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Ok. Mail just in. Here's the pics. 1

Good point sixfan about how producing more cars may produce more pollution than the older ones. I would be very interested to see what the registration process is in Japan. I am under the impression that they have some incentive to get rid of cars more than 10 years old hence why we have so many R32’s and R33’s as grey imports with relatively low kilometres. Producing more vehicles will not only support our local automotive industry and reduce vehicle emission but also leads to economies of scale through greater demand for new vehicles. With increased demand there follows an increased willingness to supply, in the long run reducing the price to consumers. The automotive industry will also then have more funds available to them to develop new technology hence cars will become safer and more efficient sooner. I agree that it may be unfair to remove older cars because then the youth would not be able to afford them, however as the market becomes saturated with a newer fleet the second hand price (following the new retail price) of cars will be lower. Therefore, instead of purchasing a 30 year old car with drum brakes and leaf springs they may be able to get an 8 year old car with Disc brakes, ABS, IRS etc etc. Sure, some may miss out, but I see so many decrepit old unroadworthy cars everyday that are an outright danger to the driver/passenger/other road users and pedestrians. I have had my Private Pilots licence since I was sixteen and in my experience can say that regular medicals and bi-annual flight reviews (in the case of PPL) and annually for Commercial pilots (CPL) are a good thing. You are correct sixfan in saying that a class 2 medical does not involve too much however it still involves eyesight and hearing tests as well as a long string of questions (blackouts? Chest pain? Migraines? Drug use? Diziness? Etc) in addition to checking for full movement of all limbs etc. I have seen people driving with eye patches, neck braces (head check??) and even a leg in a cast. As I stated earlier a medical check and skills check every four years would be suitable for drivers under 50 or so. I think taxi/bus/truck drivers should undergo a class one medical and bi-annual licence checks. The class one involves everything from class two as well as an ECG a better audio test and a visit to an ophthalmologist. More regular test must be conducted for older people as they begin to suffer hearing and sight loss (Prespycusis and Prespyopia). If speed kills how come all pilots/race car drivers etc etc are not dead. It’s a matter of driver education and training. Better roads, newer cars, trained and educated drivers will reduce the death toll on our roads. Considering the current method of nazi like policing of tax paying citizens isn’t working, surely another angle is worth consideration. The government are turning drivers into mindless drones unaware of their surroundings because they are too busy staring at the speedo or checking every damned car parked on the street for greed camera’s as well as searching for fixed cameras. Cheers, Chris

Yep! Thanks for that.

I don't understand why the police need a new car every 50 000km's or as soon as a new series comes out. Could anybody explain this? The only reason that comes to mind is the govt trying to support the local car industry. Has anyone seen the european cop cars? They race around in VW/Alfas/Vauxhall Astras etc not AMG E55's or M5's etc..

As far as I know its the gauge with a blue backlight that comes on with the accessories. Apparently it is easy to install. I forgot to ask the scale of the boost gauge ie. if it only goes to 10psi, 15psi,20psi. I personally think 15psi would be good unless your getting into big time mods (phase III etc). Anyway...still waiting on pics!

It is a proven fact that humans are more responsive to positive reinforcement (I.e rewarding good behaviour) than negative reinforcement (punishing bad behaviour). A reward scheme sounds like a step in the right direction however, how about increased driver training? Removing fixed ‘greed’ cameras which cause the public to resent the police even though it is not their problem. How about spending some of the hundreds of millions of dollars of revenue on fixing up roads and reducing black spots? Implement compulsory retests every 4 years for drivers under 50 then every 2 years till 65 then every year thereafter? Have different registration categories to make registering an old Kingswood cost more than a new Falcon, maybe this will get some of the older cars of the road, reducing pollution and increasing safety as only a fool would argue that this car could stop and turn as well as even a standard XT falcon (obviously categories for antiques and classics etc would need to be created with specific criteria so Joe Blogs can still take out his old 190SL on weekends). How about regular medical checkups? In the aviation industry a normal private pilot must undertake a class 2 medical inspection every 4 years until they are 40 or 50 then its every 2 years. Commercial pilots must undertake a class one medical every 2 years (might be every year, can’t remember). How about applying this to the roads? Taxi/limo/bus/truck drivers need a class one medical every two years and the rest of us every four (I seem to remember a bus driver passing out at the wheel not too long ago)? And finally, how about getting rid of this ridiculous 3km/h limit in Victoria. Apart from the fact that ADR states speedo’s need only be accurate within 10% there is the research of Dr Alan Buckingham who says, “most safe drives speed” and the US research that indicates, “the safest drivers are those who exceed the posted limit moderately, and which finds the most dangerous are those driving well under or over the limit” (Wheels, Jan 04, p30). I seem to recall reading somewhere that the safest figure was within 20% of the speed of the rest of the traffic. Clearly the current government tactics have not worked as evidenced by the Christmas road toll and the fact that the rate of deaths per 10 000 vehicles has not changed in the last few years despite the implementation of greed cameras. Ok....I’m climbing down off this damn soapbox......next?

So far it looks like at least a dozen of us are interested. I'm still waiting on the photo's though. I rang about lunchtime today so it shouldn't be too long. Will let ya'll know asap.

I had this same problem on my AU!! Bloody thing went back to Ford half a dozen times then I took it to Midas half a dozen times as well....nothing..it was an auto and in the end I just ended up not using the handbrake unless I was on a major hill. Bloody stupid really....waiting for it to happen in this one, then it will really piss me off being a manual and all...

Ok. Just spoke to GAUGEWORKS. They will be sending me photo's shortly so I will get them up ASAP. Price is $395 and fitting should take about 20 mins. Apparently its relatively easy. Now.....I did mention a group purchase to see if we can organise I discount and depending on the numbers they sounded keen. So Who is interested? I mentioned we may have half a dozen or more. The more the merrier! PS: Gauge looks like the fairmont clock and apparently has blue backlight that comes on with acc.

3km/h in Melbourne mate! Damn speed nazi's.

I think this topic should probably be merged with this one, "Have your say on the road safety debate"

From ninemsn (click me) "Horror road toll climbs to 80" "Australia's Christmas-New Year holiday road toll has reached 80, matching the same number of people killed on the nation's roads three years ago." Gee....looks like all those new speed cameras are doing a great job of lowering the road toll.....

I too have been waiting for this! I think it was Harasn and IMTRBO that were doing it. I noticed a thread the other day that mentioned a company called GAUGEWORKS (I think...not positive) in Geelong that were apparently doing it. There was a phone number in the post but I forgot to write it down and it would probably take forever to find. If you dig it up, let us know.

Thanks mate. I'll do it now.

The time to mod the baby is getting closer every day and I am looking for somewhere between 330-350kw. I notice on the chiptorque page that they will be offering a 350kw kit however its been saying stay tuned forever! Does anybody have any details of this? What exactly does it include? When will it be released? How much is it going to cost? Any times (0-100, 1/4 mile)? Will it be emissions compliant like the APS kit? Thanks in advance. Chris.

I got some Herrod Motorsport scuff plates you can purchase. PM me if your interested.

Oh boy....when this thread started the first thing that came to my mind was modded Xbox in the boot....it can do virtually everything. games, movies and Mp3. I have an idea that may be a long shot...but could work....maybe... The four contoller ports on the front of the xbox can be made to run USB. A modded xbox can dump a complete program to the HD...in that case....would it be possible to get the software available to people who use GPS on their laptops...install that and the maps to the xbox HD, then run an external GPS antenna such as (THIS) and have satnav running from the xbox? The only thing would be how to enter the destinations etc.... I am currently opperating a modded xbox with 200gig and it has a program to switch between NTSC and PAL output.... Having said all this I would be happy to pay for a ready made interface kit for the car...hmmmmm....the potential...

I would like to know this too. And how well the manual can cope with 330rwkw. I was set on the phase 2, but now I am leaning towards phase 3. However, If I have to spend about $9500 on phase three then about another $8500 grand for a new six speed when the T-5 $hits itself, I may have to save my dollars and upgrade to the FPV T6.

For what its worth, my guess is about 373kw. The same or similar engine as the new GT40.

Wow, Owna XR6T, you dug this thread up exactly one year and one day since the last post. Spooky...

Found it. Its in relation to the 50km/h limit in SA. (p136, MOTOR, Dec 2003) "Up to February 28, road deaths in SA for the year stood at 24 - the same as 2002. In the first six months of the 50km/h limit, total road deaths rose by 20.5 percent - 45.2 percent in urban areas." "The official SA government statistics for the years 1995 to 2002 inclusive show that excessive speed was the "primary apparent error" in less than 1 percent of all road crashes. In fact, at 0.88 percent it ranks 15th as a cause, with inattention the main culprit at 41.88 percent, followed by failure to give way (12.72 percent) and reversing without due care (11.1 percent). " Hmmmm....I wonder why motorists have suddenly become so inattentive.....could it be because everyone has to stare at the bloody speedo now instead of scanning the road? I wonder....

I read this somewhere as well, just trying to find it again...

OR....just don't wear your P's... simple solution. However if for some reason you do get caught, you will get stung for no P’s and over the power to weight. Having said that, I know people that have gone through booze bus’s etc in a T without wearing P’s and they weren’t asked any questions. I guess that wouldn’t work if you look pretty young though... Alternatively, as Mondie said, jut loose the turbo badge and go sleeper style for a while...

Thanks. The example was an unmarked XRT booting off the lights to about 120 in an 80 zone. No cars for about a km in front. Also the rear right light (blue?) inside the cabin was covered by a rear window sunshade. About 3km (he must have caught a light or some traffic - because I caught up to him) up the road I saw him driving slowly through one of those fixed speed/red light cameras at about 70m/h. Not to worry, I'm sure he had a good reason. I agree about the training too. I certainly wouldn't expect any less then the best training possible, especially when potentially so many necks are on the line. Cheers.