# What makes/models are good for people who want to work on their own car **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussion\ **Tags:** fusion, ford\ **Created:** [April 12, 2024, 5:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708 "2024-04-12T17:49:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 7:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/101 "2024-04-20T19:26:20Z")
> [@davesmopar](#): > > That was the 2nd gen Intrepid, my 1st gen Intrepid battery was under the hood and easy to swap out… But yes that is just one of many like that… The first-generation Intrepid also had another advantage: the engine was non-interference, so you could extend the timing belt interval (within reason) and not have to worry. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2024, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/102 "2024-04-20T22:45:09Z")
I had the bigger 3.5L SOHC and the water pumps for those were bad about leaking about 60K miles, so you just replaced the timing belt with it… The smaller 3.3L was still the OHV (pushrod) engine, so no real issues with the basic (in block cam) timing chain… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 21, 2024, 9:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/103 "2024-04-21T21:23:08Z")
> [@Triedaq](#): > > The maintenance on all these modern things is minimal and that suits me just fine. On the other hand some folks look forward to something needing fixing. We find the diagnosis & repair experience relaxing, like solving a newspaper puzzle, only with more grease … lol … The key to this coming to way of thinking is not having to deal with the time element. An extra car, etc. If you can take as long as you want, do all the experiments you want, then it can actually be fun. ---
**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\ **Post date:** [April 22, 2024, 5:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/104 "2024-04-22T17:15:47Z")
@George_San_Jose1 The time element was always a big consideration in doing car repairs. I needed to keep the car running. On the other hand, keeping the television going was more satisfying for me. I needed the use of the car. I could do without the television until I could get time to make the repair. I agree that there is satisfaction in making a repair and having the car or the television work properly. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 23, 2024, 12:45am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/105 "2024-04-23T00:45:20Z")
> [@asemaster](#): > > Somewhere else on this forum is a discussion about carrying a file in the car to smooth out the breaker points while stuck in a parking lot. And people still think old cars are better. I think folks recall their older car experiences with rose colored glasses. Everything seemed simpler in days of yore, and what they are recalling is the benefits of the simple nature of their cars, remembering (incorrectly) that most problems could be fixed with scotch tape. And no need to worry about dealing w/bad weather if the car broke down, the sun was always shining in the 1970’s … lol … ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_K1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/steve_k1/32/39535_2.png) [@Steve\_K1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Steve_K1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/106 "2024-04-25T14:23:34Z")
30 years old? What are you doing mucking around with car repairs? Why aren’t you playing video games all day? Welcome to the tribe. Nice to see some young blood. ---
**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 6:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/107 "2024-04-25T18:20:32Z")
One thing I’d look for is a car model and year that you can get a Haynes Manual for. It will give you a pretty good idea of what’s involved in a variety of repairs and maintenance items. Also has circuit diagrams. Is it as complete and accurate as carmakers’ official manuals? No, and it is priced accordingly. It’s always seemed like a good deal to me: one useful resource, along with your own discretion, and not as dangerous and misleading as a lot of youtube videos. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2024, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708/108 "2024-04-25T22:39:41Z")
> [@Purebred](#): > > [cars are] Designed more for assembly line efficiency [than cost of repair]. I wonder what the record is? Which make/model had the most egregious example? A design focussed way more on ■■■’y ease than repair cost? For example I think replacing the pcv valve on some cars is considerably more expensive than others, b/c on those cars the valve is part of another ■■■’y and can’t be replace separately. On every car I’ve owned the pcv valve is a separate & inexpensive replacement part, & not part of any other ■■■’y. [Previous page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/what-makes-models-are-good-for-people-who-want-to-work-on-their-own-car/194708.md?page=5)