zero_to60

decided to to my own servicing on the beater and the A4 as I've got quite a few expenses coming up and need to save money on less important areas. From what I can see from the schedules most of the 'service' is merely visually inspecting parts and changing fluids and hell even I can do that so the questions is what is the safest way of working under the car?

axle stands or ramps

I was thinking ramps would be easier than axle stands and to my mind seem 'safer'

mikdys

IMO You need three things; a good quality and 'large" trolley jack, axle stands and ramps. Drive on end of the car onto the ramps and then jack up the other end and put on stands. In this way the car is held securely against moving backwards or forwards (with the potential of "toppling" off the stands) yet high enough (by the stands) to give full access underneath. One other thing I have found invaluable over the years is one of those "black plastic oil drain containers" that you can buy at Hellfords and the like (saev a lot of mess!).

Richieh

Dig a trench in your garage or driveway - inspection pit

Al2

Afternoon Zero
If you're too tight to buy both stands and ramps like myself, stands are fine.
I tend to jack each end of the car up at a time rather than having the whole car raised. I also stick a wooden board under each axle stand to compensate for an uneven surface, and a wooden board under the crossmember that you are jacking onto to spread the load.

I've also got a service to do on the Civic this weekend. I figured a couple of hours of easy work is preferable to handing out a hundred or so quid to the local dealer (and I least I know it's been done properly), esp with Xmas round the corner

zero_to60

and I've got two new rears for the F car to save for and I as far as I am aware they are an eye watering

Kobe

unless the car has a lot of ground clearance, the ramps won't do much...even on the lowest setting the stands will be easier to work from.

having recently used stands on the Honda...I actually think it is better than an inspection pit for some jobs.

much prefer to be on my back looking up directly at the job on a nice clean floor with all the equipment next to you, than crouching in a grotty pit.

ideal to have a trolley jack that has the reach and clearance to pick up the central lifting points so you can do it in one lift to get the two stands under...it seems most don't for the Honda..so you need some ramps anyway.

if you are doing all of this on uneven ground outside, then all bets are off.

mikey k

that is one clean (AND TILED!) garage.
Are you related to Amuse Boy?

Amstrad2000

If just changing the oil or checking under the front of the car I prefer ramps, in my mind they just seem more secure. I've not done it on the S yet but with other cars with low ground clearance I leave it in gear, jack the front up with a trolley jack and then put the ramps under the front wheels and lower the car onto them, then jam a couple of bricks behind the back wheels just to be sure.