17 replies to this topic

[jonwat]

Autocar reports "Vehicles manufactured before 1960 will be exempt from MoT testing, roads minister Mike Penning has confirmed."

[Bibs]

Bad idea IMO.

[Buddsy]

Not all owners are going to be "decent" people who know one end of a spanner from the other. Some will use garages etc but IMO older cars almost need more MOTs per year as the cars were not as well designed and parts fall off sometimes quite easily!

Buddsy

[Sparky]

But why?

[molemot]

Fiddlesticks to the MOT....bring back the vehicle tax exemption that used to roll over every 25 years. Makes far more sense...classic cars do very little mileage so contribute very little to the carbon dioxide they're all in a paddy about....but they DO need regular inspection to ensure they are mechanically OK. After all, these were the cars which were so badly looked after that the MOT regime was introduced in the first place!!!

[mc21.8]

thats gonna make buying one tricky for the novice and selling a sh!t one easy!! oh dear may cause problems ..
but good idea for some,perhaps 3 year or milage related better idea

[jonwat]

Fiddlesticks to the MOT....bring back the vehicle tax exemption that used to roll over every 25 years.

That was stopped as one of the first acts of Blair's new Labour as soon as they got into power on the basis that the previous Conservative government had bought it in & it only benefited rich people who could afford a second, old car as a toy. That's what you get when you put Socialists in power.

As for the new legislation, as someone said earlier "what's the point" no matter how beautiful your prospective new purchase looks knowing that it has twelve months MOT gives you more confidence in going ahead with the purchase & renewing it every year tells you that you've not missed anything.

[internets]

http://pistonheads.c...p?storyId=25736

[Nelly9000]

One of the most absurd ideas I have ever heard.

Why not make all cars prior to 1960s exempt from all speed limits as well?

[andydclements]

I can agree with the argument that some/ most of the owners of pre-1960 cars will be fanatics (which I guess we are for Lotus cars) and so want their cars to be in tip-top condition but not all will and the approach of saying that it's fine as the cars still have to be roadworthy is ridiculous.
It's like saying (to go with Neil's analogy) there will be no speed cameras, police will not perform speed checks etc but you must still obey the speed limits.

It will only beocme apparent that a car is not road-worthy when it's involved in a fatal RTC and subject to inspection, it's too late by then.

[simonb]

I wonder if an old ausin 7 with its two drum brakes set up perfectly would pass an MOT anyway

[Buddsy]

Yes because it would be an age related MOT. I think this move is because the MOT test stations are confused by older cars which don't fit in with 99% of cars on the road. Chap who works for me had an argument with a tester who tried to fail his bike as it didn't have a brake light...but they weren't introduced until 1938 and his was a 1932 bike (Im guessing the dates there)

Buddsy

[andydclements]

I feel for them, I had a discussion with one tester about side repeaters for the indicators and eventually they realised the car was a year before the requirement came in.

[Buddsy]

Yes it must be difficult but surely they could have a computer printed check list for the pre current tests.

I still think even the best owners need a little nudge sometimes (once a year knowing a MOT is due)to keep on top of those jobs so easily put off.

Buddsy

[jonwat]

Yesterday's Sunday Times reported that MOT costs are to soar because some illuminated dash warning lights will incur a failure.

This will affect cars with modern features such as ESC, electronic handbrakes & airbags. If any of these items develops a fault & causes a warning light to illuminate on the dash then the new MOT rules requires the fault to be fixed.

The changes were introduced in January (thanks to Europe) but a grace period has been allowed which will end this summer, but has not yet given a date.

They give the example of a guy who bought a Focus with the ESC warning light on, he paid £8,000 for the car & now he's got to pay another £1,740 to fix it & the car's only worth around £4,000.

[Buddsy]

They give the example of a guy who bought a Focus with the ESC warning light on, he paid £8,000 for the car & now he's got to pay another £1,740 to fix it & the car's only worth around £4,000.

Good bye light bulb or hello square bit of tape.

Buddsy

[ramjet]

But won't that ploy get found out on turning the key to the run position and simply looking at all the lights which should be illuminated?

[Rich H]

They are supposed to check the warning lamps come on initially... but a 555 timer and a little box of tricks can sort that...

As above relying on owners being good at stuff isn't a good thing...
When was the last time you checked your number plate bulbs worked?
Would you/can you really check everything that the MOT checks?
Rotten sills, worn ball joints, steering rack play, brake efficiency, brake disc condition, etc.

Everything suddently become fix it when it stops working.

As above very bad idea and will benefit virtually no one.
Fatal crash of a clapped out non-roadworthy pre 1960 heap bought by a yoof will be the tell.