How much should I expect to pay for an automotive floor jack?
Any advice on what to look for, or where I can get a good one.

any auto parts store.. 40 -70

I'm partial to the Sears Craftsman service jacks.

1. They're cheap, even in a 3 or 5 ton capacity. $50-$90

2. Warrantied.

3. The non-quick lift jacks are better IMHO. They're easier to snug right up to the jack point using your finger as the lever. The quick start jacks need a hard pump to get them up to the jack point and this is not always easy it you have ground effects or if your car is lowered.

Wilkey

Sears is the place to go.

I got a 3 ton jack at Sears a few months ago for $30. It was on sale.
My buddy got one at Kragens for $30 (regular price) but it was a brand I never heard of. It seems to be OK...

I would advise against buying the "AutoZone Special".

Go to sears, get a craftsman.

You mean I shouldn't have bought the 2-ton floor jack and two jackstands from Kragen for $19.95?:alien:

I would say buy a good jack the first time around. I searched online forever to find a good jack and what I came up with was a Norco 71230A 2 1/4 ton hydraulic floor jack. It was the only jack that I could find that has a low lift height. Its like it was made for lowered cars. Probally the best investment I have ever made. It works so good that today when I was helping a friend work on his civic ( that is slammed to the damn ground with some Ground Controls ) we didnt even have to lift up on the fender or use his factory jack first to raise it a little so a real jack will fit under it. this jack saves time plain and simple. Cost on it is about $160 and if you need to get it shipped it will be a pretty penny i am sure. I got lucky and called the manufacturer to see if they had any dealers in my area , they did so i called the place they had it in stock and i picked it up the next morning. http://www.norcoind.com/


Chris

I got a craftsman 3 ton jack with jackstands.

I am actually quite dissapointed with it. The release is not a progressive release. As soon as you give the handle a 1/4 turn counter clockwise it releases _all the way_ and hence drops the car on the jackstand or ground all at once.
It is very thick and will not fit under a lowered car either. And forget about jacking up the center of the car. You have to use the jack points on the sideskirts.

we bought property in mountains, and its on a good hunk of land...so i said screw the jack and stands and got a hydralic auto lift from a shop that was closeing up for $1800!!! can't bet it! my back and knees thank me:D

I've got two Sears floor jacks & six decent stands. They're good, but man are they ever heavy. A floor jack & jack stands is not a place to be cheap. Are you willing to bet your life on those cheapy floor jacks & stands? Not me. If I was looking to replace one of my jacks with new one I'd get one of these>http://www.geocities.com/Eureka/Vault/3251/hydraulicjacks.html

Chuck