The National Government’s proposed emissions rule legislation has so upset the second-hand motor vehicle industry that they’re going to seek signatures for a petition nation-wide, using social media to make their point to the politicians.
One importer — Global Online Cars — is producing The Car Info Show for YouTube, and its promotional video asks National party politicians three questions about the consequences of the legislation. They are:
‘How do you think this new emission rule will clean up the quality of air in NZ and benefit the NZ public?’
‘Why are we not considering an annual ‘In service emission testing’ at WoF when there are 20 major cities up and down the country geared up with certified equipment and proven research ready to improve NZ’s quality of air?’
‘Stephen Joyce — will you be willing to accept responsibility for the expected increase in the price of cars?’
The Car Info Show is aimed at showcasing the progress of the motor vehicle industry in New Zealand over the past 30 years but host Chris Jellie’s main focus over the past six months has been on the downside of the Emissions Rule, and its subsequent inability to achieve its desired result.
Importers and second-hand dealers agree the Emissions Rule fails because it limits 85% of fresh imports from Japan, says Jellie, reducing the majority supply of fresh cars to New Zealand. And it includes all imports no matter the country of origin.
‘People are just going to hold onto their old, clapped-out hunks of junk’ he quotes Liam Graham of Wanganui Car Centre as saying, after pointing out over 95% of his stock would be banned by the Emissions Rule.
‘The Emissions Rule is going to make the air quality worse,’ said Jellie. ‘It’s just going to restrict fresh imports, push the prices of available imports up, and force the average New Zealander to keep their old, beaten cars because they can’t afford to upgrade.
‘These fresh imports are vital for New Zealand — we scrap 150,000 cars a year.” he said. “With the decrease of fresh imports proposed by the Emissions Rule, there just won’t be enough cars to fill demand.
‘You, the buyer, will be facing the stupid Emissions Rule. You won’t be able to buy these cars in these price ranges again’ was the view of Rod Milner, Rod Milner Motors, Auckland.
‘The average age of our national fleet is about to become older than 15 years,’ said Jellie. ‘NZTA’s own web site now states the average age a vehicle gets scrapped is 18. As a result the average price of cars, for the Kiwi family, is going to jump between $4000 and $10,000 because of the Emissions Rule.
‘So watch the “3 questions for the National Party” video and click on the petition after watching, to have your say New Zealand.” Jellie said.
We recently Certified suspension and wheels on this Holden Maloo
Now you hear it!
Holden says- “The Maloo R8 is a car that makes a statement when it’s are standing still and even more so when it moves.”
Wikipedia says
“The HSV Maloo is a performance coupe utility which has been produced by Holden Special Vehicles since October 1990. All versions of the Maloo have been based on the mainstream Holden Utes, but have featured high-performance V8 engines and body kits.[1] In June 2006, a regular production item Z-series Maloo R8 broke the record for the world’s fastest production utility/pickup truck, at 271 km/h, (168 mph) beating the previous record holder, a Dodge Ram SRT-10 by 22 km/h.[2]
The name ‘Maloo’ is also Aboriginal for ‘thunder’. HSV’s former Managing Director, John Crennan, coined the name for the vehicle from a book of Aboriginal place names.
It answers the question that some people still ask- “Why modify a vehicle? The manufacturers must know best”
The answer is that not all people want the same thing-
Holden figured out that utes are not all used for carrying stuff.
Holden decided to make a MUSCLE CAR with a 6.0-litre V8, 307Kw, 6 speed box, sports tuned suspension, that just happens to be a Ute! (but with only 500Kg payload)
The Maloo is clearly NOT the Ute for Barry Crump to drive around the farm tracks then!
THIS Maloo is modified even further by Mag & Turbo Wharehouse North Shore, with HSD adjustable platform struts, 22 x 8 1/2 wheels and 245/30ZR22 tyres front, 22 x 9 1/2 wheels with 285/25 ZR 22 tyres rear !
A real show-stopper- and a real performance machine, if the owner cares to smoke that expensive rubber!
Holden built a very modified Ute, for those who want such a performance vehicle
Mag & Turbo took the concept even further for one lucky owner.
Nothing wrong with modifying cars- so long as they are properly LVV Certified so they are safe, the owner can handle it, and it’s for the purpose intended.
This startling video illustrates the advances in car design for accidents.
The first obvious lesson is which sort of car to be in- if you have a collision
The next lesson is for anybody modifying cars- to understand the level of technology-
For example- if you were fitting seatbelts to the Bel Air, or a Morris Minor, (as you would be required to in New Zealand)- you can only work to achieve the best seatbelt anchorages possible, attached to available structures, and hope to give some increased protection in smaller crashes.
For example- if you were fitting seats and seatbelts to a MODERN vehicle, (say a Van) you need to be able to show that the modifications WILL WORK in the sort of impact shown in the video. Imagine LVV Certifying a Van with extra seats, extra seatbelts, wheelchairs and occupants and restraints- no wonder customers frequently question why it all needs to be so strong!
For example- if you wanted to change anything about the frontal impact structure or systems of a modern car (whether it is a Chev Malibu, or Toyota Yaris), how would you know if the crash performance will still be the same?
That’s why you can’t cut away the front bumper, add a different front bumper, trim the flanges off side-rails to add a front-mount intercooler, or cut holes in the crumple structure, etc.
You also cannot go adding stiffness in a crumple area, such as a suspension brace which stiffens up areas meant to fold.
The change you make could cause that part to fold, or maybe transmitting the load to another part making it fold instead, or triggers the airbags differently, and resulting in impaired performance and injury or death- HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
EXAMPLE The “push bars” on some Police traffic cars would have been crash tested, and have documentary evidence of the test.
This video shows why modern cars are so surprisingly HEAVY, (compared to similar cars of the 1970′s and 1980′s which were NOT crash tested) and why there is so much high-tensile steel in the vehicle structures.
That is why Low Volume Vehicle Certifiers cannot certify any modifications in frontal impact structures and systems because the ONLY way to prove the case for or against would be to carry MORE crash tests- which is outside of the scope of the Low Volume system.
The NZ Police have been found out making up their own rules- and have had to cancel a number of Pink and Green Stickers, and related offence notices.
A customer (who shall be nameless) was given a Pink Sticker because his car was below 100 mm gound clearance, even though it was Certified, and was at the ride height on the LVV Cert plate.
When the Police Officer was contacted, he advised that they had been told to issue offence notices if the ground clearance was less than 100, regardless of the LVV Plate ride heights.
The Police even wrote a piece in the advice column “NZ Performance Car” magazine explaining their policy.
The Low Volume Vehicle Technical Association contacted the NZ Police and explained the situation, and now the Police have changed their policy, and we expect a retraction in the next issue of the “NZ Performance Car” magazine. The customer who first complained has had his offence notices and Pink Sticker cancelled.
Top marks to the NZ Police out on the road for having to deal with some of the garbage cars out there, and dealing with the attitude they sometimes get. Lets hope that they get some better training on the rules!
If anybody else thinks that they have been wrongly ticketed when their car is LVV Certified, they should contact the Police, and if that doesn’t work, contact the LVVTA
A stringent Road Test procedure is required for modified vehicles with changed wheels and tyres, modified suspension such as coil-overs, brake modifications, engine changes or any other modifications which may affect the on-road performance.
SORRY- VIDEO REMOVED FOR MAINTENANCE
Part of the road test is the cyclic brake test, which requires the Certifier to perform three or five hard stops from 100kph to zero within two minutes, on a typical, uneven road surface.
Problems which can occur during the Brake Test are
1 Brake Fade, where the brakes or brake linings are inadequate for the performance or the weight of the vehicle,
2 Brake imbalance, where front and rear brakes are not matched, and wheel lockup is happening before optimum braking is achieved,
3 Wheel bounce and chatter, where the suspension is unable to keep the tyres in contact with the road surface to achieve good braking,
4 Dangerous effects on the steering, where the vehicle becomes unstable, or is hard to keep on course during braking.
5 Malfunction of ABS, EBD, Brake assist, and Stabililty Control systems.
The car being tested here is a 1988 Nissan Silvia, fitted with a SR20DET motor with drivetrain, front intercooler, S14 brakes and 5 stud hubs, adjustable platform struts, adjustable caster bars (front) Adjustable camber arms and adjustable toe arms (rear) and competition seats. It has been set up as a drift car, but it is an excellent handling car for road use.
Custom designed for the purest racing experience, DSN390 delivers unrivaled performance, guaranteed excitement with the auditory aggression of a kiwi grown V8′.
Hypercars NZ’s DSN390 offers all the adrenalin rush of a sports motorbike but with your passenger beside you. For track or road, custom built to your specifications
This incredible vehicle is being built right here in New Zealand, and will be Certified as a Low Volume Vehicle
This VW Kombi was built many years ago, and was on the road long before Low Volume Vehicle certification was introduced. It has been shortened to 1200 mm wheelbase. Continue reading VW Kombi Stunt-van
Send us a picture or two, a write-up, and a plug for the Low Volume certifier, and anyone else who helped, or supplied parts. You can register as an author, or just email john@lowvolumevehicle.co.nz
