pm Post subject: |
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| BenJAMin wrote: | | I think the answer is to be an "old car" mechanic who isn't afraid of anything. I have a local guy who quit working at the GM dealer and went into business for himself. He has a good business repairing anything. I get work on my Beetle and my Citroen there. It's not uncommon to see Austin Healeys, MGs, Volvos, and plenty of American cars there. |
It's not about "being afraid". It's about knowing your limitations. I stick with VW, Porsche, and Mercedes primarily because it's what I know best and feel competent at. One of the worst things in life for a car owner is having your car be the laboratory for some dilettante that built a dune buggy once and now feels he's a German car expert.
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Mike Fisher
Samba Member
Joined: January 30, 2006
Posts: 12416
Location: Eugene, OR
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 4:38 pm Post subject: |
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Don Burkin works on Everything including farm equipment with his 2 mechanics and he has a huge wall of up-to-date Manuals/Equipment to back them up. He's been doing it for 40 years though.
P.S. He has a beautiful doublecab to show where he got his start!
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69 FI/AT square Daily Driver
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BenJAMin
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Joined: February 01, 2004
Posts: 169
Location: Michigan
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| Posted: Fri Feb 17, 2012 5:16 pm Post subject: |
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You don't want a hack, but this guy has been involved with cars for over 35 years and is very well-rounded. The local "VW Guru" that all the people in the VW club worship couldn't fix my 34pict-3 flat spot which this guy did on the first try.
[/quote]
It's not about "being afraid". It's about knowing your limitations. I stick with VW, Porsche, and Mercedes primarily because it's what I know best and feel competent at. One of the worst things in life for a car owner is having your car be the laboratory for some dilettante that built a dune buggy once and now feels he's a German car expert.[/quote] |
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