What's everyone's background?

[Slimshade73]

It is nice to see where all these cool peeps are coming from. I am a professional "bag smasher" for Southwest Airlines but have always restored motorcycles/cars/mopeds, etc. Moving from SoCal to the foreign country of Texas was a huge change. I commute to work 40 miles each way so the Toyota Echo is perfect for me (also 6'2"). Nice to see many other folks trying to be good stewards & save gas......Shad

[Blue Angel]

Mechanical Technologist, graduated Duram College (Oshawa) in 2001.

Six years as a CAD Designer, the last four of which were spent working as a "Design Engineer" internal to GM (I was working at GM but paid by the supplier I worked for, an Integrated Supplier). This was followed by two years as a "Production Engineer" at an automotive glass plant, a year on unemployment and a move to Ottawa, a year with Transport Canada, and now climbing the ladder at the Department of National Defence... climbing the ladder to back where I was, financially, five years ago working in automotive that is. ("Engineer" is in quotes as it is merely the position title I held, but I am not an Engineer.)

The four years I spent working inside GM was an absolutely mindblowing experience. Before I started there I wondered how any car company could justify selling a car for so much money. After a year I wondered how it could be possible to make a profit selling cars. You're average citizen, even those who know about cars, have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what it takes to mass produce vehicles. The scale of these operations is staggering. The company I worked for supplied parts to most large car companies, but the unit I was part of focused mainly on GM programs.

Transport Canada was the coolest job I've ever had. I was the Fleet Manager for a Group called "EcoTechnology for Vehicles", or ETV. Here's their site:

ecoTECHNOLOGY for Vehicles - Transport Canada

They have an ever-expanding fleet of cool stuff to evaluate, so that the Canadian public has a source of independent tests to evaluate different emerging "green" technologies relating to cars and heavy trucks.

The highlight of their fleet while I was there is a Tesla Roadster. I was fortunate enough to drive the car on several occations, including all of the "dynamic testing" done for one of the film/photo shoots at the test track. My personal hotrod is an '02 Corvette Z06, and I bet that roadster would beat me to 60 MPH 9 times out of 10... it is BRUTALLY quick off the line, a total rush. Everyone needs to experience an EV powertrain at least once; the throttle response is almost telepathic, especially in a car like the Tesla.

I also got to have a Japanese spec Mitsubishi iMiEV for a week as a personal vehicle (to add break-in mileage before testing began). For those who don't know, this is a little jelly bean four door EV that is now on sale in the US, now that they have the steering wheel on the left. For a daily driver/commuter car in decent weather, driving/charging an EV on a simple 120v/15A circuit is totally viable with today's battery technology. That little car would safely go between 100-120 km (~60-75 miles) on a charge, and could recharge completely on 120v using about 13A in about 9.5-10 hours.

Anyway, enough rambling. I have a SOLID geek-based interest in just about everything automotive. My current driver is a 2012 Chevy Cruze Eco which I'm really liking so far, and is a completely different kind of "high performance" vehicel to my '02 Corvette. I love power, I value efficiency, and my inner geek thinks constantly about ways to get the most of both.

[MetroMPG]

I've dreamt of having that Transport Canada job. Was that at a facility on River Road, not too far from the airport?

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by MetroMPG

Was that at a facility on River Road, not too far from the airport?

That's Environment Canada, where all the lab testing is done. They have several dyno cells, one large enough to test HD trucks and busses. TC does most of their standard testing there, and EC does all of their fuel economy and emissions evaluations there. It's a neat place, for sure.

Transport's head office is downtown, but the ETV group has a small remote garage they use for storage and maintenance of the fleet. That's where my "office" was. The fleet had a 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid that I used for most of my work related running around. That was a nice car, and using some simple driving techniques I was able to maintain fuel consumption of less than 5L/100km with about a 70/30 split of city/hwy driving.

Yes, it was a really cool job. It didn't pay too well, and my position was only a one year term (not permanent), but it really was cool. If they ever created a permanent Fleet Manager's position with a little better pay I'd apply back there in a heartbeat!

I still keep in touch with the guys there, and they tell me they are working on all kinds of new stuff... I'm jealous!

[LibbyMetro]

Currently an EQ operator/Laborer on an asbestos abatement project.... been doing that since 2007, before that I was a sub-contracted home builder for 3-4 years, and before that I was in high school, worked/lived on a farm up to about 2007 ....now im stuck in the middle of a small town. Everyone is posting that cars they have owned so i will do the same first to last.

1988 Ford Bronco II- 2.9L V6-4WD ( ECU went out)
1990 Chevy K2500 Ext. Cab Short box- 5.7L 4WD (tranny gave up the ghost at 206000 miles)
1984 Chevy Impala - 305 V8 (temporary car)
1989 Ford Escort GT- 1.9L H.O. 5 speed- this car proved extremely durable, put about 20000 miles a year on it , used to commute 150 miles round trip to work with it , hit many deer (Montana lol). Still miss this car!
1992 Suburu Loyale Wagon AWD 5 speed.........(free car!)
1991 Eagle Talon 1.8L
1995 Chevy K1500 ext. cab 4x4- 5.7V8 (extremely durable and dependable, brother in law still has it 246000 miles with 1 tranny rebuild)

Current Vehicles:
1998 Honda Civic EX- D16Y8 V-TEC, 4 speed auto. 136,000 miles
2002 GMC Sierra 1500 Z71 ext. cab 4X4, 5.3L V8 4 speed auto
1991 F150 2WD- 4.9 I-6 5 speed

[MetroMPG]

There's also a "what cars have you owned" thread around here somewhere, FYI...

Yup, here it is... http://ecomodder.com/forum/showthrea...ned-24406.html

Feel free to cross post.

[Ehninger12]

First post on this forum!! I am a Uti graduate, graduated with a 4.0gpa. so i know the ins and outs of diesel and automotive. I am young still (21) and i am currently getting my basics to hopefully earn a degree in engineering. I have been an auto body technician for 4 years now and have become fairly skilled with fiberglass, metal, aluminum, plastic. Last, but not least, my DD, a 2005 LAND ROVER lr3.. i know i know.. it could possibly be the biggest gas guzzler on this forum. But i see a lot of potential, which is what let me to this here

[jpfeffer]

I'm a Patient Care Tech in the Emergency Department of a Level 1 Trauma Center in St. Louis. Always changing, always challenging, and it makes for some amazing stories!

I also just graduated from Missouri Baptist University with two bachelor degrees in Christian Ministry and Biblical Studies (wanted to be over-qualified as a youth pastor), but after working for a church for a few years, I've realized I'm far more cut out for ministry work outside of those four walls than inside of them. So, I'm working on knocking out the last few prerequisites I need to apply to a master's degree program to be a Physician's Assistant. I love the medical field, and PA's make great money. It's a win-win!

I love seeing how many well educated people there are around here by the way!

[Insight for life]

Originally Posted by jpfethisffer

I've realized I'm far more cut out for ministry work outside of those four walls than inside of them.

I like this!

[mozul]

Software Engineer for the past 26 years. Currently using LabVIEW to make real-time data acquisition software for an aerospace company.

Other hobbies are computers, model airplanes, HAM radio, and motorcycles.