Some of my fondest memories are as a kid learning to work on cars from my grandfather. Still remember being painted black with grease up to my shoulders it felt like when I did an engine replace/rebuild for the 66 Mustang I had my senior year in high school. Now cars are deliberately built to thwart reparability , even by the "pros". Modern vehicles are built with this idea that anything that would require rebuilding an engine, transmission, etc is just a module replacement of the whole engine/transmission/whatever. It's sad, and probably won't change in our lifetimes. Designed obsolescence is essential to keeping the recurring revenue model all businesses strive for afloat. They NEED you needing to buy a new car every 4-5 years, preferably every 2-3 years.
I have had a couple flare ups over time. It also runs in my family. It comes down to your bodies ability to filter and remove uric acid. If that builds up, and gets a chance, it crystalizes on bone structures and POOF gout. My doctors point at the fact that I have a lower than normal resting heart rate, combined with some kidney issues I have had. I get maybe one flare up a year. At least the treatment is pretty easy, at first sign take 2 of a little pill I have, then take 1 every 6 hours until gone. Almost always gone within 12-18 hours. For me it's always in my ankles.