Opelotus

As my automotive training comes to a close, students are required to complete a week's worth of work in the field (unpaid). I succeeded in getting into the local Porsche dealership to complete my field week. I'm not sure what sort of work I will be doing to start off, but I can't wait!!! Hopefully I can get training and a full-time job there.

James Bailey

Are you good mopping floors and at washing cars ? After someone else moves them for you ....... Just keep a positive attitude go in early try to stay late , see how everything works....

Opelotus

Yes, I am good at that. I don't expect to do a whole lot, I may be lucky enough to do some oil changes though!

James Bailey

Oil change on a 997 is like $400 at the dealer...the flat rate mechanics love them

blown 87

Good luck, hope they do not give you a car to clean that has fleas or anything like that.

jcorenman

This should be fun, please send reports back here. I haven't been inside a Porsche dealership service department for, uhmm, 20 years now. I am sure they are all highly skilled, professional folks who will immediately recognize your talent and skills, but just in case they don't:

Remember, that in any business, the new graduates are the Lowly Worms. And with any Lowly Worm, the first thing you do is assign them some menial task. Hopefully, they screw it up and you can yell at them, but if not then it was a fluke and you try a few more times.

It is tempting, at this point, to point out that you actually do know how to empty a trash can, but that would be a mistake. Because that would certainly get you labeled as a Smartass Lowly Worm, which is the only thing lower than a Lowly Worm.

Your best opportunity is to cheerfully do whatever they ask of you, and do it competently but not flashily. After after some time (days, weeks, maybe years) they may observe that you tend to get things done correctly without a a bunch of drama, and give you more challenging tasks. Continue to do them cheerfully and competently, show interest in your job and what others are doing, and build relationships with your coworkers and managers without making a big deal about it.

If you stick with it, then someday they will give you a Lowly Worm to supervise. Only then, will you know that you have done a good job.

And whatever you do, be very careful with the knowledge that you have a 928. Most of the guys you meet there won't be equipped to deal with anything like that.
Folks don't like hearing that everything that they have believed in for most of their life is err, uhmm, maybe not quite correct.

Good luck! And more important, Enjoy!!

Opelotus

Thanks Jcorenman, you make a good point; I don't want to be seen as a wise guy. I didn't think that 928 knowledge would be a "bad" thing, but I guess to other employees, a newbie who knows something they don't might not be a good thing in their eyes.

Landseer

928 could be a topic to avoid.
From a shop mechanic perspective it is the nightmare car.
The one you would not want to be assigned on the daily slate.
No money it it. Only pain.

jeff spahn

Hey! Those are our sharks man. Just think if he got assigned the 928 and fixed it right the first time! The dealership would get a reputation for being able to fix 928's, the other mechanics would see them more and more. And they would see that they can be repaired by a competent person. Perhaps they would want to learn. Dogs and cats would start living together, total anarchy!!!

Opelotus

So I spent the day at the Porsche dealership today, shadowed a high level tech, learned some cool stuff. It wasn't very busy today, some oil changes, and replacement of a catalytic converter/flex pipe on a V6 cayenne. There were two 996 turbos in the shop, one was wrecked in the front (needs new front clip, a 9K part, and a total of 50K of work). Talked to one tech who works on most of the "classic" cars that come in, said that 928s are "pieces of junk" Most of the techs at the dealership think 928s are a pain to work on and think I am crazy for owning one Apparently they do still see some really clean examples once in awhile.

fbarnhill

Well, since the 928 is sort of an ugly step child to them, and they probably don't know as much about them as you do, (some exceptions) it probably is a good idea to avoid pointing out to them how much better your car is than theirs.

Remember that almost everyone loves to work with people who do their jobs, pays attention to detail, don't scratch the customers cars, and keep their areas clean. Do these things, without much complaining and you will get there.

Man if they couldn't have used you, I could surley have found at least a weeks worth of work for you

Speedtoys

...maybe the shop needs a 928 "plant" to come in for repair.

And he can be "Hmm...I got this, really..id love to work WITH someone on this, because this is simple..and we'll make money on it."

Opelotus

Today was even better, I actually got to do some stuff myself; move some cars around, replace tires, etc. The technician I am shadowing took me on a test drive in a 911 turbo (S?), body style from a few years ago, had modded cats, turbos, chip, etc. God is that car fast! Second gear, 25mph to maybe 70 in no time. Made me realize just how old the 928 is...

blown 87

Put a blower on your 928 and that 911 wont show you tail lights.

jeff spahn

Is there anyone on Rennlist with a well sorted 928 that is in Connecticut that needs an oil change? I'd chip in $20 towards the cost if it could be taken into the dealership to give our cars some props. Just to show the guys in the shop what a good 928 is like and not a PO nightmare.