In 'the trade'

[bigstraight6]

Just out of curiosity like, have any of you lot ever (or do) work in the motor trade? I did, in 1986 I did a few months with a local company called Autofactors which specialised in refinishing supplies and paints, then moved to Partco for about 6 months then onto Renwicks garage which was the VW/Audi main dealer here in Plymouth at the time, and I was in the parts department. In Nov '88 I moved to Wessex Leyland/DAF at Heathfield near Newton Abbot where I started in the parts department, staying there for 13 years and eventually being the parts sales rep, I then went on to Hendy trucks in Exeter, the Iveco main dealer selling commercial vehicles for a year before leaving 'the trade'.Sometimes I miss it, but mostly not!

[VWPowered]

worked in the fast fit industry for 14 years, then making magnesium an carbon fibre bike and car wheels, now just do home services and small repairs on a mobile basis

[Mr Lobster]

Yep. Done car rental since I was 18. Worked for a good few rental companies and now manage a branch in Liverpool.Which is even less fun than it sounds.Worked for Ford MoCo for a few years as well which was pretty good, should have stayed there really

[Timewaster]

3 years in main stealer parts dept. (and you must NOT call it "stores")

More years than I care to count in various roles in spares shop/ motor factor.

Did a stint running a parts wholesale warehouse

 

Been out of the trade for about 18 months. Do I miss it?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do I F...

[retrogeezer]

I was a car sprayer from 1988 to 1995...Oh, and I worked in an MOT bay from 85 to 88.....still remember the mega rusty Datsuns and Renaults that were only a few years old!

[Guest]

Er, working at Halfords doesn't count does it.Also, I worked at Lookers Renault (nee Jackson & Edwards) when it was a Renault garage, in the hire car bit.The rest of the time I just shout at my Citroen and that's not really working in the motor trade.

[shite_meister]

Yep I work in the trade, started with Honda in Paignton then moved to Jersey where there are alot of multi-franchise dealers so I've worked for four garages here that included doing the parts for Toyota/Lexus, Vauxhall, Daewoo, General Motor Factor, Renault, Nissan, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, MG Rover, I did a stint as a Service Manager (which I hated) then I worked for a classic car restoration company before being made redundant, I now work in the parts dept for a commercial vehicles garage that has the DAF, LDV, Renault Trucks, Linde Forklift and Fiat commercial vehicle franchises amongst others.It suits me to work in the trade here, everyone knows almost everyone in the trade here and its handy for me regarding getting cheap parts/labour if needed or advice. I did work in an office for a bit and I hated every second of it although I find mechanics are the biggest bunch of whinging tarts I've ever met, they're like a bunch of miserable old women!

[Clevtrev]

Well I work in the sales department of a Ford retail dealer. We are fairly small but have had the franchise since 1953. We also have Daihatsu which right now is a complete waste of time as there aren't any to sell. We also have Subaru, Isuzu, Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge at other sites nearby. Sometimes its the best thing since sliced bread. Other times, you really do question why you are 'in the trade'!

[Mr_Bo11ox]

I worked as a mechanic for a few months before starting uni, didnt last very long tho as I did stuff like single-handedly fitting a replacement engine into a Fiat Tipo TD, then forgetting to tighten up the crank pulley bolt so that it all fell apart and bent the valves when I gave it a test run

[trigger]

I was in the trade for a few years before coming to my senses.From the age of 13 to 16 i worked every weekend and school holiday as a agricultural engineers assistant, working on tractors, lawnmowers and cars, Great fun as a 15 year old ragging around fields in Land Rovers, Quad bikes and Mk 1 Fiesta Bravos!.Then when i left school in 1996 to started work at a small body shop on a farm round the corner from me doing most repair jobs apart from final spray coats, But being young i got bored and found more enjoyment collecting the cars from the local dealers for repair them actually repairing them and getting covered in filler dust and primer spray so in 2000 i left and became a truck driver for a loft conversion company.Left there and moved to Jayar Components which are a motor factors in Colchester, done 2 years there but fed up with stupid customers who thought they knew better but didn't have a clue as awful money.Now on twice the money doing half the work driving a crane at a container port, Much better!

[andrew e]

Extremely tenuous, but I was washing cars in 96 that are still for sale now I had just finished my apprenticeship, had a job at Tilbury power station waiting when (after I handed my notice...) I bust my knee clear off using a small wafer thin french car. Strangely employers view somebody off work for 6 months as a liability, so I spent 3 months as a valet boy for my local Ford dealer - best summer I ever had The pitch was stocked by Ford fruitcake Rod Allen (still trading in southend) with some desirable stuff - 2 of the Mk 6 RS 2000 4x4's (one ex press car) 300 mile Scorpio's, and the Chianti (purple) Scorpio 24v estate he still has on sale!

[trigger]

I seem to remember the free car trader magazine you used to pick up from petrol stations had a garage from Southend way that stocked mega low mileage Ford's which were up for still money, Is that the same place?.

[pogweasel]

Whilst I have a slightly romantic dream of selling old 'autoshite' level tat from a tiny timber village garage (stock shall be purchased from old dears and 'deceased estate' auctions, and transported home on a fictional Bedford TK recovery lorry), I have no previous experience, and the dream shall remain just that.

[Pete-M]

I'm in the trade, but presently in a holistic, slightly tangential fashion.Basically, I don't know what the hell to do at the moment, so I'm just doing things as they happen. Buying and selling the odd bit here and there. Spending a lot of time wondering when the bloody Escort will be ready and I'll have another trip out to Czech..

[CIH]

Fast-fit. I hate it. Studying wheel geometry & aasociated suspension "stuff" though

[Albert Ross]

Currently MOT tester and mechanic at Perrys, been here 8 years. Moved from Lincoln having been at a garage there for 6 years, and been in the trade since 1984 amongst many other things like night watchman and photographer...........I enjoy testing and want to work for VOSA on the enforcement or policy side of things

[seth]

I did some part time work at a top-end car bodywork restoration shop while I was starting my own business. That was a few years ago now though.

[Guest]

Back in 1985 I ran a used car pitch called Clappers, I mostly sold late 70s Cortina 1.6s, I was doing quite well until one day it burnt down. Got a cheque from the insurance company to restock but I could only get Estelles and Alfettas which were difficult to shift - on top of that I was caught clocking a Civic and received a fine. It hurt my reputation greatly so I was already in trouble, but then my bank found out and withdrew my £10K overdraft facility. At that point my fate was sealed and I went bust around October time.

[Des]

I did about a decade as a mechanic, always loved working on cars, even did the 4 years at college to get qualified. Did the partnership thing with a very good panel beater for a while until he went a bit funny from the paint fumes, (as they do), then wandered from place to place, did Peugeot, Nissan, Toyota and Vauxhall main dealers, an East London black cab shithole, various independents, but by the mid 90's things had changed, began finding it all a bit soulless and bland, both the cars and the punters, I suppose the working for someone else thing didn't sit well with me either, got the hell out of it never to return. Left it's mark as now I won't even open the bonnet to check the oil of anything made after '93, just not interested.

[fiatdaft]

started with lancia in 1990 at the grand old age of 15,was there for a couple of years until the owners wife buggered off and the place closed down,stint as a postie and owning a model shop,back to the trade in a motor factors then to a vauxhall main dealers first parts then sales where i am now,left 3 times and they keep having me back,once you are in the trade its hard to leave !in between all that i have broken over 60 fiats and lancias,built a few sold a few and the odd other make aswell. still learn new stuff everday so never get bored!

[simmo]

My while I was at school my dad had a breaker's in Brentrord, so by 16 I had the basic idea about motors, I started an apprenticeship at a Peugeot dealership in 1978 I stayed there until about 84 when the place went bust. Then I went and worked for a couple of years in various general garages doing MOTs and allsorts of spannering, from there it was off to Ealing Council doing municipal vehicles, I was there for about 7 years. Finish off in the trade working on Airport Fire Vehicles and other fleet cars and trucks. After that I went in IT which really is, by comparison, money for old rope.

[25v6turbo]

YepI work for a Renault main dealership,worked for Renault since i was 17(37 now!)so 20 years with Renault...I,ve worked for around 5 companies,and EVERY one has gone under!!!!Red lion garage(Mortlake)White lodge(Sunbury on thames)Theoco(Edware road)Reevethorpe(Kingston)Herds(Weybridge)And i,am still at a Renault garage today,in parts.

[25v6turbo]

Won,t be long i,am sure(JOKING)They seem to be doing well,but they know my bad past.....

[peter9000uk]

I,ve worked for around 5 companies,and EVERY one has gone under!!!!

Good luck to your current employers then.

Well they have closed their flagship Guildford branch!

[25v6turbo]

Oh yeah i forgot about that,so yep one branch down,3 to go....

[Volksy]

Started at the age of 14, in my Neighbours garage/service station, after school and weekends, then went part time when at college at DCM, an independant Citroen dealers. Moved to NZ, and worked at a Holden/Daewoo DealersStarted a VW specialist (hence the username) with my mate when i was back in blighty, did that for a couple of years, then ended up at Fiat/Alfa Main Dealers as a PDI inspector.Then went on to work for a few independants, which took the fun out of it TBH, But have used the skills as a stopgap when necessary. Did new car advertising for an agency for quite a while, and my last 'trade' job was a recovery operative for Green Flag, which apart from the hours was great.Don't think i could bring myself to go back into the industry now though.

[woolleyiain]

I worked at Perry's in Burnley for four years as a Service Advisor. It was Vauxhall then. I've worked at Cadillac (in America! proper shite), Toyota and am now at a VW, Mazda Subaru dealer which is a bit weird, as I work on all sides of that. The tech's in the US are just as Nancy as their UK counterparts too. Not enough work, too much work or the wrong type...

[Roc 24v]

I'm in the trade, of my own making, I used to sell washing machines for years, but wanted to start my own business in something I enjoyed.So I have an online factors specialising in Ford Probe and it's related Mazda vehicles, MX-6, 622, Xedos and 323F, etc.

[mattblack]

Did a year on the YTS (remember that?) at a Peugeot-Talbot dealer in the mid 80's... 104s, 205s, 305s, 504s, 604s, Sambas, Horizons, Alpines, Tagoras....! Did another year at a small Yugo dealer/general repair garage and they took me on. Left at the end of '89 (shite money) and drove forklifts for 16 years at the same place. Took voluntary redundancy from there, went to a hire company working on groundcare equipment, and delivering/collecting it as well, quite enjoyed that. Got made redundant, I now do maintenance at an old people's home, which can be... interesting!

[pompei]

My only experience was working in the stores (sorry Tontops!) at Pattersons, the main Ford agent in Newcastle during school and uni holidays. Loved it, got to do deliveries up to Northumberland in the Transit - happy days!