So I've done minor car maintenance/repairs at home for almost as long as I've been driving. But I bought a Civic Si about a year ago and there's a quirk I haven't figured out a way around yet.

I can't jack it up. Ok, maybe "can't" is a strong word...but it takes over half an hour with what I've got to work with.

The issue is the side lift points are so narrow, there is only room for either a jack or a jack stand, but not both. So there is no way to lift it up, place the jack stand, and lower it onto the jack stand.

No problem, there is a center lift point too. I'll just use that. Except the car is low enough, a "normal" jack won't fit under the car without lifting it up first.

So for now, I have to jack up one side, place a 4x4 under the wheel, move the jack to the center lift point to finish jacking up the car, then place it on jackstands. The reason this takes so long is even with the car slightly lifted, you've only got maybe 1-in of throw on the jack handle. So you're picking the car up maybe a millimeter with each pump of the jack handle.

The only solution google-fu or YouTube shows me is getting a $500, low profile racing jack. Oh, and my other problem is I don't have a garage, so I've got to haul the jack out of the basement to the driveway whenever I need to use it. So it can't be but so heavy. Those racing jacks are meant to stay on the floor, not be picked up and carried up a flight of stairs.

I tried using ramps with my old car a few times, but they are tricky as heck to use when you've got a stick shift and don't have a spotter. I did drive right off the end of the ramps once. Really don't want to repeat that with my Si.

Apparently people who drive Civics either don't change their own oil, or already have a full mechanics shop at their disposal. Nothing really in between.

Any creative solutions out there?