To nixer or not to nixer?

dor843088

Im just lookin for some feedback from the guys who do nixers (mechanics) . Is it worth it? Iv no garage and would probably have to resort to working outside which is a huge pain in the neck dealing with cold and wind etc not to mention having no ramp. Only reason I ask is my job looks slightly shaky at the moment . From speaking to mechanics in my area who are self employed they are flat out busy so the work is there id say. Im guessing noone on here works outside lol . Am I mad to even consider? Any feedback or experience appreciated .

Kaiser D

Eh, probably not worth your while without a ramp or garage. Nobody will want to leave their car with a mechanic who doesn't actually have a garage.

I have a garage, more of a warehouse with a ramp than a garage, myself, but I use it for private use with my own cars only. I often get people coming in asking for such and such, but I don't entertain it. Work is there, I think, but you need a garage and a ramp. And insurance etc.

dor843088

Kaiser D wrote: »

Eh, probably not worth your while without a ramp or garage. Nobody will want to leave their car with a mechanic who doesn't actually have a garage.

I have a garage, more of a warehouse with a ramp than a garage, myself, but I use it for private use with my own cars only. I often get people coming in asking for such and such, but I don't entertain it. Work is there, I think, but you need a garage and a ramp. And insurance etc.

Yeah maybe your right thanks for the input.

B00056718

As mentioned you would have to rent some premises, pay rates, insurance, also buy some equipment.

You wouldn't be able to change let's say a bearing without a press or do a timing belt without timing tools for many cars and so on.

Also a good diagnostics and OBD reset tool is a must.

So there would be quite massive startup capital involved.

Being only able to change the oil at your doorstep won't bring you much business I don't think.

corktina

I've a double garage in which sit my two cars, and a car port, maybe I should be thinking of renting it out!

dor843088

B00056718 wrote: »

As mentioned you would have to rent some premises, pay rates, insurance, also buy some equipment.

You wouldn't be able to change let's say a bearing without a press or do a timing belt without timing tools for many cars and so on.

Also a good diagnostics and OBD reset tool is a must.

So there would be quite massive startup capital involved.

Being only able to change the oil at your doorstep won't bring you much business I don't think.

Iv a decent collection of hand tools and a code reader but I hear where your coming from . I guess this is the downside of being a mechanic as opposed to another trade.

dor843088

corktina wrote: »

I've a double garage in which sit my two cars, and a car port, maybe I should be thinking of renting it out!

If you dont mind the sound of compressors and air guns in the morning lol .

dor843088

Sitec wrote: »

I used to do a few nixers outside the house but it's a pain doing a clutch etc and is not worth the hardship. Servicing and straight forward jobs are grand.

I gave them up a few years ago because I changed jobs and didnt have access to a ramp anymore. I recently started wondering am I just a lazy b*****d and should I start doing them again. But yeah its hardship without the right facilities.

As an average Joe Soap with not much car knowledge (ie; your target customer!), I wouldn't leave my car with someone who didn't even have a garage-looking place to bring it into. If you're outside and working on a car, it just looks bad (from a customer standpoint).

I would imagine that for most mechanics, the nixers come after they're set up (ie; doing a few jobs and not declaring them) when they have all the gear and are still set up with revenue and such anyway. I can't imagine how you'd nixer before having any gear.

Insurance would be the most important thing anyway. As with most areas of work, people may want the rock bottom low price that a fella without a garage can afford to give them, but they still want the best work to the highest quality and the warranties, etc. that come with the higher priced jobs (ie; your average customer will want the best of both worlds, despite paying a ludicrously low price to begin with).

All it takes is one fella to notice a scratch or scrape and you're either down money having to pay to fix it, or you're in trouble with Revenue when he gets spiteful and reports you.

I'm currently in a position where I could offer a joe soap car wash to people. Nothing too in-depth and nothing too hard. Have an ideal location with a private water well, have a basic knowledge of cleaning cars, and have ample parking, etc. but would I consider it? Not a hope. Might be grand making a tenner cleaning a car for a few minutes, but there's no way it wouldn't backfire and end up costing more in the long run. All it takes is one slip up.

People are very precious about their cars when they want to be (or when they think they can get a host of problems fixed by pointing out a tiny error on your side of things).


That's just my opinion on it anyway. Im sure there are a rake of cowboy mechanics out there, though. And mechanics do seem busy, so there's work there alright. But only if you're relatively inexpensive and can guarantee work (in my opinion). People are forever complaining about dealer pricing for fixing and servicing things.

biko

Start with offering cheap oil services for family and friends and take it from there I'd say. Maybe make 20 euro on the side besides parts cost.
I do this but for free of course, it's really just to help them understand their own car so they can do it themselves next time.

If you're good word will spread.
Once you have a customer base maybe move on to a van with equipment. Then take 24h callouts and Sundays.

Tbh, doing DIY jobs outside in this dark and wet is not a nice prospect at all. Even something simple like draining oil on a very windy day is not nice as it tends to get messy with oil specks all over the place.

For any type of jobs beyond oil service you need insurance, be registered business and so on.

dgt

No garage? Don't even bother. I work outside most of the time but it's a pain in the arse if it's remotely anything but calm weather. Not to mention seriously unprofessional looking

toyotaavensis

OP I am not a mechanic but the lad who services my car owns the local motor factors. He does the work in a car park across the road from his shop. He used work as a mechanic in a VW main dealer. It doesnt bother me that he doesnt have a lift. He has metal ramps he drives the car onto to examine brake lines/suspension ...

If something awkward comes up he has a buddy from his days in the dealer with a ramp who does that type of job. He has cars every day. This is because he is sound, good, honest and in my case he uses good oil as opposed to a barrell of 15w40 that a few of the local garages think is suitable for every car.

rovoagho

NIMBY here. Sh1tboxes up on jacks and/or axle stands, half in the drive and half in the garden, leaking oil and fluid and grease in both, drives me nuts. Work on your own car, by all means, I think it's great to see people keeping their cars going themselves, and do it myself when I can. When there's more than 2 or 3 cars outside though, and at least one of them is like the aforementioned, it's time to stop. And it will happen.

JJJJNR

family friend started to service cars over a man hole, fairly big guy aswell. Ended up with a garage in the end. Got to start somewhere.

dor843088

rovoagho wrote: »

NIMBY here. Sh1tboxes up on jacks and/or axle stands, half in the drive and half in the garden, leaking oil and fluid and grease in both, drives me nuts. Work on your own car, by all means, I think it's great to see people keeping their cars going themselves, and do it myself when I can. When there's more than 2 or 3 cars outside though, and at least one of them is like the aforementioned, it's time to stop. And it will happen.

Are you a mechanic that doesnt like to work outside or just dont like mechanics who work outside ? No hate just trying to get an idea where your coming from.

rovoagho

Did you have difficulty reading my post? I think it was pretty clear.

dgt

dor843088 wrote: »

Are you a mechanic that doesnt like to work outside or just dont like mechanics who work outside ? No hate just trying to get an idea where your coming from.

He means some gombeen will bring some ball of dirt that hasn't been serviced since 1997, leaking all sorts of fluids, be a complete eyesore and will generally have a foul smell

dor843088

rovoagho wrote: »

Did you have difficulty reading my post? I think it was pretty clear.

Sorry must brush up on my telepathy.

rovoagho

Telepathy is science fiction. Ladybird books, on the other hand, are science fact.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Beanstalk-Ladybird-Picture-Books/dp/0723271585

Mar4ix

corktina wrote: »

I've a double garage in which sit my two cars, and a car port, maybe I should be thinking of renting it out!

where about are you ? would you pm your location and rates. i might would be interested.

dor843088

rovoagho wrote: »

Telepathy is science fiction. Ladybird books, on the other hand, are science fact.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Jack-Beanstalk-Ladybird-Picture-Books/dp/0723271585

Its easy to be brave from behind your keyboard I wonder are you such a smartarse in person ? Or maybe you dont get out much . Either way take your feminex and try to be more positive . A clear sign of a weak social misfit is trying to be the big man on the internet .

corktina

Mar4ix wrote: »

where about are you ? would you pm your location and rates. i might would be interested.

Cork...I thought that might be obvious.

toyotaavensis

in the city?

cabb8ge

I know few main dealer mechanics who do work on Saturdays from home or yards. Some only have trolley jack etc, no ramps no car lift. They take the jobs they can do.

MidlandsM

Do what you want OP, but just keep a/c's and pay yer taxes.....revenue are all over this kind of stuff right now.

Mar4ix

corktina wrote: »

Cork...I thought that might be obvious.

sorry, didnt realized your location embed in your nick name. well ... for me a bit too far, but i am some times in cork,.... just got one car off there for my friend but could be handy to know place, just in case i am there and need place to work on car.

enricoh

if yer in the middle of an estate be prepared for someone jealous to report u to the dole /revenue etc.
a lad down the pub does nixers at the weekends but has space out the back. think he has a lot of 'i'll drop in next week with the cash' customers though, sod that! sure start with family n friends