Do you remember your first car? Have a favorite tool that you reach for when doing your job? We can tell you that Michael Reed, our auto shop mechanic and technician sure does. We wrap up our conversation with him and learn more about his passion for cars and tools. Let’s dive in.
Michael Reed, Technician
Q: What was your first car, how old were you when you got it, how did you pay for it? What did you love about it and do you wish you still had it?
Mike: My first car was a Pontiac Sunfire. I got it when I was 16 years old, one of the best hand-me-downs I ever got from my brother. First, it’s hard not to just flat out love your first car, but this one had tinted windows – really blacked out windows. So cool. It would be fun to take it for another spin.
Q: Most people don’t know that each mechanic in an auto shop is responsible to bring their own tools to the job site. Tell us how you built your toolbox: did you buy and build it from scratch, did you buy it from someone who was retiring or changing careers?
Mike: Buying tools is a long and never-ending process. I started with a small pushcart. Then I picked up a wall box, and every week I bought more tools. It’s an investment, but well worth it.
Q: If you had to choose your 5 most important tools in your tool box, what would they be?
Mike: Air Hammer, Air Impact Wrench, Stubby Air Ratchet, Air Grinder, Dial Indicator
Q: How has today’s technology played into your job as a mechanic? How do you keep up with the ever-evolving technology (classes, workshops, reading manuals, etc)?
Mike: Every year, the cars change and things are added to the maintenance manuals. We keep up with it by researching everything we can and getting our hands dirty.
Q: What brings you the most satisfaction at the end of a typical work day?
Mike: Seeing the smile on a customer’s face when their car is fixed or customized. It makes all the pain and stress worth it!
With that, we wrap up our conversation with our Inc Auto Repair Center crew of owners, service advisors, technicians, and ASE Lead Tech. Check out all our interviews here. We hope this inspires you more ways than one to give our Parker auto shop a chance to do business with you in the coming weeks. If it’s got four wheels, give us a call and let’s talk!
Conversations with shop Co-Owner Sheryl Brown and the rest of the InC Auto Repair Center Crew
Sheryl Brown: Keeping Pace with Automotive Technology – Convo #3
Sheryl Brown: Women in the Auto Repair Industry – Convo #2
Sheryl Brown: Conversation with Sheryl Brown – Convo #1
Ron Thrall, Service Advisor: Life as an Automotive Service Advisor
John Baranski, ASE Technician: How to Become an ASE Mechanic Convo #1
John Baranski, ASE Technician: Life as an ASE Lead Tech Mechanic Convo #2
Michael Reed, Technician: Inspiration: Driveway Tinkering Births Mechanic Convo #1
Michael Reed, Technician: Mechanic’s Memoir: First Car & Favorite Toosl (coming soon) Convo #2
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