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Cars: My C2S has SPASM, so I would need to build a ramp for the scissor jack, which is not a big deal. Our other car is a '17 GTI.
Garage: Decent-size two-car garage. QJs or Jackpoints would probably be stored across the hall in the mechanical room, but a scissor jack would stay under the 911.
Use: Mainly minor stuff like swapping out winter/summer setups; brake pads/fluid for the track; oil changes
Pretty much the whole house will be renovated (including the garage), but here is a shot of my two favorite toys
Just out of curiosity, where are you finding the Jackpoint stands? I've had my eye on them for a while, but they've been "out-of-stock" for some time. Either that, or I just have bad luck when I check.
I have four jackpoint jackstands that I use for maintenance and winter/summer wheel changes. They are great. I highly recommend them. That said, I’m probably going to install a proper four post lift in my garage this year. Looking at Bendpack.
Just out of curiosity, where are you finding the Jackpoint stands? I've had my eye on them for a while, but they've been "out-of-stock" for some time. Either that, or I just have bad luck when I check.
I first contacted them towards the end of November and was told there's a wait list that could run past Christmas. They said they'd put me on the list and notify me when they're available but so far nothing. Maybe they're producing them in batches and waiting until they get a certain amount of orders. I would contact them and put yourself on the list.
I've got QuickJack and it's the best investment period.
From oil changes to brakes and other minor things for 3 cars has paid for itself within a couple of months. Highly recommended and it has worked for me flawlessly. In fact, as we speak, my BMW 540 is on it resting, while waiting for an oil pan gasket to arrive from FCPEuro.
I have had two scissor lifts, they're a PITA with a Porsche because you have to build a 2" x 16" frame around them which stays there all the time, your car will drag on the lift otherwise and bad things happen when that occurs. Basically you build a big wood rectangle around the scissor lift as the clearance of the car is too low otherwise. Every time you pull in the garage you are going up on the wood frame frame structure. These are not my cars or my rigs (mine was more refined) but this will give you an idea of what you have to use with any of the scissor lifts.
If I was going to buy another residential garage lift, I would get this one. Install your lugs in the floor, then you can wheel these units out when you need them and bolt them up to the floor studs. Much better access to the underside of the car than a scissors lift.
The real question you have to ask yourself is "How often am I going to lift the car?" If you plan on using the lift frequently, then a twin post is really the best way to go. When I was heavy into track days, I'd have my car up every week, but since I no long do Instructing and the like, my Porsche goes up once or twice a year, so for me the lift is over-kill and I use the most-excellent Jackpoint Stands. This is my car up on the jacks when I was putting on a new exhaust system, for example.
What is really going to bug you is that center support in the garage, that's just going to make you nuts if you work on cars a lot. If there is any way you can afford to modify the garage to get that load bearing piece out of there, that would have more value to you than an expensive lift - just to not have to work around that all the time. Good luck!
Another vote for the jackpoint stands. they are great and very easy to use. also cheap compared to the OP's other alternatives. makes lifting the car very easy as the jack slides under the stands (I use a cheap harbor freight 3 ton low profile jack). they JP stands seem to be always listed as out of stock. but just place the order online and you'll have them in a couple of weeks.
Drcollie, thanks for posting - great photos there. I'm in two minds about this here in UK. Currently using four axle stands but I'd really like to lift the car a bit higher. I agree it's hard to justify a two post for an annual oil change, but I'd probably use it for my other cars, dad's car etc, tyre changes. Mercedes C class service here costs £420, I could do it for £160. Decisions......
I wanted to buy Jackpoint stands last year, but they were backordered so I paid a shop to do my track pads/fluid. I emailed Jackpoint tonight to get an idea of the wait; I will post their response here since others are in the same boat.
Originally Posted by drcollie
The real question you have to ask yourself is "How often am I going to lift the car?" If you plan on using the lift frequently, then a twin post is really the best way to go. When I was heavy into track days, I'd have my car up every week, but since I no long do Instructing and the like, my Porsche goes up once or twice a year, so for me the lift is over-kill and I use the most-excellent Jackpoint Stands. This is my car up on the jacks when I was putting on a new exhaust system, for example.
What is really going to bug you is that center support in the garage, that's just going to make you nuts if you work on cars a lot. If there is any way you can afford to modify the garage to get that load bearing piece out of there, that would have more value to you than an expensive lift - just to not have to work around that all the time. Good luck!
I will probably have a car in the air twenty times/year between pre/post-track-day brake pads/fluid, winter/summer-setup swaps, oil changes, etc.
We are hopefully building a detached garage in a couple years, so not going to bother trying to remove the support beam. I would go with a two- or four-post lift in the detached garage, but looking for something portable at this point.
Originally Posted by BradB
I couldn’t live without my BendPak mid rise. I can park right over it, even with my lowered 993.