Originally posted by Rogue Jedi
Yeah but I'm white. Plus I can work on big rigs.Truth be told, most of the mechanic work one would do is simple shit. Changing an alternator, swapping out a battery, shit like that. That and simple maintenance. If you blow an engine or a transmission, or drop a driveline or break an axle, it wouldn't be worth the effort to fix. Just find a new ride, hotwire that *****.
So really, even someone who is a half ass mechanic would get the job done. I bet most here wouldn't even know how to change spark plugs.
Good point; rudimentary mechanical knowledge would serve in most cases. Still, knowing how to fix an axle might come in handy at some point.
About hotwiring a car: in movies they depict it as being a smooth, clean operation that's completed in a few seconds. But that's a myth that has been propagated by Hollywood. It actually takes upwards of 10, 15 or maybe even 20 minutes. And you'll need a look-out to make sure the coast is clear while you're down looking at the steering column. (Yeah, I know, its kinda sad that I actually know this.) In fact, most car thefts in the US occur when careless owners unwittingly leave their keys in the ignition, or the door.
Fun fact: you can force-start many vehicles on the road today by jamming a common (flathead) screwdriver into the ignition and cranking it. Though, this trick typically only works on pre-2000 vehicles. Most newer models have more fragile circuitry.