Car testing

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Blix

Blix

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I'm sorry I'm posting a lot of threads lately, I'm just very curious. But I was wondering how to become a professional car tester? I've always dreamed about being the car tester for BMW or Audi or some big car company but how do you get into a job like that and what are the steps? 😛
 
This question was answered somewhere...

Car testers for a big company are either A. Engineers who make sure stuff doesn't rattle around, know where and how to make adjustments, etc. Not in any way is their job to go fast on a track.

or

B. Former Race Car drivers who "Test" so they can set X lap at X track.
 
um I'm thinking if car testing as in going fast around the track.
 
Well this thread answers another thread of yours. If you want to become a test driver, you definitely need to learn to drive a manual.

And that is only step one.
 
Lol. Agreed.
 
Such jobs (Going fast 'round a track) require you to be a racing driver of some sort. Start with karting. Or if you have money, buy your way into an SCCA series. Start working up.
 
You don't need to be a racing driver per se, but it does really help.

Without a talent for driving though, you can forget about that dream.
 
Ahh, so you do have to be well known for what you do. You can't just apply. Right?

Crash
You don't need to be a racing driver per se, but it does really help.

Without a talent for driving though, you can forget about that dream.
Click to expand...

I haven't driven yet, but I have confidence in myself that I'm going to be very good at it. :]
 
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Would you hire an open heart surgeon with zero experience?
How about a home builder that's built zero homes, and has never picked up a screwdriver?
Condidence is great, but experience is what you need to become a 'car tester'. Since you can't yet drive a stick shift... I'd say you've got about 20 years to go. Good Luck!
 
Want to test cars for a living? On a race track? For a manufacturer?

Sadly, not very many people do, and those that do are typically very mature, very experienced racing drivers or engineers... or both.

Your chances of getting into this small group are about as good as your chances of qualifying to fly a fighter jet in the Air Force.
 
You have a better chance at the fighter pilot than a test driver.
Hard work and dedication can land you in a cockpit, it takes skill and luck to be a test driver.
 
Hard work, dedication, a lack of any major health problems, 20:20 vision and the ability to withstand several G's of constant acceleration, yes... :lol:
 
When you consider the level of skill and the amount of money that you need to have in order to become a famous/semi-famous racing driver, then an air force pilot could be an easier goal. Especially considering how many test drivers there are compared to how many fighter pilots there are.
 
I am definitely NEVER going to be a fighter pilot (way to damn freaky)! So i will MAKE the chances of me becoming a driver increase. and lol they are both on runways XD

Bottoz
Would you hire an open heart surgeon with zero experience?
How about a home builder that's built zero homes, and has never picked up a screwdriver?
Condidence is great, but experience is what you need to become a 'car tester'. Since you can't yet drive a stick shift... I'd say you've got about 20 years to go. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
In a heartbeat! XDD
 
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Well if you want to be a pro driver, start karting soon, like yesterday. You are already about 10 years late to the party considering some kids start at age 5.
 
ZohsixGT5
Well if you want to be a pro driver, start karting soon, like yesterday. You are already about 10 years late to the party considering some kids start at age 5.
Click to expand...
You mean like go-karting? I dont think i can because, i live in a city and there is no way in heaven that i can go karting. Its takes too much time, but when i move out i might just do that.
 
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Please stop double posting...you could also wait for a few answers before changing the subject repeatedly. Use the Edit button and either copy and paste the quotes or just press the multi-quote buttons; they're located next to the Edit button.

Basically, they either want someone with a mechanical engineering degree with many years experience in research and development, or a retired professional racing driver that can offer input and is aware of slight or even infinitesimal changes to the car.

Most real-world testing is not done at 150mph; instead much of the testing might be over an extremely bumpy road at 35mph for 500 miles, through large puddles of water, and/or in unbearably hot, desert conditions without any working air conditioning. Throw in some icy conditions, 256 miles of driving with the parking brake engaged, another 142 miles uphill with varying loads strapped to it, 378 miles in 2nd gear, and repeat the process over and over again, noting the changes and typing all up with graphs and an equally boring Powerpoint presentation.

Then repeat the entire process because they switched the exact location of the battery compartment in the engine bay, because the unions refuse to allow their drones to install it on the passenger side of any car with a model name ending in the letter "y", due to the contracts.
 
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Erm this dream job of your's, you might wanna check the local job ad site because there is an opening for a test driver with Ferarri in your area!

Just kidding ;)

These sort of jobs will almost never be advertised, not in the car industry or any other.
The people who have these "dream jobs" where more than likley approached by the company instead of the person applying for them.

I dont want to smash your dreams and who am I to say "give up"

But one thing I will say is "wake up"

One of my friends landed himself a job after school working for F1 teams such as Jordan and Arrow, he does the saftey testing on the gear boxes and last time I spoke to him he said he hated it.

All he did to get the job was send off hundreds of letters to companys but this was back in the late 90's and things are pretty different now.
 
A new member of our judging group for this year's car testing was excited about going to the raceway for the second round of tests. He asked how to get on the technical team.

I told him: "Get in line." :lol:

Then I explained what we did. Which was basically, for this year, 300 straight acceleration, braking and slalom tests. All performed as quickly as possible (with drivers jumping into and out of each test unit), and mercilessly from sunrise to sunset.

Track time?

Oh... that comes at the end of the second or third day... and only if we have time. And for us, only to babysit civilians who want a taste of the racetrack. No hotdogging.
 
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