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Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:37 pm

I live in an Apartment complex, and they are really anal about people working on their cars. And I don't really have anywhere else to work on it, would it be possible to rent a storage unit and work on it there? Or do they not allow that? I just would like some place that will allow me to go late nights and work on it. Any info would be awesome!

Thu Apr 26, 2012 4:44 pm

If it's big enough to fit a car, how would they ever know? However, I don't know specifically about Nashville, but storage units can be pricey. Check Craigslist for a garage, likely cheaper. Cheaper yet, touch base with your local ACVW club and see if anybody would let you work on your car (assuming it;s a driver), once in awhile or if there is a tech day or something so you could work on your ride and maybe even have an extra hand.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:05 pm

almost all storage places dont allow you to work on cars there, but there are some more industrial types that do, but there hard to find and can be pricy, i did have a place in orlando fl back in the 80's that was cool about it, i did a nut and bolt resto on a 62 triumph tr3a in 12 mos in one rent was 90.00 a month, those were the days before i had my own shop, but for yrs when i lived back east i always had rented a private garage detached style locally for about 100 a month theres places out there, just gotta hunt them down, good luck

Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:12 pm

I found an old lady with a big two car garage next to her house. Her husband used it for his hobbies before he passed away and it had sat empty for years. She was pleased to get the rent I paid her and was even happier to chat with me when I came to work on the cars. After she passed away the guy that bought it rented the house as two apartments and let me continue to rent it from him.
Best thing is, my wife has no idea where the garage is, so it's a great place to hide.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:06 pm

I did all my body work at the community college's bodyshop. It was like 50 buck a semester. Look for a local club and see if they can help. Sometime's people will pool money together and rent a shop. It's good because you can get a little help from time to time.

Thu Apr 26, 2012 7:33 pm

I'm surprised that there not more commercial spaces available for those who like to tinker with cars but just don't have the space. When I was in the military just about every base I was at had an Automotive Hobby Shop.

These hobby shops would be like litlle garages with about 6 stalls. A couple would have lifts. Tools (at least the more common) would be available. All this for a pretty reasonable rate.

There are a few in the Pacific Northwest area. I'm sure there something similar in your area.

Example here: http://www.garageplusstorage.com/

Thu Apr 26, 2012 8:18 pm

Pdunkkk wrote: I live in an Apartment complex, and they are really anal about people working on their cars. And I don't really have anywhere else to work on it, would it be possible to rent a storage unit and work on it there? Or do they not allow that? I just would like some place that will allow me to go late nights and work on it. Any info would be awesome!

Have you thought of buying a small house? The apartment rent could maybe cover the payments. If you are young , now would be a great time to get a house. Just a thought.
Good Luck,
Marvin

Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:04 pm

Oklahoma City has a "Do-It-Yourself garage where you can rent a shop stall and tools by the hour

http://www.360okc.com/Automotive/AutoRepairService/TheShadeTreeDoItYourselfGarage.html

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:03 am

Quote: Have you thought of buying a small house? The apartment rent could maybe cover the payments. If you are young , now would be a great time to get a house. Just a thought.
Good Luck,

I'm only 19, and work a really shitty part time job as of now. I just moved from Florida and I live with me mom currently until I can find a better job. I but a application in at Autozone and talked to the hiring manager. I'm not sure if i will get the job, but if I do, i'm sure I could probably work on it in the parking lot there. But i've called a ton of different Storage Units and they all said the insurance will not allow people to work on cars. I've been looking on craigslist, and all the garages for rent are like 2+ car garages and people are wanting 300+ a month. It's kind of ridiculous.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:28 am

The autozone's around here have sign's that read, "No changing of fluids or working on cars in the parking lot." Good luck with that.

If I was the manager and a 19 year old wanted to work on cars in the parking lot, I would look for another canidate for the job. I dont mean to be rude, but I am honest.

Find a vw club, you might find someone that will let you do it in there driveway. And If your 19 surley you could use a little help. Most true vw people would be glad to help you. It's not just a car, it's a culture

Fri Apr 27, 2012 9:42 am

Maybe you and Mom could rent a house with a garage?

Fri Apr 27, 2012 12:59 pm

Pdunkkk wrote: Quote: Have you thought of buying a small house? The apartment rent could maybe cover the payments. If you are young , now would be a great time to get a house. Just a thought.
Good Luck,

I'm only 19, and work a really shitty part time job as of now. I just moved from Florida and I live with me mom currently until I can find a better job. I but a application in at Autozone and talked to the hiring manager. I'm not sure if i will get the job, but if I do, i'm sure I could probably work on it in the parking lot there. But i've called a ton of different Storage Units and they all said the insurance will not allow people to work on cars. I've been looking on craigslist, and all the garages for rent are like 2+ car garages and people are wanting 300+ a month. It's kind of ridiculous.

8 years ago I was renting a one car storage unit for $150, so $300 isn't really that bad.
But people are weird, about rentals and automotive work.
Pretty much from age 18-22 when I was in college I did all my work right in the street.
The real deal is NOT MAKING A MESS and BEING LOUD, this is was pisses of landlords, and old people, that then piss off landlords.
At my first apartment working on cars was cool with the landlady UNTIL,
the Jag-off at the other end of the complex flushed his cooling system 20 feet
away from the drain and created the biggest rusty antifreeze mess I'd ever seen.
After that NO WORK on cars was allowed, I was checking my oil, and the bitch came out and gave me hell!

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:38 pm

It's just dumb, both my neighbors in my apartment complex are stoked about the car. One of my neighbor's used to own 3 bugs that he fixed up. They are excited to see me progress on it. It's just the lady who is in the "comity" is really anal and shit. She's dumb and is a nazi when it comes to things that aren't her problem or a issue.

Renting wouldn't be that big of a deal if I had a better job, I'm working at a retail store working a 12 hour week and get paid every 2 weeks. With 200 dollar paychecks, and then needing parts is a little bit of a hassle.

I've looked around for people who are into volkswagens, and all the meetups/fests in TN are 4 hours away. I've even checked for some junkyards that specialize in VW and they are all 3+ hours away. My car isn't ready to make a trip that far yet.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:44 pm

I am in cleveland, a little over 2 hours from you. Keep looking there is something closer. You just missed a great show in chattanooga. I understand your new to the area though.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:45 pm

You're welcome to come to my place and work on your car. But it may be a bit of a drive.

Fri Apr 27, 2012 1:56 pm

My girlfriend's brother came out from Iowa to visit us in Missoula, MT with his brand new Porsche 911E. He decided to change his oil in my parking spot, while I was at work. He drained 9 quarts of oil into a 2 quart milk carton! :roll:

Fri Apr 27, 2012 2:18 pm

I knoww! I wanted to go to Bug A Palooza so bad, but I had to work, plus i was broke. I would have loved to go, but hated that I couldn't buy anything.

And Drscope! Thanks man! I wish I lived closer!

My grandpa lives like 3 hours away, and has a massive garage and I can use that as long as I want, he doesn't work out there too much. It's just having the time off and probably towing my car up there and working on it.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:51 am

I appreciate your enthusiasm to want to work on your car! Keep looking, talking to people, looking for better jobs. Keep on pushing, keep your goals in sight!

Sat Apr 28, 2012 6:09 am

Your going to have to get off the internet and go looking around for the dirty industrial area. You have to have one around you somewhere. Go during the mid to late afternoon and stop and talk to the guys that are out. They will know where to find a place or could possibly find a place to share. The biggest fear that most landlords have is a broken down car and parts sitting everywhere. I don't blame them.

Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:39 pm

Semper_Dad wrote: I'm surprised that there not more commercial spaces available for those who like to tinker with cars but just don't have the space. When I was in the military just about every base I was at had an Automotive Hobby Shop.

These hobby shops would be like litlle garages with about 6 stalls. A couple would have lifts. Tools (at least the more common) would be available. All this for a pretty reasonable rate.

There are a few in the Pacific Northwest area. I'm sure there something similar in your area.

Example here: http://www.garageplusstorage.com/

when i was in the Navy 81-86' i spent 4 yrs and used the base hobby shop just about every weekend, did engine rebuilds, body and paint, i was flipping cars also, so it was a perfect set up and super cheap! i ran a pretty good side biz' out of there for 4 yrs,,,lol, it was a awesone set up, full tools lifts and even small individual garages you could rent by the month, i was stationed at NOB Norfolk Va. it was a huge base and had a huge hobby shop, it was nice to have back then.