Would I be right in saying that getting a job for an OEM is difficult and they are only going to be looking for the cream of the crop? Doesn't strike me as the sort of industry that's easy to walk into?
Engineering at uni for me...Monday 9am-12 straight maths. Same on a Wednesday afternoon 1-3pm. Then a wee bit on a Thursday. Fun!
Different world down south, we're pretty much 100% oil and gas up here and of course there is A LOT of work for all types of engineers. In my product line we've got drilling engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, contracts engineers, electricians, mechanical fitters, data acquisition technicians (my job), software engineers the list goes on...and we're only one tiny dept.
I wouldn't get too bogged down with wanting to work with cars...once your engineering a part that is used in a car it's bound to be pretty far removed from the bigger picture. Designing a wiring loom for a car would be equally as interesting as designing a wiring loom for a down hole oil tool...or a wiring harness for anything really. You have so little exposure to the end product in your role I doubt it matters much what it ends up in? I'm sure if you have a passion for engineering you'd be happy in many different sectors. I didn't think plant control would be that interesting but that's pretty much what I look after only adapted for well drilling. Getting into now, it's really interesting.
I've currently got a hard on for machining after we got a new cross over delivered. 2 tonnes finished, god knows how much the original material was. About 1.5m diameter by 1m. Same finish quality as a wheel hub and bearing. Studs the length of your fore arm and nuts the size of your fist. Who ever machined it is a grade A legend!