bl1300
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,678
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Jun 13, 2012 19:40:08 GMT
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BL1300 cracks me up, he may be ‘straight out of college’ and 22 years old but don’t forget we’re dealing with a guy of something like 10 years auto electrical experience, (including his GCSE projects that is). If he says you can’t earn a living from classic cars ‘because local folk don’t have the money to pay for it’ then thats just how it is!!! Blame the customers. Tepper you sound like a good bet and your free trial idea sounds great, seems to me like you’re going about it the right way. Good luck to you. There is no need to be inflamatory! I have not blamed the customers, I have done my research into the market in my local area and have come to the conclusion that the market for classic restorations in my area is not big enough to sustain a fledgling business. It takes time to build the required reputation to work on someones pride and joy. My business plans are at the moment just that I haven't yet started trading. All I was trying to say is to do your research in your area to make sure there is enough work to sustain you. These snide comments are getting very boring so please stop.
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Current fleet.
1967 DAF 44 1974 VW Beetle 1303s 1975 Triumph Spitfire MkIV 1988 VW LT45 Beavertail 1998 Volvo V70 2.5 1959 Fordson Dexta
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Jun 13, 2012 19:50:58 GMT
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BL1300 cracks me up, he may be ‘straight out of college’ and 22 years old but don’t forget we’re dealing with a guy of something like 10 years auto electrical experience, (including his GCSE projects that is). If he says you can’t earn a living from classic cars ‘because local folk don’t have the money to pay for it’ then thats just how it is!!! Blame the customers. Tepper you sound like a good bet and your free trial idea sounds great, seems to me like you’re going about it the right way. Good luck to you. There is no need to be inflamatory! I have not blamed the customers, I have done my research into the market in my local area and have come to the conclusion that the market for classic restorations in my area is not big enough to sustain a fledgling business. It takes time to build the required reputation to work on someones pride and joy. My business plans are at the moment just that I haven't yet started trading. All I was trying to say is to do your research in your area to make sure there is enough work to sustain you. These snide comments are getting very boring so please stop. I think you miss read what he said!
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Jun 13, 2012 22:22:50 GMT
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I went to college when I left school in 2009 and done my national diploma level one in motor vehicle repair and maintenance. I had a fairly good knowledge as it was when I started college as I was constantly faffing around with cars. Level one can be frustrating because it is just the basics to get you used to the course. Things like brakes, suspension, servicing, nothing big like clutches and gearboxs! I started level two then dropped out. The college was a load of curse word. The whole teaching style was wrong, students left to do as they wish to the cars, usually when you come to them they were not even put back together properly. Another thing about the teaching style and my college, you do theory lessons and practical lessons and these are meant to link into each other (For Example - Doing research on brakes and how they work upstairs then the next day stripping them down) but my college always had you doing 2 completely different things so you didnt really learn anything new. After I dropped out I got a job in a garage but only because it was family. 2 years on I'm 19 now and still there. Real world mechanics is a whole different ball game to mechanics in college and you will find that you will learn a hell of a lot more working in a garage than you will in the 3 years you spend in college. For that reason I would say if you can, try and get an apprenticeship. That way you get paid while you learn and possibly get a job at the end. Plus you'll learn all the tricks of the trade and common faults and fixes! If you go for the college course don't let my experience put you off! Its all down to the college and the kind of people they let in. I'm from Liverpool so college was just full of wannabe gangsters that couldnt be controlled and it just ruined it for everybody, plus your college might teach it a different way to the way mine did. Try and speak to somebody whos done the course and see what they thought of it. Good luck whatever you do, its a good trade to get into, we'll always be needed
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Last Edit: Jun 13, 2012 22:24:29 GMT by mikeyrobbo
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Jun 13, 2012 23:29:29 GMT
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Good luck mate, you possess the same dream as I do. Unfortunately I was pushed into going to university to study IT by my college tutors as they said I was too 'intelligent' to be a mechanic/car body repairer. (How ridiculous!) Fast forward over 6 years and I have a degree in MEDIA (as I failed my IT degree through lack of motivation and interest) and a job working in a local builders merchant as I can't seem to find a job in graphic/web design in my area. Besides I have no real interest in computers, my heart lies with working on cars. I've known this since I was 5 years old. Your at the perfect age to start at an apprenticeship, don't go to college they will only waste your time as stated in the post above. Follow your heart and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. If I were you I'd be looking at classic car restorations as this is where you will learn the best skills and knowledge in the business. As for me, all is not lost. I am too old at nearly 25 to do an apprenticeship as it wouldn't pay the bills. So instead I am joining the RAF to learn the trade All the best and keep us updated with your progress!! I hope Retro Rides will influence you the same as it did for me. One day I hope to have my own lock-up, home to my own eclectic mix of cars, a welder, a box of spanners and a bed!
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1994 Mazda 323f 1.6i 16v GLX
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Davey
Posted a lot
Resident Tyre Nerd.
Posts: 2,197
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Thought i'd bang a quick reply in here, I have just started working as a full time mechanic after doing 2 years in college too get my VRQ in motor vehicle maintenance and repair blah blah blah, one thing i found was the qualification got me the job and the experience from my own cars and showing that i did know some stuff has kept me it. One thing i will say is if you think you need help in the job don't be affraid too ask. I wish i had gone for the apprenticeship route, most companies will allow you too go too college one day a week or one week a month (Usually paid.) and at the end of it you come out with a better qualification (NVQ instead of VRQ.) Whatever you decide too do i doubt you'll regret it, i was very apprehensive about my first week. 5-6 weeks in and i'm loving everyday i must also point out that i have learnt more in 6 weeks of the real world than college taught me in 2 years. Good look sir and i hope whatever you decide too do it goes well.
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K11 Micra x3 - Mk3 astra - Seat Marbella - Mk6 Escort estate - B5 Passat - Alfa 156 estate - E36 compact Mk2 MR2 T-bar - E46 328i - Skoda Superb - Fiat seicento - 6n2 Polo - 6n polo 1.6 - Mk1 GS300 EU8 civic type S - MG ZT cdti - R56 MINI Cooper S - Audi A3 8p - Jaguar XF (X250) - FN2 Civic Type R - Mk2 2.0i Ford Focus
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Jun 14, 2012 13:35:58 GMT
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Ill bang in my 2p. I did my National Diploma in motor vehicle engineering and qualified in 1995. I have been working in sweat shops, sorry, Garages both main dealer and independent ever since. On my course there were day release students as well as full timers, this is the route I would recommend. Find someone to employ you 4 days a week and do one day in college, you will learn a lot more. I will offer a couple of words of caution though. Firstly, the money is rubbish! You will boil in summer and freeze in winter. You will spend a stupid amount of money with the snap-on tools man (Find out how to claim it against tax though!) and be treated like poo by everyone who doesn't know you only what you do. Its a thankless job that is getting harder every year and if I had my time again I would have got a proper job and saved working on cars for evenings and weekends. Currently I have fallen into a good job that pays well and the workshop has a good heater, I have space, freedom to manage my own time and a largely captive customer base, I have been fortunate over the years to work with some great mechanics who have taught me a great deal, I can balance carbs, and do diesel leak off testing, weld up rust and scope CAN bus systems. Because of this I am in demand, but it has taken a lot of sweat to get here.
What ever you decide to do, enjoy it. Mechanics can be a lot of fun, doing the right thing with the right people. Now if you excuse me I have an Audi all road with the suspension in bits :-)
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