[funkyfiddler69]

What? How so? Isn't it just a bunch of PCBs and sensors whereas gas powered cars are a bunch of awesome nonesense you can gently whack against each other to create different notes and tones?

The former requires a special printer while the latter requires tons of machines for precision engineering and the industrial equivalent of smitheries and blacksmiths!

[lostlogin]

Ever tried working on a new car versus fixing a pre 1980’s car?

Damned if I have any idea what anything is or what to do on a new one. I had a moderate chance of diagnosing and fixing my old Triunph.

[jyounker]

If you have the right tools then it's easier than ever.

To put a different spin, a friend's father was a very successful auto mechanic. What he loved about it was the mental challenge of diagnostics. The stranger the problem, the better for him.

A few years back he sold his shop. There were two reasons:

1) He made f** you money, and retired decades earlier than he'd expected. 2) For many years he'd felt like the daily intellectual challenge was gone.

His repeated refrain was that modern self-diagnostic systems were good enough that it took away most of the day-to-day intellectual challenge.

[cucumber3732842]

Identifying which assemblies to replace is easier than ever.

But there are an ever increasing number of assemblies with a "non starter to anyone other than the OEM" up front manufacturing set up cost. And when the OEM drops support......

[bluGill]

Until the computer dies and you can't get the replacement part.

[CalRobert]

Well there’s the drm