Originally Posted by xr_craig

It all depends what you work on. In small places you get all sorts to do where as in the bigger places it's all the same sort of stuff.

I've done both and prefer smaller shops. I'm currently in a small place and i enjoy it. It's not so much like a job for me, just a chance to mess around with cars. But thats because there's only me and my boss there and we tend to do a bit of everything from mechanical work to restorations. Fair enough it's mainly accident damage. But it's not a case of get the job in and out as quick as possible, it's more important to finish to a high standard.

When i was in the bigger places i was bored to tears. Always the same stuff day in day out. Never anything interesting at all.

If it's something your likely to enjoy then go for it mate. I assume your only 16? So even if you give it a go and don't like it you've always got time to try something else.

Originally Posted by Escy

I'd expect jigging chassis and panel repair is good, it looks more interesting, got to use your brain a bit.

It seems like the sort of job where if it's your business you'd put in the effort as there is good rewards for hard work. My mate has loads of projects on the go, lots of dirt cheap crash damaged cars to fix up if work is slow, loads of fiddle jobs, etc.

If your an apprentice, on shit wages and given all the crap work (prep) I can see it getting boring fast. Dirty job, sometimes in poor conditions with health risks.

My mate said he always gets kids coming around asking to be an apprentice. He'd get them to rub down a set of alloys which he said was the worst job of all. Most people couldn't even finish. Maybe you should go to a few local places and ask them for some experience, see if you can stick it.

My mate does have a retired guy working for him, earns £1000 a month, cash. He just does prep work but he's good and quick.