Classic/Antique Cars Unsafe?

[69DodgeCharger]

Kinda sad to see what the media has become these days.

http://www.mcall.com/news/local/watchdog/all-5dog0921.6592257sep21

Here's his "followup"

http://blogs.mcall.com/watchdog/2008/09/car-nuts-going.html

Obviously he is uneducated. Send him an email and help him become better informed about classic cars.....and journalism since he knows little or nothing about either.

[41husk]

Wow! that guy is getting bombarded by car people.  I only read one response that took a semi side with the writer and that was from a guy who does the inspections

[Old Moparz]

The first link says "Page Not Found" but the second one works & has a link to the original article.


I read part of it, & pretty much agree that ALL vehicles should be inspected, including antiques. I guess I'll be in the minority agreeing with this point. The reason I say this, is that it's worth having a second party check over a vehicle that's on the road with other people. Ever hear the expression "A lock will keep an honest person honest"? This is the same thing, meaning that if some people are given the benefit of the doubt that they will inspect their own car, there are some that won't. I've been to shows & cruises, & have seen a lot of older cars rigged with stuff that looks dangerous. While most people into old classics will take care of their old car much better than the average "non-car person" will, there are still many that don't care, or just don't want to spend on certain things.

[451-74Charger]

The first link is PAGE NOT FOUND....
guess he didnt like the replies to his story.
you reap what you sow in these circles....

[moparstuart]

 They are hammering that stupid writer.  We drive our cars so little and take way better care of them , we dont need yearly inspections.

  good link        http://www.mcall.com/news/local/watchdog/all-5dog0921.6592257sep21,0,4055090.story

[MoparManJim]

Where in tar nations did he get his info at? a kid?

[69DodgeCharger]

The first link says "Page Not Found" but the second one works & has a link to the original article.


I read part of it, & pretty much agree that ALL vehicles should be inspected, including antiques. I guess I'll be in the minority agreeing with this point. The reason I say this, is that it's worth having a second party check over a vehicle that's on the road with other people. Ever hear the expression "A lock will keep an honest person honest"? This is the same thing, meaning that if some people are given the benefit of the doubt that they will inspect their own car, there are some that won't. I've been to shows & cruises, & have seen a lot of older cars rigged with stuff that looks dangerous. While most people into old classics will take care of their old car much better than the average "non-car person" will, there are still many that don't care, or just don't want to spend on certain things.

So you're in favor of more regulation and intervention? Kinda how we got to where we are today. Now I don't know about you, but personally I am not in favor of the state stealing any more of the very few dollars I happen to get hold of. They have proven time and again they can't be trusted to do the right thing with them. Who's paying for the inspection stations and the salaries of their employees? I certainly can't afford for them to pile on any more. I'm already going under slowly as it is. I'm afraid we'll have to agree to disagree on this one. Thankfully Michigan doesn't have any of this BS yet but if Granholm gets her way there will be. Nanny States don't work....never have, never will.

[Joshua]

Saw that on another site....
Author is ignorant (and a bit jealous).....CAR guys maintain and inspect their cars far better than the general public....

[SFRT]

I think modern cars are more dangerous because they do all the driving for you. this leads to everyone driving too fast, tailgating at 85 on the freeway etc. the 'illusion' of control, modern brakes and a smooth ride.i think 'vintage cars' make you a much better driver under adverse conditions.

[MoparManJim]

I think modern cars are more dangerous because they do all the driving for you. this leads to everyone driving too fast, tailgating at 85 on the freeway etc. the 'illusion' of control, modern brakes and a smooth ride.i think 'vintage cars' make you a much better driver under adverse conditions.

Yea, one other thing on your note that I will add about the old cars from the new cars. That is at least our old cars aren't made of plastic but rather with real metal. The plastic ones (newer cars of today) is the kinds that folks gets hurt in all the time. I'll take the metal ones any day. Plus is it just me or is the newer cars getting kinda smaller then what they was? 

Last week my cousin I was was out in town and this kid (in his 20S) in this little small car pulls right out in front of us, looking the other way at two cars coming down the road. He didn't even look "our" way at first until he heard tires squalling then he look then step on it! It's people like this that causes the accidents!

[The70RT]

The drivers are the ones unsafe. There isn't enough old cars on the road to even do asurvey. If you took a 76 Monte Carlo and hit a 06 Monte Carlo head on I would rather be in the early one. Now an older Charger againt a newer model may not far as well.

[NHCharger]

In NH ALL vehicles need to get annual inspections. Just got my Charger inspected Saturday. It was a really brutal process.
I put into the station, Steve the mechanic comes out.
Steve: Wow, looks great.
Me: Thanks.
Steve: Everything works?
Me: Yup.
Steve: Thought so, here's your sticker.

[derailed]

Yea, one other thing on your note that I will add about the old cars from the new cars. That is at least our old cars aren't made of plastic but rather with real metal. The plastic ones (newer cars of today) is the kinds that folks gets hurt in all the time.

I think id take a newer monte with the crumple zones in an accident over the old one. Much rather have my car absorb the impact rather than my internal organs.

[Kevin68N71]

Sure, if you have an older steel dashed car without safety glass and you still have not put in seat belts, you are running a risk. 

But most things in the past 40 years have seatbelts, driven sanely they are just fine.  They don have the benefit of overall greater strength.  Newer cars may drive more stable at 100mph, but that is really a moot point.

Personally, I don't need any other "mechanic" nosing around my car and dicking me for more $$$.

[69DodgeCharger]

"Personally, I don't need any other "mechanic" nosing around my car and dicking me for more $$$."


Bullseye!

[RallyeMike]

I read part of it, & pretty much agree that ALL vehicles should be inspected, including antiques. I guess I'll be in the minority agreeing with this point. The reason I say this, is that it's worth having a second party check over a vehicle that's on the road with other people. Ever hear the expression "A lock will keep an honest person honest"? This is the same thing, meaning that if some people are given the benefit of the doubt that they will inspect their own car, there are some that won't. I've been to shows & cruises, & have seen a lot of older cars rigged with stuff that looks dangerous. While most people into old classics will take care of their old car much better than the average "non-car person" will, there are still many that don't care, or just don't want to spend on certain things.

I could not disagree more, and the writer deserves everything he had coming to him.

That's like blaming software problems on the computer. The fact is, 99.9% of the time it's the operator.

A fraction of a percentage of accidents are caused my defective equipment. There is no discernible difference in the accident rates of states that have inspections vs. those that don't. Its the drivers and their behaviors. If we really want the best bang for the buck, we would channel the effort it takes to do inspections into driver training and education, more frequent driver testing, drug and alcohol training, and fixing a justice system that fails to catch up with and adequately punish/reform habitual problem drivers.

Inspections are a nearly complete waste of time and money, both of which could be put to much more effective uses to control accident statistics.

If they ever try and institute inspections in my state I'll be camping on the capital steps 

[69DodgeCharger]

"Inspections are a nearly complete waste of time and money, both of which could be put to much more effective uses to control accident statistics."

Just another money grab....sort of like booster seats. (Hmmmmmmmm what law can we make up today to steal more money with?)

[Todd Wilson]

I think modern cars are more dangerous because they do all the driving for you. this leads to everyone driving too fast, tailgating at 85 on the freeway etc. the 'illusion' of control, modern brakes and a smooth ride.i think 'vintage cars' make you a much better driver under adverse conditions.

You are exactly right. Between the 2 old Chargers, my 1974 Dodge truck and the 1947 Dodge truck I can agree 100% with you. While I am guilty of driving a little more carefree in my 86 Honda or the 95 Ram  when I get into the old iron you got to drive a different way because if you dont sooner or later you will get tangled up in the new cars.  ON the flip side of this nothing piss's me off more when I am rolling along in my 1947 truck and some little car comes zipping by me on the left or right side to pass me and then once they get around me instantly stop to make a turn. New car drivers dont understand the old iron is different then the new 4 wheel disc abs cars.

Todd

[The70RT]

Kansas use to have inspections. I remember driving around and spending 15 bucks at 3 or 4 places trying to get them to pass a car. Sometimes you could slip them cash to let you slide. A lot of places liked to make up excuses so they could fix your car to pass. Glad that's over with.

[bull]

An excerpt: "Apparently I'm an emasculated, tree-hugging, ignorant, dope, crybaby posing as a journalist because I dared to point out that Pennsylvania's vehicle inspection system is inequitable by not requiring antique cars - those as "new" as 1983 - to be inspected annually."

Sounds like he has described himself quite accurately.

[Todd Wilson]

Kansas use to have inspections. I remember driving around and spending 15 bucks at 3 or 4 places trying to get them to pass a car. Sometimes you could slip them cash to let you slide. A lot of places liked to make up excuses so they could fix your car to pass. Glad that's over with.

When did they do this?

Todd

[The70RT]

Kansas use to have inspections. I remember driving around and spending 15 bucks at 3 or 4 places trying to get them to pass a car. Sometimes you could slip them cash to let you slide. A lot of places liked to make up excuses so they could fix your car to pass. Glad that's over with.

When did they do this?

Todd

Up to early early 80's. Remember the "OK" stickers they gave you to put on the windsheild?

[ChgrSteve67]

legend in his own mind.

Cars don't last more than 10 years if you don't take care of them.
Thus these cars are the most maintained and services cars on the road.

Funny thing is if you did take it down to have it inspected the inspector wouldn't know what they are looking at anyways.
How many of us have department of motor vehicle stories were the person didn't believe that not all cars have their VIN tag riveted to the dash.
Or didn't come with seatbelts or the front parking lights are not on when the headlights are on. and so on.

The only purpose of having these cars inspected are to increase state revenue which apparently he is all for.

I'm done now - time for bed.
Steve

[Todd Wilson]

Kansas use to have inspections. I remember driving around and spending 15 bucks at 3 or 4 places trying to get them to pass a car. Sometimes you could slip them cash to let you slide. A lot of places liked to make up excuses so they could fix your car to pass. Glad that's over with.

When did they do this?

Todd

Up to early early 80's. Remember the "OK" stickers they gave you to put on the windsheild?

No! I been here since 1975 and we never had any cars inspected yearly that I can remember. And theres been no inspections since I have been driving. Sure you havent been smoking some bad weed tongiht?


Todd

[2Gunz]

I think the concept of having cars inspected is a great idea.

But the reality is keeping people honest and establishing rules that
make sense is impossible.