How Many 1st Gens Still Running?

CHC (RIP) · November 22, 2010, 11:12:07 PM

Quote from: Steve-A;729076That would depend on the MOT tester..... and whether a couple of packs of beers were left on the back seat when it was dropped off at the MOT place...

(only joking ! )

Not that I\'m suggesting this type of scenario actually happened but I wouldn\'t have thought it possible these days with red tape and \'test\' vehicles being more prolific. To be frank (thought of changing my name via deed poll) I prefer a stricter testing station, at least then I know exactly what potentially is a problem so it can be fixed sooner rather than later.

Steve-A · November 22, 2010, 11:29:25 PM

Yeh, I\'m sure it very rarely happened like that.

That said the last mx5 I bought had been through an MOT days before I bought it at a friend of the previous owner\'s garage and had a shot rear wheel bearing and the handbrake only worked on one wheel and a couple of other MOT type issues and passed with no advisories..... I think there are things they can turn a blind eye to, but things like the brake test and emissions they can\'t. And as you say with various test vehicles about they are less keen to do favours for people.

I know what you mean about liking a strict test. It\'s a nice confidence boost as you drive up the road that someone has tested that the brakes are good enough!

CHC (RIP) · November 22, 2010, 11:40:41 PM

The fact is your vehicle is only roadworthy at the time of test and has happened probably on many occassions, you drive away from the test station and something can fail. I heard a tale many years ago of a woman who\'s car had just passed it\'s MOT - she drove off the forcourt and ran straight into a crowded bus stop. When checked her brakes had failed! The test station refused responsibility on the above grounds and got away with it - makes you wonder??

Ian65 · November 23, 2010, 06:05:01 AM

10 years ago, mot\'s weren\'t really a great indicator of a vehicles roadworthiness and there was widespread abuse of the system.
I knew of 3 garages locally that would issue a snide mot without even seeing the car....
all they needed was a copy of the log book and whatever milage was required.
There were also people using stolen certs and others washing the certs in brake fluid etc.
Since it\'s all gone computerised, it seems to have killed most of that off and that\'s a good thing.
With the online vosa check, we can also check back over the last few years to see what ( if any) issues a car may have had.

When I take my wife and kids out in a car, I want to know it\'s sound.
The testing station I use is at a transport company and they test only, they don\'t do any repairs which means I get an unbiased check.
Take your car to Kwikfit and it\'s gonna fail on tyres, brakes, exhaust, shocks etc.... the stuff they want to sell you. ( not that anyone from Kwikfit would ever get within 10ft of my car armed with a spanner)
Going back to the RX7 above, it looked like it needed some cosmetic tlc but if it passed an mot 6 months or so earlier, I would assume that any corrosion would be recoverable / repairable. Anything else is just bolt on / off.
Once it\'s robbed of it\'s engine and box though a tatty car becomes a much less attractive proposition.
Shame really..... another 1 bites the dust.

CHC (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 09:04:34 AM

With you all the way on points raised Ian.
:Thumbs-up

CHC (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 09:18:39 AM

My only problem is I hate to see a car going for scrap - once it\'s gone, it\'s gone.
But to pick up as a repairable there\'s always a way of extending it\'s life. A lot of previous owners only wanted to own them while they were good and as soon as they started going downhill they weren\'t prepared to expend time and money to rejuvenate them for the pleasure of others as well as themselves - this is probably the main reason for the declining RX7 numbers throughout the years.
That\'s why it\'s up to the forum members/present owners to do our part for motoring history and to keep these fine machines in roadworthy condition and having done so give them the exposure they deserve, have a few \'meets\' and go to some shows/special meetings - remember Beaulieu is coming up in July 2011 ! Hows about it guys?
:Thumbs-up

David Nock (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 06:07:59 PM

Quote from: David Nock;726538On ebay previous, Ref 290499843028

1983 car, Crediton, Devon. Looks OK, Buy-it-Now price Â£1450. Private Plate SIB 7612

Dave

Didn\'t make reserve. Best Bid Â£310.....what a shame.

CHC (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 07:59:01 PM

Quote from: David Nock;729324Didn\'t make reserve. Best Bid Â£310.....what a shame.

It\'s not a good time for selling RX7\'s obviously.

captainbizzaro · November 23, 2010, 09:32:39 PM

I\'ve absolutely no faith in MOT\'s at all-all that bit of paper states is that car passed some set parameters at that given time. Very much like electrical Portable Appliance Testing-proves something for one day only but is irrelavant for the remainder of the year.

CHC (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 10:40:45 PM

Quote from: captainbizzaro;729380I\'ve absolutely no faith in MOT\'s at all-all that bit of paper states is that car passed some set parameters at that given time. Very much like electrical Portable Appliance Testing-proves something for one day only but is irrelavant for the remainder of the year.

Nevertheless, if we want to be legal, we have to have them.
In fact, I\'m told \'in some Australian states they don\'t need to have road worthy certificates\' - how does that work? :confused:

captainbizzaro · November 23, 2010, 10:49:05 PM

Quote from: CHC;729398Nevertheless, if we want to be legal, we have to have them.

Not disputing that mate!

myatt1972 · November 23, 2010, 10:59:38 PM

Quote from: CHC;729398Nevertheless, if we want to be legal, we have to have them.
In fact, I\'m told \'in some Australian states they don\'t need to have road worthy certificates\' - how does that work? :confused:

Dont have them in Jersey either, good job they all drive new Rollers!

CHC (RIP) · November 23, 2010, 11:07:11 PM

Quote from: captainbizzaro;729402
Quote from: CHC;729398Nevertheless, if we want to be legal, we have to have them.

Not disputing that mate!

Only making a comment Tim - not pointing fingers or anything else, they are necessary for our own safety and other road users but the government make a point of profitering from this mandatory requirement. There\'s always somebody out there waiting to screw us - the motorists!

captainbizzaro · November 23, 2010, 11:11:09 PM

Tell me about it, our vans are all due at the same time and at Â£54 odd a pop it\'s a bit rude-can\'t even claim any VAT on them. Gotta love VOSA.

Didn\'t know that about Jersey Keith-you\'re right though, none of them have a car over three years old anyhow!

shaunwil · November 24, 2010, 01:02:03 PM

Isle of Mann is the same.

I enjoy taking it to a friend, I know that he is straight with it and I can watch all the checks while he is doing them because he will point out any niggles too. He did say I need to improve my welding skills though ! Although got plenty of practice this year !

Shaun