Mot rules and how its effecting you ?

For the sake of 40 quid why would you not get a second opinion? A pair of impartial eyes to judge your vehicle on a set of predetermined areas? I don't understand some peoples passion for proving/disproving the reliability of an MOT, do as you wish, then if something terrible happens (God forbid) stand by your convictions, MOT's are designed to be impartial and not based on "it's only a small leak, john hardly ever drives it, so should be ok till next year" do as you wish but don't preach to individuals that they don't need one if they maintain it correctly! The consequences can be fatal. These vehicles we choose to own are old/slow/unsafe at the best of times why worsen your/anothers odds! Just my tuppence worth though

 

Ahh ha ha
I only asked a similar question back awhile
About aw anked out engine (emissions failure)
And all hell broke loose
I have never understood why people
Don’t try to preserve an iconic vehicle
That they swear blind they have an affinity with
But in reality they don’t
Most of the perpetrators have more than enough money to buy a brand new modern version of similar vehicle
That would get them
Where they want to be

 

is a grumpy conversion the subaru ?

If so, your right I would fit one and be hypocritical enough to mot it and skip the emission due to age of vehicle .. but I never wrote the daft legislation.. It was written by folk who know a lot more than us but the main thing is, It would be MOTd ..

I've got a 1930 model A Ford as well as the VW.. when I bought it it was stock as a rock and MOT exempt. It had came over from the states as a decent "parade" car.. It had 2 owners in the UK before it came to me and it was a death trap.. Massive steering play, worn out steering joints, worn out pedal bushes, worn out clevis and clevis pins, wheel bearing play, king pin play, and the crappiest brakes ever .. It did however look really presentable and it had £1200 worth of new tyres on it ..

I drove it up the A road close to where I live .. a bit gingerly .. got it up to 60 which is flat out for one of these, hit a small pothole and it decided to take a giant leap across the road into the other lane. It was a handful and a scary moment, but at least when I done it It was early evening broad daylight and really quiet , I live in a rural area, and to some degree it was controlled . But I never took it back on the road before it had new kingpins, and steering parts, adjusted steering box, new spring shackles, oil in the shox, rebushed pedals, and a few other things like working lights and a mahoosive oil leak.. then used it twice or three times before parking it up..

I would hate to think whats being driven on the road employing the MOT exemption by enthusiastic owners with limited mechanical skills .. and in some cases limited common sense.

I've driven a few VW vans that have been at my buddies for repairs. He shouted me down to look at them.. and they were bad .. real poor running , difficult to get in gear, crap brakes, one had the steering box set up to dodge the play, unfortunately the left lock was a couple of turns short.. !! It had also took a turn back to the 80s with the new inner sills stuck on with tiger seal and pop rivets and that was just the start.. Not all MOT stuff but if your going to ignore how bad it runs your probably not gonna be to fussed by how good the rest of it is. Its worrying ..

I can see the argument for and against, if its a museum car, why MOT it , if its used twice a year under strict control for limited miles, or trailered and driven on track or around a show field , fair enough, but a camper and a whole raft of other classics are still useable for long periods as daily drivers . You cant foresee all eventualities but I wouldn't want to drive the length and breadth of the country without a test, and I would class myself as competent, being a qualified mechanic a retired traffic plod and an avid car modifier and restorer with 40 years experience messing with and modifying old junk

I should add its up to the owner at the end of the day. If your 100% happy the ride is legally roadworthy then I suppose you can go for it . If your the type to bodge or ignore defects and take advantage of MOT exemption, then shame on you. That reflects on the rest of us, if,or when the worst happens

Ive seen first hand a Mk1 Cortina driven daily with the rear flexi clamped off with vice grips .

a modified 100e with a boot lace as a support for a steering shaft

and thats just the start..

a late landrover chassis and running gear with a series 1 body and reg number, running under historic and MOT exempt .. and it was still a heap..

None of the examples above were work related, I spotted them at classic car shows !!

 

It’s ok I understand
I dare say you could use a Hino truck engine to make a spitfire fly
And some would be happy to see that if they didn’t think too deeply