First Car

[BMan1113VR]

[quote]Yeah, ex-pat you have a better point there.

[elite marksman]

I've completed the first step to getting a car... being allowed to drive it. Passed my road test today, so now I can drive without a supervisor in the car.  :D

It's been tough finding a car in good shape for the price I'm willing to spend, but there are some out there. Currently on the list are a '98 Avenger, '95 Stealth, and a '94 SC2, just need time to go look at them. I'm on autotrader.com, edmunds.com, and the classifieds almost every day, I'm bound to find something sooner or later.

[Giteen]

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

CONGRATS!!

[elite marksman]

It's not like the test was all that hard either...
All I had to do was pull out of the parking lot, parallel park, drive around the block, and park back in the MVC's parking lot.

And yet I know of 2 people that failed the written test 6 times each and the road test twice. I will not be getting in a car with them unless I'm driving.

[expat]

It's not like the test was all that hard either...
All I had to do was pull out of the parking lot, parallel park, drive around the block, and park back in the MVC's parking lot.

And yet I know of 2 people that failed the written test 6 times each and the road test twice. I will not be getting in a car with them unless I'm driving.

If that was the extent of your driving test, then I will be driving if we have to get into a car  ::)

Matt

[Woodlouse2002]

It's not like the test was all that hard either...
All I had to do was pull out of the parking lot, parallel park, drive around the block, and park back in the MVC's parking lot.

And yet I know of 2 people that failed the written test 6 times each and the road test twice. I will not be getting in a car with them unless I'm driving.

If that was the extent of your driving test, then I will be driving if we have to get into a car

[expat]

It's not like the test was all that hard either...
All I had to do was pull out of the parking lot, parallel park, drive around the block, and park back in the MVC's parking lot.

And yet I know of 2 people that failed the written test 6 times each and the road test twice. I will not be getting in a car with them unless I'm driving.

If that was the extent of your driving test, then I will be driving if we have to get into a car  ::)

Matt

You're given more challenges than that in an English test before you even leave the test centre car park.

I had to do a tree point turn in the car park just to get out and then another one on the test for the test  :P That was in Bodmin with the infamous Mr Power..99% of the time............Your a lad of 17 are you, well, I will just fail you for turning up, todays test will be a good practice run for next time. That should cut you down to size you little fucker. I must have been in the lucky 1% on my test  :-?

Matt

[Woodlouse2002]

Apparently, if you follow the rules in the test then you're not supposed to be asked to do a manuvere in the first 5 minutes of the test. In the Cambourne test centre 95% of tests start with a drive to halfway down the carpark, then a bay park within a minute of starting. I was given a minor for not checking my blindspot whilst in the car park aswell. He was a nice man. Really had it in for me.

[elite marksman]

Finally bought a car. 2000 2 door Pontiac Grand Am. It is in really good condition, the only flaw being that it has a salvage title, so I got it for $2500. Because of the title, my dad had my cousin, a mechanic for the local Lexus dealer, come out and look at it. He said that other than a few bumps where the parts that  were replaced meet the factory parts under the lifting part of the trunk (main body panel needed to be repaired, not just the rear bumper), you would never know it was in an accident. Frame was true and all the welds in the rear looked good. I took the car up to 80mph and not even a hint of a shimmy, plus it gets up to speed very quickly for a 4 cyl, and it will get good gas mileage.

[SkyNoz]

Finally bought a car. 2000 2 door Pontiac Grand Am. It is in really good condition, the only flaw being that it has a salvage title, so I got it for $2500. Because of the title, my dad had my cousin, a mechanic for the local Lexus dealer, come out and look at it. He said that other than a few bumps where the parts that  were replaced meet the factory parts under the lifting part of the trunk (main body panel needed to be repaired, not just the rear bumper), you would never know it was in an accident. Frame was true and all the welds in the rear looked good. I took the car up to 80mph and not even a hint of a shimmy, plus it gets up to speed very quickly for a 4 cyl, and it will get good gas mileage.

That's the way to go, if you know what your doing, if you have time and are looking for a project. I could have easily bought a 87 300zx non turbo, which had been in a front end accident, the only problems that could be found were a lost front bumper, hood and flip up lights and damaged radiator, the alignment had also looked great. I could have bought the car for $350, and replaced a number of the parts for around $400 or the same amount of the car using used parts with a salvage title and it would drive practically flawless. Well, only go this way if you really want to and have time available and you know what your doing! with time and patience!

[Ivan]

[quote]Who owns Who?

BMW owns:
-BMW
-Mini
-Rolls Royce

Daimler/Chrysler owns:
-AMC
-Chrysler
-Dodge
-Eagle
-Hyundai
-Jeep
-Maybach
-Mercedes-Benz
-Plymouth
-Smart

Fiat owns:
-Alfa Romeo
-Ferrari
-Fiat
-Lancia
-Maserati

Ford owns:
-Aston Martin
-Ford
-Jaguar
-Land Rover
-Lincoln
-Mazda (Ford owns 33% of Mazda)
-Mercury
-Volvo cars

Fuji Heavy Industries owns:
-Subaru

General Motors owns:
-Buick
-Cadillac
-Chevrolet
-Daewoo (GM owns 44%)
-Fiat (GM has decided to divorce itself from Fiat as of Feb '05, but will retain 10% ownership.)
-GMC
-Holden
-Hummer
-Oldsmobile
-Opel
-Pontiac
-Saab
-Saturn
-Suzuki (2.5%, from 20%)
-Vauxhall

Honda owns:
-Acura
-Honda

Hyundai owns:
-Hyundai
-Kia

Isuzu owns:
-Isuzu
(Mitsubishi Corp., Itochu Corp. and Mizuho Corporate Bank owns part of Isuzu.)

Mitsubishi Corp. owns:
-Isuzu (13.6%)
-Mitsubishi Motors Corp (13%)

Nissan owns:
-Infiniti
-Nissan
-Renault (Nissan owns 15%)

PSA Peugeot Citroen owns:
-Citroen
-Peugeot

Porsche owns:
-Porsche
-VW (20%)

Renault owns:
-Nissan (Renault owns 44%)

Toyota owns:
-Daihatsu (~51%)
-Fuji Heavy Industries -- Subaru (Toyota owns ~20%. Toyota bought this from GM in late 2005. )
-Isuzu (5.9%, announced 7 Nov. 2006)
-Lexus
-Scion
-Toyota

Volkswagen owns:
-Audi
-Bentley
-Bugatti
-Lamborghini
-SEAT
-Skoda
-Volkswagen

So, about as inbred as some parts of East Anglia and North Carolina

[Mushroom_Farmer]

And a question....
Is it allowed for US citizens to import a 2005 VW Pointer from Mexico?

No, Mexico has basically zero emmisions requirments. If it were true there would probably be more '57 Chevys and Volkwagon Beetles on this side of the border.

[elite marksman]

Mushroom, 57 Chevys and the old bugs are allowed on this side of the border. New Jersey has a law where antique cars do not have to abide by the current emissions regulations, and I expect that most cars have a similar regulation. Here, cars are considered to be antique when they are 25 years old. Many states also have a law where emissions regulations are only applicable to cars made the year they are passed or later. I.E. a '90 Bronco doesn't need to pass the 06 emissions test.

[Mushroom_Farmer]

Mushroom, 57 Chevys and the old bugs are allowed on this side of the border. New Jersey has a law where antique cars do not have to abide by the current emissions regulations, and I expect that most cars have a similar regulation. Here, cars are considered to be antique when they are 25 years old. Many states also have a law where emissions regulations are only applicable to cars made the year they are passed or later. I.E. a '90 Bronco doesn't need to pass the 06 emissions test.

Yes, I realize that, but Mexico produced the the Beetle from 1964 into 2003, so those would fall under whatever EPA regulations were applicable for those years. It was also on the USDOT's hot list of gray market imports after 1978 as it also didn't meet safety regulations. I suppose a pre-'78 model might be snuck across the border without too much hassle.
I'm starting to think I'm in error on the '57 Chevy being produce in Mexico post-1957.

[Ivan]

And a question....
Is it allowed for US citizens to import a 2005 VW Pointer from Mexico?

No, Mexico has basically zero emmisions requirments. If it were true there would probably be more '57 Chevys and Volkwagon Beetles on this side of the border.

Even if it meets the regs you probably wont anyway... majority of parts shipped from iran (cheaper than mexico)