Workshops/Storage in London
Discussion
How much would people be willing to pay for a workshop/storage space in London?
I want to work on my truck but need a proper place to store it, not a poxy London garage that barely fits a Smart car (apologies to all Smart car owners).
Then I got to thinking that a lot of cars are only worked on by their owners and sometimes the hourly labout rate of a car in London can be as much as a weekly hire of a garage :O If you think that a lot of exotic/rare car owners only do work to their own high standards then surely there are a lot of people that would like to use a facility like this?
So would anyone be interested in partnering up to rent a warehouse where they could store tools, work on their cars and interact with other owners?
I believe this idea works in the US but I haven't seen anything in the UK.
There is no upper limit on numbers due to economies of scale but obviously a location would have tbc.
I'm just curious to se if anyone would be interested.
Please reply with your thoughts or PM me!
Thanks!
Mark
GMC Typhoon owner
I want to work on my truck but need a proper place to store it, not a poxy London garage that barely fits a Smart car (apologies to all Smart car owners).
Then I got to thinking that a lot of cars are only worked on by their owners and sometimes the hourly labout rate of a car in London can be as much as a weekly hire of a garage :O If you think that a lot of exotic/rare car owners only do work to their own high standards then surely there are a lot of people that would like to use a facility like this?
So would anyone be interested in partnering up to rent a warehouse where they could store tools, work on their cars and interact with other owners?
I believe this idea works in the US but I haven't seen anything in the UK.
There is no upper limit on numbers due to economies of scale but obviously a location would have tbc.
I'm just curious to se if anyone would be interested.
Please reply with your thoughts or PM me!
Thanks!
Mark
GMC Typhoon owner
This is something that I have liked the idea of ever since I saw an article about some guys doing in in the US. I also saw something similar in Italy. I've always wanted to do it myself but most of my friends are not that much into cars and the ones that are don't live in London.
I think the main issue would be finding the right space in London, relatively central, and the cost. Other issues may arise in doing this with 'strangers' as people's expectations differ from each other, although this could be mitigated by getting to know each other first and agreeing on things (even having an outline of the 'rules'). I think the ideal size is around 3 to 5 cars/people.
Have you spoken to many others about this?
I think the main issue would be finding the right space in London, relatively central, and the cost. Other issues may arise in doing this with 'strangers' as people's expectations differ from each other, although this could be mitigated by getting to know each other first and agreeing on things (even having an outline of the 'rules'). I think the ideal size is around 3 to 5 cars/people.
Have you spoken to many others about this?
You're the first person that has replied! I hope that is because people are busy rather than disinterested.
The way I was looking at doing it if I am honest was by starting a business.
People won't necessarily want to be tied in to renting a space for a year or two as the size of garage needed to work on a car is very different from keeping one.
I was thinking of setting it up and offering people a space in a warehouse with some metal caging for tools/car etc for either a daily-->weekly-->monthly-->annual rate (decreasing cost left to right).
it's all a bit hazy right now but that means people could tailor their usage.
To give you an idea of costs, I have been on gumtree and parklet and for a tiny garage you can pay £200 per month (2oo sq ft max). A warehouse I have seen with 2500 sq ft is available in Hackney for 1400 per month. Assuming you need a 400 sq ft of space (20 x 20), that means 6 people in the warehouse = 240 or so per month.
There are other sizes/prices/areas.
Rates includes, elec, 3 phase power etc etc.... Insurance?
If you vary the cage size then you can have less or more.
I'd pay £300 to work on my car, have it secure and have all my tools.
As with everything you get economies of scale - 3-5 is ok for a club and if that's all you get then fine, but if there were more people then it gets cheaper. I wouldn't expect people to have to or want to sign up to leases for years at a time, hence me taking it on as a business idea...
In terms of location I think people would need to be realistic and expect at least a 30-40 min ride (car/tube/bus/bike) but the location would be tailored for people spending a day out. Internet, tv, refreshments etc.
Bring your kids and teach them to change a tyre etc
It would be good to generate some interest in this and do something productive with my weekends
What do you think?
The way I was looking at doing it if I am honest was by starting a business.
People won't necessarily want to be tied in to renting a space for a year or two as the size of garage needed to work on a car is very different from keeping one.
I was thinking of setting it up and offering people a space in a warehouse with some metal caging for tools/car etc for either a daily-->weekly-->monthly-->annual rate (decreasing cost left to right).
it's all a bit hazy right now but that means people could tailor their usage.
To give you an idea of costs, I have been on gumtree and parklet and for a tiny garage you can pay £200 per month (2oo sq ft max). A warehouse I have seen with 2500 sq ft is available in Hackney for 1400 per month. Assuming you need a 400 sq ft of space (20 x 20), that means 6 people in the warehouse = 240 or so per month.
There are other sizes/prices/areas.
Rates includes, elec, 3 phase power etc etc.... Insurance?
If you vary the cage size then you can have less or more.
I'd pay £300 to work on my car, have it secure and have all my tools.
As with everything you get economies of scale - 3-5 is ok for a club and if that's all you get then fine, but if there were more people then it gets cheaper. I wouldn't expect people to have to or want to sign up to leases for years at a time, hence me taking it on as a business idea...
In terms of location I think people would need to be realistic and expect at least a 30-40 min ride (car/tube/bus/bike) but the location would be tailored for people spending a day out. Internet, tv, refreshments etc.
Bring your kids and teach them to change a tyre etc
It would be good to generate some interest in this and do something productive with my weekends
What do you think?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/norfolk/content/articles/2009...
See if this venture is still going?
Should give you an idea if it can work if nothing else.
See if this venture is still going?
Should give you an idea if it can work if nothing else.
Edited by ThatPhilBrettGuy on Friday 15th May 10:18
Quickstop said:
I'd pay £300 to work on my car, have it secure and have all my tools.
I live in NW3 and can get a lock up/ garage in my area (10min walk) for around £200 /month. If I drive 10min north to N2/NW11 I can get the same for around £80/month. So, personally, £300/month is considerably more than I would be willing to spend as it means around £2400 to allow me to do my own work on my car (plus the cost of parts and tools etc). At that rate it would be substantially cheaper to have it serviced by a main dealer.I think that the economics of doing this anywhere readily accessible in London will make it very hard to work out, especially for cars (could be easier for motorbikes as you can get many more in the same space).
I take your point. I'm in E14 and can't get anything in the area for less than 300 so I'm just comparing and throwing out ideas.
300 per month is a lot but if it were per hour or a daily rate then it is much cheaper.
I don't imagine there'd be many people wanting to keep their car in a place like that for 300 pcm.
However, if it were a large restoration or project, you need space, and a large restoration is considerably more expensive than 2400 for a year if you include all the labour etc.
Perhaps more people would be interested if it were a "by the day" thing with tools for hire etc.
I spoke with the guy in Norwich and he had a lot going on, not just storage. Like anything it would need to be diversified.
Going back to the reason I begain looking into this, where can you get a double garage for 80 pcm? :O
300 per month is a lot but if it were per hour or a daily rate then it is much cheaper.
I don't imagine there'd be many people wanting to keep their car in a place like that for 300 pcm.
However, if it were a large restoration or project, you need space, and a large restoration is considerably more expensive than 2400 for a year if you include all the labour etc.
Perhaps more people would be interested if it were a "by the day" thing with tools for hire etc.
I spoke with the guy in Norwich and he had a lot going on, not just storage. Like anything it would need to be diversified.
Going back to the reason I begain looking into this, where can you get a double garage for 80 pcm? :O
I was speaking to someone the other week in E14 whos brother/friend* was planning on doing the same - was basically looking to open a garage with all 4-post lifts, etc that could be hired by the hour/day/etc for people to work on their cars. Don't know if you're the same person or not - do you know a diabetic Eric?
Let me know how you get on as I'm local to E14 and...under a car on axle stands in a communal underground carpark that has the leaking waste pipes from the buildings above running across the ceiling is NOT my favourite place to be!
- I had drunk an awful lot of Pimms when this conversation came around
Let me know how you get on as I'm local to E14 and...under a car on axle stands in a communal underground carpark that has the leaking waste pipes from the buildings above running across the ceiling is NOT my favourite place to be!
Edited by //j17 on Wednesday 20th May 15:08
I don't know a diabetic Eric so I am assuming it wasn't me
Where are you and what do you work on? If you're in E14 maybe we could meet up for Pimms or otherwise to mull this idea over.
I called the guy in Norwich and he is the only person in the UK that does this. I am amazed.
My flat is near Limehouse and if I get my truck MOTd this weekend or next then I'll be in London with it soon.
I am considering writing a business plan in the enxt month or two - commercial property is much cheaper now and there are some huge spaces available.
Gumtree has a few interesting places.
I think I can get the price below £200 a month for a large space, secured, with tools for hire/share. Any excess could go towards lifts etc and reinvestment. Need to get a few more people involved though.
I am very keen to hear peeople's thoughts on this.
I saw a guy yesterday working on a Dolomite? (no idea how to spell it, never heard of them before) and he wasn't keen on the cost but there are bound to be some expensive/rare cars that people would do the work on themselves.
Where are you and what do you work on? If you're in E14 maybe we could meet up for Pimms or otherwise to mull this idea over.
I called the guy in Norwich and he is the only person in the UK that does this. I am amazed.
My flat is near Limehouse and if I get my truck MOTd this weekend or next then I'll be in London with it soon.
I am considering writing a business plan in the enxt month or two - commercial property is much cheaper now and there are some huge spaces available.
Gumtree has a few interesting places.
I think I can get the price below £200 a month for a large space, secured, with tools for hire/share. Any excess could go towards lifts etc and reinvestment. Need to get a few more people involved though.
I am very keen to hear peeople's thoughts on this.
I saw a guy yesterday working on a Dolomite? (no idea how to spell it, never heard of them before) and he wasn't keen on the cost but there are bound to be some expensive/rare cars that people would do the work on themselves.
Edited by GMC Typhoon on Monday 2nd May 17:22
That would be me!
I think it's a very good idea, however the price is a problem, as spending £2,880 a year to store my £300 Dolomite is a little crazy.
However, I would be interested to say, rent a space as and when needed. Then if the car broke, or needed to be worked on, I could rent a space for a month and do the work rather than fumble about at the side of the road...
I think it's a very good idea, however the price is a problem, as spending £2,880 a year to store my £300 Dolomite is a little crazy.
However, I would be interested to say, rent a space as and when needed. Then if the car broke, or needed to be worked on, I could rent a space for a month and do the work rather than fumble about at the side of the road...
Edited by Howard81 on Wednesday 20th May 17:00
Edited by Howard81 on Wednesday 20th May 17:01
glad you logged on mate
the idea would be that you could rent the space for e month or a day or a year with rates according to the length of time
I found a MASSIVE (££££££££££
)place on Blackwall trading estate not far from you and I which would be perfect.I just need to generate a bit more interest and if i can get enough of a feel for it then I'd go ahead and take on a lease for a year.
the idea would be that you could rent the space for e month or a day or a year with rates according to the length of time
I found a MASSIVE (££££££££££
)place on Blackwall trading estate not far from you and I which would be perfect.I just need to generate a bit more interest and if i can get enough of a feel for it then I'd go ahead and take on a lease for a year.I'm in Wapping with a Triumph 2.5PI (Dolomites - pha! 
)
This weekend I'll mainly be changing diffs, bathing in/drinking EP90 gear oil and discovering how heavy the diff is by dropping it on something soft and fleshy - well that's how these things normally go.
)This weekend I'll mainly be changing diffs, bathing in/drinking EP90 gear oil and discovering how heavy the diff is by dropping it on something soft and fleshy - well that's how these things normally go.
Edited by //j17 on Friday 22 May 16:31
This is a good idea i like the pit start that would really appeal to me as there are times when i could really do with not doing the work on the drive location is key as is price i think it would need to be 24 hours if your doing daily/hourly renting as little things can turn into big problems and take longer than expected. also being able to rent tools rather than having to lug tools with you airlines and guns also a great help but these arent cheap
how big is a double garage in terms of sq foot approximately? Just trying to guess how much space I actually need...
I like Pitstart but as the post above says, things don't go by the hour so you need to be able to leave your car somewhere for a few days in certain scenarios.
Pitstart is an awesome idea - hope they do well. Damn, beaten to it...
I really need to get this sorted - I drove my truck this weekend and now have minor niggling electrical probs before my MOT and Santa Pod!!
At present the car is in Cornwall (6 hour train ride - £80 return). I't never going to get finished if I don't move it to London.
I like Pitstart but as the post above says, things don't go by the hour so you need to be able to leave your car somewhere for a few days in certain scenarios.
Pitstart is an awesome idea - hope they do well. Damn, beaten to it...
I really need to get this sorted - I drove my truck this weekend and now have minor niggling electrical probs before my MOT and Santa Pod!!
At present the car is in Cornwall (6 hour train ride - £80 return). I't never going to get finished if I don't move it to London.
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