Political Discussion

Some people will possibly be horrified to hear that I've been leasing vehicles for two decades. I live close to work, so mileage is never an issue, even in years that I gig regularly. I turn them in before brake jobs, new tires or most other general maintenance is needed. Hell, I'm done with these leases before my fourth oil change sometimes. It's always worked really well for me, and a car payment has been in my budget for as long as I can remember.
As I eyeball retirement (10 or 12 years from now) I will probably buy something within the next half decade so I can own a vehicle once my finances change.
Before all that, I had plenty of used beaters. My first was a 1978 diesel VW Rabbit, 4- door, manual...a hand-me-down from my sister. I loved it.
 
The first time I ever sat in a new car was when I bought my Lancer in 2011 at 26 years old. I still drive it, sneaking up on 180K miles. I had three different used vehicles before it, and my parents always had used vehicles as well and went though them like paper plates. Which is why I decided to buy something new for myself when I had the money. It was a good purchase for me. 18k for a car that's still running after 10 years and I've never needed any major maintenance on.
 
Max Sterling said:
The first time I ever sat in a new car was when I bought my Lancer in 2011 at 26 years old. I still drive it, sneaking up on 180K miles. I had three different used vehicles before it, and my parents always had used vehicles as well and went though them like paper plates. Which is why I decided to buy something new for myself when I had the money. It was a good purchase for me. 18k for a car that's still running after 10 years and I've never needed any major maintenance on.
Click to expand...
Yeah new cars can be a fine purchase, especially if you get deals. The idea of getting a 'new-ish' car as conventential wisdom has been wrong for a while. When my 15 year old Prius died a few years ago (not the battery) it was actually cheaper in the long run for me to get a new plug in version given the rebates and electric tax kickbacks. Fairly new used cars are EXPENSIVE (especially for things like Priuses or Pickup trucks). If you're not getting a beater a new car is often a better deal. And after growing up only driving in cars that would last 2-3 years before dying it's a real whole new world (not all of us 'leftists' grew up in extreme wealth surrounded by 16 year olds with new cars. Many of us come from working class backgrounds who understand how the country and market capitalism has failed society).
 
Chucktshoes said:
I needed to come back to this because I didn’t catch it initially. Can you explain this portion of the inspection test to me? I want to be sure I’m not misinterpreting what’s going on here, because I have some concerns.
Click to expand...

Basically, they engage the ebrake, put the car in drive and the car should not move. If the car moves when the engine is at all mildly reved it's a fail.
 
Last edited:
RenegadeMonster said:
Basically, they engage the ebrake, but the car in drive and the car should not move. If the car moves when the engine is at all mildly reved it's a fail.
Click to expand...
...........once again, I find myself following @Chucktshoes lead, which is concerning all on its own ;)

But ya, I'm calling scam on all this my friend, they're in cahoots with new car dealers.........someone's got their hand out.
 
RenegadeMonster said:
Basically, they engage the ebrake, but the car in drive and the car should not move. If the car moves when the engine is at all mildly reved it's a fail.
Click to expand...

That’s what I thought was happening, and that’s a problem. That’s not what that mechanism is designed for anymore. It’s a parking brake, not a true emergency brake. What the hell. That’s a long outdated portion of the inspection that needs correcting. There’s a high probability that cars are getting damaged during that part.
 
debianlinux said:
I guess I should clarify that I wasn't going for a one up story or to say everyone should be driving well used cars. I was just alluding to the idea that new cars for kids was a thing reserved for only the very affluent when I came up. It wasn't a sob story either. I was thrilled to have a vehicle and to do my own maintenance and learn the actual value of an automobile.

At the time I was subject to Davidson county inspections in TN which as far as I recall, was strictly about emissions and things like operating tail lights and unbroken windows and sufficient tire tread. I have since kept my vehicles registered to a family address in east TN where the only things due each year are about $20 per car for registration fees. So admittedly, I have no idea what is required to pass inspections today. I feel confident either of my vehicles would pass inspection, though, as I am pretty keen on keeping them in good working order.
Click to expand...

It was a good story.
 
Chucktshoes said:
That’s what I thought was happening, and that’s a problem. That’s not what that mechanism is designed for anymore. It’s a parking brake, not a true emergency brake. What the hell. That’s a long outdated portion of the inspection that needs correcting. There’s a high probability that cars are getting damaged during that part.
Click to expand...

Well, it was back in 2004 when I failed that one. Not sure if the test is still the same or depends on the make / model / year of you car being equipped with a true emergency break.

My latest inspection just says "Parking brake: pass"

Oh, these things can also result in a fail.

  • Window tint (It's illegal in Massachusetts)
  • Altered Vehicle Height (you can't install a lift kit on your truck in MA)
  • License Plate Holders (They obstruct the the state and expiration date on the plate, or so they say)
  • Altered mufflers (you know those mufflers kids like to install on their accords to make them sound like a motorcycle)
  • Altered Canter
  • Added hydraulics (You can't customize your car to bounce).
  • Custom Rims that use a tire size the vehicle was not designed for.
  • Damage to Bumpers / Fenders / Exterior Sheet Metal (You must replace your bumpers / fenders and what not after an accident. They can't have visible damage or be compromised).
 
RenegadeMonster said:
Well, it was back in 2004 when I failed that one. Not sure if the test is still the same or depends on the make / model / year of you car being equipped with a true emergency break.

My latest inspection just says "Parking brake: pass"

Oh, these things can also result in a fail.

  • Window tint (It's illegal in Massachusetts)
  • Altered Vehicle Height (you can't install a lift kit on your truck in MA)
  • License Plate Holders (They obstruct the the state and expiration date on the plate, or so they say)
  • Altered mufflers (you know those mufflers kids like to install on their accords to make them sound like a motorcycle)
  • Altered Canter
  • Added hydraulics (You can't customize your car to bounce).
  • Custom Rims that use a tire size the vehicle was not designed for.
  • Damage to Bumpers / Fenders / Exterior Sheet Metal (You must replace your bumpers / fenders and what not after an accident. They can't have visible damage or be compromised).
Click to expand...
Fuck the entirety of your state. Do yourself a favor and escape that shithole. I do understand now why whenever I find myself there everyone I run into was such a miserable bastard. It’s especially sad because Massachusetts once understood exactly what to do with the kind of tyrants create petty bullshit laws like that.

It’s really time to bring back the concept of tarring and feathering.
 
RenegadeMonster said:
Well, it was back in 2004 when I failed that one. Not sure if the test is still the same or depends on the make / model / year of you car being equipped with a true emergency break.

My latest inspection just says "Parking brake: pass"

Oh, these things can also result in a fail.

  • Window tint (It's illegal in Massachusetts)
  • Altered Vehicle Height (you can't install a lift kit on your truck in MA)
  • License Plate Holders (They obstruct the the state and expiration date on the plate, or so they say)
  • Altered mufflers (you know those mufflers kids like to install on their accords to make them sound like a motorcycle)
  • Altered Canter
  • Added hydraulics (You can't customize your car to bounce).
  • Custom Rims that use a tire size the vehicle was not designed for.
  • Damage to Bumpers / Fenders / Exterior Sheet Metal (You must replace your bumpers / fenders and what not after an accident. They can't have visible damage or be compromised).
Click to expand...
Consider who this list of "violations" is directed towards. Consider what a failed inspection means for those people and their ability to exist.
 
So, I'm a state away, but I have to ask, have you gone to multiple places that have given the same song and dance on the inspections? I only ask because in NH, you can have five mechanics following the same rules with vastly different effort levels put towards passing or failing a car. This kind of feels like the crap a dealership will often pull to trigger a new car buy. Like I can buy that all of these are rules but the level of enforcement on these almost certainly would vary or half the cars I see driving in Mass wouldn't be on the road, and I know up here I've had mechanics go as far as to break things in order to "repair" them, so I wouldn't be shocked if some are just hard enforcing these "rules" to make money on the "fix" if you will.

Also, jaycee's point is quite well taken to what a lot of those lovely rules were intended to do.
 
waruv said:
So, I'm a state away, but I have to ask, have you gone to multiple places that have given the same song and dance on the inspections? I only ask because in NH, you can have five mechanics following the same rules with vastly different effort levels put towards passing or failing a car. This kind of feels like the crap a dealership will often pull to trigger a new car buy. Like I can buy that all of these are rules but the level of enforcement on these almost certainly would vary or half the cars I see driving in Mass wouldn't be on the road, and I know up here I've had mechanics go as far as to break things in order to "repair" them, so I wouldn't be shocked if some are just hard enforcing these "rules" to make money on the "fix" if you will.

Also, jaycee's point is quite well taken to what a lot of those lovely rules were intended to do.
Click to expand...

Fuck! I’m glad our entire testing regime is franchised to a specific third party testing company who are absolutely not linked to either dealerships or mechanics!
 
I feel like this is an opportunity to mention how happy I am that we don’t have any sort of vehicle inspection system in my county. I once even titled and registered a vehicle that wasn’t even in the state. It was 1100 miles away and non-operational. 😂
 
waruv said:
So, I'm a state away, but I have to ask, have you gone to multiple places that have given the same song and dance on the inspections? I only ask because in NH, you can have five mechanics following the same rules with vastly different effort levels put towards passing or failing a car. This kind of feels like the crap a dealership will often pull to trigger a new car buy. Like I can buy that all of these are rules but the level of enforcement on these almost certainly would vary or half the cars I see driving in Mass wouldn't be on the road, and I know up here I've had mechanics go as far as to break things in order to "repair" them, so I wouldn't be shocked if some are just hard enforcing these "rules" to make money on the "fix" if you will.

Also, jaycee's point is quite well taken to what a lot of those lovely rules were intended to do.
Click to expand...
I go to a place where there are more non functional cars than functional ones, the whole place is held together by rust, and the guy doing the inspection likes to talk about all the crazy stuff my FIL's uncle did--because he recognized my last name. They check whether the brakes and lights work and that there isn't a bunch of cracks in your windshield. To say that inspection stations around Louisiana might not be totally consistent, would be an understatement. People know that if they have a busted up windshield that they should go to a certain couple places for an inspection sticker without any hassle.
 
In MA they handle inspection sites like liquor licenses.

It's a license a shop, dealership or independent inspection only center much purchase. They also limit the number of locations per municipality that can have a license. Often times it's not uncommon, that a dealership doesn't have a license and are unable to obtain one because the maximum number of licenses the state allows for that city have already been issued.

As for bringing it to another place and trying to inspect it again to get a different opinion. That used to be a thing. Some pleases used to be notorious for failing people while others would let issues slide. That isn't the case anymore. The state has made sure of that with strict video monitoring of all inspections sites and the whole inspection process is now computerised. It's the states inspection centers computers that determine if a car passes or fails each part of the inspection process. All the mechanic has to do is pull the car in the garage, hook up the car's computer fo the states computer and let it run. The computer will know what types of lights your car is equipped with, and turn each one on and off in every mode. Sensors around the garage will detect if the lights are working and what not.
 
Indymisanthrope said:
Wayne LaPierre, relatable gun owner:

www.newyorker.com

The Secret Footage of the N.R.A. Chief’s Botched Elephant Hunt

Wayne LaPierre has cultivated his image as an exemplar of American gun culture, but video of his clumsy marksmanship—and details regarding his Rodeo Drive shopping trips—tells another story.
www.newyorker.com www.newyorker.com

There is so much about this story to find repulsive, no matter what you think about guns in general.
Click to expand...
I mean the suits are 1 thing but 315k for a half hour of that sweet, sweet harmony of a Rascal Flats acoustic set... that was money well spent.
 
Fuck WLP.

A large number of gun owners like myself have stopped financially supporting the NRA until Wayne is gone. We make it clear every time they solicit us for more money.

We only wish the NRA was no compromise juggernaut the gun control types think it is.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top