London's DIY Garage
Discussion
Pit Start is UK's first fully equipped self service garage. We have state-of-the-art hydraulic ramps & engine lifts, free tool hire and 24 hour access. You can work on your car however and whenever you want! This means you are fully in control of what gets done and when it gets done and how much it costs.
• 6 Four post lifts
• 20 Bays
• Free Tool Hire
• Service your own car all from £10/hour
• Open 7 days a week 24 hours a day*
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Exclusive Offer:
Pay for the first hour and receive your second hour FREE
Plus FREE anti-freeze with every visit
Be sure to quote "PIT 101" at time of payment.
Offer valid until December 31st 2009
www.pitstartgarage.com
38 Standard Rd. Park Royal London NW10 6EU
0208 827 1919
*Reservations needed between 10pm and 8am
SPONSORED THREAD
Great, but I live in the North East where there is massive deprevation and this kind of facility is just the sort of thing needed up here; mind, you wouldn't get away with charging £10 per hour, but then property is cheaper. So when do we get one?
Edited by radlet6 on Saturday 7th November 09:48
Actually a really good idea for the public,who without Skilled technicians or trademen can do a crap job with only have themselves to blame!
There are the safety issues to consider and the safety of other road users. Say some numpty cross threads his replacement brake pipes or whatever.Whose fault is that? definetly yours.Seriously,My guess is this has been set up by a garage franchise who will offer to repair the `numpty` cock up professionally at vast cost , or carry out basic diagnostics for you at rip off prices. I think you would be foolish not to consider the whole picture. Not everything is as it seems.
Most of us in the trade actually take pride in what we do and take safety seriously . Thankfully , most of the public recognise our professionalism, though a great many of you fail to even acknowlege it.
You want our experience but you refuse pay for it, or support the trade in the downturn. Only when it goes wrong do we see the home mechanic. Believe me it goes wrong more times for them than I care to remember. Still we offer to help out.
The public could do better by promoting good experiences, supporting the services the aftermarket offer. We all have families, we employ people and in our own way we support the country and the economy.Try it!
There are the safety issues to consider and the safety of other road users. Say some numpty cross threads his replacement brake pipes or whatever.Whose fault is that? definetly yours.Seriously,My guess is this has been set up by a garage franchise who will offer to repair the `numpty` cock up professionally at vast cost , or carry out basic diagnostics for you at rip off prices. I think you would be foolish not to consider the whole picture. Not everything is as it seems.
Most of us in the trade actually take pride in what we do and take safety seriously . Thankfully , most of the public recognise our professionalism, though a great many of you fail to even acknowlege it.
You want our experience but you refuse pay for it, or support the trade in the downturn. Only when it goes wrong do we see the home mechanic. Believe me it goes wrong more times for them than I care to remember. Still we offer to help out.
The public could do better by promoting good experiences, supporting the services the aftermarket offer. We all have families, we employ people and in our own way we support the country and the economy.Try it!
RW774 said:
Actually a really good idea for the public,who without Skilled technicians or trademen can do a crap job with only have themselves to blame!
There are the safety issues to consider and the safety of other road users. Say some numpty cross threads his replacement brake pipes or whatever.Whose fault is that? definetly yours.Seriously,My guess is this has been set up by a garage franchise who will offer to repair the `numpty` cock up professionally at vast cost , or carry out basic diagnostics for you at rip off prices. I think you would be foolish not to consider the whole picture. Not everything is as it seems.
Most of us in the trade actually take pride in what we do and take safety seriously . Thankfully , most of the public recognise our professionalism, though a great many of you fail to even acknowlege it.
You want our experience but you refuse pay for it, or support the trade in the downturn. Only when it goes wrong do we see the home mechanic. Believe me it goes wrong more times for them than I care to remember. Still we offer to help out.
The public could do better by promoting good experiences, supporting the services the aftermarket offer. We all have families, we employ people and in our own way we support the country and the economy.Try it!
as a private owner of a classic car, I'd think this to be a good idea whose time has come..There are the safety issues to consider and the safety of other road users. Say some numpty cross threads his replacement brake pipes or whatever.Whose fault is that? definetly yours.Seriously,My guess is this has been set up by a garage franchise who will offer to repair the `numpty` cock up professionally at vast cost , or carry out basic diagnostics for you at rip off prices. I think you would be foolish not to consider the whole picture. Not everything is as it seems.
Most of us in the trade actually take pride in what we do and take safety seriously . Thankfully , most of the public recognise our professionalism, though a great many of you fail to even acknowlege it.
You want our experience but you refuse pay for it, or support the trade in the downturn. Only when it goes wrong do we see the home mechanic. Believe me it goes wrong more times for them than I care to remember. Still we offer to help out.
The public could do better by promoting good experiences, supporting the services the aftermarket offer. We all have families, we employ people and in our own way we support the country and the economy.Try it!
but as a retired AA patrol who spent many a stupid wasted Sunday afternoon trying to put right the ravages of Sunday morning DIYing so the muppet could get to work the next day, or towed to a garage that afternoon, I have to say I reckon this IS a Major disaster waiting to happen.
I'm sure the liability insurance premium for this place must be astronomical.
(now if there was one in Brum I might use it myself, but TBQH most of the jobs I think will take an hour or two tend to take double or treble these days. Old age creeps up on us all...)
the idea?
No it frightens me...
I don't think this will make more people attempt DIY repairs, it will just save enthusiasts from lying on a sloping street in the freezing cold with water running down their neck!
Not everyone can afford or have access to a garage or even a house with a drive. I used to have a drive and garage and enjoyed doing haynes manual repairs to my mk1 mx5 - my new house I will have to park on the road and this type of facility would be great if it was closer to home.
Cheers.
Not everyone can afford or have access to a garage or even a house with a drive. I used to have a drive and garage and enjoyed doing haynes manual repairs to my mk1 mx5 - my new house I will have to park on the road and this type of facility would be great if it was closer to home.
Cheers.
Good logic man, best get the AA to set up next door, I`ve a feeling they will be busy.Its a license to print money elsewhere, especially when the the jobs in the workshop go wrong and HAVE to be farmed out. If there is one resident `expert` on site, it will be his job to make referals to the head garage for the complex work, even if it is NOT complex to fix, the man in the street will not know either way and will be charged the earth. Collection, delivery, storage and tech time,etc etc
I see the owners have yet to respond.
I see the owners have yet to respond.
Speaking as a "home mechanic" if I start a job I always finish it and always finish it properly. Even if it takes me weeks due to having to source parts, get machining done or being a much bigger job than I was expecting (I could tell some stories).
Cross thread brake pipes? I'm not a gorilla, I know when something isn't doing up properly on a thread as I always clean threads out before refitting things.
Cross thread brake pipes? I'm not a gorilla, I know when something isn't doing up properly on a thread as I always clean threads out before refitting things.
Was'nt there a place called I-Tuned somewhere in Suffolk/Norfolk along the same lines? The website seems to be dead now so maybe it did'nt work out for them.
As an ex car mechanic I do not like paying garages to do work I can do myself. But, the older I get the more I dislike crawling around on the drive changing oil, pads etc so I may look into this.
As an ex car mechanic I do not like paying garages to do work I can do myself. But, the older I get the more I dislike crawling around on the drive changing oil, pads etc so I may look into this.
I think it's a good idea, I wish it were nearer me as I'd use it for sure, no point paying someone to change brake pads or do an oil change when it pretty straight forward! I get basic jobs done on my gravel driveway, but there are times (like changing my thermostat) where a covered space with a ramp would be very very useful!
Probably is good value for the average numpty job, but what about insurance?, ramp condition, condition of the car on the ramp or that which is on the opposite ramp, parts delivery time or wrong parts. All chargeable down time in this place, we in the trade have to absorb it if it happens to us. You would be in uproar if the trade charged for that time, yet here you will HAVE to pay for it.
There is an increasing number of numpties working on parts distribution these days.Good that you will bear what we have to put up with everyday.
Indeed I have heard of this scheme before, and it did fail some years back.
The former AA patrolman was right.Safety standards ?,thats down to YOU! . Heaven help us.!!the horror, the horrors............
Are you Insured for doing your own repairs?,public liability? ,just incase you get in a muddle have to drive your shed out with no brakes or whatever just to save a few quid!accident? thats down to you . We garages have that standard Insurance cover in place, do you?, of course not.
There is an increasing number of numpties working on parts distribution these days.Good that you will bear what we have to put up with everyday.
Indeed I have heard of this scheme before, and it did fail some years back.
The former AA patrolman was right.Safety standards ?,thats down to YOU! . Heaven help us.!!the horror, the horrors............
Are you Insured for doing your own repairs?,public liability? ,just incase you get in a muddle have to drive your shed out with no brakes or whatever just to save a few quid!accident? thats down to you . We garages have that standard Insurance cover in place, do you?, of course not.
NeilB12 said:
Was'nt there a place called I-Tuned somewhere in Suffolk/Norfolk along the same lines? The website seems to be dead now so maybe it did'nt work out for them.
As an ex car mechanic I do not like paying garages to do work I can do myself. But, the older I get the more I dislike crawling around on the drive changing oil, pads etc so I may look into this.
There was one somewhere else but it was very little used. They had mechanics on hand to "assist" but they just ended up doing all the work.As an ex car mechanic I do not like paying garages to do work I can do myself. But, the older I get the more I dislike crawling around on the drive changing oil, pads etc so I may look into this.
onomatopoeia said:
RW774 said:
Are you Insured for doing your own repairs?
Please explain exactly what insurance I require to work on my own car using my own tools in my own garage.Ask the Highways bod if you have an RTA and the car gets examined and found to have been badly repaired
Your car insurance will not cover you.
and you won't have a Garage Owner's Liabilty Cover to protect you if you are deemed to be at fault. What if there is a fatal? Even if you didn't cause it you'd be an unprotected target.
Can of worms, I'm afraid
Shame though, I do like the idea, but...
If you are working in a commercial enviroment, such as this garage/ business shown here, surely you would have to sign a disclaimer for your own repairs.
I question the Insurance factor. You don`t have to have any insurance to carry out your own repairs, but in the event of an accident caused by shoddy repairs or faulty parts, you would personally would be liable. Just the same if your garage carried out a bad repair or suffered faulty parts, which in turn led to an accident. Thats the whole point of having Public liability insurance.
Most home mechanics don`t have it.Seems you haven`t either, so check it out. Hence my point regarding the safety of others.We Trade have that protection, we need it by Law.
Agreed not everyone is inept, but must accept the fact that your own repairs are your own responsibilty legally.
I question the Insurance factor. You don`t have to have any insurance to carry out your own repairs, but in the event of an accident caused by shoddy repairs or faulty parts, you would personally would be liable. Just the same if your garage carried out a bad repair or suffered faulty parts, which in turn led to an accident. Thats the whole point of having Public liability insurance.
Most home mechanics don`t have it.Seems you haven`t either, so check it out. Hence my point regarding the safety of others.We Trade have that protection, we need it by Law.
Agreed not everyone is inept, but must accept the fact that your own repairs are your own responsibilty legally.
Dear Pistonhead Members,
Thank you very much for your interest in Pit Start.
In an attempt to address a few of the topics that have been raised we thought it best to provide you with further information on Pit Start.
Pit Start is not looking to take the place of skilled professionals. In fact we have serveral mechanics that use our facilities as their own work shop and have affectively set up their own business within Pit Start. In addition, the solution we are offering to customers, outside the trade, is a fully equipped workshop. We offer a solution to those that are knowledgeable and skilled in basic car maintence. We provide the opporuntity for these custmers to work on their car in a comfortable, heated and fully equipped workshop as apposed to the street or thier own garage.
In respect to questions on liability insurance be assures that we are fully insured. We also have rigorous health and safety procedures in place. For specific information please feel free to contact us.
There was also some questions regarding ramp condition, parts delivery time and what happens if the wrong parts are delivered. The ramps which were purchased new in May, undergo weekly maintenance checks. We offer a direct line to Euro Car Parts (as well as several other local specialised suppliers) and they deliver to Pit Start within 45mins. You can also order in advance of your arrival, through us, to ensure they are here upon your arrival. If for whatever reason the part that arrives is not what you ordered (which has yet to happen) we will stop the clock on your bay or ramp rental until the correct part arrives.
Finally rest assured that there are always resident experts on site however Pit Start is design for people just like you – people with a passion for cars!
If you would like any further information please feel free to contact us and remember until Dec 31st your second hour is FREE.
We be announcing a classic car open day shortly. Come with your car and friends to check us out and use our facilities free of charge for the day.
Kind regards,
The Pit Start Team
www.pitstartgarage.com
Thank you very much for your interest in Pit Start.
In an attempt to address a few of the topics that have been raised we thought it best to provide you with further information on Pit Start.
Pit Start is not looking to take the place of skilled professionals. In fact we have serveral mechanics that use our facilities as their own work shop and have affectively set up their own business within Pit Start. In addition, the solution we are offering to customers, outside the trade, is a fully equipped workshop. We offer a solution to those that are knowledgeable and skilled in basic car maintence. We provide the opporuntity for these custmers to work on their car in a comfortable, heated and fully equipped workshop as apposed to the street or thier own garage.
In respect to questions on liability insurance be assures that we are fully insured. We also have rigorous health and safety procedures in place. For specific information please feel free to contact us.
There was also some questions regarding ramp condition, parts delivery time and what happens if the wrong parts are delivered. The ramps which were purchased new in May, undergo weekly maintenance checks. We offer a direct line to Euro Car Parts (as well as several other local specialised suppliers) and they deliver to Pit Start within 45mins. You can also order in advance of your arrival, through us, to ensure they are here upon your arrival. If for whatever reason the part that arrives is not what you ordered (which has yet to happen) we will stop the clock on your bay or ramp rental until the correct part arrives.
Finally rest assured that there are always resident experts on site however Pit Start is design for people just like you – people with a passion for cars!
If you would like any further information please feel free to contact us and remember until Dec 31st your second hour is FREE.
We be announcing a classic car open day shortly. Come with your car and friends to check us out and use our facilities free of charge for the day.
Kind regards,
The Pit Start Team
www.pitstartgarage.com
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