Discussion
Roz600 said:
Is anyone on here an auto mechanic in the UK? I'm looking to go into it so what's it like? What's the salary and progression like? I'm looking one day to set up my own customs garage
All dependent on where you work but in general moneys crap, hours can be crap (working weekends), conditions crap (cold, dirty, wet and so on), most people think your a prick trying to mug them off, health implications= it maybe arthiritis, heart attacks/strokes, cancer.... what ever but mechanics seem to suffer with it more probably bought on by the conditions/chemicals and stress of everything's a deadline.Having done it for 10 years I wouldn't recommend it but if your hearts set on it go crazy.
If cars are your thing find another way to earn your penny's then have cars as a hobby as the automotive trade will kill any passion you had for it.
Roz60 - I'm afraid I am in complete agreeance with your first replyer. The motor trade in the twenty first century is a mugs game. 35 years as a mechanic, in the 70s, 80s, and 90s, (although 10 years of that was building rally cars, which was brilliant), taught me that other than the buzz you get from mending cars - the financial return always just about covered the cost of living.
I would NEVER contemplate going back into the motor trade, as the rewards are minimal and the grief is considerable.
If, on the other hand your enthusiasm is driving you to do it - bloody good luck to you.
I would NEVER contemplate going back into the motor trade, as the rewards are minimal and the grief is considerable.
If, on the other hand your enthusiasm is driving you to do it - bloody good luck to you.
One thing's for sure, there's plenty of battered old cynics in the motor trade 
.
Spannering isn't the kind of job you'd recommend to a high flying graduate but a decent mechanic will never be out of work and should be earning £20-30k a year at a dealer or decent indy (depending on experience, part of country etc).
Running your own workshop is an option as you gain experience and earnings then are largely determined by how well you run the place and do the job.
Conditions vary enormously but there's plenty of workshops now that are warm and well equipped throughout the year, no good if you prefer pushing a pen but better than plenty of other jobs IMHO.
I do meet a lot of mechanics that hate cars though
.Spannering isn't the kind of job you'd recommend to a high flying graduate but a decent mechanic will never be out of work and should be earning £20-30k a year at a dealer or decent indy (depending on experience, part of country etc).
Running your own workshop is an option as you gain experience and earnings then are largely determined by how well you run the place and do the job.
Conditions vary enormously but there's plenty of workshops now that are warm and well equipped throughout the year, no good if you prefer pushing a pen but better than plenty of other jobs IMHO.
I do meet a lot of mechanics that hate cars though
Steve H said:
One thing's for sure, there's plenty of battered old cynics in the motor trade .
Spannering isn't the kind of job you'd recommend to a high flying graduate but a decent mechanic will never be out of work and should be earning £20-30k a year at a dealer or decent indy (depending on experience, part of country etc).
Running your own workshop is an option as you gain experience and earnings then are largely determined by how well you run the place and do the job.
Conditions vary enormously but there's plenty of workshops now that are warm and well equipped throughout the year, no good if you prefer pushing a pen but better than plenty of other jobs IMHO.
I do meet a lot of mechanics that hate cars though
"A decent mechanic will never be out of work and should be earning £20-30k a year".Spannering isn't the kind of job you'd recommend to a high flying graduate but a decent mechanic will never be out of work and should be earning £20-30k a year at a dealer or decent indy (depending on experience, part of country etc).
Running your own workshop is an option as you gain experience and earnings then are largely determined by how well you run the place and do the job.
Conditions vary enormously but there's plenty of workshops now that are warm and well equipped throughout the year, no good if you prefer pushing a pen but better than plenty of other jobs IMHO.
I do meet a lot of mechanics that hate cars though
The first bit I agree with with as even if your half sharp in the motor trade you'll have a job, however your estimate on wages is abit out. 20-30k is time serviced and qualified tech moving on to master tech money which takes 3 years+ tech status then over 5 for master tech and generally for the upper end of those figures your looking at big brand dealerships. There in lays another problem of bonus scheme's and upselling.
Lets not give the OP a false hope of walking through the front door and being feed on 20k+ a year cause lets face it their going to get laughed down the road with that expectation.
Chryslerben has it right.
If you want to enjoy working on cars and earn good money then choose another career and work on your own cars in your spare time.
To run your own workshop requires a completely different set of skills from fixing cars, you won't have time to work on your own vehicles either. If you are dead set on custom work then experience restoring classics will stand you in good stead.
If you want to enjoy working on cars and earn good money then choose another career and work on your own cars in your spare time.
To run your own workshop requires a completely different set of skills from fixing cars, you won't have time to work on your own vehicles either. If you are dead set on custom work then experience restoring classics will stand you in good stead.
Let's not forget that £20k-£30k is about all you can expect throughout your entire career, doing a relatively stressful and physically demanding job. Progression to higher roles and salaries is virtually non existent - I've never come across a Dealer principal that has worked their way up from the workshop floor for example. Even the majority of workshop controllers/managers I've met come from a sales/service sales background rather than the spanners.
I'm finding interest in applying a mechanic's skill set in other industries to be very little as well. I'm desperate to get out but am stuck between the rock of steady employment and the hard place of starting from the bottom in an entirely new industry.
I'm finding interest in applying a mechanic's skill set in other industries to be very little as well. I'm desperate to get out but am stuck between the rock of steady employment and the hard place of starting from the bottom in an entirely new industry.
Edited by 279 on Sunday 17th January 16:01
If you like spannering and customising bikes are well worth a look.
Bikes are generally much nicer to work on than cars.
You can get more through a relatively small workshop.
Although a smaller overall market than cars there are plenty of bike owners who will pay for a good service.
There is lots of scope to specialise be it suspension, race / trackday preperation etc.
Bikes are a lot easier to customise than cars and if you are good at it you'll make a good living.
Bikes are generally much nicer to work on than cars.
You can get more through a relatively small workshop.
Although a smaller overall market than cars there are plenty of bike owners who will pay for a good service.
There is lots of scope to specialise be it suspension, race / trackday preperation etc.
Bikes are a lot easier to customise than cars and if you are good at it you'll make a good living.
279 said:
Let's not forget that £20k-£30k is about all you can expect throughout your entire career, doing a relatively stressful and physically demanding job. Progression to higher roles and salaries is virtually non existent - I've never come across a Dealer principal that has worked their way up from the workshop floor for example. Even the majority of workshop controllers/managers I've met come from a sales/service sales background rather than the spanners.
All very true, come to think of it all dp's i knew where from a sales background. Iknow of a few services managers that have progressed from spanners but again the majority are sales background.279 said:
I've never come across a Dealer principal that has worked their way up from the workshop floor for example.
You've found one. I was an HGV mechanic that came off the tools relatively quickly, moved into the office at 20, was service manager at 24, at 26 i was responsible for a large amount of commercials workshops in the UK. Pissed off to Marbella, came back & moved into car sales. I was a GSM at 30 & DP at 31. Edited by 279 on Sunday 17th January 16:01
My friend was a valeter & has been at the top of motor trade for a considerable number of years. We arent alone.
I bought into business that had a slight niche in the UK market 3 years ago & its incredible.
I left that particular side of the "motor trade" due to it taking over my life, its hard OP but if you show desire to be someone, you'll make it work.
I've lost track of the amount of people that i have given chances too that are making there mark in the world.
Every industry has people who started from the bottom & worked there way up.
Best of luck
RRLover said:
You've found one. I was an HGV mechanic that came off the tools relatively quickly, moved into the office at 20, was service manager at 24, at 26 i was responsible for a large amount of commercials workshops in the UK. Pissed off to Marbella, came back & moved into car sales. I was a GSM at 30 & DP at 31.
My friend was a valeter & has been at the top of motor trade for a considerable number of years. We arent alone.
I bought into business that had a slight niche in the UK market 3 years ago & its incredible.
I left that particular side of the "motor trade" due to it taking over my life, its hard OP but if you show desire to be someone, you'll make it work.
I've lost track of the amount of people that i have given chances too that are making there mark in the world.
Every industry has people who started from the bottom & worked there way up.
Best of luck
Well done it sounds like you've had a very impressive career, but I can't help but think coming off the tools at 20 was a major factor? A good chunk of mechanics wouldn't have completed their apprenticeship at that point much less have their employers offer them a meaningful non productive role.My friend was a valeter & has been at the top of motor trade for a considerable number of years. We arent alone.
I bought into business that had a slight niche in the UK market 3 years ago & its incredible.
I left that particular side of the "motor trade" due to it taking over my life, its hard OP but if you show desire to be someone, you'll make it work.
I've lost track of the amount of people that i have given chances too that are making there mark in the world.
Every industry has people who started from the bottom & worked there way up.
Best of luck
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff