I'm a way off needing a lift but I can feel some garage envy coming on! Looking forward to what you sort out with the new garage Jon.

 

I have a scissor lift that looks pretty much identical to the first one you posted Jon. It has had little use and came from a friends tyre shop when they had a reorganize. I was using it in my garage until I moved and now its just sitting in a friends barn collecting dust. I would be interested in parting with it so it will be substantially cheaper than the ones your looking at.

 

Few pics of the scissor lift I have. More or less the same as Franky posted. Does have a few issues tho, it needs 120mm min to clear it when it’s lowered so that rules my Z out. It also arc’s backwards by about 1mtr as u raise it so needs reasonable space to operate.
I’ve just solved the low clearance issues with a set of ramps I’ve spent this week fabricating. The treads are waffle boards/ sand ladders for off roading sat in an angle frame and take the weight of a little Z easy. I can now lift the car off the ramps or lift the ramps too which saves hunting for jacking points in the Z.

 

Very nicely fabricated.

 

As much as I'd love a 2 or 4 poster, height is an issue for me, so something like that scissor lift above will probably find it's way into my garage some day.

 

The main centre section sits in front of the diff and runs as far as the tension rod mounts which I normally lift from. So you’re a bit limited for gearbox / prop work. It’s not perfect but for 90% of jobs it’s fine, some compromise but I just don’t have room for a 2 post.