Modifying your car now 'illegal'

[Bryn]

The article makes it sound like modded vehicles are required to go through roadworthy again. If they pass, it is fine. This is logical, since if I take a roadworthy car, mod it extensively, then it is no longer considered roadworthy until the new parts are inspected, right?

If it is a blanket ban on even larger wheels or exhausts, it is ridiculous.

I'd like clarification about this too, because I also think it's perfectly sensible if it just means getting another roadworthy. I've seen plenty of modified vehicles that don't look like they could pass a roadworthy test.

 

[wetkit]

Yet again they trying to solve a problem by creating many many more issues
Bottom line, get a team together to clamp down on illegal racing.
If you get caught, seize the car and squash it into a small lump of metal
That will stop it dead!!!

 

[xumwun]

The article makes it sound like modded vehicles are required to go through roadworthy again. If they pass, it is fine. This is logical, since if I take a roadworthy car, mod it extensively, then it is no longer considered roadworthy until the new parts are inspected, right?

If it is a blanket ban on even larger wheels or exhausts, it is ridiculous.

The ban or the exhausts?

 

[Gnarls]

This.

I think basically they are going to use this law to target street racers specifically.

The problem is that when they raid the illegal races there is nothing to charge the guys with... At least this way they can take the cars off the road.

Surely if they're racing they have enough?

/rant on
I hate these street racers with their crackerjack cars bru. Race each other and then crash and die and then they families put up those crosses with the photos and flowers along the road all the while complaining about the high death toll on our roads.
/rant off

 

[USZA]

This.

I think basically they are going to use this law to target street racers specifically.

The problem is that when they raid the illegal races there is nothing to charge the guys with... At least this way they can take the cars off the road.

A few things come to mind:
- illegal gathering; you have to have a permit for such a gathering (this would be particularly useful if the cops didn't catch them racing, but if they're just congregating)
- using a public road as a raceway (have to catch them in the act though)
- speeding (have to set up speed measurement equipment for this to stick)

 

[thestaggy]

The irony, of course, is that those who are willing to spend their hard earned cash making their cars safer and better looking are the ones being punished. Not the thousands of clearly unroadworthy taxis that make up a larger part of the road death toll.

Safer? How so?

Unless these guys are upgrading their suspensions, brakes and reinforcing their bodies to cope with the increased performance, modded cars are not safer than a factory standard variant. And I am not talking about Cuzzy Joes Auto Performance putting a suspension kit on your car.

As for the article above that used the FIA allowing the lowering of racing cars as a counter argument; again, that is done by professionals who know what they are doing, hence they are licensed by the FIA, who are some of the toughest folks around. A suspension kit installed by a random at a mod shop is in no way comparable to the work done by an engineer or mechanic working in an FIA-sanctioned sport.

 

[Fulcrum29]

/snip

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The wheel modifications to this Golf did not meet a traffic officers approval. Picture: Tracey Adams.

Yoh, Bellville, Durbanville, Parow, Kuils River, etc. etc. etc. Yah the Eskom strip.

I passed at least 13 cars this morning like the VW.

 

[Gnarls]

This is just a plain lazy, populist and knee jerk reaction to this problem. When will they learn that correlation does not imply causation.

 

[Kloofvreter]

Yayyyyyyy, no more chops in their "dope, pimped out" Citi golf.


Buy a real car, D bags.

Or Corsas with freeflows and cone filters

 

[Maverick Jester]

Safer? How so?

Unless these guys are upgrading their suspensions, brakes and reinforcing their bodies to cope with the increased performance, modded cars are not safer than a factory standard variant. And I am not talking about Cuzzy Joes Auto Performance putting a suspension kit on your car.

A modded car is not only one that has had work done to the engine. Many people put on larger and wider wheels, lowered suspension and a window tint, all of which have obvious benefits that do not detract from the safety of the vehicle, but actually improve it. Manufacturers themselves offer the same features as options on some of their cars, too. If you want to use the minority of poorly modded cars as your benchmark, then you're no better than the cops (who themselves drive around in modified cars).

As for the article above that used the FIA allowing the lowering of racing cars as a counter argument; again, that is done by professionals who know what they are doing, hence they are licensed by the FIA, who are some of the toughest folks around. A suspension kit installed by a random at a mod shop is in no way comparable to the work done by an engineer or mechanic working in an FIA-sanctioned sport.

Then you're missing the point, which was that in FIA-sanctioned motorsport, manufacturers themselves use aftermarket performance parts, and that the parts themselves ensure improvements to the standard vehicle when used in real-world scenarios. Audi, for example, use Bilstein shock absorbers in their Le Mans vehicles. If the manufacturer sees fit to trust the components from these aftermarket manufacturers, why should the public be disallowed from doing so?

 

[thestaggy]

A modded car is not only one that has had work done to the engine. Many people put on larger and wider wheels, lowered suspension and a window tint, all of which have obvious benefits that do not detract from the safety of the vehicle, but actually improve it. Manufacturers themselves offer the same features as options on some of their cars, too. If you want to use the minority of poorly modded cars as your benchmark, then you're no better than the cops (who themselves drive around in modified cars).

You do know that widening your tyres and/or track directly affects the turning of your vehicle and increases the loads on your suspension?

Purchase a new car and do a non-factory ''upgrade'', then take it back for a service. See how they react. A mate of mine had to remove his 70k worth of shocks, mags and tyres (not cheap, no name stuff either) from his Beemer as it was still under warranty. They argued that the vehicle was not designed to run with the sizes he installed and thus his warranty would be voided if something related to them failed, ie a suspension component.

Mods done by the local hot shop do not equate to factory-fitted options, which have likely passed necessary tests and will not affect the safety and handling of the vehicle.

Then you're missing the point, which was that in FIA-sanctioned motorsport, manufacturers themselves use aftermarket performance parts, and that the parts themselves ensure improvements to the standard vehicle when used in real-world scenarios. Audi, for example, use Bilstein shock absorbers in their Le Mans vehicles. If the manufacturer sees fit to trust the components from these aftermarket manufacturers, why should the public be disallowed from doing so?

Thing is, I doubt Audi Sport purchases a set of Bilstein shocks off the shelf. Those are more than likely designed and manufactured to the specs of their LMPs cars and that is all carried out by qualified engineers. Obviously Bilstein don't make nonsense off the shelf products, but, a quality, reputable product does not mean quality workmanship nor does it guarantee that the correct components in relation to the vehicle were used.

My argument is this; Audi Sport employs qualified people to carry out engineering work and has things specially made for their racing cars. There is no guarantee that a mod shop is run by qualified guys. They could be guys that have ''taught themselves'' and they are using universal products for a wide range of vehicles with differing baseline performance capabilities.

And let us not kid ourselves, the majority of mods are to do with looks and speed, not safety.

 

[USZA]

A modded car is not only one that has had work done to the engine. Many people put on larger and wider wheels, lowered suspension and a window tint, all of which have obvious benefits that do not detract from the safety of the vehicle, but actually improve it. Manufacturers themselves offer the same features as options on some of their cars, too. If you want to use the minority of poorly modded cars as your benchmark, then you're no better than the cops (who themselves drive around in modified cars).

Ok, I'm going to start at the beginning of your post.

Lager and wider wheels and a lowered suspension, will definitely affect the handling and dynamics of a car; how, we don't know but it would be best to test it after you've done it, just to be sure that the car is still safe. Secondly, even the aftermarket parts that are used by motor manufacturers, have been approved by the manufacturer itself - you can check this out in car ads in car magazines. Even though an aftermarket part has been approved by a motor manufacturer, it doesn't give the vehicle owner carte blanche to fit it to their vehicle - it has to fitted by an approved installer so that it can be fitted within specifications of the original manufacturer. Thirdly, I don't think that the cops are out to catch the majority, but to catch the minority who is making roads unsafe for the majority. Think of it, the minority are those with ill-fitting parts and ill-fitting mods, resulting in unsafe vehicles that are not roadworthy and that, at some stage, is going to make the road unsafe for you and me.

Then you're missing the point, which was that in FIA-sanctioned motorsport, manufacturers themselves use aftermarket performance parts, and that the parts themselves ensure improvements to the standard vehicle when used in real-world scenarios. Audi, for example, use Bilstein shock absorbers in their Le Mans vehicles. If the manufacturer sees fit to trust the components from these aftermarket manufacturers, why should the public be disallowed from doing so?

I think that my post above addresses these points. I have no objections to vehicle modifications; it just has to be done withing the limitations of the vehicle, whiich, unfortunately, it isn't, especially by these DIY racers.

 

[USZA]

You do know that widening your tyres and/or track directly affects the turning of your vehicle and increases the loads on your suspension?

Purchase a new car and do a non-factory ''upgrade'', then take it back for a service. See how they react. A mate of mine had to remove his 70k worth of shocks, mags and tyres (not cheap, no name stuff either) from his Beemer as it was still under warranty. They argued that the vehicle was not designed to run with the sizes he installed and thus his warranty would be voided if something related to them failed, ie a suspension component.

Mods done by the local hot shop do not equate to factory-fitted options, which have likely passed necessary tests and will not affect the safety and handling of the vehicle.



Thing is, I doubt Audi Sport purchases a set of Bilstein shocks off the shelf. Those are more than likely designed and manufactured to the specs of their LMPs cars and that is all carried out by qualified engineers. Obviously Bilstein don't make nonsense off the shelf products, but, a quality, reputable product does not mean quality workmanship nor does it guarantee that the correct components in relation to the vehicle were used.

My argument is this; Audi Sport employs qualified people to carry out engineering work and has things specially made for their racing cars. There is no guarantee that a mod shop is run by qualified guys. They could be guys that have ''taught themselves'' and they are using universal products for a wide range of vehicles with differing baseline performance capabilities.

And let us not kid ourselves, the majority of mods are to do with looks and speed, not safety.

I couldn't have said it better. In fact, you said it better than me.

I'm looking at the comments of these boy racers on FB, saying that they spent X amount on mods. I seriously doubt that, since most of them are still students living with their parents. Some connection probably did their mods.

 

[akescpt]

cant they just concentrate on making our roads driveable again. the fsuckn lawlessness is a big problem. just a money generator like all the city's schemes...

disclaimer: my cars are stock standard

 

[USZA]

cant they just concentrate on making our roads driveable again. the fsuckn lawlessness is a big problem. just a money generator like all the city's schemes...

disclaimer: my cars are stock standard

I see this as part of the solution, but not the solution.

At least this requires a visible presence from police and traffic authorities, and this is good for catching other offences.

 

[akescpt]

I see this as part of the solution, but not the solution.

At least this requires a visible presence from police and traffic authorities, and this is good for catching other offences.

they just sit with their cameras eating donuts. I didn't even get a roadblock in December. increased visibility se gat. its a money spinner. end of story. catching people on the road creating chaos is a feat beyond this traffic law enforcement.

 

[dlk001]

Honorable Zille modifies her face with BOTOX Injections while we not allowed to beautify our cars? Double Standards!

 

[Tinuva]

Cape Town - Modifying your car is now 'illegal'

Source: IOL

Cape Town - The motor industry is in uproar over the Cape Town traffic department’s efforts to clamp down on modified cars as part of their actions against illegal street racers.

Even seemingly simple modifications, such as wider or larger wheels and tyres, larger exhausts, or any fittings not clearly specified by the car’s manufacturer may now have a motorist running the risk of having a car declared unroadworthy.

The city’s traffic officers have been stopping cars they saw as having been modified and removing their licence disks, forcing the owners to go through a roadworthy process.

Traffic department spokesman Richard Coleman pointed out that regulations stated no modifications could be made to any vehicle that was not specified by the manufacturer, and that all work on cars had to be done by individuals or organisations who carried a letter of authority regarding the specific car.

Essentially, no modifications were legal, including lowering a car or changing the wheel size, he said.

Ridiculous.

 

[xrapidx]

Oh Bollocks!


At least the bloody DA is looking after the interests of the law abiding people on the roads.

You are welcome to your ANC mismanagement and rubber stamping of death traps!

Weird - we still have tons of unroadworthy death traps doing as they please in Cape Town... I see them daily, doing as they please, sometimes in-front of metro...

The DA tries to control everything we do, they implement by-laws, and then target the easy targets... its complete BS.

 

[Bar0n]

Already posted here: http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/showthread.php/674208-Modifying-your-car-now-illegal