I tried to explain to my wife's grandkid

[gmh101357]

40+ year ago there was such a thing a full service gas stations where they checked your oil and tire pressure and did it right without trying to sell you something you dont need. We had a Texaco station where we got all of our oil changed in our cars (Chevy Impala, Buick Skylark GS,
Plymouth Duster) back then it cost about 20 bucks with oil and filter and we had known the owner for 12 years it was always done right. I miss the old havoline cans of oil and b.s.ing with the owner while he had the car on the lift....over cars and motorcycles. Those days are gone forever now. Their reaction is why not just take it to iffy lube and get a oil change in 15 mins. I told him car guys always change their own oil.....even jay leno says he loves changing the oil in his 150 cars.

 

[FutureDoc]

tsk tsk tsk...

Darn those grandkid and grandparents for their ignorance... you can still get Havoline.

I was talking to my father (retired and a grandfather) about changing his oil for him but his reaction is "why not take it to the dealership?"

 

[deoxy4]

Cut's into their game time on their cell phones I guess.

 

[Doog]

People look at me like I am a f&%$#ing Martian when I talk about working on my cars and motorcycles.

 

[4wheeldog]

I saw an article on NBC news the other day about a gas truck that comes to you. Competitive price. Owner says he saves, by not having real estate costs. Times change, and so does marketing.

 

[Olas]

Is the grand kid old enough to drive? And/or into cars?

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: gmh101357
I told him car guys always change their own oil.....

But...

Quote:
We had a Texaco station where we got all of our oil changed in our cars (Chevy Impala, Buick Skylark GS, Plymouth Duster)



So you're not one of them car guys either, huh?

 

[bdcardinal]

I don't consider myself old, I'm 32, but some of the things my younger co-workers ask makes me want a refund on my tax money that went into their education.

Today one of them, she is part time and goes to UCSB, asked me if 3/4 was greater than 1/2. I said "Well considering 1/2 is 2/4 I would say yes." She said "that doesn't make sense, why say 1/2 when 2/4 is easier?" I said "lowest common denominator rule is in play." She gave me a puzzled look in return.

A couple weeks ago there was an argument about what brands of bottles water were better. I piped up with "you guys do realize it is all municipal tap water that is sent through reverse osmosis right?" Their reactions were similar to the movie Idiocracy when the main character tries to explain that water makes plants grow.

 

[JHZR2]

Originally Posted By: deoxy4
Cut's into their game time on their cell phones I guess.


At least use proper contractions and apostrophes before belittling others...

Some states do have regulations where attendants still pump your gas.

People in AZ could create the same regulations too.

 

[Nate1979]

$20 for an oil change? That sounds quite expensive if you account for inflation. Not sure what year you were referring but if 40 years ago that would be ~$120 in today's dollars.

 

[tgrudzin]

I think he is right. It would cost $12 if you dropped off the car, $20 if you took up the mechanic's time by talking to him. I think it went to $40 if you told him how to do it.

 

[krismoriah72]

Major Kudos to the full service attendants with the coin changers on their sides.

Life is not simpler now that I log onto gasbuddy to find the cheapest top tier gasoline, then swipe credit card, punch in my zipcode, swipe my kroger card..find out that the windshield brush is stolen or there is no fluid in the bin, then after i finish pumping the screen says 'see attendant for receipt'. I stand in line waiting for my receipt while 2 guys buy beer, some blunts and a few lottery tickets and the clerk gets finished texting her boyfriend.

 

[gmh101357]

I did change all my motorcycle's but the car and where to dump the used oil was a big problem back then.....I would change my car but where to dump it...the yard.....pour it in the garbage can and hope nobody notices? 1.5 quarts to 2 is easy to dump but a 455 and used filter is hard. That's when I started taking mine to the corner Texaco just to not having to find a place to dump used oil.

 

[Lyman]

When I was old enough my Dad would pay me $5 to change the oil on all the family cars and trucks. He would go and buy all the oil and filters and put them on ramps for me. I think I was around ten years old at the time. Took me most the day. I was rebuilding an engine by the time I was 14. My first car came out of a junk yard and needed a rebuild and tons of front end work. By the time I was 17 I had a 57 Chevy Pickup and it was one of the nicest around. Was also working after school everyday and supporting myself. Kids now have it all handed to them on a silver platter.

 

[gmh101357]

he is into phones.....not cars. He likes a yaris more than my mustang gt

 

[gmh101357]

omg thats the truth...im 58 and retired....i retired at 49 from ibm....her kids spend money like a drunk sailor on shore leave....then come crying to my wife when they cant make a car payment.

 

[Inspecktor]

Originally Posted By: gmh101357
I did change all my motorcycle's but the car and where to dump the used oil was a big problem back then.....I would change my car but where to dump it...the yard.....pour it in the garbage can and hope nobody notices? 1.5 quarts to 2 is easy to dump but a 455 and used filter is hard. That's when I started taking mine to the corner Texaco just to not having to find a place to dump used oil.
I worked at a small airport in the 80's, the mechanic stored used motor oil in a 265 gallon fuel oil tank and 2- 55 gallon drums. A local fellow had a small business collecting and reselling the oil. I believe he paid about 50 cents a gallon. When the EPA reclassified oil as hazardous waste, he said he went from having a million dollar inventory to a massive liability he had to pay to get rid of. After that it was harder to find a place to get rid of oil, until stores that sold oil were required to take in used oil.

 

[Charlie1935]

When my Mom passed I found a ledger she had kept in the mid 1940s.
Oil change & grease job on Dad's 37 Chrysler less than $2.00.
Of course wages were much lower then also.

 

[VetteElite]

Originally Posted By: gmh101357
he is into phones.....not cars. He likes a yaris more than my mustang gt


As a younger guy, I understand the first point.

However, please tell me that's hyperbole on the second point. NO WAY somebody could prefer a Yaris to a Mustang, right? The Yaris literally has nothing going for it. The most bland car to ever exist.

 

[Leo99]

Originally Posted By: VetteElite
Originally Posted By: gmh101357
he is into phones.....not cars. He likes a yaris more than my mustang gt


As a younger guy, I understand the first point.

However, please tell me that's hyperbole on the second point. NO WAY somebody could prefer a Yaris to a Mustang, right? The Yaris literally has nothing going for it. The most bland car to ever exist.


The Yaris goes from point A to point B for the least cost. A lot of today's young folk are very practical.