I would like to start an automotive garage where people come and work on their own vehicles. We would provide all the equipment that the average person doesn't have access to at home such as hydrolic four-post serface lifts, transmission jacks, engine hoists, and just about everything you would need to do automotive work. You would have all the tools you need and wouldn't make a mess out of your garage. Would people be interested in a place like this? We would rent out work bays for about $25-$30 an hour. I would like your input both positive and negative. I'm working on developing this business idea in one of my University classes. I know me and my 4x4 buddies would love a place like this. Let me know what you think

 

Cool idea...insurance costs could be a prohibitive factor and something to strongly consider. I would imagine any "user" would have to sign a waiver of some sort? I could see revenue opportunities beyond the hourly rate...sponsorship for use of Craftsmen tools, Pennzoil fluids, etc.

 

Click & Clack did that for a while. I think they said it wasn't worth the trouble.

I would never be able to do anything like that, assuming I was a mechanic. There's no way I could ever stand back and watch somebody floundering. I'd end up giving advice and having little patience, I'd end up doing the work myself.

 

maybe consider having a place where customer and worker come together.....for instance have a few trained mechanics that walk around and help you or can answer any questions someone may have.......you could work on your own car or TRUCK but have some expert advice if you needed it.......just my opinion good luck

 

My buddy used to work at the Air Force (Elmendorf) Hobbie Shop. They rented out stalls by the hour. They used stall # chips or keys when customers wanted to rent tools and also sold some automotive products. One problem they had was customers losing or breaking tools. And the MAJOR problem was getting customers to clean up their mess before leaving. There were always oil puddles and hazardous waste not properly disposed of. $25+ an hour sounds alittle expensive for doing minor repairs. IMHO, there's gonna be some liability issues.

 

For what it's worth, I think its a great idea! Before I retired from the Army (1985) all army bases, stateside and overseas, had an auto craft shop. Most didn't sell parts, but the guys running them had a pretty good handle on what was going on with most cars. This was especially useful in Germany (10 1/2 years there). The last tour I took my 1978 Buick Century Station Wagon over (July 1980 to April 1984), 90% of the work that was done to it was done by me (with some help, of course) at the auto craft shop, traded it in 1988 with more than 150,000 miles on it, still looked good with my craft shop (battleship gray) paint job (red interior, bucket seats, floor shift) and still ran great.

They were kind of like 'F105online', there was always someone who could get me out of trouble. Great memories!

So, if you opened a place near by I would be there!

(Sorry about the long post, just remembered all the good times)

 

It's a great concept but the costs would play a big factor. Keeping those under control for the average person yet making a profit at the same time....I think the webmaster is right, insurance would be big $$$

I'm in the Air Force and the military bases still operate auto hobby shops. Haven't used one in a while but it's probably no more than $2.00 per hour. In all the assignments that I have used them, cleanup wasn't an issue. They inspected the area before you left. If you wanted to use it again it would be clean.....

 

Someone came into work one day and told me that somewhere, maybe Canada there is actually shops like that. I liked the idea and would like to do the same myself. I can see a few troubles with it, maily due to liabilty reasons. Who would have to make them sign a waiver of rights and it wouldn't hurt to have a notary at the premises to make it even harder to sue. Sponership would be the best way to obtain all your tools, which would be a lot. I was thinking you could specialize each or some of the bays. Have one bay dedicated for diagnostics, one for brake and alignment, and etc. You would almost have to make each customer make a security deposit in case of broken tools or leaving their bay a mess. Good idea just has some bugs that need to be worked out.

 

I really like that idea. There are some repairs or mods that are just beyond my knowlede/experience base. I know I have the ability to perform 99% of the task on my own. But the fear of doing greater damage or not knowing that one trick, technique, or speciallized tool to complete the job, stops me from doing it myself. I prefer to be shown how to, or talked through a task live, rather than reading it in a book.

How bout a rent a mechanic? Tell him what you want to do, and he will bring over the specialty tools and talk/help you through a job you've never done before. But if he has the better setup for the job, do it over at his place. Then you will have the knowledge and experience to do it yourself the next time.

 

During the 70's when I was in the Navy all bases had those shops. Availability was tough, probaly due to the "Motorhead" craze during those years. But what I really posted for was to tell of a similar venture done locally at the Vocational schools. We have "Night Life" here and they offer a variety of classes. I use it for the 'open' carpentry shop where you design and build your own projects with the tools provided to the students during the day. I designed and built a beautiful stereo cabinet that perfectly matches my TV cabinet. Anyways, the Auto shop was right next to the Carpentry shop and it was full every Thursday. Very popular class (and program) Are these available in other areas of the country?

Urban Cowboy, Good idea, good luck with the development and hope you ACE the class! ennis

 

If you started a garage like this why not have specialized people come in and offer training classes on different things. Like every Monday you could have a different person to come in and lecture on something. Say for instance in the month of October on the first Monday you have a guy to come in and talk about brakes and common problems, after the talk you all go out to a garage bay and he walks you through some repair or similar problem. THen the next Monday you have a guy in about body work. You could probably even partner with someone and offer telephone technical assitance for the people in the garage. Just a a phone in each booth with a sign " Gotta question,. Pick up the phone and ask a tech". All possible revenue makers.

 

I think it would be a great idea but like everyone else said the costs would be really high cause sure youll probably get just mechanically inclined people who like to work on thier truck in there, but you would have to have great insurance and a couple of supervisors cause what if someone doesnt put their car on a lift right or slips and breaks a leg cause someone before didnt clean up a oil puddle. Just my opinion. but i like the idea, i dont know how many times i worked on my truck and come to find i need a special tool that only licsenced mechanics and dealers have. but i would go there definately to use a lift cause doing a tire rotation with jacks is just plain annoying.

 

Massuh Cowboy,

They had those things in Houston about 15 to 20 years ago... lifts, tools... all you could need. But, they failed. Not sure why, but I'd guess two things. Insurance costs: put a moron in charge of a piece of power equipment and expect the worst. Second: It costs a lot of money to rent a bay... I'd guess that $30 per hour would not cover expenses... and at that rate, most people would rather lie on the ground instead of renting a lift.

 

Thanks everyone! Really great Feedback!

 

I think it is a great idea.

For me it would be awsome since I live in a appartment, and can't really work on my truck in the garage of my building.