General Motors office in Frankfurt

Hi All,

I was looking at a job which stated that GM's office is "near Frankfurt"...but can anyone confirm for me exactly where it is, and most importantly, if it's close enough to the city center for someone to potentially live inside the city (Bornheim, Sachsenhausen or West End for example) and commute to the assumedly suburban GM location?

I've been stuck in isolated suburbs that are supposedly "near" cities my whole life, so I can't afford to make that mistake again.

Many Thanks

The Sun King

AFAIK, GM aka OPEL's Head Office is in Rüsselsheim, but I might be wrong.
( And that is near Frankfurt )...

hmm .. quick search in google found the GM (Opel) web site, and they have all sorts of useful info ..

for example ...

Thanks mates! I'll speak to the recruiter today and see if I can dig out detailed info...sometimes they keep the reality of the location a bit vague, if you know what I mean! Unfortunately, I don't know yet whether it's the Opel subsidiary...I'd gone on the GM website and saw info for several different ones- not sure how closely they are grouped together. I'll have a look at a detailed FFM map and start getting an idea of the "lay of the land"...

It is quite convenient for frankfurt - I work for a subsidiary based in rüsselsheim and we have several people who live in frankfurt! It takes 30 mins on the s-bahn and then depending on where the office is - it is not too far - you will find opelwerks has it's own s-bahn station. Driving takes about 40 mins. But the A3 can get pretty heavy!

Thanks!

Well I've now confirmed that it is indeed in Rüsselsheim. According to the recruiter: "Rüsselsheim is 20 min. via the Autobahn passing Frankfurt-airport direction Wiesbaden/Mainz (half way)"

That sounds optimistic, eh?

For example, can anyone confirm what the total commute would likely be for me from Bornheim or the West End, using public transportation? Would it still only be 30 minutes using the S-bahn from those two districts?

Many thanks!

From Konstablerwache and Westend it will be about 30 mins to Rüsselsheim by S-Bahn. However in my experience when travelling out that way the trains tend to be fairly full and often not very clean either. I dont think Id find the daily commute out there all that enjoyable. But there are worst things. I dont think youd want to live in Rüsselsheim though (another contender for the title of Arse End of Rhein-Main) Bornheim and Westend are much classier.

Thanks Rick, yes, thanks to many useful comments on this forum, I think I can quite safely narrow down my potential living areas to Bornheim and the West End; I think they would suit me best if I were to get a job in Frankfurt. I actually walked through the West End during my 2005 visit and believe me, it was quite a revelation after the living conditions I've faced here in the UK!

There is also a company called Vector SCM, which is part of an American company called Menlo Worldwide. Vector are based in Eschborn and control all the European logistics for GM/Opel/Vauxhall. Not sure if this is any use, but hey ho!...is the job anything to do with logistics??, I am currently working in logistics/transportation in the UK for GM, but would like to ty Germany for a few years.

Bearing in mind that Westend isnt a cheap area. Though even Westend will probably seem "cheap" after the high living costs of the UK, not to mention London. I find Westend a bit bland and unexciting, Bornheims much more lively.

Hi there Cota, this particular job is actually in Finance. I'm still trying to decide if I should apply for it.

Sorry, I meant to ask you- Would it be also be around 30 minutes from Bornheim using the S-bahn?

Danke!

Hey, Sun King...what do have to lose if you go for it apart from a) your dignity...b ) self respect and c) do you get any free cars??...

I was a Financial Analyst at GM in Rüsselsheim. They have now moved there offices to the big red building directly beside Rüsselsheim train station. Before it was a bit further away, which meant another 25-30 minute walk from the train station. Now it is perfectly situated and no problem to get to at all (unless trains are running late). Good luck with the application.

From Bornheim youve got to walk to the nearest U-Bahn or tram. I think they run about every 7-10 mins or so in the rush hour. Once youre on the train/tram Its only 5 mins or so to Konstabler. Then change onto the S-Bahn. The S-Bahn train intervals are longer, but if you time it right it shouldnt cost you much time. all in all you are probably looking at more than 30 mins esp door to door.

and don't forget about Sachsenhausen!

A friend of mine used to live near Bornheim and it used to take him 50 mins door to door.
If you are not bothered about being in frankfurt you could always consider Mainz. That is only 20 mins away by S-bahn but the train only runs every 30 mins! There is plenty to do there and there is a good connection to frankfurt!
Rüsselsheim is a dump! I avoided it when I came over!

Yeah Westend is expensive and boring. I spent my first 3 months there, and apart from the local pub and local restaurant, there is not much to do. Bornheim is way better, and so is Nordend.

Thanks for the useful info! Even if I don't end up interviewing for this job, there's a good chance I'll end up in Frankfurt as the majority of English-speaking jobs in Deutschland seem to be there...

I live in Bockenheim and work in Raunheim (the town next to Rüsselsheim).

My drive is around 15 minutes to the office (I'm driving the German way - full speed forward) as you're going against the traffic.

Bockenheim / Westend will be the best parts of Frankfurt for you to live in, as there is very easy access to the A5. I think you'll get stuck in some city traffic if you're going from Bornheim.

Henrik

Thanks Henrik!

Mainz! Shudder!! Each to his own, but I dont like Mainz. OK, the city is quite pleasant to walk around, but I find the atmosphere too provincial and also too "german". Too many spiesser types, the kind who tut-tut if you walk across the street on red. Dont know how the ZDF people stand it. (ZDF is based there). I get the impression Mainz is firmly under the thumb of the spiesser. And the church. Too much church in Mainz as well.

Frankfurts far more international and lively.

Ha ha! Who is this "spiesser" character- what does that mean? Is it reminiscent of der Fuehrer? Sorry, tasteless joke, but it's Friday.

A "spiesser " is a German expression for an arrogant, smart arse, know-it-all, complete wanker type person

...you know the type I'm sure ...just like Johnathan Wross

Thanks for the tip- sounds like someone to avoid at all costs!

Another little known fact is: If ya work for opel and want maybe to park your car in Opels perimeters you´ll find a little leaflet under your wiper, which tells you to consider buying an Opel car if you want to park there furthermore.
So go there by public transport at any cost. It´s not worth risking your car in the early morning hours.
And a "spiesser" is a man who was brought up in the traditional way (as in 1946) sticking to traditional german customs, always have a clean car, and always pretending to have no flaws at all, sticking to rules and laws obediently. Just authentic with a good german "Bausparvertrag"

I disagree. Having a clean car and a Bausparvertrag has nothing to do with being a "Spiesser".

Detached house, Mercedes C, E, M, S, B or R Class car and a "know all" is a "Spiesser" A show off in other words.
Being sensible having a Bausparvertrag and being a tidy person is not being "Spiessig" !
If you think that that is the case, then most germans will be that way then ...

@ far-lands
Okay then: To be a "Spiesser" you don´t have to show off because you do it the right way anyway there is just one way to do it and this way it has to be done. It´s more a name for ppl. with a boring lifestyle who want to tell others how to do things the "right way" and always travel to the same destination every Year etc. ( I don´t want to upset ppl who love their favourite holiday destination and go there often)
Detatched house and driving a Merc (any class) is just to accomplish the tidy, straight and boring Life.
But there have been spiessers seen who were alright with their opel vectra too.

Btw. The Bausparvertrag went into the detatched house so there is no more anyway.
It was just an example for boring ways to save money. (won´t mention saving methods anymore alright?)

Put it this way: Spiesser is a word for veeery boring ppl. maybe you wanna look it up in a dictionary (don´t have one at hand) the english word for it is a philistine.

Just looked on LEO, their definition of Spiesser:

ENGLISCH DEUTSCH 4 Treffer Unmittelbare Treffer
bourgeois der Spießer
square [sl.] der Spießer
fuddy-duddy der Spießer

Thanks. Speaking of "clean cars", I now know why they seem to be a relatively rare commodity in Germany- it's not surprising seeing as washing your car yourself is apparently illegal. I can't get over that!

"The horror...the horror."
-Colonel Kurtz

I thought clean cars were a regular sight in Germany. My brother on a visit over here commented on how clean all the cars were compared to in the UK. In England you often see white vans covered in dust with the words "wash me" scribbled in the dirt. Never seen "wasch mich" here!

Can confirm what Henrik says to get from Bornheim by car in the mornings to Miquellalle/A66 would be a bit of a nightmare so Westend would be better for this point of view.

Going by train though I cann see any of them making a difference unless you live directly on an S-Bahn stop and do not have to change. Bornheim would be good for this changing from the U7 you do not need to change platforms at Konstablerwache!


Hmmm you missed the Muffin Micra at the meetup then

Thanks Purple Muffin! The Muffin Micra sounds classic!

Apparently, its the only way they can actually sell their shite cars. My company actually have one (p)Opel in their VW fleet, specially purchased for the Opel business runs... it gives those narrow minded schmucks the impression that all our company cars are of the inferior marque.