Just used a new(ish) rent-a-ramp service.

[Ultra Sound Guy]

For those who want to diy, but don’t have the resources,
http://www.autobarnmotorservices.co.uk
https://m.facebook.com/Auto-barn-Motor-Services-Lt...
Just hired their ramp to work under my car. Saved me a lot of time and hassle (and didn’t have to lay on the freezing drive) and only cost £30 for two hours!
Helpful staff and clean workshop!
Probably get overlooked as the website doesn’t show much detail about the rent-a-ramp service!

NB, I have no connection with this garage, just offering a recommendation to those who need the service in the area!

[BIRMA]

Thanks for that, they are literally 1 minute away from me so I'll let some friends know too as we have been looking for this type of service for some time.

[doorman]

BIRMA said:

Thanks for that, they are literally 1 minute away from me so I'll let some friends know too as we have been looking for this type of service for some time.

Hey David, don't let everyone know as we will have a waiting list, how's that Phaeton of yours

[BIRMA]

doorman said:

Hey David, don't let everyone know as we will have a waiting list, how's that Phaeton of yours

Hi Dave, it went pop in a damp squib sort of way. I had agreed with Audi London to PX it for an ex Audi executives W12 A8, the car had every option possible to have and they offered a very good PX deal for the Phaeton.
Basically the week before the PX was due to take place we had a lot of heavy rain, I was unaware that the sunroof drain channels were blocked and that about 20 litres of water had collected around the sunroof frame. I live on a hill so when I took the car out and braked at the bottom of the road both the me and the car experienced a waterfall inside the car. The electrics went pop and despite the VCDS tool couldn't get it to work.
So I came clean with Audi London and the deal was off, stuck it on e-bay as a non runner and sold it in 5 minutes for £2.5K to some Eastern European guys, a very amusing story around the whole thing that I'll bore you with next time we have a pub gathering.

Edited by BIRMA on Monday 7th January 15:44

[doorman]

BIRMA said:

doorman said:

Hey David, don't let everyone know as we will have a waiting list, how's that Phaeton of yours

Hi Dave, it went pop in a damp squib sort of way. I had agreed with Audi London to PX it for an ex Audi executives W12 A8, the car had every option possible to have and they offered a very good PX deal for the Phaeton.
Basically the week before the PX was due to take place we had a lot of heavy rain, I was unaware that the sunroof drain channels were blocked and that about 20 litres of water had collected around the sunroof frame. I live on a hill so when I took the car out and braked at the bottom of the road both the car and me experienced a waterfall inside the car. The electrics went pop and despite the VCDS tool couldn't get it to work.
So I came clean with Audi London and the deal was off, stuck it on e-bay as a non runner and sold it in 5 minutes for £2.5K to some Eastern European guys, a very amusing story around the whole thing that I'll bore you with next time we have a pub gathering.

Oh wow, what a bummer, that was a brilliant motor. Look forward to the story re the guys who bought it.

[ElectricSoup]

Wish I could find something like this in Reading! Great service.

[NormalWisdom]

ElectricSoup said:

Wish I could find something like this in Reading! Great service.

Ditto!

[Dogwatch]

Used something similar in the 70's. Very handy but there were so many restrictions on what you could do - no brakes or steering etc. - that they weren't much use in the end and faded away.

[BIRMA]

Just finished a 2 hour hire period to fit a louder exhaust. These guys offer a very good service the lifts look like new and everything is clean plus there is plenty of area for your stuff to be scattered all over the place. As they are just up the road from me I'll be using the service again, well recommended.

[Ultra Sound Guy]

They have, indeed, fitted a new lift since my first visit!
Went there a couple of weeks back to sort my rear suspension, off there again next week to fit some new bushes to the front!

[Shnozz]

Great concept.

For those elsewhere in the country looking for a solution, have a look at nearby college courses in mechanics. They might be willing to rent facilities on the side or just do a course! I did a 10 week mechanics course that gave me full access to ultra modern facilities and tools to be able to undertake a load of work on my own car for no cost other than the course itself. Think it was about £350 for a ten week course and gave me access to a student card to boot which I probably saw more than £350 saved ha ha. Even just the labour saved on a full brake change on my car would have paid for the entire course (I live in an apartment so can’t get enough access in the underground car park to stick my car on stands).