Carpokes

Sam_Flat6 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:12 pm After a 7 month project build, the garage is finally done. This was my 5th garage build so I was able to incorporate everything I’ve learned over the years to make it a nice place to park but also a functional space to work on the cars. Now onto setting up cabinets, tools, and a working lift plus some other items to complete it by spring time. It was not easy and my patience was tested along the way. Good winter work ahead.

The two brothers and their sister are now back home.

Love the Miata! My biggest regret is not putting a horizontal drain across the garage floor, to capture snow melt or allow me to wash the car in the garage. Any experience with such drains?

cp99 wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 4:51 am Love the Miata! My biggest regret is not putting a horizontal drain across the garage floor, to capture snow melt or allow me to wash the car in the garage. Any experience with such drains?

We ran into some local code issues with having a drain inside. Concerns about what might go down there. Car wash water OK, but unless I installed a grease trap and a way to service it, no go. Interesting though was that an identical drain just outside the garage door is fine. Nothing special there since of course nothing would ever make it all the way out there.

I probably should have left the permit application plan with just a simple rectangle for the garage floor. The architect sent the detail with cabinets and the lift, tipping the planning guys that the drain would be more than winter melt-off from the cars.

When I do wash projects inside now, I use the wet-dry shop vac for final clean-up, then drain that. The rest of the time it's a plain old swab with a little detergent. For maintenance it gets one of those spray-mops with the microfiber pad after a floor broom. Leaves and dust for the most part, comes up easily with that.

Does anyone use one of those little automatic robot mop-and-vacs for the garage? Height of lazy I know, but with the great floors it would make it easy to keep them perfect. Let it run overnight?

While I can only dream of having some of the garages I see on here, my wife’s Christmas present to me was letting me redo mine. Some paint, Gladiator wall system and Race deck flooring has totally transformed the space. I now feel like the garage is worthy of storing my Targa!

Great transformation and it sounds like your best Christmas present was your wife. Those of us who have loving spouses who let us dress up our garages, our cars, etc. are real gifts that can last a lifetime. My wife got me another set of Apex wheels for the track and considering I already have two sets it is easy to see she is a keeper just like yours. Love the Targa and we need more pictures of her outside of her new special place.

I've long been a fan of racedeck tiles for this very reason. It has to be the quickest, most bang for your buck upgrade you can do for a garage. Your before and after is awesome -- a great space for such a worthy car!

Garage is still nothing to look at but I am going for function over form. 4 post lift number two has been added to make room for new to me as of summer last year... AP2 S2000. Another bucket list car for me.
Not pictured, MK4 VW RW32. Was probably in the shop because at this point it feels like I always have a car in the shop.

After owning nothing but German cars for the last 15 years, the s2000 was a refreshing change of pace. For the first time in what feels like forever, I bought the car, took it in for service, and the only thing it needed was an oil change.

signde wrote: Sun Mar 22, 2026 5:23 pm Garage is still nothing to look at but I am going for function over form. 4 post lift number two has been added to make room for new to me as of summer last year... AP2 S2000. Another bucket list car for me.

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Not pictured, MK4 VW RW32. Was probably in the shop because at this point it feels like I always have a car in the shop.

After owning nothing but German cars for the last 15 years, the s2000 was a refreshing change of pace. For the first time in what feels like forever, I bought the car, took it in for service, and the only thing it needed was an oil change.

"...always have a car in the shop..." I can relate. I don't require loaners - just permanent rotation.

The high ceiling in your garage is nice! I cannot stack due to insufficient height, hence a slot at AVG in Madison.

I think your function is the proper form and that is the one key I wish I had in my garage --- though one lift would do. Had a S2000 and what a riot to wind up that VTech, but the seats did not meet my butttech------sore tailbone after a couple of hours. Fun to dance through some pylons and I still enjoy the lighter, tossable machines I have had over the years , though some might surprise folks I consider some tossable.

Your garage gave me a lift this AM, ha!

cp99 wrote: Mon Feb 02, 2026 4:51 am

Sam_Flat6 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 5:12 pm After a 7 month project build, the garage is finally done. This was my 5th garage build so I was able to incorporate everything I’ve learned over the years to make it a nice place to park but also a functional space to work on the cars. Now onto setting up cabinets, tools, and a working lift plus some other items to complete it by spring time. It was not easy and my patience was tested along the way. Good winter work ahead.

The two brothers and their sister are now back home.

Love the Miata! My biggest regret is not putting a horizontal drain across the garage floor, to capture snow melt or allow me to wash the car in the garage. Any experience with such drains?

Couldn’t do a drain given the post tension slab but the floor has a decreasing grade slightly rear to front.