Automotive Tech Schools. Career advice??

[89Red240]

I have a feeling this is going to be a long-winded post. I apologize in advance.

I'm the proud new owner of an '89 240sx. The car is everything I hoped it would be, plus it introduced me to this excellent forum full of fun and knowledgeable people.

I'm 21 years old and about to make a life-changing decision. If you work in the automotive repair industry, I'd like to pick your brain. I've been a gearhead since I could walk. My first word was "wheel." No, really. . . it was! I had 2 favorite toys when I was a little. One of them was a tonka-type truck where you could take the wheels on and off. The other was a plastic console with a steering wheel and shifter that made engine noises when you shifted gears. I took a small engine repair course in 4-H when I was 9 and that's what really got things started. When I was 12 I put a wanted ad in the classifieds and collected 40+broken lawnmowers, weedeaters, etc. and worked on them all day long all summer.

At some point around age 14 or so I decided that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer and after I graduated High School I headed in that direction. After a couple semesters in college I realized my heart wasn't really in it. I realized I didn't want to design stuff, I wanted to get my hands dirty and be where the action was. I've kinda floated around for the last few years and haven't pursued much career wise. I've worked as a small engine mechanic for a rental company for 3+ years now and its time for me to get serious about a career. I'm tired of being stuck in a low paying job with no room to move up and now way to show my true potential.

I've decided the best option for me is to go to an automotive tech school (I'm looking into UTI's Pheonix campus) to get some real training and experience. I'm thinking I'd like to be a Tech for BMW, Audi, or even Porsche. I guess my dream job would be building engines for NASCAR or being somehow involved in the high performance aspect of the auto industry. Even though I've done a lot of research on the schools and possible careers after I graduate, I would like to talk to some people who are in the industry, or just anyone who can give me any advice before I move 800 miles away and spend $30,000 for tuition.

I'm not going to ask many specific questions here. I just want to some opinions whether you think its a good industry to get into or not. Do you like your job? What do you do? What do you think about the tech school thing? I'm just nervous about making a huge commitment and then hating my job at the end of it all.

You can post here for all to see or email me:

[email protected]

Thanks for reading.

Brandon

[nof03]

Have you even tried to get a job at a dealer? If not do that before you drop the money and time into a "tech" school. Most dealers have a decent training program to start with. On the down side most dealer techs are not given the credit they deserve. I did it for 6 years and it left a bad taste in my mouth. Don't forget about the thousands of dollars you have to spend on tools that comes out your pocket. Oh and the way you get paid is flat rate and it sucks more than a 2 dollar whore. I may just be a bitter tech but i would really think about it.

[SmithSR]

Sounds like you've got it all figured out. Just take the next step. Be sure to bring a firm handshake & your million dollar smile, and let the sky be the limit.

[(jd)]

I spent a year at an automotive tech school and after graduation they placed me in a GM dealership doing basic stuff like alignments, starters, oil changes, ect.. After about a year and a half of that I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do for a living. Working on cars in my spare time as a hobby was all I really needed. I got burnt out pretty quickly doing it for a living and trying to enjoy it in my spare time at home. So I moved into the parts dept at that dealer and have been working in the parts dept for the last 10 years and couldn't be happier. So I guess I don't have much advice here just my little story. On a side note I have no regrets about attending the tech school, they were able to teach me a lot about the computer systems, and how a dealership operates since the class was setup to operate like a Dealership service shop.

Anyway best of luck in what you decide to do.

[j-z]

im into cars just as much as you are. i went to a tech school for auto collisioin repair which was a really great experience, and hey it was free. i went there my last years left in high school. as soon as i was done with the 1600 hour course, my instructor got me a job right away at a nice and big shop called sterling (sure yall have heard of it because theyre all over). at first i was really excited to get out of school and finally start getting paid to work on cars. eventually it all got old and it was the same **** every day. maybe it was the bull **** i had to put up with working there and some of the half *** work that would get handed down to me(yeah, that got old really quick). i then said screw it and off to another place my friend works at. this place was a hella lot better because i was getting paid twice as much, i was respected, and worked at a HIGH QUALITY shop. i also learned alot of things from working at that particular shop. i then got canned for being out sick for an entire week (which sucked). i havent worked since then and that was back in october. i knew i was done doing that type of work. its real sickening of doing the same thing every day. its hot, your body aches, gridnding, pounding, and oh my. it just got ridiculous. maybe im just not the labor intensive type of worker. but, i am truly glad i know how to do all of that stuff and going to the tech school opened up alot of doors for me. now i sit at home and trade stocks during the day and im so loving it. now its time for me to really catch my dream once the 240 is where i want it. i will be hitting road courses in that thing eventually (once the market starts to go up, hehe )

i think you should go to the school because if you think you know stuff now, youll learn more than you can imagine at a tech school. even if you dont get a job in the auto field, just knowing how to do the things you learned on your own is all worth the money. if i had to pay 10k to go to my tech school, it would definately be worth it. go for it!

[Nissan-S14]

I have a feeling this is going to be a long-winded post. I apologize in advance.

I'm the proud new owner of an '89 240sx. The car is everything I hoped it would be, plus it introduced me to this excellent forum full of fun and knowledgeable people.

I'm 21 years old and about to make a life-changing decision. If you work in the automotive repair industry, I'd like to pick your brain. I've been a gearhead since I could walk. My first word was "wheel." No, really. . . it was! I had 2 favorite toys when I was a little. One of them was a tonka-type truck where you could take the wheels on and off. The other was a plastic console with a steering wheel and shifter that made engine noises when you shifted gears. I took a small engine repair course in 4-H when I was 9 and that's what really got things started. When I was 12 I put a wanted ad in the classifieds and collected 40+broken lawnmowers, weedeaters, etc. and worked on them all day long all summer.

At some point around age 14 or so I decided that I wanted to be a mechanical engineer and after I graduated High School I headed in that direction. After a couple semesters in college I realized my heart wasn't really in it. I realized I didn't want to design stuff, I wanted to get my hands dirty and be where the action was. I've kinda floated around for the last few years and haven't pursued much career wise. I've worked as a small engine mechanic for a rental company for 3+ years now and its time for me to get serious about a career. I'm tired of being stuck in a low paying job with no room to move up and now way to show my true potential.

I've decided the best option for me is to go to an automotive tech school (I'm looking into UTI's Pheonix campus) to get some real training and experience. I'm thinking I'd like to be a Tech for BMW, Audi, or even Porsche. I guess my dream job would be building engines for NASCAR or being somehow involved in the high performance aspect of the auto industry. Even though I've done a lot of research on the schools and possible careers after I graduate, I would like to talk to some people who are in the industry, or just anyone who can give me any advice before I move 800 miles away and spend $30,000 for tuition.

I'm not going to ask many specific questions here. I just want to some opinions whether you think its a good industry to get into or not. Do you like your job? What do you do? What do you think about the tech school thing? I'm just nervous about making a huge commitment and then hating my job at the end of it all.

You can post here for all to see or email me:

[email protected]

Thanks for reading.

Brandon

Dude.......

I was 22 when I was thinking about going to Lincoln tech in NJ, I filled out all the applications and financial aid and all of that crap. Yes im sure we love our cars very dearly and love working on them. BUTTTTTTTT When it comes to others peoples car, its just not the same. Its one thing if your doing a Turbo or ebuilding the whole block, But when your changing brakes on a 82 chevy, thats when you say to yourself , wtf am i doing here. Im actually very glad that I wanted to do this, because I had that in my mind since I was 16. Just never went down that road, so I figure ill take a break from college and go learn mechanics, but before I actually started classes in august, my girlfriends dad, owns a shop, so he let me work for the heck of it just to see what it is, in 2 month right when August came, damn did I change my mind. Now im back in school (junior year) getting my BA in Accounting. Mechanics is hard work, you will be in dirt and oil the whole day (in heat), it something that you DO NOT want to do for a living unless you just have no choice. If you look around shop and who works there its mostly people without college degree or came from other countries there are very few people that actually chose this particular career. I mean I know what your saying I want to work companies like Signal, Blitz whatever you get my point, The honest truth is getting in there is about 1 in a million. The only way to get into performance auto is to open your own shop. And not to mention mechanics dont make ****. BUTTT if this is what you really want to do then go for it.

[ultimatuc]

I go to UTI phoenix, and recomend that you check it out. the school has its good and bad points, but I belive its one of the best in the states. Put your game face on if you want to get into Porsche or BMW. Theyre hard to get into. after 5 months I've maintained a 4.0 gpa and almost perfect attendance, and I'm still unsure about getting in.

good luck w/ whatever you choose.

[UncleBen]

Nice Alty!

I'm going to Bowling Green Tech. in the fall, not sure what I am going to do but am in the same boat as you guys it sounds like. I dont want to work on other peoples cars doing maintenance work per se, but would LOVE to work in a performance shop, building motors, doing swaps, etc etc. Even designing turbo kits would be tight.

[j-z]

yeah... i wish i would have gotten into fabrication work. i would really enjoy building cars to go fast and perform better and such, but working on other non performing cars sucks just like nissan s14 described. same feeling i got.