[Dazzler]

Jeepers Andrew...  That seems overkill 

Here in Tassie they only make you car go in for full inspection if you let the registration lapse (no matter how old it is)

The have the very odd random vehicle inspection blitz on the highway but I have never been pulled up for one of those in around 35 years of driving because they mostly only make older cars pull over... Which is a bit stupid because even a 2 y/o car can have bald tyres etc...

[Lakes]

Jeepers Andrew...  That seems overkill 

Here in Tassie they only make you car go in for full inspection if you let the registration lapse (no matter how old it is)

The have the very odd random vehicle inspection blitz on the highway but I have never been pulled up for one of those in around 35 years of driving because they mostly only make older cars pull over... Which is a bit stupid because even a 2 y/o car can have bald tyres etc...

Sounds like QLD, we get three years inspection free then they inspect them to G Force brake safty test.

i see some real bombs from QLD on our roads sometimes don't know how they allow them to drive cars like that up there, not safe in the city and put others at risk, probably no insurance cover eather. i think we should have a border safty check for all cars, as we pay high insurance here, and others from out of state drive into our state useing a low insurance cover it's not right in my books. they are just at as much risk here as we are probably more as not as experience with loco conditions. but i don't really enjoy living in the city these days.
cheers

[Surferdude]

Lakes,
I spent 14 years living and working in NSW and whilst I agree the idea of annual inspections is a good one, I hadn't been there a year and i could have given you two phone numbers which you could ring and get an inspection report over the phone.
And if you haven't seen how they "fiddle" the brake test meter you haven't lived. 
Not disagreeing with you about the roadworthiness of Qld (or Victorian) cars, just pointing out that the sytem is easily rorted (bit like NRL Salary Cap )
While I was down there the police introduced those roadside cameras which had character recognition and could run your number plate back through their base and pull you up about 500 meters further up the road if the car was unregistered. They tested it on Pitwater Rd at Brookvale and caught 9% (That's nearly 1 in 10) of cars which were unregistered.

[stkman]

Jeepers Andrew...  That seems overkill 

Here in Tassie they only make you car go in for full inspection if you let the registration lapse (no matter how old it is)

The have the very odd random vehicle inspection blitz on the highway but I have never been pulled up for one of those in around 35 years of driving because they mostly only make older cars pull over... Which is a bit stupid because even a 2 y/o car can have bald tyres etc...

I agree with 6 months being overkill. Yearly is good but the government wimped out changing it due to the pressure from the MTA (Motor Trade Association) which was concerned over loss of revenue for it's members ... nothing to do with safety! I remember when I was a lot younger, someone I worked with saying they could get a fake WOF for $40. I mentioned I could get a real one for $15 because there was nothing wrong with my car.

Why would you want to drive with bald tyres anyway? The NZ WOF system is computerised now so if you fail at one place and go into another, they will know you failed and on what. Is $45 per inspection which isn't too bad. A lot of people here use it as the only safety check i.e. they never look at their own tyres, keep an eye on brake pads, change wiper blades etc etc. Saying that, very few vehicle crashes due to vehicle failure - most speed and alcohol.

WOF and Registration random checks aren't uncommon ... have been waved through 2 of them in the last year in the i30 ... is too shiny so must be OK 

[Dazzler]

Why would you want to drive with bald tyres anyway?

Not me!!! but a lot of people do.. no money for new tyres but plenty for Smokes, Grog and Dope..

and like Trev says lots try to drive without rego too 

[stkman]

Got a phone call from the sealer this afternoon saying they had deternined what the problem was ... play in the steering rack! They had one on order and could I leave the car for another day? Unfortuantely no as I need the car tomorrow (and their loaners do not have towbars) so it is going back on Monday.

They said they replaced the part in the upper steering column as mentioned in the TSB (he didn't end up taking photos) and there is now no knock in the steering. I looked for judder bars I could drive across on an angle and still nothing. They must be good if they can detect play anywhere! Anyway, I will bow to their knowledge and take it back for a steering rack replacement.

Service was fine, they used my oil, didn't touch my tyre pressures as requested and didn't charge me for windscreen washer additive (I topped it to the brim with the stuff I use so wouldn't have been able to get any more in).

Again, I am impressed.

Andrew