Posts from — June 2009

You have to wonder if he would have done that to a Dodge Ram.

When I polled my kids who their favorite tech was, my youngest son’s favorite was Joe. I don’t know if it’s because they’re about the same height, or if it’s because Joe’s a cool guy and is great with kids.

Joe is kind and funny and is one of the fastest oil changers I’ve ever seen. I’ve known him for about 9 years now and I’ve watched him grow over time and overcome various obstacles in his life. He’s good people, and I’m glad to number him among my friends.

Here’s the profile Joe completed for me:

Are you married or single? Do you have any kids?

I’m married- I’ve been married for nearly 22 years. I have one son, who is 22.

Do you have any pets?

I have a pit bull named Kanye.

What are your hobbies?

My favorite thing to do is go fishing.

How long have you been working on cars?

9 years.

Why did you go into the auto repair business?

I love working on any type of machines.

What’s your dream car?

Corvette- any year.

What’s your favorite kind of car to work on?

I like Hondas the best. [Ivy's note: Me too!]

What’s your least favorite kind of car to work on, and why?

Dodges. There’s no real reason, it’s just personal preference.

Watch it, world- my 15 year old is driving. In less than a year he’ll be driving without my supervision. Someone hold me, I’m scared. Now, the kind of car he wants is either a Lancer Evolution (Mitsubishi) or a Volkswagon Jetta. If my wallet didn’t already say no, I have the feeling the technicians at the shop would definitely curb that desire in no time. The general consensus around the shop is to get something that isn’t hard to work on, passes safety standards, and is old, but not so old it’s falling completely apart.

The difference in opinion comes with the size of the car. Some say to get something huge, that way if he’s in an accident, he’s less likely to get hurt. Some say to get something small, so he doesn’t go around hitting things constantly when he’s parking. The only REAL opinion I have is that it has to be something that doesn’t cost a fortune with my insurance company.

So, let’s hear it, readers! What kind of car would you get for a new driver?