I like reading repair manuals, even if it's for something I don't own. I have a copy of "How To Keep Your Volkswagen Alive" even though I've never owned a Beetle. During my temp stints at publishing houses I've loaded up on books about turbocharging, metalworking, all kinds of stuff I'll never do in this apartment — but maybe someday....
Sometimes the guides for the cars you don't have are more compelling than the ones for what's in your garage; it's a bit of a peek into a different world, a kind of taste of something else, a glimpse at techniques that are just interesting to know. And maybe some things that are explained in one place that can jump to a present reality. A clean shot of another car's hub that helps with a brake-rotor change? Great. Little hints about wiring? Interesting. Knowledge is transferable, and what works in one place may work wonderfully well elsewhere.
Which is why rad_mike is able to step into an awkward situation and inform us all of how it is done:
You're all idiots and wouldn't know how to operate a supercar if your life depended on it.
It's so frustrating to see people trashing the mechanics of this beautiful machine. For future reference, BEFORE engaging the starter, you have to put the key to position two and move the signal stalk up, then up, down, then down, towards, back, towards, back, push the hazard light button, reset the trip mileage, THEN start.
When you start using this procedure, you can be pretty confident that you'll make it to the destination without stalling. This will even work if you have a passenger.
You can thank me later.
Photo Credit: Eve of Discovery