I was just wondering about the importance of a garage. I am a college student up here in the NW. I am looking for houses that have garages so that I can bring my 2001 Toyota Celica up here and not have to worry about people breaking into it, it being in the rain 300 days a year, and animals walking on it. People tell me that I am being anal towards my car but I disagree. Every month I commit about 8 hours of my weekend to cleaning it inside and out and to this day it still looks brand new all over. Do you guys think looking for a garage warrants being a nuisance when searching for houses? Also what does everyone else think about garages and their importance to keeping cars clean? Thanks!
Importance of a garage?
- Thread starter hellr
- Start date
2wheelsx2
New member
I have a one garage house with 2 motorcycles and my car. Everything was great until I got married and my wife moved in with her car and own motorcycle. Now I park out front on the strong. I live in a town house complex. Since moving out the car out to the street, I have noticed that my seals are drying up faster, my sealant (SG) is wearing out faster, my car has been blasted with grass from the gardeners. Tree sap, bird poop, and yesterday, I found someone backed into my car, bending the front plate and bracket.
So I think you can see why we are looking for a house with a 2.5 car garage, starting next year, when our finances would be in order.
Get a garage if you love your car. No ifs or buts.
So I think you can see why we are looking for a house with a 2.5 car garage, starting next year, when our finances would be in order.
Get a garage if you love your car. No ifs or buts.
DaGonz
Autopia fire/rescue.
I used to detail in my driveway at my old house, as I did not have a garage nor the space to have one built on that piece of property. It was fine in good weather, but to keep vehicles in the shade I had to "follow the shade" and move the car a few times.
When it was time to move up and buy a new home (we outgrew the old one) , one of my requirements was a garage, at minimum a one car, preferrably a two car. I bought my present home 5 years ago, brand new construction... and it had an attached two car garage!
Advantages of a garage.....
A place to keep your vehicles and detailing equipment
A place to detail your vehicles and keep them clean (especially during pollen season!)
A place where you can work on your car and stay dry during inclement weather (it's been raining 5 days straight and I am going crazy... I can't imagine rain 300 days a year!)
If there is a chance of showers the day you are detailing, you can bring the car inside and not miss out on valuable detailing time.
It gives you a shady spot to work in (in the summer, the heat can be unbearable, unless you have fans to help move air and keep you cool...a small price to pay for automotive cleanliness!)
A place to hang out when you have an arguement with the wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/lover/significant other!
You can always find something to do in the garage!
Mine is attached, the entry door leads into the kitchen... hmmm...cold drinks, coffee, food, it doesn't get any better than that!
In the winter, you can bring the cars inside and they don't get covered in snow, which means no snow brushes to scratch paint.
It's great for loading and unloading luggage for vacations, unloading groceries.
Having a garage gives you more incentive and excuses to buy toys for your car and garage!
The garage can become another place of worship for the members of The Church of the Highly Reflective Finish!
When it was time to move up and buy a new home (we outgrew the old one) , one of my requirements was a garage, at minimum a one car, preferrably a two car. I bought my present home 5 years ago, brand new construction... and it had an attached two car garage!
Advantages of a garage.....
A place to keep your vehicles and detailing equipment
A place to detail your vehicles and keep them clean (especially during pollen season!)
A place where you can work on your car and stay dry during inclement weather (it's been raining 5 days straight and I am going crazy... I can't imagine rain 300 days a year!)
If there is a chance of showers the day you are detailing, you can bring the car inside and not miss out on valuable detailing time.
It gives you a shady spot to work in (in the summer, the heat can be unbearable, unless you have fans to help move air and keep you cool...a small price to pay for automotive cleanliness!)
A place to hang out when you have an arguement with the wife/girlfriend/boyfriend/lover/significant other!
You can always find something to do in the garage!
Mine is attached, the entry door leads into the kitchen... hmmm...cold drinks, coffee, food, it doesn't get any better than that!
In the winter, you can bring the cars inside and they don't get covered in snow, which means no snow brushes to scratch paint.
It's great for loading and unloading luggage for vacations, unloading groceries.
Having a garage gives you more incentive and excuses to buy toys for your car and garage!
The garage can become another place of worship for the members of The Church of the Highly Reflective Finish!
Everyone has already listed the importance of keeping your car in a garage so not much to add there.
My wife and I used to own a condo with a one car garage that barely fit a car, BUT it was my first garage and I was thankful.
When we started looking for houses last year one of things that I always insisted on was a 2.5 or 3 car garage and we got lucky. We found a house we loved with a 2.5 car garage with shelves and ligthing already installed.
If you love your car and it is an enjoyable hobby for you then by all means get a house with a garage. Who cares what others think:argue , your paying for it and you're opinnion matters!
The garage BTW is my favorite part of the house.
My wife and I used to own a condo with a one car garage that barely fit a car, BUT it was my first garage and I was thankful.
When we started looking for houses last year one of things that I always insisted on was a 2.5 or 3 car garage and we got lucky. We found a house we loved with a 2.5 car garage with shelves and ligthing already installed.
If you love your car and it is an enjoyable hobby for you then by all means get a house with a garage. Who cares what others think:argue , your paying for it and you're opinnion matters!
The garage BTW is my favorite part of the house.
Magellan498
New member
Somebody's gettin a little fired up. 
GoodnClean
New member
Yes, garage garage garage!!!
imported_Greg1
New member
I noticed that I sort of became a little apathetic towards the cleanliness of my car when I didn't have a garage. It all seemed like an exercise in futility to detail it and then have the dew cover it the next morning and it look terrible. I'm going to buy a college beater the first year, then take my car the 2nd year where I will have a townhouse with 2 garage!!
2wheelsx2
New member
OUCH said::up Oh yes I'm not married but I am very aware of this..
Probaby sounded wrong the way I worded it. Matter of logistics. My car doesn't fit in the garage with the three bikes. Her car does...and since I detail both, having one in there is better than none.
For the record, she never asked me to use the garage, I offered it. I just never planned for anyone else to live in my small townhouse. We just need a bigger house and garage. 
RegalGS
New member
HellR -
Once you have the opportunity to have a garage and be able to park your car out of the elements, believe me, you'll never go back. Aside from having a dry shady place to detail, if you live in a northern climate, you'll appreciate being able to leave for work in the morning without having to budget an extra 30 minutes to scrape/defrost/heat up the car.
Now that I'm looking for a garage queen, our 2-car isn't big enough. Time to go house shopping.
Once you have the opportunity to have a garage and be able to park your car out of the elements, believe me, you'll never go back. Aside from having a dry shady place to detail, if you live in a northern climate, you'll appreciate being able to leave for work in the morning without having to budget an extra 30 minutes to scrape/defrost/heat up the car.
Now that I'm looking for a garage queen, our 2-car isn't big enough. Time to go house shopping.
SK2003TypeS
New member
Funny how a lot of people (like myself) keep stacks of boxes and junk in their garage while the $$$$ vehicle sleeps outside....
SK2003TypeS,
That is actually a pet peeve of mine, I just don't understand it. I have a few neighbors that have boxes and boxes of stuff in there garage and a bunch of nice cars sitting outside in the hot sun and getting sprayed with sprinklers!
I guess I wonder why people do this, I mean if you have stuff in boxes then you obviously don't use it. If you don't use it why not have a garage sale and get rid of it, and if it's junk then just toss it.
That is actually a pet peeve of mine, I just don't understand it. I have a few neighbors that have boxes and boxes of stuff in there garage and a bunch of nice cars sitting outside in the hot sun and getting sprayed with sprinklers!
I guess I wonder why people do this, I mean if you have stuff in boxes then you obviously don't use it. If you don't use it why not have a garage sale and get rid of it, and if it's junk then just toss it.
Redcar GUY
New member
I love my garage, Wouldnt own/rent with out one
ISLANDSBEST
New member
Greg and everyone else is right. Without a garage, your work can go out the window in hours. And, your frequency of needing to clay increases dramatically. I have outdoor parking at my office, so I use a car cover. I have a very lite, high tech one. Goes on or off in 30 seconds. The only way to go in my book. If I wanted, with regular quick detailing, I would only really have to wash the car every 2-3 weeks.
SK2003TypeS
New member
MBZ 500E,
Believe me, I hang my head in shame when it comes to this.
During the winter I was able to use my neighboor's garage since they go down to Florida and take their car with them. These days, I slowly chip away at the disaster in there. Time is the main factor. An ugly green player piano is the second factor.
You are correct with everything in your post. I will fill some more garbage bags with "what the heck am I still doing with this ?!?!"
Believe me, I hang my head in shame when it comes to this.
During the winter I was able to use my neighboor's garage since they go down to Florida and take their car with them. These days, I slowly chip away at the disaster in there. Time is the main factor. An ugly green player piano is the second factor.
You are correct with everything in your post. I will fill some more garbage bags with "what the heck am I still doing with this ?!?!"
I am currently in an apartment too, but pay the extra $$$ for a garage.
A lot of people who park in apartment parking lots are careless and don't care about the car next to theirs. I came home for lunch one day, parked in a space and ran in for like 20 minutes. In the meantime, some $%#@ must have pulled up next to my car, put something on the top of the trunk lid (a handy shelf I guess) and then just drug it off. So now my black Passat has a 5 inch x 2 inch diagonal scuff mark on the trunk lid. :angry That's what I get for not putting it in the garage! Never again.
Every morning after a big snow I said to myself, yep it's worth the extra money. While other people are scraping their windows and digging their cars out of the snow, I just get in, turn on the engine and go.
I would never live anywhere without one!
A lot of people who park in apartment parking lots are careless and don't care about the car next to theirs. I came home for lunch one day, parked in a space and ran in for like 20 minutes. In the meantime, some $%#@ must have pulled up next to my car, put something on the top of the trunk lid (a handy shelf I guess) and then just drug it off. So now my black Passat has a 5 inch x 2 inch diagonal scuff mark on the trunk lid. :angry That's what I get for not putting it in the garage! Never again.
Every morning after a big snow I said to myself, yep it's worth the extra money. While other people are scraping their windows and digging their cars out of the snow, I just get in, turn on the engine and go.
I would never live anywhere without one!
I am definitely looking forward to getting a place with a garage for all the advantages listed above. The apartments we live in now offer garages but they are like $80 a month. I think that is a little ridiculous. We are about to move anyway, either buying or renting a house. One thing it MUST have is a 2 car garage. I repeat 2, becuase even though my wife makes no effort to maintain her car she will still want the garage, just like she has the car port now.