Random Photo Thread

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Out of sheer curiosity, what is a road worthiness test?

To reciprocate, you guys have nothing like that down there? Here we have what called MVI (Motor Vehicle Inspection). A yearly mechanical check that looks at your structural integrity of your vehicle, windshields, lights, brakes, safety equipment etc etc. Cost about $30 a year or so.

If you fail the test your have like 15 days to fix it if it's a major problem, then your vehicle is no longer legal for the road. Without a valid inspection you can't get car insurance either. On the corner of the windshield and on the license plates are colour coded stickers with your inspection numbers, different colour each year for easy spotting by law enforcement. Other parts in Canada it isn't yearly but they have roadside checkpoints that do the same thing spontaneously and without warning.

It must be a State by State basis, because I know Pennsylvania has something just like that, but in Ohio, we don't.

We used to have the emissions thing, but that was bullshit and I believe they scrapped it. It's all God awful socialist nonsense, can't believe anyone puts up with that garbage.

[TraderJake]

Southwest Ohio used to have E-Check, which was emissions testing. Here in Southwest Ohio we only care about how much your car pollutes. (Cincinnati is in a valley, and air stagnates in the summer)

We got rid of emissions testing two years ago, with the intention of going to cleaning burning gasoline in the area. We now use low sulfide gas, and on Monday we'll be using slower evaporating, summer gasoline. Our "clean" gasoline would be the reason why gas is amongst the most expensive in the nation right here in metropolitan Cincinnati. It's unfortunate, since our cost of living (and subsequently wages) are amongst the lowest in the US, but US car culture forces us to deal.

[TraderJake]

I thought about having a thread about this photo, but I decided against it since Political Discussion is Verboten.

[Hydrobond]

Please tell me that doesn't translate to Uncle Barack's Cabin.....

[TraderJake]

Ja, das ist richtig.

[James]

My new car.

Five miles after leaving the seller. This is the service station where the petrol was 121.9ppl. I obviously didn't fill up there. One proud new Mini owner!


[img width=700 height=466]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Services.jpg[/img]


25 miles later...


[img width=700 height=466]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Roadside1.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=466]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Roadside2.jpg[/img]


The head gasket went and it had to be towed the other 60 miles home.

I had made exactly the right amount of space in the garage for it:

[img width=700 height=466]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Garage1.jpg[/img]
[img width=595 height=700]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Garage2.jpg[/img]
[img width=467 height=700]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Garage3.jpg[/img]
[img width=467 height=700]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Garage4.jpg[/img]
[img width=467 height=700]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/Garage5.jpg[/img]



The seller is coming all the way down here to fix it for me with no charge.

[The Metamorphosing Leon]

Awesome looking ride. I should import one

[Cobra]

Thank god the unhealthy obsession kids had with Pokemon is dying...

[logical123]

I lol'd.

[two_scoop_steve]

nice ride james, shitty it broke down though. also nice of the guy to fix it no charge. let us know when you get it back on the road.

[TraderJake]

Cobra, that's simply awesome. Made me laugh outloud.

James: Awesome ride. Hope everything gets fixed well.

[James]

*Does a little dance*


The head gasket wasn't cracked but it had definitely given way:

[img width=700 height=525]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/SS100010.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=525]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/SS100013.jpg[/img]



And here it is at the top of the drive:

[img width=700 height=525]http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m84/BrokenFlight/Mini/SS100021.jpg[/img]






The seller is a great guy. I paid for parts but he refused to take petrol money. Except I didn't have the right change so rounded it up to £20

[UNFORGIVINGPAIN]

[Barracuda]

I hope that all of those computers were run using solar energy. 

[Hydrobond]

What surprises me is the number of CRTs in that shot. 

That, and in the very bottom row, second from the left is a person that seems to have a very awkward arm.  (Yeah, I know it's just an artifact of the picture being taken in a very low-light environment, but it still looks freaky.)