FRIDAY HULK THREAD: Are car mods becoming too risky?

[HULK_I6T]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/quee...414-2html.html

Its FRIDAY!! Time to take the edge off a hard week to slide into the weekend with a HULK thread!!

Reading this article Im starting to think that car mods are becoming more and more risky.. Having your car impounded or defected, monetary penalties and just the car enthusiast being a social outcast (hoon) might lead to us all driving bog stock cars into the future...

It might be a case of either engineer your car for the mods or leave the car alone.. Mods could be restricted to aftermarket wheels, audio upgrades and a air filter.

If the police get tough on this sort of stuff, basically noone will want to spend much on mods and then be punished by Police for doing so.

Is it time to call it a day? Grow up a little, put those supercharger foced induction plans in the too-hard-basket? Keep the exhaust stock? Look for a quality factory bog stock car to commute?

[Sox]

The powers that be have been making all attempts to reduce modifications for ever.
It is getting harder, and will continue to do so, but it's certainly not time to call it a day just yet.

Great thread Hulkster.

[tut0r]

Bogans.....Bogans everywhere.

[marty351]

Lets all hop into our model Ts and drive 20 under the limit...

[Mont5.0]

Regardless of what car you drive, I believe attitude towards the police is whats going to determine how severe they are on you.

[tut0r]

Unless you live in Victoria....Then Highway Patrol seem to have a chip on their shoulders....All of them so far.

[|Nate]

The only reason a lot of these laws are in place are because of all the cool people with their sick VN's with straight through pipes, chopped springs in the rear, on stockies.

If these laws silence the ambient sound of limiter bashing Buick V6's at night, I'm all for them. :P

Originally Posted by tut0r

Unless you live in Victoria....Then Highway Patrol seem to have a chip on their shoulders....All of them so far.

As mentioned above, it's your attitude towards them. If YOU have a chip on your shoulder after being randomly pulled over by them and they catch on, they'll be harsh.

I've been pulled over a few times in my old EB, which was lowered, loud (not too loud) and had nice rims. Never had an issue with any of them as I've always given them the respect they deserve, even when I see they've gone out of their way to pull me over.

Now in my BMW, I've never been pulled over, and rarely even given a second glance by HWP driving past or at bretho's.

[Polyal]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Unless you live in Victoria....Then Highway Patrol seem to have a chip on their shoulders....All of them so far.

Originally Posted by tut0r

Bogans.....Bogans everywhere.

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

Regardless of what car you drive, I believe attitude towards the police is whats going to determine how severe they are on you.

I agree its mainly about attitude.

Some just seem to be really good at attracting attention and then calling foul.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Mont5.0

Regardless of what car you drive, I believe attitude towards the police is whats going to determine how severe they are on you.

I've never been hassled by police even though my car is obviously lowered and modified.

But I drive a girls car, just fly on under the radar everywhere

[tut0r]

Listen I do agree its how you act towards the police but I have had nothing good come from being pulled over by HWP. I've been done for speeding twice in my life when I was younger and the first cop basically said "i could of held the trigger for longer you probably would lose your license". I said fair enough and the second time I was caught I got a lecture but I was at fault so I understand it.

But every HWP I have been pulled over whether it random breath test they act like arrogant assholes. I am by no means a hater of the popo I just must get the bottom of the barrel when it comes to police. BTW my car has no noticeable mod features on the exterior just luck of the draw.

[HULK_I6T]

It's strange...

I was at a car show a year or so ago...

Police were in attendance... Some guy drives out with a very loud v8, he blazes the tyres up the street smoke billowing, police officer just looks over and then moves on..

Then a mate in the wet lost a little traction coming out of a servo and had his car impounded for 3 months

The police have the legislation in their favour, they have some powers to defect/impound cars but I think they only enforce them on occasion. But get them off side and they will destroy your car.

At a known car meet at Krispy crime they recently blocked all the cars in and went through with a fine tooth comb issuing defect notices to every second vehicle

But the weekend before they were so in attendance, some guy was doing a bit of a burnout up the end of the carpark and they didn't bat an eyelid. same illegal cars were parked up and the police didn't bother them.

[tut0r]

Yeah its luck of the draw, I don't know if this is the same Krispy Kreme but that sounds familer, I remember when I was a little younger cops blocked off the entrances send in an unmarked, he flashed his reds and blue some guys tried to bolt only to find marked cop cars blocking the entrance hahaha.

Drove past an hour later only to see yellow stickers everywhere and wheel clamps!

[ratter]

nothing new has been posted here except the impound part, it's been like this pretty much forever

[HULK_I6T]

Double post

[HULK_I6T]

Originally Posted by ratter

nothing new has been posted here except the impound part, it's been like this pretty much forever

Not really...

As emissions standards / noise standards for new cars get tighter and tighter it becomes easier and easier to get caught..

Mods that were "no worries" 10-20 years back are now defects and costly rectification.

It really makes buying a MiamiV8 or I6T almost a must. Factory engineered and hassle free. Tune only specials completely undetectable roadside by a copper. Modding older cars seems silly in comparison as you won't really see the performance levels of the newer cars but be highly susceptible to defects etc.

Otherwise being a car enthusiast can feel like being a teenager sneaking around hoping not to get caught.. Are we kids??

[ratter]

there have always been rules, although a lot simpler than todays rules.
There are not too many cams from years ago that would pass the basic requirements, Major pollution laws came to be in 1976 but even before that there were rules maybe your idea mods is different to mine, but any of our old school hotties used to be far from legal.
Cops used to regularly target car shows, block off hang out spots, it's just now with the internet, mobile phones more people are aware when it has happened and sook about how unfair it is.

[HULK EF]

an air freshner hanging from the mirror in a stock car is basically a modified car. - meaning if the cops having a bad day can fine you for that.

i reckon it depends on l p plates showing and your driving style that influences most cops nowadays.

[ratter]

Satnavs stuck on windscreens can be classed as unroadworthy, it blocks vision and can be enough to block out a motor bike, cyclist or pedestrian, most rules have come about for a reason, whether or not we like them or accept them, when people continually push things and look for loop holes, they get modified

[cs123]

It's easier to modify a car now and get away with it then years ago.

In the 80s to make any sort of power you had to mod cam,headers, carb. It was very easy for the coppers to check this. Coppers often looked under your bonnet and gave you a defect. These days you can make good power (especially with turbos) and leave everything looking factory.

It was also a lot more challenging to improve the handling of your car. Common mods were cut springs and fat BFG tyres. Coppers would defect you for running wide rims. These days you can get suspension kits with matched components and sticky tyres and even do this on stock rims.

[The Monty]

That paper article is from over a year ago.

Its not getting harder to get away with it. I've never not had a modified car. I go to the drags, I go to track days, I go to car meets.

Ive been pulled over 3 times for RBT's in 10 years, and twice for tickets (9 years ago).

Your driving style, how well maintained your car looks, and your attitude will make the difference in getting pulled over or not.

When people say "Are you qualified to tell me my car is defective? Are you a mechanic?". They are going to have a bad time.

If they say "Go catch a real criminal", they are going to have a bad time.

See where this is going?

[prydey]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

But I drive a girls car,

probably why you'd get pulled over... and then waved on as they realised its not a chick driving..

[Nikked]

Originally Posted by Sox

It is getting harder, and will continue to do so, but it's certainly not time to call it a day just yet.

But are they?



In Dick Johnson's book, he talks about how all mods were illegal...


Todays problem stems from litigation and stupidity. You only have to watch the Highway Patrol type shows to see the sort of idiots that the police have fun "picking on"...usually a young bloke who is full of cheek. A good example was just this week where a cocky commodore driver was full of smart-arseisims about the stae of his car (bald tires, low etc) to the point when he had a laugh about of a "car with bald tires an no springs steps out easy"...

No wonder the officer had fun handing him fines.


On the other hand, a bloke with a far more modified turbo RX-7 got off lightly...because he copped it on the chin.

[MITCHAY]

If you have a car with massive rims, it's rear end dragging on the road and a loud exhaust among other things it's not a matter of if but when you will be pulled over.

And if you do get pulled over, don't have a bad attitude.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by HULK_I6T

. Mods could be restricted to aftermarket wheels, audio upgrades and a air filter?

Walk around a few meets these days and that's all a lot of cars have done to them, plus lowering.

[tut0r]

Best thing about when I got my P's, SA had a no display P plates for P2 drivers. I got pulled over once randomly, guy checked my license and instantly jumped down my throat about not having plates display, just said I don't need them, look on the back.

He actually look surprised...Same thing when I had a vic license with NSW plates. Asked me why I said I lived in wagga and didn't need to change it as I was in defence. Didn't question it and waved me on.

[UberKnee]

99% Of the time those who complain about the cops hassling them drive like morons. I used to subscribe to the belief of the police being out to get us but after owning heavily modified cars I know its all about attitude. Drive like a ******** all the time and give the cops lip when they pull you up for it and of course you'll have a good time.

[Road Games]

Originally Posted by The Monty

Your driving style, how well maintained your car looks, and your attitude will make the difference in getting pulled over or not.


See where this is going?

Exactly right Josh ...

Got my first speeding ticket in 2 years last mon night...

I had a brain fart and got the irrit's with a r/h lane hog and busted a move left then right and unfortunately right in front of a RADAR on the M1 at Springwood...

After 2 mins we were talking on the side of the rd..

With out fear or favour the most professional officers i have ever met ... my car isn't quite what some would call road legal, but after a window tint test and a bretho i was let go with just a speeding fine ....

This experience has really changed my attitude towards police.. after the nonsense i saw at a Downshift meet last year these guys were practically normal people...

Everyone makes mistakes , it's how we deal with them that reveals our true character...

And i needed to pull my head in anyway, so it was a timely reminder

[tut0r]

Mind if you elaborate on what happened at Downshift I must be outta the loop :P

[galaxy xr8]

I have never once been pulled over by the cop’s driving my lowered/exhaust/tinted windows XR8. I have however been through RBT in the same vehicle and none of the cop’s have even looked twice at it and questioned anything.

There have been times when I have noticed a cop following behind on let’s say the hwy (110 klmh limit) and they haven’t taken the slightest interests in my car,

Why.. well I think it’s because I have a completely clean driving record and they punch the rego plates in and see this and see that I am not a person that takes their interests, where as people that have previous convictions etc are easy targets once again.

[nstg8a]

Originally Posted by tut0r

Mind if you elaborate on what happened at Downshift I must be outta the loop :P

If it's the meet I'm thinking off they surrounded a downshift meet with three separate defect stations, and were just acting like utter uhh, bad people.