It’s a question as old as time for those of us who like to think of themselves as Mr. and Ms. Fix-It types: Should I do it myself or pay someone else to do it? This is a question that comes up again and again for all sorts of matters and, honestly, there never is one correct answer. For every successful DIY car repair or modification, there’s another that wound up taking hours and lots of expense, only to result in a trip to the shop that wound up costing far more time, and perhaps even more money, that if we had just taken it to the pros in the first place.
The general rule of thumb is, if it seems like something you can do easily, by all means. If it seems kind of tricky but you enjoy a little more challenge, go for it…but be prepared to eat a little crow if you get into a jam. On the other hand, if you are overwhelmed by the thought of even trying it all yourself, your instincts may well be correct.
Still, to be very specific, what about auto body work? Should you trick out your car with that very cool Mustang body kit you’ve been salivating over by yourself, or should you let the mechanic have some (but not all) of the fun, and all of your money? The answer seems to be as always: it depends. What body parts will you be specifically adding? Which manufacturer’s kit are you using? How experienced of an auto body do-it-yourselfer are you? If it’s your first time, you may well want to find a mentor if you’re determined to go the DIY route. Read the rest of this entry »