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Stephen H - 30 Apr 2006 18:16 GMT

As you three are the people I respect the most in this and other auto news
groups; I'd thought I'd let you all know about my career change.
As of 10 April I resigned my position at the local Firestone shop and was
hires by the local auto conglomerate in our area; A Subaru and Suzuki
dealership ( although they do have Honda's Chevies, Toyota's Ford, Lexus,
and a few others in this town also)
I learned allot from Firestone; and will always buy my tires there from what
I have seen in 4.5 years of service; but as a corporation they think that a
auto tech is a slave; working 10 hours a day without a lunch and 50 hours a
week for 40 hours of pay. As one Manager told me "the 40 hour labor law
isn't written about the auto techs (Flat-rate)"
Anyway; I'm a used car tech now; looking at the used cars to decide if and
what needs to be repaired for resale. He wants me to go to Suzuki school and
specialize on them, but from what I've seen I'm a little wary of them; Can
you say Daewoo?
It's nice to see how a dealership operates; and watching a tech assemble and
install a Subaru long block in about 3 hours is amazing. the people are
great; the hours respectable; and I get a lunch.
I look forward to sharing what I learn; and learning more from you three.

Signature

Stephen W. Hansen
ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician
ASE Automobile Advanced Engine Performance
ASE Undercar Specialist

http://autorepair.about.com/cs/troubleshooting/l/bl_obd_main.htm
http://www.troublecodes.net/technical/

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tww - 30 Apr 2006 21:21 GMT

> As you three are the people I respect the most in this and other auto news
> groups; I'd thought I'd let you all know about my career change.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> specialize on them, but from what I've seen I'm a little wary of them; Can
> you say Daewoo?

Given Suzuki's performance in motorcycles, I should think the potential is
there in their cars. Of course, I am drawing a parallel with Honda here
which may not necessarily follow in the case of Suzuki.

> It's nice to see how a dealership operates; and watching a tech assemble and
> install a Subaru long block in about 3 hours is amazing. the people are
> great; the hours respectable; and I get a lunch.
> I look forward to sharing what I learn; and learning more from you three.

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Stephen H - 01 May 2006 05:22 GMT

>> you say Daewoo?
> Given Suzuki's performance in motorcycles, I should think the potential is
> there in their cars. Of course, I am drawing a parallel with Honda here
> which may not necessarily follow in the case of Suzuki.

From what is said around the shop; GM bought the Suzuki and has put it on
Daewoo's; trying to capitalize off the Suzuki name.

Steve

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Stephen H - 02 May 2006 06:18 GMT

> Given Suzuki's performance in motorcycles, I should think the potential is
> there in their cars. Of course, I am drawing a parallel with Honda here
> which may not necessarily follow in the case of Suzuki.

on the door panel of a Suzuki sedan I read today something along the lines
of "owned by gm, made by Daewoo"

Two cars in the shop today with 10,000 and possible head issues.

Steve

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Elle - 30 Apr 2006 21:54 GMT

> As of 10 April I resigned my position at the local
> Firestone shop and was hires by the local auto
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> hour labor law isn't written about the auto techs
> (Flat-rate)"

How awful. And I'm not saying that just to be female-nice.
Working through lunch is baloney and is the path to an early
heart attack, short-tempered personality (not you, though!),
or similar. Working 50 for 40 hours pay would be a sore
point always.

> Anyway; I'm a used car tech now; looking at the used cars
> to decide if and what needs to be repaired for resale.

Sounds like definite fun to me but with far less physical,
and hard(!) labor, than at Firestone, I hope!

> He wants me to go to Suzuki school and specialize on them,
> but from what I've seen I'm a little wary of them; Can
> you say Daewoo?

If you do it, I hope you'll post assessments of Suzuki's and
Subaru's product. I have known an awful lot of people that
are extremely loyal Subaru customers, and they seem to do
very well in Consumer Reports reliability surveys. Love that
all-wheel-drive.

> It's nice to see how a dealership operates; and watching a
> tech assemble and install a Subaru long block in about 3
> hours is amazing. the people are great; the hours
> respectable; and I get a lunch.
> I look forward to sharing what I learn; and learning more
> from you three.

Thank you for the kind words. I trust it's obvious that
Tegger and Michael (along with several other regulars here,
who are also far less of the rabble rousing type compared to
me!) are far far more experienced, and I bow to them (with
others).

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Stephen H - 01 May 2006 05:25 GMT

> If you do it, I hope you'll post assessments of Suzuki's and Subaru's
> product. I have known an awful lot of people that are extremely loyal
> Subaru customers, and they seem to do very well in Consumer Reports
> reliability surveys. Love that all-wheel-drive.

Most all the techs and management have Subaru's; both old and new; that says
alot to me.

Signature

> Tegger and Michael (along with several other regulars here, who are also
> far less of the rabble rousing type compared to me!) are far far more
> experienced, and I bow to them (with others).

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Elle - 01 May 2006 05:29 GMT

"Stephen H" <hansensw@hotmail.com> wrote
E

>> If you do it, I hope you'll post assessments of Suzuki's
>> and Subaru's product. I have known an awful lot of people
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
> Most all the techs and management have Subaru's; both old
> and new; that says alot to me.

Indeed! From what I've seen, Subaru buyers are much more
intelligent (and so kinder) people than the run-of-the-mill
automobile owners. They /like/ their Subarus; enjoy talking
about them; enjoy seeing to their maintenance.

I think it's great to have someone "on the inside" posting
here; really constructively helps the diversity of the
newsgroup. I hope you continue to find some time to do so.
Good luck with the new job.

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