Well It seems to work out fine on base.

If your car is left on the lift, they have all your info, and it is 6 dollars an hour while it is left on the lift.

The guys all tell you that you are on your own, and you sign something saying such.

Assholes dropped their car once. Everyone pretty much laughed at them, then proceeded to jump in with jacks and angry fists. It was all signed at the beginning, saying the shop was not responsible for asshattery. Although, the guy at the tool counter will gladly show you how to rack your car.

Oil/coolant spills are dealt with by telling you that the mess has to be cleaned, and disposed of before your hourly rate is done with. Proper disposal facilities and recepticals are provided...

You would get your ass chewed for dumping oil in the sink, and perma banned.

Really, there is no expert. That is the down side. There are just 2 guys watching you, and lending out tools. The expert advise is the hole in the beautiful theory the way I see it. It works out well, but the military crowd is far different from the jackhole ricer that might roll his 500 dollar car in pissing oil everywhere and blaming the guys for not helping him fix it. I think it is only possible when someone can call someone really high up, that can make your life hell, and tell them you were a douche pickle.

The good is there is always people there, some that know more, and some that know less, always willing to lend a hand even though their timer is ticking. Esprit de Corps I guess.

Plus.... the main thing, Is that they aren't in it to make money. I suspect that something similar would cost 15-20 dollars an hour in the civilian side, if not more. Also, car storage is 4 dollars a day if it isn't in a bay, but you continue to pay the hourly rate if it is left there. You also only have like 2-3 weeks before they take your crap for not paying. They don't play.

This is a nice idea, and a good reason to join the military.

That's exactly what came to my mind, I assumed it was an American phenomenon when I read it originally.

Yes a liability nightmare, you have those who don't have any tools or facilities at home doing who knows what on their car. I spent $200 on a 20x12 tent and laid a patio stone floor in my back yard to have storage / garage facilities at my first place where I put my car together. If these people can't figure cheap garage space out how are they (general clientèle) going to competently work on their cars and not lose things or not pay for space.

I foresee a new show "Storage wars: DIY Autoshop" following the widespread rollout of these shops.

And there's the rub.

In the civilian legal system, as soon as someone (especially an individual in a position of "authority" such as a shop owner) steps in and starts telling you what to do, that person has assumed liability for your actions.

Can you tell me how far a lawsuit would get if an enlisted soldier attempted to sue the on-base, non-profit military DIY auto shop for negligence? :giggle:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christine_(1983_film)

The hobby shop is one of the few things I really miss about the military. I use to be there enough they knew my name and what was on my car or buddies cars half the time. I could probably buy a lift for what I spent there over the years. Wish civilian ones could be the same. They won't be. Liability and idiots never mix. Chicksdigmiatas pretty much summed up the atmosphere there. Hell, I can't even find anyone local that even wants to hang in a garage for an afternoon on the civilian side. Course I don't get out much either.

The best part about working on a car is letting it sit on the lift for days, blasting B52s or Zeppelin while I smoke a cigar waiting for the PBBlaster to work, and getting pissed off to the point I start throwing things. I don't think I could handle the community atmosphere of a shop like that.

It sure wouldn't at all. You are held responsible for your own actions here. Not once you cross out of the gate. You can play the whiny sue happy card any day of the week. I was mainly highlighting why it works on base, and why it would not work in any other situation really.

Over here it is quite common with DIY-places. You can rent a lift and some larger equipment such as the tank to drain your oil in, jacks or similar. They never provide hand tools though. It is a quite popular alternative, since hourly labor at the dealerships is very expensive and during winter, working in your driveways isn't really an option.

But as we know, ther is a major difference is legal systems.

I joined the military to work on my car!!!!

HURRRRRRRR DURRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I work at a naval facility and we have one of these shops. It's really great to be able to rent a lift. I think it would be really awesome if somebody could make it work for the public. Maybe make it a club thing, so you have to be a member to use it, then you only have to insure members, you'll have all of their contact information.

I'm pretty sure the only way a LOT of things in the military work is that they don't have to worry about making a profit.

I have a coast guard friend that offered to get me into the service bays whenever I'd need to.


ScottFW, if you want a scissor lift and/or 4 post lift for your garage my parent's neighbor is selling his.