[Tengocity]

Currently the wife and I are looking for a new house. We like the low maintenance and hassle of a new build and so were nosying around some showhomes yesterday.

The Redrow houses we liked have double garages that are around 5.38 X 5.08m.

Sounds decent at first but I'm doubtful I'd keep bikes, tools, winter wheels, golf clubs etc and have room for two cars. Looks like storage plus one car is more reasonable, and I suppose that the one car can have all its doors open at same time for cleaning etc.

Curious as to who actually bothers to garage their car most nights and others ideas about how best to use the space?

[Watsey]

Ha, with so much "family stuff" the only way I'd get either of the cars in the garage would be to have them crushed

[Nick the Greek]

Ducati and MX5 in garage. Other three on Drive.
I wouldn't have a house without a garage Terry.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Have a garage and driveway with metal gates.

The insurance covers the Peugeot as the garaged car.

The BMW fits in the garage but tight down the driveway.



A large number of 1970 (and some 1980) garages will not take a modern car.

I could not get our Mondeo down the drive lol.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Ducati and MX5 in garage. Other three on Drive.
I wouldn't have a house without a garage Terry.

Yes I'm thinking that whatever I get for the track will fit in just fine! Could probably squeeze a caterham and a 3 series but would have to be very efficient with the use of space.

[SkyJawa]

Had a garage, kept my bike in it and a load of other tools etc. Now I don't have it because its become my office!

[MarkG_M5Comp]

Double garage with no cars inside!

Spare wheels, spare tyres, bikes etc but no cars.

The only time I'd garage a car would be for a project or weekend car. but I wouldn't be without a garage for sure.

[Nick the Greek]

Originally Posted by Tengocity

Yes I'm thinking that whatever I get for the track will fit in just fine! Could probably squeeze a caterham and a 3 series but would have to be very efficient with the use of space.

Without wanting to sound patronising Terry, first rule of thumb do me on garage storage is to get it off the ground. Some great ways to store alloys, push bikes, ladders, all off the ground and out of your way.

BTW.

I'm liking your Caterham thinking

[Tengocity]

I can spec a remote control for the door for £900... Expensive but very cool! Probably unnecessary if I do t actually take a car in and out every day.

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

Without wanting to sound patronising Terry, first rule of thumb do me on garage storage is to get it off the ground. Some great ways to store alloys, push bikes, ladders, all off the ground and out of your way.

BTW.

I'm liking your Caterham thinking

Yes I'm in agreement with the- bikes are all wall mounted. With a double I'd buy a proper wheel rack too.
How did your caravan storage issue go? I'm thinking these estates have rules about keeping trailers and stuff outside?

[bodtwo]

Double garage, holds SWMBO Z4 and then workbench's and as NTG says, bikes, aero box etc stored above.

[creepy coupe]

Mines garaged. i just goes in. I had to raise the work bench so the front end clears.

[....,,,,..,,..]

Back in 1993 / 1994 in sunny Elgin (Morayshire), they built around 300 new houses for Tornado Squadrons moving from Germany (and East Anglia) to Lossiemouth.

Now a huge number of Forces people buy cars while in Germany, mainly BMW, Mercedes, Singlies bought Golfs..

Anyhow, come official handover, they found pretty much none of the cars would fit in any garage or even some driveways.

The reason, the garage sizes had been based on the Vauxhall Astra (or cavalier) as the most common car.

All those families with 5 series etc, could not park in garage at all.

They then had to build extra street parking spaces.

[ep22jg]

I have a garage that would just take my car ........ wouldn't be able to get out of it though!!
Hence, garage is full of shite!

Parents have a double garage, which they keep one car and the pre-requisite crap on the other side. Remote opening works well too

A double garage will be on my list if I move (plus remote opening!!)

[simon.]

Double garage, MX5 1 side, push bike on the wall & F31 the other. Mine has space in front of the cars for bits & it has loft space I can stand up in (I'm 6') so i put suitcases & other little used stuff up there.

Old house was a Redrow one with a double garage & a single up / over electric door. That was epic as you could put the car in the middle & work all round it & swap wheels with ease. This house has 2 single doors so not as user friendly but 3K+ to put a lintel & door in, it's not on my list to do!

[RobUK]

Yes & yes

I did read somewhere that 4 out of 5 UK houses with a garage use the garage as extra storage space rather than putting a car in it. Percentage might be different in an enthusiasts car forum

[....,,,,..,,..]

How many have declared to their insurance company, that car is garaged, however it won't or can't fit (size of car or freezer, fridge etc and junk)?

[JD6]

We have a double garage (approx 8x6m) and a single (approx 4x6m + 4x2m section at the back which opens on to garden for tractor mower and tools) all with remote doors. We keep our 2 cars in the double garage all of the time, which is large enough for both cars to have their doors fully opened at the same time. The single garage is currently just storage. We don't store anything in the double garage, partly as I don't like the idea of bringing a wet car in and the moisture affecting whatever is stored. We don't use the space very efficiently as we have more than we need.

Even though we live in a safe rural location, and the criminals are probably too lazy to venture that far out of town, we always garage the cars. This may be partly due to having had a lot of damage (scratches, wheels stolen, wing mirror kicked off...) when our cars were parked on the street in London, so we have probably become over-cautious. I do sleep better knowing that our cars are secure. In London I found myself sleeping lightly and waking when I heard an odd noise outside, which was quite often! So much so that I had to sell my M5 and replace it with a cheap anonymous car (a Golf V6) just so I could sleep.

I think garages add a lot to a house and make it much harder for a thief to work out if the house is occupied, so I would only buy a house with 2 or preferably 3, or space to build them.

I do think that our cars remain in far better condition than most, probably as they don't go through a large temperature range every day, and are not exposed to UV.

[Mark1966]

I keep the Exige in the garage when I can be bothered and the other cars are kept on the 150m drive behind electric gates. Any thief would probably have a coronary by the time he reached the house

[Palexr]

We used to have a double garage which never garaged any daily cars. The doors were simply to narrow to make it anything but some kind of advanced driving test to get modern cars in and out. You also had to be a pretty adept contortionist to then get out them. It did have an old Triumph in it for about 5 years which ended up as a sort of extra storage and shelving unit... Until I was told it was incompatible with the impending arrival of our daughter and to get rid of it.

It filled up with crap, then half of it was sacrificed for a kitchen extension.

We now have a house with a large garden but no garage. The wife wants a garage built, but I am pushing for a car porch. That way there is no possibility for more hoarding!

Having said, all that and back OT, I wouldn't consider a house without a garage (or the possibility of one). even if they are never used they seem to be one of those ticks on peoples must-have lists.

[73henny]

Have a large double garage. My car goes in every night, while my wife's car stays on the drive. It's easily big enough for both cars, but lawnmower, golf clubs, bikes, tools etc mean I can get my car in and easily walk all the way around it.
Might prompt me into throwing out some stuff and perhaps putting both cars in on frosty nights

[jusdorange]

I have a garage that's separate to the house

But it was made in the 70s so any modern car won't fit