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I rented a new Chevrolet Silverado from the hardware store to haul some roofing panels. Maybe it’s an unfair comparison, but it’s incredible to me how big a difference there is between that base Silverado and the F-150 XLT I drove. The F-150 was better in every way.

@midob
I believe inspections vary by state. In Wisconsin every two years I have to take my vehicle to an inspection site where they hook up a hose to something on the driver’s side to measure emissions. It’s a drive-thru service at a local dealership. That’s it. The government doesn’t care how safe it is in a collision.

A regular car license covers any regular vehicle you can buy, a Fiat 500 to a F-350. There’s a separate license for motorcycles and for extra large trucks, but I don’t know exactly where the lines are drawn.

@midob
Why on earth would you buy a Chinese knockoff when Honda makes some of the best engines? I would never do that, both from a reliability and ethical standpoint.

@RD4590
Some interesting insights into the Chinese motor industry there.

I’ve had a few Chinese vehicles, a few pit bikes with the Loncin and Lifan engines (Honda clones) which were great bikes, really good fun, a Can-am knock off (V-twin CVT atv buggy thingy) which was an abomination both mechanically and to drive and a stealth bomber knock off ebike which I still have and is pretty good.

I also had a 150cc CVT unbranded buggy which was a great drive, mechically pretty decent and pretty nippy up to 40mph; pretty sure that used a GY6 engine.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Interesting, our emissions and safety checks are done at the same time.

Baffling that they would cease safety checks while keeping emissions tests. I guess if a car kills you or cripples you for life (due to failed brakes etc), you can die or suffer with the comforting fact that the car was compliant with emission standards 🤷

It’s a separate test here for motorcycles too; you can ride a 50cc moped on car licence though or a 125cc with L plates (you can’t have a pillion). As for vehicle dimensions there is no limit, you can drive a 12M/39FT x 2.5M/8FT vehicle granted it doesn’t exceed 3.5T.

@midob
In America, it depends. Emissions tests are almost-always mandated in urban and suburban areas, but most rural areas don’t require emissions. I believe California and New York State mandate emissions tests statewide, regardless of if you live in a big city or out in the middle of nowhere. Some states also have separate inspections for safety (i.e.: brakes, windshield, headlights, taillights, etc.)

In Utah County, Utah (where I currently live); we just take our car to Jiffy Lube or anyone who advertises they do emissions tests once a year. We used to do safety inspections as well, but we stopped in 2017. I’m looking to move to Las Vegas, Nevada or Phoenix, Arizona in the near future and I think both those areas just do emissions, too.

As far as “regular car license,” which is a Class D license in Utah, you can drive your typical personal vehicles from the humble Toyota Corolla to the big boy pickup trucks such as the Ford F-150 and even some RVs under a certain length. You’ll need a separate endorsement to drive motorcycles. And Class A, B and C licenses are for those larger commercial trucks.

Just out of interest, how are vehicle inspections done in your locality?

In England once a car is over 3 years old it is inspected, as part of a “MOT” annually, the inspection takes about 30-45 minutes.

I was reading a post on FB that inspections in Belgium are required biannually after the car is 4 years old. The test takes about 20 minutes and is done as a “drive-though” service. Pretty bizarre to us Brits.

Also what can you drive on a regular car license?

In Britain you can drive any rigid vehicle up to 3.5T, if you passed prior to 1997 it’s up to 7.5T.

@RD4590
+1 to that.

Somehow I want to see Mazda in touring car racing, with the RX8.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Hyundai cars served me reliably for 16 years, but I can understand where you’re coming from. They’re like the Denny’s of automotive brands. You don’t set out to get a Hyundai, you end up in a Hyundai.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
Hyundai also has a I30, too.

Ehh. Understandable.

@Background Pony #1392
I have no idea. I’m not a fan of Hyundai, Kia or Genesis; so I don’t really follow them.

The only I30 I’m familiar with is my dad’s 2000 Infiniti I30, and it’s just a fancy Nissan.

@ᎶㄖҜㄩ 乃ㄥ卂匚Ҝ
I was talking about if they were sold in the us from 2011 to 2016 (Like the MD Elantra and GD I30), what would the name for the I30 Coupe be in the us?

@Background Pony #1392
The closest we in America have to those are the Tiburon and Velostar. But being as those are still Hyundais, I personally wouldn’t want one.

Interesting thought:
So, obviously, we had the Elantra coupe, Elantra Touring (I30 Wagon) and Elantra GT (I30).
Assuming that Hyundai sold the I30 3-Door (coupe) in the us, would it use the Elantra GT name?

@𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫
👍

@RD4590
👍.

@𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐫
Tomica?

I just learned that Zimmer sunk in 2020.

Today, I finally bought and took delivery the dream car of my life!

@RD4590
Where I live they’re a bit pricy, and I want a manual 4x4. Those are $10,000+

@The magic 🅱oi
What’s holding you back? They cost nothing.

One of these days I’m going to get one of these

@RD4590
I’ll take a photo the next time I see one.

@kleptomage
Being in America it could also be Austin Healey.

Well, I’m surprised. My plates and stickers actually arrived when the dealership said they would. They sent a thermos too, as some kind of apology gift, I suppose. That’s sorted out now.

@RD4590
In summer I occasionally see cars like the MG in the background. Or they could be Triumph cars. I’m not entirely sure. In any case, it’s always nice to spot unusual vehicles.

Here’s a juiced up MG B, with a 3.5L Rover V8. It was a flop because the original MGB has a 4-pot, and the chassis couldn’t handle the V8.

Goodwood Festival of Speed will feature MG’s 100th anniversary this year.

@RD4590
The vehicle is all right, but Kia dealers earn their reputation.