Pit Start in London

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mandelbug
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Pit Start in London

Post by mandelbug »

Good morning,

OK I did do a search for this as I was going to add to it but there was no sign of it so will do a mini thing here :)

http://www.pitstartgarage.com/

Anyway, the premises were clean and tidy, ramp seemed pretty decent. I only needed a strong arm (mine was in Manchester lol) to get the bolts undone but they do have a wide selection of tools available including things like gearbox lifters, exhaust stands etc. As I don't have a garage I am normally using a mates garage or my dads to do work. I can see this place being a really good venue to use, open 24/7 as well meaning you can call in any time etc.

They offer a small discount if you take your own tools and will even dispose of the old parts for you (fantastic, no lugging the cat-back single piece from London to Manchester :D). The staff were friendly and even able to offer little bits of advice when you find you are in the inevitable battle with something. Once you go over the initial hour you are charged by the minute after that rather than ah well you were 2 mins into the next hour please pay full amount.

Before people start with the ha ha ha I just throw mine in at work, this is aimed at the hobby people that don't have ready access to a ramp. Has anyone else tried this place at all? What are other's views on it.

I will admit I am impressed and have signed up for a membership at the place, which was half price before the new year. This entitles me to full use of all the tools, a bay costs £10 for 14 hours use and a ramp costs £20 for 14 hours use. The only thing I have to pay for are the bits they sell like oil, washers, bulbs and the like.
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Welly
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by Welly »

Great idea if you have the know how but not the space - loads of jobs (including oil changes) are much easier if you can get the thing up in the air.

As you know sometimes a repair can go wrong and leave the car stranded on the ramp - that could get expensive so you'd have to be really sure you knew what you were doing and had everything you need beforehand.

Good idea though.
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mjb
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by mjb »

Yeah, seen this advertised in Car Mechanics magazine. B***ards, I was half thinking of starting my own business like that if I ever got made redundant again... :lol:
mandelbug wrote:open 24/7 as well meaning you can call in any time etc.
:shock:

Sometimes I'd KILL to have access to a ramp...
<steve_earwig> I think this forum is more about keeping our cars going with minimal outlay than giving our cars more reason to go bang
mandelbug
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by mandelbug »

The 24 hour access is a winner. I have spent a fair bit of time there working on my Nissan 200, did the big end shells, full coil over install, full adjustable arms installation, new exhaust, and on the Pug have attempted a brake bleed although i suspect the BMC is at fault.

Overall I love going there, the 28 hours (2 14 hour stints) doing the big end shells and suspension has already more than paid for a full price membership let alone the half price membership I took out.

When I get a replacement cat for the pug, will go there, throw it on the ramp and swap it out easy as pie :) and while I am under the car swap the oil and filter especially as they dispose of it all :)
teamster1975
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by teamster1975 »

It's a bloody good idea! They were mentioned in the local news some time last year, oh to have access to ramps rather than struggling with axle stands!
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mandelbug
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by mandelbug »

It seems to be doing well and if I had the capitol I would open one up myself :)
jasper5
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by jasper5 »

There is something similar to this not far from me here in Lancashire.

BTW Matt, if you are desperate for a ramp, it could be arranged.
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VND
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by VND »

jasper5 wrote:There is something similar to this not far from me here in Lancashire.

BTW Matt, if you are desperate for a ramp, it could be arranged.
Intalesting.
Do you have a link for the service at all?
Lancs is a lot closer to me than the Big Smoke.
And undersides never get enough attention.
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jasper5
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by jasper5 »

I saw it in our local paper recently, I'll try to find out more about it for you over the next couple of days.
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peugeot406rapier
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by peugeot406rapier »

I have used this place before its fantastic, i used it do a full service, replace the exhaust and all discs, pads, wheel cylinders and shoes on my first car, i was there ALL day on a ramp and it cost me little over £20 and as you said they got rid of all the old parts a lubicants its a fantastic money spinning idea its just a big empty warehouse with ramps and tool boxes, but ever since then ive used my old technical college's private ramps in their practical assessment place in East London so free of charge and if im feeling lazy i can let the apprentices do what ever work i need to do as part of their own assessments, i was exploited the same way a few years back when i was training so why not use it to my advantage? :lol:
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mandelbug
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Re: Pit Start in London

Post by mandelbug »

Don't blame you for the change of tactic to get a free ramp and even exploit people learning :) Glad I aint the only one that really enjoys the place though
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