Nonsense Thread

[varg]

This past week I was out of town and had the displeasure of renting a Hyundai Venue. What a hunk of shit, why do cars like this even exist? It's less spacious than the corolla I asked for from the rental company, and worse in just about every way, as if that's possible considering how much I dislike my wife's corolla. You get less practical storage than a small sedan for an increase in height, why? This thing couldn't even fit both of our suitcases in the back, a corolla can fit both of our suitcases, my backpack rigged for hiking, and my wife's backpack (I tested it before we left). For all of the applause people have been giving hyundai lately this thing sure seemed like business as usual, obvious cost cutting everywhere, and even simple things like the cruise control didn't work right (doesn't hold speed worth a damn on any slope, CVT constantly hunts going uphill). It was a great trip though, I got some nice photos, some of which I may share, and even spotted a banged up E30 on steelies while driving through Hat Creek CA.

What would you do?
Thank you, kind internet strangers/e30 enthusiasts for reading my rant.

For me, I'd have to hate my job or have some other circumstance (like 100% paid for health insurance) to consider changing positions for a pay cut, especially considering where you live (it's not cheap here either, but it's not CA). Prestige of a high profile company is not enough unless you're using it as a resume builder to jump off from. I have turned down "prestige" because they were going to expect a lot more of me for only a marginal pay increase, because I'm the kind of employee who will take ownership and do what needs to be done to accomplish something has and I will ask for a raise if I think I deserve it for my output.

[2mAn]

What would you do?
Thank you, kind internet strangers/e30 enthusiasts for reading my rant.

Having seen your expertise firsthand I would definitely interview with them, and let them know how you'd like to grow within the company. If anything when they are super impressed with your work ethic, and skills you can counter-offer whatever the $$$ they offer to you. If that doesnt work out I tend to find that I will accept the lower offer but do so with the conversation that I will show you my value so that in 1 year when we have a review you will see that my number was correct and you got me for a discount for that first year

Theres a lot of good advice above so I wont regurgitate it, but I will say you are quite humble so when it comes to Singer, you need to be humble but also you need to sell yourself, why you are worth more than their $$ AND why you'd be the worth the money to them

[McGyver]

I have several thoughts on this. I'm an Operational Excellence manager for a division of a corporation, so my job is to support continuous improvement within 6 different manufacturing businesses.

First is the idea of loyalty to your company. I have had the same feelings as you about a really good supervisor, even through I really didn't feel loyal to the company I worked for. I didn't want to look around at alternatives because I was content with how things were going. I wasn't happy, but it was good enough. I ended up in a good spot, but it also held me back from other possibilities. Interviewing for a job is not the same as accepting the job. I feel like it's a good idea to get an idea of the current market. Are you in a position to walk away if you want? Are you paid at the high end of your experience? Are you under compensated? Maybe you're not the right fit for the Fab III position, but there could be something else that fits better.

That brings me to experience and compensation. I would apply for the Singer job, but be clear with them that starting pay would need to be at least $35 or $40 an hour (tell them during an interview). It's always fine to negotiate down. Besides, you don't NEED the job, but they NEED a Fab III person. You have 10 years of experience doing all kinds of design, fab, and documentation. You are the backbone that creates the value your boss is able to sell. Not a lot of people have good attention to detail, are self motivated, and willing to work with their hands. I wouldn't undercut your experience level. Depending on your aptitude to pick up new skills, you could be at the Fab IV level. Or maybe they would want you as a department lead. Who knows? I do know that $30/hr for skilled labor in LA is cheap. I also know that the companies I support have a VERY difficult time finding skilled labor (welding, machining, forming, assembling).

Finally, I would have a conversation with your boss. Where are you going? How does he see you growing? Running a business has a ton of financial risk, he could loose a ton of money, but he also stands to keep all of the profits if things go well. As the only employee, you also have a ton of risk. What if he dies or decides to do something else? It sounds like he took things to the next level based on having your support. I worked for a small family owned engineering firm and the owner couldn't understand why people didn't want to work more than 40 hours/week. I never saw any extra value for working harder to make them more money. Perhaps there is an opportunity for you and the owner to have more of a partnership in the business.

My last bit of advice, don't tell your boss that you have an offer and will quit if he doesn't match it. If you know that you can make more elsewhere, explain to him that you feel that you are undervalued and ask for what is appropriate. He might agree and give you more money, or he might say you're already over paid, or he might not have the margins to give you a raise. You'll have to decide what to do and evaluate his loyalty to you based on his response.

Good luck!

[MR E30 325is]

It's easy to agree with Rogue on this, as he's right. $30/hour really is at the low end of what a competent, skilled person should be earning IMO, especially right outside of LA.

You sound self-motivated, and reliable, even with your few self-admitted faults/tendencies. That has a lot of value to me.

I also agree that Singer will do everything they can to pay you towards the very bottom end of their posted hourly range. Being cut from $30/hour down to $20-23/hour would be like getting kicked in the gut. It would take a HELLUVA job to overcome that pay disparity (I personally only care about making an income from my employer so that I can enjoy life outside of my profession, so YMMV).

If it is really getting to you I would start with a serious conversation with your employer. It was uncomfortable the first time I did it, but now every time I articulate my desires, my 'hard-lines', and my 'will-do's' I always feel better afterwards.

Best of luck my friend.

[roguetoaster]

I want to be happy and grow into a career I belong in. I want to make lots of money and have a house to call home, and raise a child one day. I sure as hell can't afford to do any of that now.

Okay, having managed people in several small businesses that were not my own before going solo I would 100% expect an employee who said something like that to depart within six months without significant intervention and even then, retention would be doubtful. I cannot stress this enough, but that situation is totally fine, and is a normal part of running a business. That said, any owner worth anything will realize that it is almost always cheaper to retain, rather than replace a trained, competent employee who is just dissatisfied.

Anyway, it seems like you want the following:

Greater responsibility/involvement in the decision making within the business
A team to work with/more direct day to day involvement from the boss
A reduction in the breadth of your duties or streamlining your position for efficiency
Understanding of how your position will grow and how you will be compensated over time
A change in compensation accounting for low initial compensation and successes over time

It is difficult to discuss those wants without seemingly sounding needy, controlling, or beggarly, but a solid employer will be willing to listen without prejudice, and your boss may be completely oblivious to all of those items. I'd urge you to give it a try, and explain that at the very least for your own edification that you'd like to apply elsewhere to test the waters. If your boss balks at that, your fate is already sealed at your current company. At minimum, talking (and being listened to) will make you feel better about your current job, even if it's temporary, and you may well get what you want where you are.

As to Singer, it sounds like they either don't want you, but rather a younger guy who they can dangle a semi-senior title in front of to make them feel good in that role, or they just roll through employees while not giving a damn. Also remember, and this is changing, that companies expect to pay at the bottom of their pay range unless they are over a barrel for workers. IMO, $30 is sort of a new real minimum wage (in higher cost of living areas) for anyone who can do more than sweep floors badly.

[Chilezen]

Hey guys, I have a career question.

I've been working in a small shop building race cars and stuff like that. It is a very small business that relies mostly on my boss working his ass off to create new products and sell a lot of outsourced stuff. All that merchandise is what keeps the business afloat, and it's all out of my hands. He also brings in clients who want work done to their cars.
My job is unique in that I am the only employee. I play many roles, from janitor to product packaging, but primarily designing new products (like the roll cages, roll bars, and currently a dual oil cooler kit (for the C5 diff and trans fluids)), and, production work, where I build the things I've designed. And not just build them, but build the things to build them, and create the documentation, after having done all the research to produce them.
I don't really have a reference point whether what I do is really a lot, or if it's on par with others... in terms of pay, experience, and abilities. Some days I'm looking at a screen most of the day, some days I'm sending bars through machines that cut and bend them. I of course make those programs, run the machines, and problem solve when errors arise. And I have to check all my work, literally my own quality assurance checker.
Again I don't mean to gloat or anything if it sounds like that. I'm getting to my point.

With 10 years experience in fabrication overall, at 30 years old, I make $30/h. Nobody I've met, except my boss, has said "wow that's a lot" or "that sounds about right." It also doesn't help that I live right outside Los Angeles with a high cost of living.
To give my boss some credit, he picked my up 3 years ago when my last job dumped me and decided to build an entire other business around me. He was already making and selling racecar parts, but he heard I was available, and he went and got us a shop. Then he progressively filled it with equipment (some Harbor Freight, some name brand stuff). He admired my attention to detail and many skills. And I was pretty cheap then.

I do have my own problems though. My attention to detail often far exceeds into tasks that don't require it... meaning I take too long to do things that shouldn't. I have dozed off into my own world and lost track of time. I don't listen all the time and think my idea/route is better. I don't communicate often enough, such as when I find a problem with something, and proceed to fix it instead of telling him, so he can make the call on how to approach it. I have gotten better about these issues, but hey nobody's perfect.

Anyway my question is about a potentially new job. And it's a rather specific new job.
You may know the company Singer Vehicle Design, the one who restores/modifies Porsches. Well they have grown into a new warehouse that is coincidentally in the city I grew up in. With their ever increasing orders and new building, they're hiring. Many positions. One is called "Fabricator III" which I seem to be qualified for. I mean, on paper I check their boxes, and in reality, I think I'm the detail-oriented type of person that they would be looking for.
Their listing says the pay is based on skillset, ranging from $20-$28/h. I kinda would have assumed a "level 3" (if that's what that is) would be paid more, but whatever. A car worth over seven figures is handled by people making a marginally livable wage is this county. Go figure.

But... wouldn't you? Want to go to that interview and try to see if you fit in there? If you are worthy enough to belong there? To be surrounded by other craftsmen and learn from them? To be a part of an internationally recognized group of bespoke individuals responsible for building incredible machines?

What if you made it past the first interview, and you were offered the job?
Would you leave the small company? Leave the relative freedom to create your own designs and actually be thanked by the owners of the cars upon building them their own roll cage? I think that's something special that I may never see within the sea of others of a larger company.
But I'm also just not seen by most anyone at this small place.

I don't know. I want to feel special, like anyone else. And I want to be happy and grow into a career I belong in. I want to make lots of money and have a house to call home, and raise a child one day. I sure as hell can't afford to do any of that now.

I know other people are able to achieve greater financial success by changing jobs often, but I'm just not that kind of person.. I prefer to be loyal, aka stubborn, and make something work. But I don't like that my girlfriend thinks I will blindly follow my current boss wherever he goes and be content with that. My boss wants the company to grow and he wants to increase my pay as we grow, so there's that incentive, but I can't help to wonder if the grass is greener on the other side.

What would you do?
Thank you, kind internet strangers/e30 enthusiasts for reading my rant.

[Chilezen]

We can do 10 days without any outside support. This extends to 20+ if we camp near enough to a lake/stream/creek. Hoping with all of that capacity we can really get off-grid, and leave pavement far behind!

That sounds awesome, good luck!

[MR E30 325is]

Dang, going 100% 'vanlife' now!... be sure to share the adventure with us

Going to do my best to avoid the 'vanlife' style. I didn't spend ~$18,000 on suspension just to hit up paid campgrounds. We can do 10 days without any outside support. This extends to 20+ if we camp near enough to a lake/stream/creek. Hoping with all of that capacity we can really get off-grid, and leave pavement far behind!

[McGyver]

I bet you'll be fine with either.

My catalogue shows two different ones as well, but the same meyle part in each category

I started reading through this thread, and post 7 indicates differences on an e36. I know I'm overthinking it, I'm just going to buy a Behr and be done with it.

Since the departure date jumped up unexpectedly, we had already had many things on our schedules for the fall...

That sounds like an amazing adventure!! I'm excited to see pictures!

[2mAn]

Dang, going 100% 'vanlife' now!... be sure to share the adventure with us

[MR E30 325is]

Since the departure date jumped up unexpectedly, we had already had many things on our schedules for the fall.

So to start we will be spending the remainder of the warm part of this year in Northern AZ (North Rim of the GC primarily) and southern Utah (slot canyon chasing), as we still have obligations (family vacations) in AZ.

As winter sets in we will go to Death Valley and Joshua Tree and do everything there that we can.

As deep winter sets in we will head to Baja California to spend time exploring the peninsula until spring arrives.

At that point we begin a slow, but steady, push north. The DEW line and the Arctic Circle and Arctic Ocean. Also the highest latitude in both the USA and Canada are on our list as well.

After that, who knows. Time is our most valuable currency, so we will go as fast or as slow as we like.

The M3 has changed hands, a while ago now, and is now in the possession of some wealthy guy with a load of race cars. It was hard to let it go, but he paid 100% of what I had put into it (~$15,000), so off it went.

M3 Departure by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

[mrsleeve]

Departure date jumped up to just 44 days from now. Beyond ecstatic.

Truck is done. The final step was off-grid internet access. Starlink modified to run on DC power.

Almost time to hit the road. I can't wait.

Pre-Departure Practice by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr

Where are you going and what kinda route are you taking.... inquiring minds want to know

[2mAn]

Departure date jumped up to just 44 days from now.
.
.
.
Almost time to hit the road. I can't wait.

Whats the plan here?

Also is the E36 just cooking somewhere right now?

[DEV0 E30]

With the rest of your plan in mind, skip the plywood and just go drywall.

I am hating these temps btw. I still had some truck stuff to take care of, and spending an hour in the garage (moderately insulated) felt akin to running a marathon.

Yep, agreed. Who knows - I may add a shade sail to shade the west wall too, anything to keep temps lower. I've seen some people do that, no idea if it really helps.

It's turrrrible.

Talking with an electrician or two this week, if one of them gives me a good price, I may have them run the conduit and wire or just do the final connection for me.

Truck is beyond balling out of control these days. At some point I still need to see it in person.

[MR E30 325is]

Departure date jumped up to just 44 days from now. Beyond ecstatic.

Truck is done. The final step was off-grid internet access. Starlink modified to run on DC power.

Almost time to hit the road. I can't wait.

Pre-Departure Practice by Michael Rickerd, on Flickr