Future of GM (and career options) ?

[Boost]

What do you guys make of the future of GM ( and it's employees )? I am trying to do my freaking out this year in a controlled and mature fashion. At the moment I am doing fairly well as an Audi technician, but I spend all my free time wondering where this is going... not learning as much as I hoped I would that contributes to my dream of becoming an great tuner with my own company. Audi likes to keep all their technical information to themselves and just provide procedures and instructions for the monkey technicians. I find that all the successful techs simply excel at the "procedures" and have trouble answering or even discussing diagnosis and theory! So while I really want to be responsible and grateful, I am tormented by my dreams and aspirations of being a full time EFILive tuner. :( Is my fantasy of picking up the GM career where I left off a horrible move for my family?

[joecar]

GM vehicles are fairly widespread, GM technical information is available (at a price), and there are various GM expert technical sources (for example see www.flatrater.com (http://www.flatrater.com))...

It all depends on various things like who will be be your customers (who has the most spendable money collectively speaking), what will you be offering (diagnostics/repair, dyno/tuning, conversions, engine/transmission specialty), what is the difference in your projected income over the next 5 to 10 years, and other things.

Yes, a vehicle technician that has trouble discussing diagnosis/theory has been ripped off by his employer (in the sense that he has been incorrectly trained)... when you start your own shop there will be a great deal of self training that you will have to maintain... you will also have to analyze which tools you will need (for example see www.autonerdz.com (http://www.autonerdz.com)), the correct tool will both save time and make money.

If you specifically want to be a tuner, you have to see what your competitors are offering and one-up them.

Your question has no simple/single answer... :)

[Boost]

Thanks :) I can always just hang in there and grab everything I am learrning and apply it. You are so right. To be fair, the techs are smart and knowledgeable, I am just spoiled by hanging around Haltech tuners and GM master techs when I was younger, so I think there is more hands on involvement in the diagnosis and brain development there. God has a sense of humor, a few hours after I wrote this they decided to fly me to Texas for diagnosis training :)
The best I can do for now is try to excel at a steady solid job and learn any way possible, there and HERE. Thanks!!!!

[Boost]

Thanks for bearing with me during my occasional moments of doubt and confusion. Verict: stay with great company, make a living for family, eliminate all worthless activities and learn as much as possible about tuning and EFILive, that way I can hack through this life with a double edged sword (pro tech / specialty tuner). That'll work just fine, GLORY TO GOD!!! Thanks guys :)

[Boost]

After 3 long years, Boost gets to put on the nice blue and black American uniform again TODAY. May it not come off for the next 30 years. Lord JESUS bless the work of my hands and my heart! For - HIS - Glory, amen. :)

(YES THAT MEANS I QUIT THE FANCY AUDI / FERRARI DEALER - THEY BEGGED ME TO STAY BUT I AM BACK WITH GM !!!)

In all seriousness, my EFILive involvment was a huge deciding factor in this. Thank you for all the advice, now I will pick up the pieces where I left off. I was a flat rate GM tech when I first bought EFILive in 2006. Two 500 hp LBZs and a gasser 2500HD were the first 3 victims ;)

Keep up the great work guys! Thanks !!!

[joecar]

Hey, keep on keeping on :cheers:

Take all the training GM throws at you, and then ask for more (you already knew that).

[Boost]

Thank you old friend! Boy it has been a challenging but rewarding first day, and I got another one lined up tomorrow. I am so GLAD I did this. I need to be a man again... thankful to God for the ability and encouragement. I know this is SICK in a way but EFILive was a big reason and I think it's going to work out just fine! :)

[Boost]

And just one more thing Audi is sissy stuff and those guys could NEVER do this. Ok, I'm done :)

(edit: :) I should probably fill you guys in that I have been listening to "GM is thrash" non-stop for 9-months from my co-workers that drive brand new A8s that cost more than my house... with less power than my old truck LOL)

[Ira]

Not that I think Audi is the be-all end-all of car companies, but they did win the 24 hours of LeMans with a diesel so they clearly know what they're doing.

Ira

[ScarabEpic22]

Im a huge sucker for VW/Audi, my parents and brother all have them. Dad's 03 Audi A6 3.0 has been great with the exception of the fuel pump going randomly at 30k (I was driving, not so good...). Brothers 08 Jetta 2.5 is a powerful little car, wish it was a GLI but it does has a 6spd auto and gets 35mpg at 75mph. Mom's 10 Audi Q5 3.2, man I love this car. Same engine as my dad's A6 but a little more cubes and Direct Injection, makes as much hp/tq as GM's 4.2L I6 engine!

Wish my TBSS had a 6spd and got 25mpg on the highway.

But I love my GMs, they've been super reliable.

[Boost]

Without a doubt Audis are nice, I enjoyed working on them a great deal. They are packed full of the highest technology, with very nice interiors. I have NOT found them to be reliable, although we see only all the problems as dealer techs, a lot of stuff is covered up and goes unsaid until warranty is up like ridicoulous oil leaks on brand new '10-'11 models, loose main bearing bolts from the factory, noisy engines and CVT trannies refusing to accelerate. Any company has issues and Audis handle so so well. They really drive like a dream when it comes to cornering. They are just too pricey and luxurious for my taste, almost 200k for an R8 that makes 425 hp.... no way. Their company philosophy when it comes to technicians also is not compatible with my being a human being LOL. But it's been a privilege and great experience and I totally proved that I can hang with anything they throw at me as long as necessary, but I walked away because at the end of the day I'll take a challenge that's rewarding... not just for the snob customer and top heavy company (rant lol)

[Boost]

Erik yes the 3.2 is nice, high power for the displacement and sounds really cool with the speed density (except when the "gangsta" kids put cheap mufflers on the A5s) The 3.0 is underpowered, though it's mostly reliable we used to call it the "money maker" because they leak here and there and have minor problems (like any Chevy I guess). Everyone loves VWs, they are a strong company and doing well. Just not my style. I LOVE GM !!!!! We are getting the same fuel economy at a much lower price and double the horsepower / torque. There are a million reasons why I can never leave GM: EFILive, America, HORSEPOWER.... :)

[ScarabEpic22]

Very true, Im going to keep my eyes peeled for any issues on my moms Q5. Dads car is probably going to be replaced in a year or 2, he dropped $3k on the dang timing belt a few months back ugh. Mom bought hers used with 5k on the clock, got a 5yr/100k I think by doing that.

But sheesh, before I got my TBSS I was this >< close to buying a 09 GTI. But you cant tune them!!! Its like $1000 min to have someone touch it, custom tunes dont happen unless you're looking at double that.

[joecar]

I bet your TBSS can leave longer tire marks... :cheers:

And I bet you could easily/cheaply repair just about any thing on your TBSS... :cheers:

Yeah, sure they won some fancy races, but ownership by a gearhead (with a budget) is where it matters. :hihi:

[ScarabEpic22]

I bet your TBSS can leave longer tire marks... :cheers:

And I bet you could easily/cheaply repair just about any thing on your TBSS... :cheers:

Yeah, sure they won some fancy races, but ownership by a gearhead (with a budget) is where it matters. :hihi:

I wish it could leave tire marks, AWD kills that fun but I never worry about grip around corners or in snow. Ill have to worry about that in a few years when I can afford a built engine and blower, thinking a 427ci bored/stroked LS3, heads, cam, LTs, etc with a Maggie TVS 2300 blower (or whatever the latest one is at that point). Now wheres that $20k I need to make this happen?

Repairs are cheaper for sure, especially since I have a list of things the dealer is going to do for free (still have a year of bumper to bumper warranty left).

Im most certainly on a budget, heck right now its all I can do to put gas in the SS, premium is around $3.75 a gal now (know CA is way worse, was there last week) and when you get 12mpg city, it hurts big time.

[Boost]

The Q5s are decent, the LED daytime running lights and tail lamps go bad.