rx7
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Novice Mayhemer
Posts: 336
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Post by rx7 on Mar 3, 2012 21:36:32 GMT
In the good old state of Maine, the laws are inspection by a state cerfitied mechanic (my brother is one) whom I can can trust to make my car legal for another year (bribe!) LOL.
You pay excise tax every year when you register the car, you need proof of insurance, and they need to card your driver's license like you're buying liquor.
My car is old and the excise is actually reasonable so I've got no problems there.
There was an act to try to make state inspections every other year or something up here but where there's winter, there's road salt, that stuff corrodes the underbelly of the car before you know it your front rocker panels are rusted out, the suspension could go if it's corroded badly enough, and you could lose a strut or shock absorber, etc. It's an unforgiving country up here and the inspection is still once a year. I'd not feel comfortable riding around in a car that doesn't get serviced regularly.
Motorcycles on the other hand, you need a motorcycle license to operate anything over a 50 cc engine. There's no law regarding helmets but I think the people who don't wear one haven't got any brains to protect, so there you go. I've gotten to the point where after years of biking that I feel naked without one which is very good, helps me keep a lid on it!
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Post by aeromanda on Mar 3, 2012 21:46:16 GMT
In Pennsylvania insurance is compulsory, of course. Then you have to register your car with the state and the fee varies depending on what type of car you have. My Fiesta is about $40 whereas my husband's pick up truck is closer to $65. Then you have to have a safety inspection every year to make sure the vehicle is safe to drive. Then, in most counties you also have to have an emissions inspection where they check what is coming out of your tail pipe to see how much you are polluting. If you don't pass it you can't drive legally. And this test is yearly. However, there are exceptions. Not every county in PA requires emissions inspection and even in those that do you can be exempt under certain circumstances, like you drove under a certain amount of miles. It all adds up to quite a bit of $.  One thing that those of you in England and elsewhere in the world may not know is the state of Florida has absolutely no safety inspections. You can drive anything you want there. Car dealers will take cars that can't legally be sold in other states to Florida and sell them there. I'd bet my bottom dollar that that is why the one road trip they did on Top Gear where they did the fly and drive holiday; To see if they could buy a car for $1000 and sell it after the trip, you know the one I'm talking about. The one that displays a high point in American culture where they get attacked by red necks *cringes at the thought of being an American compared to that* anyway, I'll bet that the reason that that holiday started in FL is because FL is about one of the only states where you can get a car that cheap. Because you can drive any hunk of junk in FL no matter what condition it is in. |
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Post by eshalda on Mar 3, 2012 22:00:59 GMT
I did know about Florida, as my friend went over there to marry an American. When we were on our first holiday there she drove a very old and battered Ford and told us to feel free to drive it whenever we wanted. We questioned its roadworthiness and were told it didn't matter as you can drive all sort o delapidated jelopies. She now drives a brand new BMW and her husband has a brand new Jeep.
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Post by devil-may-care on Mar 3, 2012 22:16:51 GMT
In the good old state of Maine, the laws are inspection by a state cerfitied mechanic (my brother is one) whom I can can trust to make my car legal for another year (bribe!) LOL. You pay excise tax every year when you register the car, you need proof of insurance, and they need to card your driver's license like you're buying liquor. My car is old and the excise is actually reasonable so I've got no problems there. There was an act to try to make state inspections every other year or something up here but where there's winter, there's road salt, that stuff corrodes the underbelly of the car before you know it your front rocker panels are rusted out, the suspension could go if it's corroded badly enough, and you could lose a strut or shock absorber, etc. It's an unforgiving country up here and the inspection is still once a year. I'd not feel comfortable riding around in a car that doesn't get serviced regularly. Motorcycles on the other hand, you need a motorcycle license to operate anything over a 50 cc engine. There's no law regarding helmets but I think the people who don't wear one haven't got any brains to protect, so there you go. I've gotten to the point where after years of biking that I feel naked without one which is very good, helps me keep a lid on it! Yeah the road salt is a definite menace to any vehicle. But let's not forget pot holes and frost heaves. The bane of suspensions everywhere! ;D ;D |
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Post by adrianmay on Mar 3, 2012 22:20:56 GMT
Road salt was illegal in Colorado. They used gravel and sand. I had 3 new windshields in the space of 6.5 years. Bless insurance. EDIT: Just been corrected by my hubby (thanks so much  ) It's not illegal just not used as much as the rest of the country, ironically, and is only used in combination with "grit". The hubby is a wealth of useless useful knowledge. |
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Post by FizzyLogician on Mar 3, 2012 23:48:01 GMT
Now most places use brine instead of salt. It's supposed to be better for the environment because the road maintenance crews can use less and there is less runoff of salt from roads into adjacent soils and waterways. However the brine is more damaging to cars.
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rx7
Smutty Mayhemer
Novice Mayhemer
Posts: 336
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Post by rx7 on Mar 4, 2012 16:07:57 GMT
Up here we don't have emissions tests. As Jeremy correctly pointed out, cows are more of a menace than cars.
On that note there was discussion of a tax on methane but it fizzled out very quickly. One percent of all our farts are methane and I don't think anyone wants to tax themselves on their own emissions!
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Post by amie8 on Mar 4, 2012 23:33:29 GMT
I can think of a few people who ought to be taxed on their emissions!
I'm sure there's a joke in there somewhere..
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rx7
Smutty Mayhemer
Novice Mayhemer
Posts: 336
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Post by rx7 on Mar 5, 2012 3:41:25 GMT
Oh yeah, my family's like a full orchestra when we get together (smirk)
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Post by Wyvern on Mar 5, 2012 20:01:11 GMT
Sorry to rain on the parade a bit, but this thread has veered massively off-topic. It might be a good idea to open a thread in the general board or the motoring section for discussions of this nature.
Thanks, guys.
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Post by mightybabs on Mar 5, 2012 20:27:00 GMT
Sorry to rain on the parade a bit, but this thread has veered massively off-topic.... Okay, how's this: He can punch my registration any time.  |
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Post by adrianmay on Mar 5, 2012 20:54:16 GMT
Sorry to rain on the parade a bit, but this thread has veered massively off-topic.... Okay, how's this: He can punch my registration any time. Hee, hee. *High Five* ;D |
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Post by amie8 on Mar 5, 2012 23:31:43 GMT
Sorry to rain on the parade a bit, but this thread has veered massively off-topic. It might be a good idea to open a thread in the general board or the motoring section for discussions of this nature. Thanks, guys. Hmmm...would tend to disagree. James tweets, someone on here asks a question about it, the conversation spins off into an interesting exchange of information which eventually fizzles out, then James tweets about something else and so it goes on... Isn't that the way a forum is supposed to work? |
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Post by mightybabs on Mar 6, 2012 0:02:13 GMT
Okay, how's this: He can punch my registration any time. Hee, hee. *High Five* ;D Ow! My nose! I wasn't ready. |
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Post by spycy on Mar 6, 2012 9:54:36 GMT
Just want to go back to the pub tweet. What's the name of James's local? I was actually thinking of going there when he posted it
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Post by pie on Mar 6, 2012 11:36:56 GMT
Arlington Enterprises tweeted the following: @mrjamesmay with @rogerbear_bc pic.twitter.com/1Y2CnnU7 Very cute. Edit: spycy, his local is the Cross Keys in Hammersmith. I was tempted to stick my head in the door when I was there last year, but I chickened out. |
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Post by devil-may-care on Mar 6, 2012 11:56:40 GMT
Oh, how adorable!! ;D ;D
*goes slightly soppy*
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Post by jacqui on Mar 6, 2012 12:13:17 GMT
Oh, how adorable!! ;D ;D * goes slightly soppy* The bear is a bit cute too  ;D |
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mayb
Filthy Mayhemer
I think a lot... I think
Posts: 528
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Post by mayb on Mar 6, 2012 14:44:54 GMT
Oh, how adorable!! ;D ;D * goes slightly soppy* The bear is a bit cute too ;D Bear? What bear?  Oh, I see it now ;D Yes, it is cute  |
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Post by Jacksgirl on Mar 7, 2012 7:31:42 GMT
@mrjamesmay with @rogerbear_bc pic.twitter.com/1Y2CnnU7 *Goes all warm, fuzzy&mushy* Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh |
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Post by eolise on Mar 7, 2012 9:06:18 GMT
Edit: spycy, his local is the Cross Keys in Hammersmith. I was tempted to stick my head in the door when I was there last year, but I chickened out. Ow, how silly, girl!! How silly!! Should've had to go for it. It's a public place, that pub. May not have another chance ever!! |
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Post by pie on Mar 7, 2012 12:21:10 GMT
Ow, how silly, girl!! How silly!! Should've had to go for it. It's a public place, that pub. May not have another chance ever!! Yeah, I know. I just couldn't help but think that the people working there, regular customers etc. would have thought to themselves, "Here comes another deranged fan", especially as I was a foreigner. (I do tend to be over-analytical at times. ) If I was with a group of people, however, that would have been different. I will spill the beans and say that I'm seriously considering another trip back, hopefully next year. (It had better be a bloody good pub if I'm going to go all that way for a beer! ;D) |
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Post by aeromanda on Mar 7, 2012 14:53:55 GMT
You'll just have to be sure to time your trip to the small window when we know that James will be in London.
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Post by toystoriesfan on Mar 7, 2012 19:55:33 GMT
I'm going to stop in when I'm there in a couple of weeks. One night, right before I fly back to the States. The last time I was in London, I wasn't as much of a fan as I am now. Plus, I didn't even get to a typical pub! So it's not just for a chance to meet James, it's also a quintessential English experience.
I've never had a beer. There was a traumatic experience involving an entire mug of Bud Light being spilled on me at a baseball game that completely turned me off to the stuff. But maybe a beer of good quality... I might give it a try.
And if James is there, maybe I can buy him a pint. And hopefully keep calm.
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Post by eolise on Mar 7, 2012 20:02:13 GMT
... And carry on with your life instead of staying in the pub for hours, day, weeks.... ;D I dont think Id be able to leave....at all. ;D
Pie, well, let them think, luv! It doesnt matter, theor problem. You just have to go for it. I bet that if James knew you'd go there to say at home that you've been there and maybe even have seen a glimpse of The James, he'd understand. It's not that he is hiding from us fans what his fave pub is. ;D
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Post by jacqui on Mar 7, 2012 20:37:36 GMT
Since James confirmed his Twitter address in one of the Bletchley speeches, his followers have shot up ;D
We'll make a 'Stephen Fry' out of him yet but maybe he's got a way to go before he surpasses Lady GaGa ;D
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Post by amie8 on Mar 7, 2012 23:32:11 GMT
That's not beer.. ;D
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Post by devil-may-care on Mar 7, 2012 23:42:41 GMT
You're right, amie8. Bud Light is actually classified as "swill".  |
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Post by eolise on Mar 8, 2012 2:45:51 GMT
Jacqui, and I thought it was me!! Every time I went to have another look at James' Twitter account, I thought I was hallucinating, because he had much more followers every time. But it seems I was right! ;D
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Post by amie8 on Mar 8, 2012 9:19:37 GMT
Since James confirmed his Twitter address in one of the Bletchley speeches, his followers have shot up ;D We'll make a 'Stephen Fry' out of him yet but maybe he's got a way to go before he surpasses Lady GaGa ;D He surpasses Lady GaGa in every possible way, as far as I'm concerned |
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) It's not illegal just not used as much as the rest of the country, ironically, and is only used in combination with "grit". The hubby is a wealth of 
;D
I love a man who can handle a gun 
Oh, I see it now ;D
