The next "Craftsman" brand

[JKennedy]

So I've been thinking that some other company has to fill the empty void craftsman is leaving in it's wake...

I know some of y'all on here like masterforce and I think that it's a great alternative but I live in north texas and I've never seen a masterforce tool in my life. They can be bought online which is great but still.

I also know SK tools is really coming up and the quality is superb although lacking brick and mortar purchases.

What do y'all think? Which tool brand will be like the next craftsman?
The kind everybody reveres and has in their garage?

 

[jjjrmx5]

Which tool brand will be like the next craftsman?

There will be no fill in. Only a divide in those who can afford good tools and those that now purchase disposable tools that are Asian made at low prices. There are many "in-betweens" like GearWrench, Sunnex, etc. that are very capable, but which direction they go in, or even hold stable, is an unknown.

The Sears/Craftsman lifetime warranty was not only easy to use but with outlets to replace your tools everywhere, a no brainer.

No tool company nor reseller is interersted in taking that risk on ever.

Tool buyers will still find tools to buy, but have to choose the fork in the road.

Lowes, Home Depot and Ace will likely continue to choose the "bottom line" vs. tool qualaity while Industrial suppliers like Grainger, McMaster , etc will supply good tools but nor for a homeowner price. NAPA will hold firm on quality. Chain auto stores will succumb to more and mre cheaply made tools. Even HF value-engieenrs a lot of it's porrly made stuff.

Thus the chasm.

And it's just gonna get worse.
Trust me.

 

[Karl_B]

As much as I hate to say it, it looks like Pittsburgh tools are becoming as ubiquitous as Craftsman used to be. So many people who purchase tools want to handle them first. That leaves Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot.

I honestly believe that the Craftsman name is still valuable enough to be sold off and kept alive when Sears fails, but I don't know if the new owners will treat it the way we would like.

 

[zkling]

.....

 

[jakemac]

Once Sears finally closes it's doors for good, the next Craftsman will be ................






......... wait for it .............









CRAFTSMAN !

Craftsman has already made deals to have their tools sold in Ace hardware stores, K-mart (which won't be around much longer either), and some other hardware chains. As the brick and mortar stores disappear, they will make more deals to get into other established retail outlets. While Sears slowly circles the drain, Craftsman and other Sears brands will still be available to the homeowner market. The brand will still be in the public's conscience, it'll just be in another "around the corner" store. It won't matter how bad the quality gets, the uninformed will still buy the tools because of the name and because they'll replace other brands on the shelves. Making them the only option at the time of purchase.

 

[monomach]

I don't anything's going to be as ubiquitous as Craftsman once was. Even Craftsman isn't Craftsman anymore. That was a product of a unique warranty and less competition. Now you get that same warranty at Harbor Freight, Lowe's and Home Depot. Between the three, there's probably a store within driving range of everyone in the US, barring those who live on some Alaskan mountaintop. Menard's is close, but they've been receipt Nazis in my experience.

For a lot of the non-wrench/ratchet/socket/screwdriver stuff Craftsman has, people are either going to have to go to Harbor Freight or order online. What ***** is that THAT'S the kind of Craftsman stuff that's US-made. Western Forge/Ideal is going to have some troubles when Craftsman goes. They'll have to start making pliers and screwdrivers under their own name and getting someone to sell them.

Once Sears finally closes it's doors for good, the next Craftsman will be ................






......... wait for it .............









CRAFTSMAN !

Craftsman has already made deals to have their tools sold in Ace hardware stores, K-mart (which won't be around much longer either), and some other hardware chains. As the brick and mortar stores disappear, they will make more deals to get into other established retail outlets. While Sears slowly circles the drain, Craftsman and other Sears brands will still be available to the homeowner market. The brand will still be in the public's conscience, it'll just be in another "around the corner" store. It won't matter how bad the quality gets, the uninformed will still buy the tools because of the name and because they'll replace other brands on the shelves. Making them the only option at the time of purchase.

I reeeeally don't think anyone's going to be running down to Ace to buy Craftsman. I've checked each of the five Ace locations within easy driving distance of me (three different franchises). You might as well buy SK at that price. Craftsman stuff at Ace around here is covered in dust.

I'd bet on whoever buys the Craftsman name dropping the warranty on stuff made before the purchase, too.

 

[Parrothead]

I'd bet on whoever buys the Craftsman name dropping the warranty on stuff made before the purchase, too.

I'd tread REALLY lightly on that one or else you're going to have a whole lot of pissed off people who were customers, but won't be going forward. I'd factor it into the bid for the name, but buying the name and dropping the warranty will do more harm than good.

 

[Cato]

Craftsman was a unique brand. At first all American, then more American than any other brand. It was/is widely available. It was economically priced and solid quality wise.

There will never be another Craftsman. Chinese tools are as good or better than the entry level American tools Craftsman rebranded.

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

 

[Super Sport]

I'd tread REALLY lightly on that one or else you're going to have a whole lot of pissed off people who were customers, but won't be going forward. I'd factor it into the bid for the name, but buying the name and dropping the warranty will do more harm than good.

I'll bet they keep the warranty, but it will all of a sudden become much more limited in nature. Of course, that all depends who buys it, as not many retailers want to handle an over the counter warranty.

I think HF will replace Craftsman, honestly. Sears used to carry everything, from woodworking tools to serious automotive tools. HF is the only place that comes remotely close today. And we've seen their quality steadily climb in recent years, while keeping prices competitive. I don't think that's going to slow down soon.

If talking strictly mechanics tools, I think that Gearwrench is poised to become the best possible alternative. If you really want USA-made, SK is the next option, but it will be years before you'll be able to warranty them locally.

 

[mires]

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

I do think this comes into play a lot when talking about tools. I am 29 so naturally most of my friends are around my age. Give or take a year or two. EVERY one of them takes their car or truck to get the oil changed, brake pads done, tires rotated. All of the most basic maintenance. Nobody is willing to get a little dirty anymore. I would DIY even if it didn't save me a nickel. There is just something satisfying as hell about working on your own things and having the tools to do so.

 

[wild cowboy]

I do think this comes into play a lot when talking about tools. I am 29 so naturally most of my friends are around my age. Give or take a year or two. EVERY one of them takes their car or truck to get the oil changed, brake pads done, tires rotated. All of the most basic maintenance. Nobody is willing to get a little dirty anymore. I would DIY even if it didn't save me a nickel. There is just something satisfying as hell about working on your own things and having the tools to do so.

It's called the feminization of men over the last 20 years and the masculination of women.

UGH!

 

[mires]

It's called the feminization of men over the last 20 years and the masculination of women.

UGH!

Quite scary isn't it?

 

[jcfields]

.

 

[Schurkey]

Craftsman was a unique brand. At first all American, then more American than any other brand. It was/is widely available. It was economically priced and solid quality wise.

Too true. Only a behemoth like Sears-of-Old could have pulled that off. Even JC Puny and Wards couldn't do it. Quality beyond "most" purchaser's needs, reasonable or even bargain prices, wonderful warranty all of which was available over-the-counter for the popular part numbers in any reasonable-sized town in America; and via "mail-order" in the rural areas or for less-popular items.

While there's lots said about Craftsman being "Made in America", I wandered through a Sears store in a major Canadian city...Craftsman hand tools in Canada were made in Canada; at least the pieces I saw.

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

I don't know what to make of this. On first blush, I thought this was so obvious that I couldn't understand why I'd never thought of it before. It's one of many unintended consequences of the Welfare State--destroying the family concept of Mom AND Dad; and short-circuiting motivation. Pop out all the kids you want--the taxpayer will feed and clothe and house them (and the parents, too!) and also provide "day care" outright--or disguised as "education" (i.e., Head Start and All-Day Kindergarten.)

On second thought, I considered my own childhood and realized that I own a shitload of tools and do nearly all my own maintenance even though my own parents divorced and mother "fixed" everything with layers of Scotch Tape, while Dear Old Dad in his prime could change oil and spark plugs, but little more. I learned to fix things because no-one else in my childhood could--and there was no money to take my broken stuff to a shop.

The issue is that without tools, DIY skills can't develop. Without DIY skills, tools are useless. The "secret" is to have a mentor who can both teach and supply tools, initially. In The Olden Days, this was some greybeard you knew personally; a telephone call and he (always a "he", correct?) either showed-up--or you hauled your broken stuff to his shop. Today the internet is providing the conduit to "virtual mentors", and Frightful Freight sells disposable **** tools dirt-cheap. The reason DIY is dying has more to do with electronic and mechanical product that are designed to be disposable and/or requiring "Special Tools" not generally available or affordable. About all that's left is home remodeling--paint and twobyfours and plywood and millwork trim. "Level" is still level, nails can still be pounded-in. The Safety Nazis have not (yet) required foam guards on hammer heads so the young and impressionable don't break their thumbs when they swing 'n' miss.

 

[Holzarbeiter]

I find it odd that people are willing to give up on craftsman so fast. Yes there has been a slide in quality and a lot of offshore **** but isn't that what the customer wants?
HF and Northern Tool are based on the import principal. The local HF is killing it in these parts, small store with only a third of the companies products in stock, everything else has to be ordered. Traffic in the local Sears store is a trickle and the tool department wasn't busy 5 years ago.
Northern Tool switched over to the Klutch brand, I think it is their own in house brand made by others. Pricing is hit or miss as is quality.
Craftsman still has more and better offerings in hand tools than HF IMO.

Mac is sliding some right now and there was a time not so long ago that S&K had some issues. Why not hold out hope and vote with our wallets as we are willing to do for other (S&K Days). Lets continue to buy the Quality made tools from Craftsman, quite a few of them are made by US companies.
Matco, Mac, Cornwell and even Snap-on rebrand tools and quite a few of them come from asia.

 

[mires]

I find it odd that people are willing to give up on craftsman so fast. Yes there has been a slide in quality and a lot of offshore **** but isn't that what the customer wants?
HF and Northern Tool are based on the import principal. The local HF is killing it in these parts, small store with only a third of the companies products in stock, everything else has to be ordered. Traffic in the local Sears store is a trickle and the tool department wasn't busy 5 years ago.
Northern Tool switched over to the Klutch brand, I think it is their own in house brand made by others. Pricing is hit or miss as is quality.
Craftsman still has more and better offerings in hand tools than HF IMO.

Mac is sliding some right now and there was a time not so long ago that S&K had some issues. Why not hold out hope and vote with our wallets as we are willing to do for other (S&K Days). Lets continue to buy the Quality made tools from Craftsman, quite a few of them are made by US companies.
Matco, Mac, Cornwell and even Snap-on rebrand tools and quite a few of them come from asia.

I personally am not a Craftsman hater and certainly have not given up on them. I am just a DIY guy so their stuff really works for me. They are not used on a daily basis and not abused. I've never had a single problem with their ratchets that everyone hates. For me, part of it is nostalgia too I guess. My grandfather had a lot of Craftsman stuff so it is what I grew up using since I was raised by him. It was without a doubt the best consumer brand you could get.

I do however enjoy using the good HF tools too though. A good tool is a good tool to me. I don't care where it came from, how much it costs, what name it has on it and I certainly couldn't care less what all the tool snobs think about my tools. I use what works for me. I'm just glad I found this site to guide me in making tool purchasing decisions. I don't like to spend more than I have to and this site has definitely helped me to be a smarter shopper.

 

[Fedwrench]

It's not just the lack of positive role models to teach kids how to fix things. It's also the HOA's that won't let you do anything in your driveway or open garage. It's that cars today aren't easily fixed with a flat tip screwdriver and a 1/2 x 9/16 wrench. There's no running down to Thrifty drug to test the vacuum tubes for the TV.
We replace stuff now instead of repair stuff.
I think there will always be a Craftsman brand, it just may not be the Craftsman of old that we long for.
If Gearwrench had a national distribution network (Advance isn't out west and Fastenal blows) they could be the next craftsman brand for mechanics hand tools. SK is great but, you'll never be able to get the pennies on the piece pricing that Craftsman is famous for nor, would I want to cut that many corners in SK quality that I would want to.

However, who cares what the next Craftsman brand will be. There are millions of US made craftsman tools in circulation as I write this. They will be available in the secondary market(used, estate/garage sales, etc) for many years to come.

 

[Holzarbeiter]

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.[/QUOTE]


That is true and our own fault, it is for us to correct it. Shut the TV off and throw that play station in the attic.
What happened to playing outside, fixing that bicycle with your kid. I have meet more 18-25 year old men(?) that can't find the oil dipstick in their vehicle, never mind changing a tire or banging a nail strait through a piece of wood.

 

[mires]

I have meet more 18-25 year old men(?) that can't find the oil dipstick in their vehicle, never mind changing a tire or banging a nail strait through a piece of wood.

I just read a statistic yesterday that 2/3 of teenagers don't know how to change a tire. I just hope that they polled mostly teenage girls?

 

[jd_1138]

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

These types of dudes are pathetic. What's even more pathetic is that they are enabled by their families and society. I know a dude who never changed the oil in the brand new Honda Civic that his dad bought him. When the engine blew up at 30k, his daddy bought him a brand new Acura. Must be nice to get rewarded for being a *******.

A lady who works with my wife was driving around on a compact spare tire on the front of her car for 2 months. I told her it was dangerous and also bad for the transmission. She replied: "oh my boyfriend hasn't said anything about it, so it must be safe." No, your boyfriend is a *****.

 

[n8n]

I'd tread REALLY lightly on that one or else you're going to have a whole lot of pissed off people who were customers, but won't be going forward. I'd factor it into the bid for the name, but buying the name and dropping the warranty will do more harm than good.

I would have said the same thing about offshoring production, but look what's happened with both wrenches and sockets...

Sent from my XT897 using Tapatalk

 

[mikeceli]

Craftsman was a unique brand. At first all American, then more American than any other brand. It was/is widely available. It was economically priced and solid quality wise.

There will never be another Craftsman. Chinese tools are as good or better than the entry level American tools Craftsman rebranded.

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

Sad, but true.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

to each his own...

For woodworking equipment, I am yet undecided

For My mechanical tools; ProTo, and SK easily fill any voids left by Craftsman; whose boat has sailed. I have owned Craftsman, ProTo and SK tools for decades, so the loss of USA Craftsman was like a dead tree in the yard .. Just grub it out and decide on a new tree for that spot. No reason to rush. As for price; I am satisfied with the Armstrong wrenches purchased from Cripe,

Craftsman is just a name put on outsourced tools,, Someone may fly their flag, but the "woop-ee" in seeing that name on a flag has grown lame for me.

 

[franzdom]

I find it odd that people are willing to give up on craftsman so fast. Yes there has been a slide in quality and a lot of offshore **** but isn't that what the customer wants?
...

It's that slide in quality that to me means Craftsman is not what it used to be. It's not a matter of us giving up on it, Craftsman has given up on itself.

 

[Pumpman1968]

No, your boyfriend is a *****.

I have 3 daughters. When they need something done with their cars, they usually come home alone.

A few weeks ago, I was ragging on the middle daughter about making time for me to do something with her car. The boyfriend was sitting next to me. I tapped him on the arm and said "This concerns you too." His reply....... "I don't mind walking.....". He doesn't own a car.

 

[thooks]

I have 3 daughters. When they need something done with their cars, they usually come home alone.

A few weeks ago, I was ragging on the middle daughter about making time for me to do something with her car. The boyfriend was sitting next to me. I tapped him on the arm and said "This concerns you too." His reply....... "I don't mind walking.....". He doesn't own a car.

He's your daughter's boyfriend because you haven't told her what to look for in a MAN. Don't hate me, I'm just the messenger.

THIS is the main problem today....parents not telling their kids what's right and what's wrong. If they don't know what is wrong (associating with worthless individuals who are just leeching off of others), no one will. If the parents don't tell the kids to associate with people that are trying to get out there and kill it, they won't.

I have a 15 yo daughter and I tell her all the time. Many of you won't like this, but whenever we are out and see some tatt'ed up guy, face/head full of piercings, raggedy clothes, hair looks like it was combed with a towel, I point to 'it' and tell her, in no uncertain terms, "Don't bring that home. Don't associate with it. He isn't thinking about the future."

Talk to your kids, folks. Teach'em some stuff. They might push it away at first, but explaining to them that they might appreciate it one day might wake them up and the next time the oil needs to be changed, they might be willing to help out or even want to do it themselves.

 

[montanafordman]

I agree with all that's been said about DIY traditions dying. I hope there are enough of us to fill a niche for the likes of companies like SK who are working hard at keeping things American but are somewhat between consumer and industrial clientele marketing and pricing. Craftsman replacement? Well, like others have said with the dying breed of DIY'ers it won't be like it once was but I see two main players that are/will take over.

Brick and Mortar stores? HF. No question. When people are thinking about getting tools that's where they head. Beyond that they'll pick up what they think they need from Lowes or Home Depot.

Online sales? (And this is taking over retail sales in a big way)
Gear wrench.

Just my 2 cents. I'm sticking with SK and Proto though. Most here are in the minority with our tool choices, knowledge, and preferences.

 

[Crackerballer]

Doesn't matter, the market will dictate what happens. Us GJ'ers are probably not even close to 10% of the end users of the mainstream brands like Craftsman, Kobalt, Dewalt, Gearwrench, etc.

I think the folks like us will be the only one stressing/interested in what may come of Craftsman. The other 90% of end users will just find themselves at Lowes, Home Depot, or other hardware stores buying whatever they need that fits the "bill" per se.

I personally am very happy that, due to this forum, I have been educated on the likes of SK and other brands that allow me to pay a bit more now (but not quite Snap-On prices) and get a vastly superior product to what Craftsman is currently churning out.

 

[byoungblood]

The American tradition of DIY is dying too. Kids are growing up without fathers or seeing their fathers only on the weekends. Women are raising our sons. Traditions like self reliance and getting your hands dirty just for the fun of it are going out the window.

More like the cult of the athlete. I played sports when I was a kid, but nothing to the degree kids are today. But you can't teach your sons (or daughters, for that matter) how to do anything when they're always at a ball field. Many other pastimes are having a tough time hanging around today because parents are trying to get their kids involved in every sport under the sun in the hopes of picking up a scholarship to school.

But back on topic, I don't think there will ever be another US Craftsman like brand. Home Depot has actually improved the Husky line a bit, Lowe's is in a race to the bottom with Kobalt, and then there's HF (no additional comment needed). Yes, someone may buy the Craftsman name, but I wouldn't expect some radical shift back to US made production. As I've mentioned several times, it has just become another "me too" offshore brand now with a little bit of US made stuff hanging around probably because Sears is still under contract with Western Forge and a few other suppliers.

 

[IndyGarage]

I just read a statistic yesterday that 2/3 of teenagers don't know how to change a tire. I just hope that they polled mostly teenage girls?

I taught my son to change a tire when he learned to drive, and my middle daughter actually asked me to teach her when she learned to drive, so my teenagers are part of the 1/3.

However, when my son was about 17 he went with some friends to an amusement park - the other kid's mom drove her Lexus SUV.

When they got out of the park, the car had a flat. My son said "It's OK, I can change it". The mother had a hissy fit saying it wasn't safe to change your own tire - until she figured out they would have to wait 3 hours for AAA to fix it. My son changed the tire in 15 minutes. He said the family was "in awe of his mechanical ability".

More and more families like that is why there won't be another
Craftsman, but also why you will always have a job if you are a mechanic.

 

[Askme42]

These types of dudes are pathetic. What's even more pathetic is that they are enabled by their families and society. I know a dude who never changed the oil in the brand new Honda Civic that his dad bought him. When the engine blew up at 30k, his daddy bought him a brand new Acura. Must be nice to get rewarded for being a *******.

A lady who works with my wife was driving around on a compact spare tire on the front of her car for 2 months. I told her it was dangerous and also bad for the transmission. She replied: "oh my boyfriend hasn't said anything about it, so it must be safe." No, your boyfriend is a *****.

Lol one of my bosses got a promotion and rewarded himself with a new jaguar. He didn't know you had to change the oil on those fancy cars. Blew the engine a little over a year in. Yes he's just as big a ***** to work for as you would expect.

 

[David Paul]

I personally am very happy that, due to this forum, I have been educated on the likes of SK and other brands that allow me to pay a bit more now (but not quite Snap-On prices) and get a vastly superior product to what Craftsman is currently churning out.

Agreed

 

[n8n]

I taught my son to change a tire when he learned to drive, and my middle daughter actually asked me to teach her when she learned to drive, so my teenagers are part of the 1/3.

However, when my son was about 17 he went with some friends to an amusement park - the other kid's mom drove her Lexus SUV.

When they got out of the park, the car had a flat. My son said "It's OK, I can change it". The mother had a hissy fit saying it wasn't safe to change your own tire - until she figured out they would have to wait 3 hours for AAA to fix it. My son changed the tire in 15 minutes. He said the family was "in awe of his mechanical ability".

More and more families like that is why there won't be another
Craftsman, but also why you will always have a job if you are a mechanic.

Good for your son.

I have a few single female friends with teenage sons and I've really tried to help them whenever I can because I don't want to be contributing to the uselessness of the next generation. Unfortunately, I can only do so much without actually being "Dad..."

 

[wmartin]

I think HF will replace Craftsman, honestly. Sears used to carry everything, from woodworking tools to serious automotive tools. HF is the only place that comes remotely close today. And we've seen their quality steadily climb in recent years, while keeping prices competitive. I don't think that's going to slow down soon.

.

That's my bet, assuming they can make a business case to expand their number of store fronts.

Otherwise, I'd say that the next 'Craftsman' will be whatever exercise in rebranding is done by Home Depot or some similar big box guy-stuff store. The source of the products will be China of course.

Maybe we'll see an Amazon Essentials line of tools....

 

[Airframer]

What happened to playing outside, fixing that bicycle with your kid. I have meet more 18-25 year old men(?) that can't find the oil dipstick in their vehicle.

Maybe they drive an Audi

 

[Fretters]

He's your daughter's boyfriend because you haven't told her what to look for in a MAN. Don't hate me, I'm just the messenger.

THIS is the main problem today....parents not telling their kids what's right and what's wrong. If they don't know what is wrong (associating with worthless individuals who are just leeching off of others), no one will. If the parents don't tell the kids to associate with people that are trying to get out there and kill it, they won't.

I have a 15 yo daughter and I tell her all the time. Many of you won't like this, but whenever we are out and see some tatt'ed up guy, face/head full of piercings, raggedy clothes, hair looks like it was combed with a towel, I point to 'it' and tell her, in no uncertain terms, "Don't bring that home. Don't associate with it. He isn't thinking about the future."

Talk to your kids, folks. Teach'em some stuff. They might push it away at first, but explaining to them that they might appreciate it one day...

Totally digressing from the thread subject here but..., I'm banking your daughter is liable to turn up with a lad one day who has pretty much every trait you've told her to avoid. You can't put nowt where ther'int nowt, if they're that way inclined, and moral fibre is something which can't be taught. Kids will usually go out of their way to do the opposite of most things you tell them. Simple experience is the only way they tend to learn, (if they have any ounce of gumption and actually learn from it, that is), and you stand a good chance of making her have expectations and hopes for finding a man who doesn't exist in reality. Good character and mettle are what matter in a person; How they dress that up is irrelevant. I've seen plenty of well groomed and apparently well mannered people who are complete arses in reality. Anyone who judges a person on appearance is a fool, to put it succinctly. No disrespect intended, but there's cloud cuckoo land and reality. We might all like to live in the former, but the latter is generally the one we have to accept.

 

[n8n]

Maybe they drive an Audi

Hah, or a late model BMW. Irritates me to no end. Whatever happened to gauges as well? My new(ish) car has exactly four gauges; speed, RPM, oil temp, and fuel level. WTF BMW? Still haven't coughed up the ducats for a P3 gauge pod yet though.

 

[byoungblood]

Hah, or a late model BMW. Irritates me to no end. Whatever happened to gauges as well? My new(ish) car has exactly four gauges; speed, RPM, oil temp, and fuel level. WTF BMW? Still haven't coughed up the ducats for a P3 gauge pod yet though.

We're devolving back to the late 70s, early 80s where cars had no useful gauges again, just idiot lights. Since about the late 90s, gauges on many vehicles have been practically worthless, they're computer controlled and just move to a mid-scale position if the temperature/voltage/etc., is within an acceptable range. They won't move again until something is actually wrong, making them no more useful than an idiot light.

 

[Southernbuild]

As far as mechanics tools go, I would say GearWrench is the new Craftsman. Fair prices on good tools, and they make a ton of specialty tools. One of Craftsman's big selling points was the COO, but I don't see there being a viable alternative that's made in the US, at a similar price point.

But, I really think some of you are selling the American initiative spirit low. While it might be true that interest in auto mechanics is low, I wouldn't say that that in necessarily an encompassing position on all skilled "hobbies" by a long shot. As far as automotive goes:

1. We've created cars so that very little needs done to them until they've got a 100,000s of miles on them, thus most kids will never NEED to do much to their car.

2. Modern cars are boring, aerodynamic lookalikes. They don't spark interest like they once did.

3. The tools / equipment needed to properly diagnose, and work on modern cars is extensive.

Because of this, I feel like a lot of people who once would have spent their free time tinkering with cars, are now involved in fields such as, Robotics, Web Design, Fabrication, Computer Programing, Micro-Processor Projects, UAVs, Model Rockets, 3D Printing, metal casting, machining, and lots of other cool projects.....

That's not a bad thing; just different.

 

[Automotive Man]

These types of dudes are pathetic. What's even more pathetic is that they are enabled by their families and society. I know a dude who never changed the oil in the brand new Honda Civic that his dad bought him. When the engine blew up at 30k, his daddy bought him a brand new Acura. Must be nice to get rewarded for being a *******.

A lady who works with my wife was driving around on a compact spare tire on the front of her car for 2 months. I told her it was dangerous and also bad for the transmission. She replied: "oh my boyfriend hasn't said anything about it, so it must be safe." No, your boyfriend is a *****.

Best answer I've seen on this thread ^