garage co-op, do they exist?

[92ex4dr]

i have always questioned / wondered if co-op or membership based garages or shops existed . a place you take your car and some parts and work on your car . a space that supplied all the tools some lifts basically a full set up shop. have always thought this would be a cool idea but i can also see all the problems that would exist.

i never seen a place like this but its a big world , curious to know if there's anything like this out there?

[SOHC-FTW]

5th gear had an episode of just what you're asking about...... season 16 episode 4.

http://www.streetfire.net/video/fift...ode_693289.htm

Skip to about 7mins in.

[Fleetw00d]

Used to be a place near me called "Painter's Lane". It had lifts, welding equipment, paint booth, powder coating equipment, etc. You paid an annual fee for access to the work bays, I think a little extra for use of some of the equipment. They had guys who worked there to help, but it was mostly DIY. About the time I was considering repairing my 90, they moved. Quick search indicates that they no longer exist - too bad.

[Accrdwgnguy]

There is a garage in Nashua that you pay an hourly fee to rent a bay, the garage is fully equipped as well.

[JBradley500]

Those garage owners can be real sticklers.

[92ex4dr]

that bit in that fifth gear episode is basically what i am talking about. i really wish there was a chain of them around were i live. it would make working on my car so much more enjoyable.i worked at a shop in Michigan , i just recently moved to new York for work in the oil industry. i went from a pretty unlimited use of my bosses shop as well as any tools to basic hand tools and a cheap floor jack in the driveway .

[JBradley500]

Elmira is very near where i am from and my family is still living. If i can think of something to help you i'll let you know.

[92ex4dr]

Elmira is very near where i am from and my family is still living. If i can think of something to help you i'll let you know.

what area are you from?

this whole deal with car inspections is new to me , i am just glad NY's isn't to strict.

in Michigan it isn't rare to see a car with more air space and rust than actual sheet metal, you don't see that as much around here , i think in part to less harsh weather and their car inspections.

[JBradley500]

I am from about 50 miles north west of there.. kind of where 86 and 390 meet. I was thinking of Corning when i said i was close. I forget that elmira and corning are not really that close together. Now i live in illinois.

[mappyCB7]

yeah that would be cool. I used to be able to go to an after school automotive program where they would not only let you work on your car but they would teach you how to do it better and help you solve any problem. you could also work on other cars s well. I would be there with my friends every week day and we'd work on eachothers cars. They had ten lifts if I recall correctly, a full set of tools for each station, even a parts store in house. They had it all there. It was completely free too! till the economy took a shit. First went the parts store, then we were charged a small 20 dollar fee per semester which was more than fine by me, and finally about two years after highschool the program lost funding and it was done for. I guess it was because not enough people signed up for it it was a real shame. I would pay $100 per semester if they would bring that program/shop back. I still drive by there and the shop is still open I see a few people in there every now and then but I talked to my shop teacher and he said he no longer works there and that it's stictly for base use (its located at an old air base).

[BurninCB7]

http://fayar.craigslist.org/pts/2805866725.html

This shop just popped up around here about 3 weeks ago. I thought it was a radical business idea, and I am considering opening my own shop. Of course, one must follow the money...

[ninethreecoupe]

get a friend in the military. some bases like where i live have auto hobby shops with paint booth, welding booth, just about every tool needed.

[noahrexion]

get a friend in the military. some bases like where i live have auto hobby shops with paint booth, welding booth, just about every tool needed.

Oh ya! I remember the Navy base in Pensacola had a great shop. I loved using it!

[xkjnboix]

join the military u can use the lifts or garage bays and air tools for like 5$ an hour =P

[Honda_Lady]

my mom first learned about shops like that in the Army and using that information i was thinking about opening that kind of shop in my area with instructions for those that need it. i have talked to plenty of people in my area that would love to learn and save some money on their cars. (of course need the money to start it first.)