"unofficial" MNmazda garage co-op?

[dmention7]

So this morning in the chatbox, Dave (zerocool) mentioned the idea of renting a small "community" garage/workshop that members with limited access to their own garage could use for doing mods/maintenance--the cost to be shared among people who would be using the space. I have no idea how feasible the idea is, but I thought it was at least interesting enough to bring up in a thread.

Note: It is likely that the admins would not want to officially sponsor or endorse the project, because it could open up some liability issues, so this would be more of a co-op project than a site project.

Interested parties, feel free to discuss!

[mndsm]

I can see this being useful... although if someone leaves a car in pieces there, it could get ugly real quick.

[Picklz]

I think it would largely depend on what kind of space you could find and how much it would cost. If the price was low enough and it was well equipped it would be an attractive idea.

I would have been much more excited about the idea before getting a place w/ my own garage, but it's still got some merit if I had access to things I don't have here (Hoist, specialty tools, heat, etc)

Like Tom said there are a lot of details that would have to be worked out, how to schedule time, how long you can block the garage off for, do we share the space with other people, if so are we given a certain amount of time in the space, etc.

[dmention7]

Agreed, there would definitely have to be some well thought-out ground rules in place. But I think the biggest obstacle is going to be price. I don't know what kind of rental cost we'd be looking at, but I could easily see it being more than is practical for the dozen or so people who might be willing to commit to it.

[WhiteSpy9]

Agree w/ all which was already said......

If the price is right and the equipment is right, I'm in. I know this is probably not going to happen, but if we could snag something which we could wash/detail cars in as well, during the winter, this would be very nice.

[YSOSLO]

Has anyone checked to see if a space like this is even available and, if so, how much rent might be? Seems like worrying about scheduling time and making rules might be putting the cart ahead of the horse a bit. I might be interested in sub-leasing for a month of one persons's share if that ends up being an option down the road too.

[spek1098]

If it had a lift or a pit you could get people like me with a garage to work in to pitch in on it, but I think the biggest issue is finding a place like that that isn't thousands of dollars a month. You could go with a larger storage garage or something like that.

[04cobra]

I like the idea and would probably be in if there was a lift...as I always am looking to do things under my car and can never do it.

[Turbotalon1g]

^I like the black collection there.

What kind of work are you guys looking to do?

[aviateur]

Well after this last weekend I might need to install my old downpipe!

[zero cool]

I have looked into cheap spaces and it is entirely possible to rent a heated space for $600-800 a month. maybe less. it would not be very big. maybe at best the size of a 2 car garage. BUT, that should be enough space to work in for small projects. this would not be for extended projects like motor swaps etc. unless you are 100% sure it could be done in 2-3 days and the rest of the co-op agreed to it.

Other ways we might be able to do this is work something out with a shop like MAP etc. where we rent a stall for a day kind of thing.

it would be nice if the place had a clean floor and a drain. a lift would be mega but i wouldn't expect that for the $$ we could afford. But, swapping tires. brakes, car stereo stuff, winter cleaning/washing that sort of stuff is what i had in mind. a place to hang out at on Saturdays and talk cars.

There would have to be enough interested parties to make this work. at least 10-12 i would guess if not more. I have a large 30 gallon air compressor that could be kept there for people to use. but i would think it would have to be a bring your own tools sort of thing. tool just walk away too easy or get borrowed and never returned, broken etc.