It’s been asked of every new mechanic for more than a century. Does it matter in 2025?
“Can you drive a stick?”
read more
Thanks!
You’re all signed up. Keep an eye on your inbox for a welcome email. If you’re new to Shop Press, you can also check out some of our latest articles below.
Hidden external speakers are changing the soundscape of our streets
One of the most noticeable changes we’ll experience with more electric vehicles will be the noises from their acoustic vehicle alert systems, or AVAS.
Automotive technical schools just saw the largest graduation drop in a decade
Troubling new report from TechForce Foundation shows that fewer and fewer people are graduating from technical schools with automotive degrees.
November Automotive Horoscopes
We read the astrological signs and predicted your automotive future.
What type of part should you use to repair a car?
There’s a spectrum of parts ranging from fresh and new to tired but cheap. What should you use and when?
Is side work OK for service techs?
Does the shop retain right of first refusal, or is moonlighting A-OK?
Ranking the best fictional TV mechanics
From Colonel Hogan to Mr. T to Fonzie, here’s a completely unscientific list of television wrenches.
Jeep Spotter’s Guide (VIDEO)
ID Jeeps generation by generation with a few easy tricks.
Quiz: Can you prove how big of a car nerd you are?
Is your brain filled with automobilia obscurity? Prove it.
Does your shop handle performance work?
Here are a few things consider before taking on work that falls beyond the scope of repair or maintenance.
Ralph Nader inspired a vehicle safety revolution and all he got was a lousy bolt named after him
Door striker bolts became known as Nader pins after “Unsafe at Any Speed” caused a national uproar and led to the first FMVSS rules.
Before asphalt, automotive pioneers used the beach as their racetrack
Several speed records were once set on the beach of Cape May, New Jersey
Schedule more work by improving the life of the waiters
If your waiting room stinks, so does waiting in it.
What’s in your toolbox?
Skillset and mindset often determine the toolset.
October Automotive Horoscopes
You probably didn’t think you needed to mix fixing automobiles with reading astrological signs. We did. You’re welcome.
Car Talk’s Ray Magliozzi calls on lawmakers to pass right to repair law
Co-founder of the famous car show writes Washington Post opinion piece calling for Congress to act.
Book review: “Car: A Drama of the American Workplace”
Mary Walton’s 1997 look behind the scenes of the Ford Taurus shows the human side of car production.
Fire the parts cannon! Is shotgun diag ever acceptable? (VIDEO)
Nick and Lemmy discuss the pros and cons of throwing parts at a problem.
Spoiler alert: Manual transmissions are not ‘100% useless’ as claimed
Is this what automotive enthusiasm looks like now?
Trailer bearings: a hidden moneymaker for auto repair shops
Why not capitalize on easy, predictable service that’s almost never a rush job?
Do self-service garages have a place in the auto care industry? This growing business thinks so.
Stew’s Garage near Tacoma, Washington, offers DIYers access to lifts, tools and expertise, and it’s building a following.