San Diego Housing Market News and Analysis

How much ?

Seems like you could do that with bricks and a good floor jack lol.

Also seems like you need a compressor, or does it come with a hydraulic pump?

about $1000, and it comes with either an 110V AC pump or a 12V driven pump

Hmm tough call,

If you are going to use it a lot (say once every 3-6 months) then maybe.

If I get rich someday I would like to install a lift in the yard then build a garage around it, but I live out in the middle of nowhere so I could get away with that LOL.

I don't use it enough to justify it otherwise.

I am cheap so I would go with the $100.00 floor jack I already have and bricks (I would use it maybe once every 2-3 years).

You come to a point in your life where convenience is worth a premium! This is it! Go for it. My only beef is limited clearance between the wheels. Sliding yourself in sidewise is blocked by lift. They do make a higher cap version but is heavy. Is that outrigger for lateral stability or a handle to move the unit? Seems like a good locking bar for safety.

Agreed. The other one is the one sold by harbor freight. But that one just looks unstable and would limit what you could do underneath the car....This specific picture looks like an elephant on a table...

http://www.harborfreight.com/6000-lb-cap...

I'm thinking I might need this for the following projects

On the Audi:
1a) Drop the axles and differentials to fix seal leaks that dealers want $500 in labor for (at least)
1b) Flush and replace the transmission fluid and filter $250 labor at the stealer

On the Miata:
2a) Drop the rear subframe to replace the rear differential with one that is a limited slip differential. Probably $250-300 labor
2b) Might be useful for the supercharger I'm scheduled to put in, especially if I'm going to be taking off the header ($$$$ for install)
2c) Flush the transmission fluid $100 labor
2d) Maybe replace exhaust downpipe ($100 labor??)

(I'm trying to convince myself this way pay itself off after these projects)

The good thing about blocks is you can put them at an angle to make them fairly stable, and they won't suddenly deflate on you LOL. (seriously I have seen that happen, it's does not end well if someone is under it).

Yea that's my issue, I have to pass it by the wife first LOL.

I am a fan of some HF tools, I would not get under that one. Quick Jack makes a 5k version. http://www.bendpak.com/Shop-Equipment/Qu...

GarageJournal.com forum is a good place to discuss tools. Very manly site!

I think i will go troll the GarageJournal.com site then. Thanks for the tip!

I've see the really cool foam based ramps...
http://www.carid.com/race-ramps/sport-ra...

I have used blocks and never had a problem but I have been told not to use cinder blocks.

I don't know. I doubt I would crawl under the car if only hydraulics were keeping it from crushing me. I would still use jack stands even if I used the Quick Jack to get it into the air.

No auto repair is worth risk of severe injury or death to me.

Interesting... Do they make 20" jack stands?

I keep thinking about getting one of these:

http://www.maxjaxusa.com/

Features:
6,000 lbs. Lifting Capacity, Industrial Grade Hydraulic Cylinders, Fully Adjustable Lift Arm

and it's available through Costco:

http://www.costco.com/Dannmar-MaxJax%E2%...

Lots of them on the market. Google "tall jack stands"

I mean, even floor jacks are hydraulic and we throw jack stands under a car when using those.

Good point.