In 1998, only 33 per cent of them were willing to tackle the same work, with the rest of them paying to have the jobs done.
The younger the vehicle, the AIA says, the less likely it is that its owner will try to do repairs. So while only 13 per cent will try maintenance on a one-year-old vehicle, 52 per cent will get their toolbox out for a vehicle that's 13 years old.
The AIA study also points out that the technology of cars has undergone a remarkable change recently. In 1983, virtually every new vehicle had a carburetor and no air bags, and in 1997 virtually every new vehicle had air bags and no carburetor.
By 2002, the AIA study says, air bags will be ''practically universal" on vehicles five years old or younger.
Rear-wheel drive continues its steady decline in usage, but front-wheel-drive peaked in 1996 because so many people began switching to light trucks with all-wheel drive.
After years of growth against engines with more or fewer cylinders, the 6-cylinder engine began to peak in 1997 and is now about tied with 4-cylinder powerplants. Though they still make up only about 20 per cent of the volume now (down by half from their glory years), V-8s are regaining some of their popularity.