New Zealand WOF system is it a genuine necessity or a scam?

[avgas]

scam. I am yet to be crashed into someone who doesn't have a wof - so clearly its not the vehicles fault that they crash.

[scumdog]

scam. I am yet to be crashed into someone who doesn't have a wof - so clearly its not the vehicles fault that they crash.

Yup, remove the drivers and the crash rate will plummet.

Cheap-as too...

[SMOKEU]

Sure, it sits lower and the spring is essentially stiffer due to there being less of it to compress, but unless he's got shortened shocks, or top out spacers in them, it's possible for the spring to come out of it's seat and make one corner sit well high or low. Lets see how it handles then!

It doesn't bottom out much, and seems to sit nicely. It does sometimes knock at the rear at high speeds though, but turning the subwoofer up usually drowns it out.

So you fucked up all the steering and suspension geometry and it goes fucking well, excellent,mate your wasted here,should be on a v8 supercar team

It wasn't my handiwork.

If it was done properly, there would be no need to cut the springs.

An angle grinder is all good.

The Subaru factory race crew must be clawing at his door to find out how he did it eh....

The sure must be.

[Ocean1]

Tyres don't.

Light bulbs don't.

Brakes don't.

In fact, most components on a car don't wear out any slower than those of 30 years ago.

You're just talking through a hole in your head.

My but you're an obnoxious cunt. It's not difficult to see why you're keen for the govt to continue propping up your business by doing your marketing work for you.

[Katman]

My but you're an obnoxious cunt. It's not difficult to see why you're keen for the govt to continue propping up your business by doing your marketing work for you.

Dude, I'm just pointing out that you're full of shit.

Nothing personal like.

[Ocean1]

Dude, I'm just pointing out that you're full of shit.

Nothing personal like.

Which I'd take almost seriously, from anyone other than a hypocrite.

[Laava]

Is a fairly subjective topic surely. Some people would have no idea that their car has faulty steering or needed a new set of brakes until it was too late. So they need to be regularly made aware of maintenance issues etc. it seems to make sense especially on the older vehicles. Bikes included obviously. Personally i'd rather not be spending the money but it is a system designed for all so I don't have a problem with it.
Having said that, one of the things my wifes car got failed on was that her brake fluid was not at the max level. Halfway between min and max was not good enough that day. One off tho as far as I can recall.

[unstuck]

Is a fairly subjective topic surely. Some people would have no idea that their car has faulty steering or needed a new set of brakes until it was too late. So they need to be regularly made aware of maintenance issues etc. it seems to make sense especially on the older vehicles. Bikes included obviously. Personally i'd rather not be spending the money but it is a system designed for all so I don't have a problem with it.
Having said that, one of the things my wifes car got failed on was that her brake fluid was not at the max level. Halfway between min and max was not good enough that day. One off tho as far as I can recall.

Never heard of that one before, have heard of being failed for insufficient powersteering fluid though.

[Laava]

Yeah insufficient is one thing but this was between the levels. As it was not the sole thing it failed on I just topped it up and cracked on but had it been the only thing I would have argued the point. My wife refuses to go back there.

[unstuck]

Same with the powersteering fluid I mentioned, half way between marks on the dipstick= insufficient=fail. Guy was well pissed off. Dont blame him really, but I usually top all that stuff up when I am doing a pre check.

[Brian d marge]

As I said

There are people out there that struggle with shoelaces

So we need a check on the the vehicles they are driving

for every ones peace of mind

but those checks need to be done by someone competent , and If I were failed for something that was plainly safe , i would be pissed off ( now heres the rub , I possibly am more competent that the inspector , so can I pull rank??? so to speak ??)

bad move when they went private ,,,oh wait , privatising is good isnt it ,,,my bad


as u were

Stephen

sorry for the Hamlet quote

[ducatilover]

Classic. WOF's make no difference..... BUT them other guys need them anyway.

Not sure if that's a dig or not? But, the WoF system doesn't stop muppets driving with cut springs etc etc, BUT, it is handy as I said, for people who have little or no mechanical knowledge whatsoever and are incapable of checking their cars themselves, these people (most people) do like their car to be reasonably sound/safe. Which is understandable as a car, to many, is a tool and they need it checked to make sure it's still in working condition.

I think WoF checks are a good idea. I agree with the attitude thing to an extent also.
I would rather have the majority of clueless people driving on reasonable tyres than bald ones.

[Ocean1]

Not sure if that's a dig or not?

Nah, not really dude. It was just such a good example of the double-think we're all too good at.

I'm not suggesting WOFs shouldn't be banned, if my mechanic sent me a wee reminder every six months I'd book in for a checkup, I don't have time to do it myself and he's better at it anyway. I was simply pointing out that almost all of the comparative studies show that statistically they don't affect accident rates at all, so why legislate for them?

Similar argument re cell phone use in cars, there's no difference between accident rates with people using a hand-held phone or a hands-free unit, and yet when the law was draughted hands-free units were excluded from the ban. And the authorities at the time knew those facts, and wrote the rules up that way anyway.

It's an irrational blind spot in our makeup, but it shouldn't stop us from being aware of it and at least trying to make logically coherent decisions. The natural conclusion of legislating against any behaviour that most of us want prevented in OTHER people is that none of us will be able to leave the house without breaking a dozen laws. I'm not sure that's not the case already, I don't pay much attention to such petty shit.

[ducatilover]

I'm not suggesting WOFs shouldn't be banned, if my mechanic sent me a wee reminder every six months I'd book in for a checkup, I don't have time to do it myself and he's better at it anyway. I was simply pointing out that almost all of the comparative studies show that statistically they don't affect accident rates at all, so why legislate for them?

Do the studies cover our situation exactly? People used to their cars being checked, then all of a sudden they don't need to and could potentially save $100 a year? I think the number of dangerous vehicles will increase without WoF checks here. Many people rely on it, as previously stated, for checking their tyres/suspension etc. Without their fear of getting fines for no WoF the attitude will become very lax.
I do think the WoF system could be improved upon.

Be interesting to see how many mechanics would be out of jobs without the WoF system, I'm a mechanic (apparently I held a spanner once) and it wouldn't effect me at all due to the part of the trade I'm working in, but I would bet a fair few garages will fall on their faces without the typical unsafe shit needing repairs.

[pete376403]

Never seen any tester measure pad thickness, would be a nightmare for them to measure shoes too.

I believe that the testers are not allowed to dismantle any part of the car for inspection, so removing wheels to check for disk and pad thickness is not allowed, nor removing drums to check brake shoe wear.
With bikes of course the disks and (sometimes) pads can be inspected without any dismantling, so many of us will be aware of WOFs failed becuase disks are worn beyonf the limit that the makers have helpfully stamped on them.