[Dave-ROR]

Originally Posted by rice_classic

I've been growingly more and more interested in this business model.

Have you visited one? Would you?

example: http://stewsgarage.com/

A lot of folks talk about how they "like to do their own repairs" so it stands to reason that cheap time in a bay with a lift with provided tools would be palpable for many especially those living in an apartment or those who just don't own a bunch tools.

What I'm seeing is the trend toward a hybrid offering:
-Self service
-Assisted service for a few bucks more (basically a mechanic advises)
-Full Service

Your thoughts?

The best way to do this is to really be a shop and offer this on the side with proper liability insurance because I don't think you'd make enough without it being a shop most of the time.


Having said that, I've helped a buddy with his car at a fab shop that does do this on the side. It's good, although I have better tools so having to bring my tools to work on his car at some random shop kinda blows. Normally I use a buddy's lift (free in exchange for all the car work I've helped him with over the past 15 years) but that's gone currently (selling the house it was at and building a new garage on his new property) so I'm back to jackstands and crap. For any work that would require a lift I would do the lift rental thing but only if I knew I could be done with it quickly so I wouldn't do a full car rebuild, engine rebuild, etc in a situation where I have to rent a lift. Minor work it's not worth my time vs jackstands, etc. So for me, if it's free rock on, but for a fee it has to be just the right job that's far easier with a lift but won't take more than a night.