So who on here work in the Motor Trade???

[Lee.C]

As the title says guys - Who works in the motor trade 

I am mainly thinking of Restoration/Race preperation etc rather than fitting new bits to main stream water pumpers - Been there Done that 

I have been thinking about getting back into this kind of thing for a while now as a few of you know I used to work for a ferrari restoration company http://www.dkeng.co.uk/frames.php and looking back I would love to get back into this kind of thing 

So where do you work guys and are there any vacancies 

[plasticblack]

 Hi There

   I worked for VW/Audi for nearly 30 years in England.

IStarted off in the Parts department and 20+ years later running the whole thing.

    I came out from the Dealer network and worked for several specialists over 5-6 years and now I live in Budapest (Hungary) and was just starting to open my own VW Business over here.

 I thought that with the experience in Parts & Purchasing I would be able to bring some good things to the small Hungarian VW Scene.

However when the 2 or 3 larger VW Businesses heard about me, I recieved phone calls telling me that I was not welcome to attend any VW Shows in Hungary and warning me that if I started any VW Shop that 'Things might get a bit difficult' for me and my family and that they 'Have Long Arms' when it comes to dealing with people that try and steal THEIR business...

 I suppose my point is that if you are intending to get into this business, do be sure that you do all your groundwork first and get with a reputable establishment.

 I know thing like this don't happen in the 'Real World' but Nothing like this ever happened to me in 30 years and i never considered that this kind of stuff existed.

Least of all in the VW Marketplace.

Let me wish you good luck in your labours. It's a great scene to be involved in unless you live in Eastern Europe it would seem.

[Lee.C]

I work for an importer/distributor for European and Asian car parts in So Cal

Cool any jobs going 

[alfie the monster]

I work as a Zone Sales Manager for Fiat Commercials, I look after about 35 specialist dealers (sell commercials only) and a further 40 that can sell commercials as well as cars. Got fed up with working all hours and weekends selling cars, from Rover to Porsche, so went and sold vans Monday to Friday before being head hunted by the manufacturer. It's ok, but you rely too much on other people to hit your targets.

I've made it known that I want to get into dealer development (recruiting new dealers and setting them up). More specifically I've made it known that I want to set up the Alfa network in the States, even more specific than that, in California 

If anything comes of it, there could be a JG54 car at Nicks each cruise night 

[Sarge]

.... there could be a JG54 car at Nicks each cruise night 

What's the hold-up???

I've been at my current post with Commonwealth VW / Audi in Santa Ana for fifteen years as a parts technician.

[alfie the monster]

What's the hold up? The job coming up, not knowing the package, Gem agreeing to come (she says it depends on how long the post is for, 2 years would be her max), oh and the guy giving me the job 

A 3.2 V6 Alfa 159 Ti wagon would be the company car of choice though 

[Tony M]

Been in the automotive business for over 33 years - worked parts, service, machine shop - still own a shop today - worked on race cars of all types - midgets, sprint cars, off road, indy type cars - right now working on a resto dune buggy - and allways air cooled - quite a few cal look cars - too much fun 

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

.... there could be a JG54 car at Nicks each cruise night 

What's the hold-up???

I've been at my current post with Commonwealth VW / Audi in Santa Ana for fifteen years as a parts technician.

15 Years Sarge? and not the Parts Manager Yet??  I worked for VW 17 years as a parts Manager and VOLVO for 18 Years as A Parts Manager Now I am Retired to My Garage Where I can Do What Ever I want when I want LMAO

[Zach Gomulka]

Been doing auto upholstery for 2 1/2 years now

[Bryan67]

I`ve worked for NAPA for nearly 5 years now. I also did a couple years for a Car Quest store which I liked better since we sold VW parts there.

[Rick Meredith]

I did 10 years selling import car parts from 1978 to 1988.

[Rennsurfer]

Sorry, Lee... I haven't worked in the automobile realm for awhile. I've had those jobs off & on since 1979. Everything from VW mechanic, VW Service Advisor, VW/Porsche/Audi parts technician, Beck-Arnley parts technician, and owned a car & airplane detailing business. Currently, just working for a race gas maker and distributor. And sometimes still detail cars.

Good luck with your venture, however. Don't know of any vacancies at the moment. Hopefully, someone here can help better than I can.

[jamiep_jamiep]

What's the hold up? The job coming up, not knowing the package, Gem agreeing to come (she says it depends on how long the post is for, 2 years would be her max), oh and the guy giving me the job 

A 3.2 V6 Alfa 159 Ti wagon would be the company car of choice though 

If you need a car washer over there James let me know  

[alfie the monster]

What's the hold up? The job coming up, not knowing the package, Gem agreeing to come (she says it depends on how long the post is for, 2 years would be her max), oh and the guy giving me the job 

A 3.2 V6 Alfa 159 Ti wagon would be the company car of choice though 

If you need a car washer over there James let me know  

The job kinda changed in a year Jamie 

As in I got made redundant along with 10% of the UK workforce 

[Neil Davies]

As in I got made redundant along with 10% of the UK workforce 

That is exactly why I jumped when I did! I did a degree in Integrated Engineering with Automotive Studies, and worked at Vauxhall (UK arm of General Motors) at Ellesmere Port for my placement year between August 1998 and August 1999. During that time Ford closed down the Halewood plant (just the other side of the River Mersey), Vauxhall started to wind down car production at their Luton plant and rumours emerged that Peugeot were looking at closing Ryton, which they later did. I decided during that year that if companies like that were having problems, then smaller places that I'd be happier in wouldn't stand a chance, and didn't want to find myself working to somewhere in my forties and then get made redundant and unable to find a job due to age or wages. So I went into teaching and haven't looked back! I'm just starting my 8th year this September and to be honest I don't think I'd ever want to make the move into the car industry. It's nice to keep my hobby and my job seperate - a few friends who work on VWs all day say that they wish they'd never started as they no longer enjoy building stuff for themselves.

[Shubee2 (DSK)]

As in I got made redundant along with 10% of the UK workforce 

That is exactly why I jumped when I did! I did a degree in Integrated Engineering with Automotive Studies, and worked at Vauxhall (UK arm of General Motors) at Ellesmere Port for my placement year between August 1998 and August 1999. During that time Ford closed down the Halewood plant (just the other side of the River Mersey), Vauxhall started to wind down car production at their Luton plant and rumours emerged that Peugeot were looking at closing Ryton, which they later did. I decided during that year that if companies like that were having problems, then smaller places that I'd be happier in wouldn't stand a chance, and didn't want to find myself working to somewhere in my forties and then get made redundant and unable to find a job due to age or wages. So I went into teaching and haven't looked back! I'm just starting my 8th year this September and to be honest I don't think I'd ever want to make the move into the car industry. It's nice to keep my hobby and my job seperate - a few friends who work on VWs all day say that they wish they'd never started as they no longer enjoy building stuff for themselves.

That Seems to Happen in all automotive Jobs Neil    You Work all day doing someone else's car  who wants to come home and do it all over again, mechanics drive car's that need fixed,painters drive primer spoted cars,body men drive cars with different color body parts hung on it, lets face it working on Cars all day long is not that exciting. I have always enjoyed  working the counter at VW parts stores you always meet new people  you see all the new stuff coming in and when its not busy I always read my Hot VW's Mag LOL  Damm to Bad Auto Haus and Small Car Specialities Closed now I have to Read at Home And Play In The Garage....