For Those of you who are/were mechanics: What kind of job is it?

[83mercedes]

Yes, before you say it, I know this "should" be in open discussion, but I think some of the most knowledgable mechanics on this forum don't go there.

I'm 17, and I've become more interested in auto mechanics than any kind of work I've ever encountered. I love working on my car, and feel very fulfilled whenever I fix a problem. You could say I've become addicted to the work, and I'm seriously considering forgoing a typical 4 year university and entering this field. The problem is, I don't have any family or friends who have any experience in this (except you guys), so I know almost nothing about the details of how to do it.

Don't get me wrong, I've got the grades and SAT scores to get into most any college I would want to and doesn't cost 80k a year to attend. The thing is, I'm not really interested in that lifestyle (that being aimlessly taking courses with no real goal in mind while building up huge debt and killing brain cells), and I'm very interested in automotive work.

I'm looking for some honest, no BS assessments of what the profession is like, where/how/what school(s) to get certified at (I'd like to go the highest level I could achieve, I've always been pretty mechanically inclined), and what to expect as far as employment opportunities.

I know this is a lot to ask, but I don't really have anyone else to ask and you'd be affording me help on a much larger scale than fixing my cooling system . By the way, have a great 4th of July.

[Hatterasguy]

I know a few mechanics; and by the time they hit mid to late 40's they all seem to wish they went to school and got better paying jobs. Sure they enjoy their jobs but the money isn't that great. Also they seem to complain about their body's being shot.

Why not get a job working on cars and go to school at the same time?

A few of my friends have sudjested that since I enjoy working on boats and cars I go into that field. But I don't want to spend the rest of my life fixing other peoples stuff.

[H2O2]

I loved auto mechanics since I was in high school and spent quite a bit of hobbyist time tinkering until I was in my mid/late twenties. At that time I became a co-owner in a start-up European auto repair biz. It only took 2.5 years to completely suck the fun and intrigue out of what used to be a passion. It was almost another decade before I picked up that passion again. I also used to be passionate about fishing, but a six year career in commercial fishing completely wiped that out too.

Think long and hard about turning a hobby into a full-time profession, and be aware that an education prepares you for a wider variety of career paths, no doubt about it. Go for the education, while you can.

YMMV

[pawoSD]

I'm going to college (2nd year in the fall) for a Major in either Information Systems (IT admin guy) or possibly a DNR (Department of Natural Resources) type person.....both fields I know I would enjoy. I love working on my car, but I don't think I'd have fun if I had to do it all the time and for other people. I just intend to be one of the above mentioned type people, but with the knowhow to fix my cars myself

Also, if you choose the right college and find the right assistance you can get by with little to no debt at all.....so far I have actually profited by being in school.....and this year now that I have transfered to a local/larger 4 year school I will owe less than 2k out of the entire cost of tuition, which I can pay for with the jobs I do......works out very nice. And being able to fix my car myself also saves a lot!

[Hatterasguy]

Southern CT State U costs me just less then $5k a year. You don't need to go to a $30k a year school to get a good education.

[andersbenz]

A mechanical engineering degree could open a lot of doors for you and fulfill your passion for wrenching.

Unfortunately, in today’s world you often need a college degree to get in the door of a lot of jobs. Even where there is no correlation between the field of study and the actual work.

A degree would allow you to keep your options open. You could still go into wrenching.

The Navy can also be a option for you with your grades and scores. They could pick up your schooling. A friend went to nuclear propulsion school, had engineering school paid for and was given the rank of E-6 (which is damn good) for pay purposes while in school. He was commissioned at graduation and had his choice of going sub or to the surface fleet.

Best of luck.

[83mercedes]

Originally Posted by andersbenz

The Navy can also be a option for you with your grades and scores. They could pick up your schooling. A friend went to nuclear propulsion school, had engineering school paid for and was given the rank of E-6 (which is damn good) for pay purposes while in school. He was commissioned at graduation and had his choice of going sub or to the surface fleet.

They bumped him straight to E-6 after boot camp?!! Did he take ROTC to get commissioned or did the Navy elect to do this? That's interesting, I'd never heard of anything like that before. I didn't realize they took your experience/grades/scores into account in deciding your pay grade.

[m.skeen]

Originally Posted by andersbenz

A mechanical engineering degree could open a lot of doors for you and fulfill your passion for wrenching.
...

This would be a good way to do both. I had a friend in college who loved to work on cars, got a mechanical engineering degree, and now works for a nascar team.

Like some others on the board I've talked to few shop owners (mostly vintage VW guys) who moved from hobby to business. Almost all of them have talked about getting burned out.

I say go the engineering degree route and keep your car hobby on the side. You'll have more options when you get out of school but still be able to work on car for fun.

[leathermang]

OH GOSH, where to start ? First, the answers already posted are right on the money... read them over and over again...

People neglect their cars... never wash the engine, then bring it to you to work on and want it fast..

They bring you cars which they don't own an owners or shop manual for...and of a make like Honda which does not share its TSB's with independant shops.. and want you to fix it.

If you have not been to a Factory School.... and anyone else in the shop has... you will be assigned all the mind numbing dirtiest jobs...

more later.....

[83mercedes]

Originally Posted by leathermang

If you have not been to a Factory School.... and anyone else in the shop has... you will be assigned all the mind numbing dirtiest jobs...

Is a factory school a brand-specific technical program? How do you get in? Do you have to have prior experience or what? It's for getting a job at a dealership or brand-specific shop, right?

Wow I feel like this is back to the future or something. You sound just like me 7 years ago. I graduated high school in '97 and went to University of Maryland which for out of staters like me carried an incredible price tag. To try and get some spending money I started working at a VW garage run by an old german named Rainer. My attention soon turned from my aerospace degree to working with my hands. I was soooo bored with those classes so I wound up joining the Navy after my first year in college to work on helicopters. I aced the ASVAB and the nuclear tests but still insisted on being a jet mechanic. After five years I was tired of working on someone elses stuff, going out on ships, and doing the same procedures over and over, even though I was good at it and made rank fast. As someone who has been there and done most of the things spoken about here, I wish I was back in your shoes and would have stuck to those books back then and just tinkered with my own car. I feel somewhat behind. Your fulfillment comes from the fact that you fixed something on your own vehicle that you can enjoy the benefits from. Another person's car is a different story and they will not likely appreciate your efforts as much. I got out of the Navy in 2003 and have been back in school ever since. I'm going to UF and have a greater appreciation and drive to get it done this time around. I am pursuing a mechanical/aerospace engineering dual degree which will satisfy my mechanical mind, while also not restricting me to being a grease monkey. The only grease I touch is from my own cars, and there's plenty of that for me to handle. I don't regret my past decisions because the Navy is paying my tuition, and I am proud to have been in the service, but given the chance to do it over again I would choose differently. I wish someone would have told me this 7 years ago. Hopefully I'll see your 300CD on campus

[BodhiBenz1987]

Originally Posted by 83mercedes

Don't get me wrong, I've got the grades and SAT scores to get into most any college I would want to and doesn't cost 80k a year to attend. The thing is, I'm not really interested in that lifestyle (that being aimlessly taking courses with no real goal in mind while building up huge debt and killing brain cells), and I'm very interested in automotive work

Well, I'm not a mechanic so I can't answer the question you asked, but I can say that please, please don't assume that the college lifestyle involves "aimlessly taking courses and killing braincells." It's only that if you want it to be that. I went through four years of college and I have a heck of a lot more brain power coming out than I did going in. Now, little of what I learned has anything to do with my profession. I am a sportswriter, and my university did not have a journalism major. Some of the most interesting and/or valuable things I learned had nothing to do with my career interests. If you want to be a mechanic, that's fantastic. But I would urge you to look into college anyway. You could get a degree in engineering or something along those lines, and use your free time to work at a local shop or simply tinker with cars on your own. You do not have to join a fraternity and get blitzed every weekend ... that's just a stupid college stereotype. You will find that plenty of people on campus have no interest in the traditional "college lifestyle," and I would suspect you could find many people with a deep interest in cars with whom to share your passion.

It is my opinion that going to college enhances your mind and life in a way that has nothing to do with salary or job qualifications. If you can afford it, taking classes aimlessly is marvelously valuable, especially if you choose an intellectual school. I loved learning about art history, psychology, statistics, Victorian literature, etc., even though it had nothing to do with what I'd hoped to do with my career. I also worked as a sports editor/writer at the student newspaper (no money, no credits ... just experience) which was really the highlight of my college experience and gave me the experience I needed for journalism.

So basically my advice would be to give college a try ... if, of course, it isn't too financially burdensome ... take aimless courses, find a niche, join the school's gearhead club (most have one) or work at a local shop (or find a local shop that will let you "shadow"). It will likely expand your mind and make you a more interesting person, if nothing else.

Of course, that is not to say you can't be all those things without going to college. I've met many fascinating people who didn't. I've met fascinating people who didn't finish high school. Different people do things different ways ... you could get to college and find out it's just not your gig, and find another way to do things.

Just please don't assume that the popular public depiction of "the college life" is a universally accurate reflection of what goes on at college. If you are a huge nerd like me, you can skip all of that boozing and bedhopping and get a lot out of a college degree.

Either way you do it, I would think being a mechanic would be worth pursuing. I am sure there are horror stories galore. But have you ever spoken with a professional in any field who didn't have horror stories? Can you imagine was doctors have to say? Vets? Lawyers? I have had some rotten exchanges in my field, too. It might be better to work with dirty, junky engines than dirty, junky clients.

[83mercedes]

Thank you so much everyone for the multitude of advice. It's even better that it all seems to be following a coherent, similar path. What I'm getting is that going to college and majoring in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, etc, while continuing to develop my mechanical skills on the side would be my best recourse rather than going right into being a lifetime mechanic. I can definitely understand that working on others' cars might be frustrating, unfulfilling work after a few years.

But now comes the money issue .....

I know the armed services pays for much of you college education if you can actually find time to go (my brother is in a Military Police National Guard unit stationed down in Crystal River/Iraq), and you can also get valuable job training. I'm just hesistant to join in a time of war (even the reserve or nat'l guard) because I think this would divert me from my goals in life and certainly from my girlfriend who I've been with for the last 3 years. Also I wonder if the MOS you sign up for is usually parallel in reality to how it's described. What I got from most people's advice was that the military is a good experience but not the right choice when regarded in hindsight.

I am the team captain of my rowing team and am ranked high in the state, but I can't juggle college courses, my mechanical tinkering, and rowing, even if it did pay for college.

I guess basically I have to go to an in-state school to be able to afford it so I can get the state academic scholarships....

What were your all's experiences with paying for these college educations? Was it well worth it?

Thanks again for all the help, it's invaluable.

[Pete Burton]

Getting a degree opens up so many doors that I have to recommend it. But, for the most part, an engineering degree from a lesser known school opens up almost all the same doors and costs much less.

The #1 thing I can recommend is plan to do engineering co-ops and/or internships while earning your degree. It helps focus your interests by letting you experience the work first hand. You'll find out that some of what you thought was great actually sucks, and a lot of what you didn't know even existed is actually really cool. Plus, this work experience helps you EARN DECENT MONEY and gives you WORK EXPERIENCE IN YOUR FIELD BEFORE YOU GET A DEGREE. This puts you at a better competitive advantage than a degree from a high priced school. When you can show that you have done some of the work and you know what you want to do, and you can get an interviewer to visualize you solving problems, you get the job offer over somebody else.

[m.skeen]

Originally Posted by Pete Burton

Getting a degree opens up so many doors that I have to recommend it. But, for the most part, an engineering degree from a lesser known school opens up almost all the same doors and costs much less.

The #1 thing I can recommend is plan to do engineering co-ops and/or internships while earning your degree. It helps focus your interests by letting you experience the work first hand. You'll find out that some of what you thought was great actually sucks, and a lot of what you didn't know even existed is actually really cool. Plus, this work experience helps you EARN DECENT MONEY and gives you WORK EXPERIENCE IN YOUR FIELD BEFORE YOU GET A DEGREE. This puts you at a better competitive advantage than a degree from a high priced school. When you can show that you have done some of the work and you know what you want to do, and you can get an interviewer to visualize you solving problems, you get the job offer over somebody else.

Very well put. I applied to 3 engineering schools back in the day, Georgia Tech, Virginia Tech, and NC State. Got into all 3 but I stayed in state. Sure you might get the prestige that goes with attending a highly accredited engineering school (not that NC State is bad by any means) but you'll pay for it if it is out of state or private. I say stay in state, get as much free money as you can, and use student loans for the rest. Try to borrow the least amount possible. Work part time during school and definitely utilize the co-op program. I co-oped for a year so it took me 5 years to graduate but I made really good money which meant more play money and less student loan borrowing.