what's your gas cost?

[knighthawk]

Lets compare this then : mechanic wages....1968 I was making, I think , about $2.00 /hr,.and in '98 when I retired I was making $17, now , they are making $22 to $25 . That was in the Midwest and in union shops, here in Kansas I don't think anyone makes more than $12/hr.

[Plymouthy Adams]

you are right Larry..most folks are under the impression that the 40-60 dollar an hour rate goes to the mechanic...not a chance once the shop overhead is taken out..we used to work 50/50 back in the old days , labor rate was lower, and at best all car repair is feast or famine..warranty tickets are paid at 40% of off the street charges. One could go hungry quite often..left the auto business quite early in life and took a hourly wage yob with Gerneral Dynamics and shortly after that and marriage I found that I best get into federal service..granted, there were days Imade good money..but other were meager..try getting a fat salary at Chrismas when money is spent on gifts and vacation to relatives verse scheduled car repairs.

[knighthawk]

think about this : In the 60's wages were, say, $2.00/hr, a new car was about $2000, a house maybe $20000, times 10,to equal what they are today, then go back and add onto the list- gas at .25/gal, times 10 would be $2.50 /gal..........so. I'll give them the $2.50, but , ...............that's still expensive, when you think about it, just go back a few years, say you ran out of gas, would you be willing to pay a guy, say a 10 dollar bill for 2or 3 gallons of gas ????