doing a award in vehicle maintenance @33 yrs old
 

i have been doing alot of thinking lately about going to college and doing the above course as i love cars and have always wanted to know how to work on them

do you think its too late for me @ 33 yrs old?

how much do the courses cost?

has anybody else done one?

this is the one i would like to do

http://www.nwhc.ac.uk/viewcourse.php?leafletid=635

Think you've left it a little late as it does say -

Currently scheduled to begin Friday 1st April 2011.

:)

Not sure about the cost but if it is something you want to do and you can afford to do it then why not go for it, life is way too short and you only get one crack at it, succeed or fail at least you would have tried!!

Good luck.

Absolutely go for it mate.

We should never ever make age (young or old) an issue for not learning something new & fresh in life. After all who wants to be a bobbing cork in life - aimless with no direction.

Keep us posted how you get on!

I'd go for it if its something you want to really get into.

Some years ago when i was in my teens i got a job as a trainee mechanic in the Police,was great but started out on the desk in reception taking calls and booking in cars on the PC,i passed up an offer to work in the parts dept and then i moved into the garage working on the copper cars :D But when the new chief constable took over and made some cut backs,everyone said you won't go as its cheaper to keep a trainee on,but nope i went with three other guys.
I never carried on with it after that,and kinda always regretted it as i did like working on cars etc,getting stuck into the technical stuff and working with your hands,Joined the forces after that though.
So if its something you want to do,then give it ago....

Its never to late mate, I am 29 mate and already hold NVQ level 2 in vehicle maintenance and repair I did this at 17. Just finished another one with ICS (through IMI) in the same field this course cost £460.

Absolutely go for it.

I'm 47 and I'm still learning things. I've gained a diploma in Comprehensive Writing. I've also done CLAIT Plus. Now I want to do an Open University Computing and IT:Software development and networking pathway degree course. It's never too late to learn.

Unless you are planning on carking it, why would 33 be too late, you may live another 60 years or more !

You only get one go at life.

I agree with J4CKO, assuming you work in to your sixties you've still got just about as long to work as you've been alive so far!

Go for it! :thumb:

You may as well learn something new at that age. It could turn in to an extra income stream. After all, you'll probably end up retiring at 80+ the way things are going....

It's hell working on cars lol, the only positive side is you know how to work on your own car and have more tools available, maybe motorsports would be more fun.

Also, college is all very work based, at least my apprenticeship is. Most of what i learn is from working in a garage but you do pick up stuff at college about how wiper motors work and stop when they do, or how automatic transmission work.
But learning about cars comes with actual hands on experience and faults i feel.

I got into the game at 24, i'm 25 now and scheduled to have my level 3 in repair finished in a few months, but saying that i still aren't doing clutches or cam belts at my work place, again that will come with experience and when my boss decideds to let me.

I want a new career to be honest, it would be my 3rd change lol.

I like the idea of earning good money and having my own unit and ramp! Then it will be more fun working on my car and not having to work on cars 24 7.

Thanks

Do it.

I'm proof that the grass is sometimes greener.

I like working on cars, but only for fun. I can do most easy jobs, change brakes, change belts, bushes etc. But thats about my limit - engine out jobs I leave to someone who knows what they are doing!

Newer cars are easy to work on. Things like exhaust manifold bolts on old cars are a right PITA if you snap one... been there got the t-shirt. :o

Oh and reverse threads on hub bolts... that caught me out once too...:lol1:

I was heading towards being a mechanic until my cousin that had been one for 20yrs told me it was a crappy job to have to do everyday and i'd be better off getting into the electrical side, so i did, found a job fitting stereos, alarms, central locking and electric windows, that then lead me to working for BT and in the end vodafone.

Sometimes i look back and wonder what it would have been like, maybe i would have gone to New Zealand if i was a qualified mechanic.

But i'm happy with my lot, i changed careers a few times, was a lift engineer for a few years, but always went back mostly because it was easy, clean, good pay and i got a car and the heaviest thing i lifted was my tool case.;)

Which is funny now because at 46 i'm a bricky,plumber,plasterer,roofer, electrician and labourer.:lol1:

But it's for me.:thumb:

But i can build an engine and do just about anything on a car too.:D