Do-It-Yourself Garage

[TheSalad]

I do not know if these types of things are available elsewhere, but I wanted to see what you all thought about the idea.

Here in Salt Lake City, a new type of service garage has opened up. Their website can be found at The Wrench-It Center | Do-It-Yourself Vehicle Repair.

They will let you bring your car in, and use different "bays" to perform work. The type of bay will determine the hourly rate.

So, according to their site, the pricing is like this:

BAY, EQUIPMENT & TOOL RATES
Open bay $12/hr
Low-rise lift $15/hr
4-Post lift $18/hr
Overnight Storage FREE
Tire machines $10/hr
Grinder $5/use
Solvent tank $5/use
Specialty tools $2.50/hr-$5.00/hr

They have common tools available to use, and apparently you could leave your car there overnight for extended projects.

It seems like a pretty good idea, and for someone like me that does not have access to a lift, it seems like a great place to do a clutch swap.

What do you all think of the idea? Would you use a place like this?

 

[40oz]

Sounds pretty nce.

I would use a facility like this, and I know other people who would.

 

[Shiroelex]

We have one of those near me, and it's ungodly expensive. I rarely ever see anyone there actually. If they had a tire machine in there that I could use to mount the new 44" tires for my truck, I would spend the money.

 

[sneaky98gt]

I think it's a pretty cool idea.

I've also heard of something like this strictly with tools. Air tools, cutting tools, specialty tools, whatever. Also a cool idea.

 

[Dustys'99]

I think that is a very good idea. I had something like this where I once lived except it was called the "Wash'n'Wrench". I changed a couple of axle seals in my diff when I was in college many moons ago at this place. Everything was going good until the guy next to me started washing his car and blowing water into my diff.. It would have been better if they would have seperated the wash from the wrench side buy a solid wall, but hey it served its purpose.

 

[Sonic04GT]

We have something very similar to that here on Fort Hood. Pay like $10 and you can use their lifts and basically any tools available. I've still yet to completely scope the place out.

Well, apparently they have a site.
++ Fort Hood FMWR ++ Sprocket Auto Crafts

 

[Kilgore Trout]

I wish we had something like that here.

 

[BurningRubber]

Boy that would be nice to have around here.

 

[COBRA90GT]

...What do you all think of the idea? Would you use a place like this?...

Seems like a really good idea, especially for those who need access to a lift.

I would definitely visit a place like that if one was close by.


However, I would be wary of leaving any vehicles or personally owned tools unattended overnight. Many of us are unfortunately familiar with the shady types who like to "borrow" things and fail to return them.

 

[lang williams]

We had those on the navy bases when I was in. I used it to mount my own tires an do a clutch in a prelude DD. Keeps cars from ending up on blocks in the barracks parking lots.

 

[Shiroelex]

Seems like a really good idea, especially for those who need access to a lift.

I would definitely visit a place like that if one was close by.


However, I would be wary of leaving any vehicles or personally owned tools unattended overnight. Many of us are unfortunately familiar with the shady types who like to "borrow" things and fail to return them.

There's one on Ford Road, west of Wayne. Not sure if it's still around, but I saw it last summer.

 

[flstang65]

We have something very similar to that here on Fort Hood. Pay like $10 and you can use their lifts and basically any tools available. I've still yet to completely scope the place out.

Well, apparently they have a site.
++ Fort Hood FMWR ++ Sprocket Auto Crafts

You are missing out. I spent many hours and days there when I was at Ft. Hood. They also have a welding shop, a/c shop and do your inspections there.

 

[darkhorse02]

There's one on Ford Road, west of Wayne. Not sure if it's still around, but I saw it last summer.

Yeah, it's gone now. Not enough business and stupid expensive rent.
I know the guy, I designed his logo, sign, and a web site for him.
It was a cool idea, my friends and I used it though

 

[d98gt]

Real interesting Surely a large city like Houston has one but I haven't heard of it

 

[patman0911]

I wish we had something like that here.

Boy that would be nice to have around here.

No kidding, something like that would be fantastic.

Working indoors with plenty of space and access to lifts and special tools and jacks?

 

[salprint]

We had one here a while back in Long Island, NY. But as usual someone got hurt there....sued the crap out of the owners and it was shut down.

 

[04DarkShadowGT]

That sounds like an insurance nightmare for the owner of the business. I guess at times it would be nice to be able to use a lift as a customer, but I wouldnt touch that business model with a 10ft pole.

You will have a bunch of yahoos ruining your tools, hurting themselves or others, and then you getting sued. No thank you.