The Man wins I lose :( (Civic VX ordered off the road by police for aero mods)

[OG VX]

WD40, I'm sorry to hear that you have had to go through all of this. I concur that it appears there were some issues with the car that needed addressing. Also, for whatever reason, the cop seems to have a bit of a grudge against you/the car. Likely, it stems from the fact that he gave you the warning and then found the vehicle in the same state some length of time later. Insert's Carter from Southpark with "Respect my authority(ie)".

Hang in there. I see this whole (though frustrating) ordeal as an opportunity to re-group, and come back even stronger. Your mileage ratings are awesome, and I'm sure much of that is from your driving skill. The aero mods effect/gains, at this point in your eco-project, are probably negligible in comparison.

I would fix the issues, get the car as safe as possible, and then be pro-active about approaching the same officer. Explain to him that you are wanting to get the car safe and "to code". Ask him though, in his opinion, what aero-mods you can make that would be both safe AND acceptable to him and the local authorities. Then go forward with that.

Perhaps consider some more subtle aero mods. Maybe a Kammback fashioned like the one Coolsteele just completed on his own VX? Whatever you do, "Ol' Smokey" is going to have to approve it. He's got your number, and he'll be watching for you on the roadways to see what you do. I feel like if you go to him, explain your project, and get his advice, you can move forward with no issues, and still get great mileage and continue to have fun with the car.

You don't have to stop this project. It just needs to evolve, get a bit smarter, and work in a different direction. Don't get discouraged. You've made it this far, and this is just a new season for the project.

Keep us posted!

[WD40]

Thanks for all the kind words and the other ones too lol.
Basically I decided to rip off all the aero mods, I caved to the MAN.
This cop has made it perfectly clear that I will not win, so I concede.
I have only driven the car a 100 miles or so since I removed the mods and honestly I can hardly tell the difference in the instant mpg readout.
I always considered my car as a "Proof of Concept".
If I had the $ yes it would be prettier, but I have saved over $5000 in gas over EPA in the time I have had it.
So the car owes me nothing, perhaps I owe the car more .. but long term unemployment has a few downsides, upkeep on a car is one of them.
The Rust was always hidden from view with the wheel skirts, and yes it got worse. It is getting repaired by me today or tomorrow.
I should hopefully get my car back today, the '99 VW courtesy car is not my thang.
The other thing I wanted to make note of here is that some of us are here to make beautiful aero mods that nobody will notice, some are here to make proof of concept mods, some are here make a statement with the mods, some are here to save money on gas, some are here for a good read and to learn from others .... what ever the reason you are here enjoy and have fun, and most of all have some respect for others decisions and actions, we all make them and they make sense at the time, then we come here and post them, not to be slammed but to help educate, both you and ourselves .. so don't be crazy hard on those of us the have a "DOH!!" moment .
Thanks for reading and happy modding

[MetroMPG]

WD: glad you're content with the outcome. Thanks for putting things in perspective.

[WD40]

OK so its a new day ...
I finally got my car back ... passed the inspection ... well sort of.
It does have the passed decal on the windshield and the passed paperwork as proof.
But the inspector said he would just give it a pass due to that fact that I got the oil leaks repaired.
So never mind all the stuff he initially told me it failed for,
1) rusty quarters
2) wink mirror with sharp edges
3) inside convex mirrors with sharp edges
4) left over screws from areo mod mounting
5) Kill switch accessible to passengers ( this switch is in the ashtray as a theft deterrent, not the removed ahead of time one on the tick shift )
6) oil leaks ( on or near the hot exhaust, even tho the cat is located high in the front of the engine )
7) torn CV boots ( he gave them 6 months to start tossing grease )
8) transmission noise ( input shaft bearing )

I have the inspection report in hand now, and all it showed failure for was,
1) visors ( sharp edges on mirror )
2) power train ( oil leaks at rear main seal, oil pan, and vtec solenoid
3) switches ( kill switch is passenger accessible

So one of two things,
1) all the rest was BS to make me feel he was doing a thorough inspection
2) pay for some legit repairs and get a pass on the BS stuff

Either way all he told me before sending me home with a passed car was that,
1) I can just remove the offending screws when you have the time
2) move the kill switch to a non passenger accessible area when you have time
3) remove the sharp edges from the mirrors when you have the time
4) fix the rusty areas so that no one can cut themselves when you have the time

He never did show me the initial inspection report so I can't say for sure what it failed for.

I did get the following repaired or replaced,
1) oil pan gasket, vtec solenoid gasket, rear main seal, cam seal
2) rod bearings
3) transmission bearings and gaskets
4) CV axles
5) timing belt and belt tensioner, water pump, and gaskets
6) valve cover gasket
7) clutch disc, pressure plate, through out bearing, pilot bearing, cleaned up the flywheel
8) exhaust pipe gasket and spring tensioner
8) adjusted the valves
9) oil and filter
10) anti freeze
11) initial inspection test

All for the paltry total cost just shy of $3000 ( borrowed against my future inheritance )
$1292.65 Total labour
$1302.95 Total parts
$75.00 Shop supplies and environmental charges
$133.33 Canadian goods and services tax
$186.94 British Columbia provincial tax
$2991.07 Totals ( which includes a 10% student discount on labour thanks to my wife )
So it makes one wonder are all the rules and regulations that we are told to follow or enforce really there just in case one wishes to follow or enforce?

Oh look ... there's another hoop to jump through .. lol

Really I'm just glad to get my car back.
thanks for reading

[Fat Charlie]

I'd have gone a different route, close to one of these:

1996 Honda Civic CX Hatchback - $1800 (surrey)



And you'd already have a parts car on hand.

[Xist]

Wow! That was an absurd amount! At least he will leave you alone now, right? I sure hope so!

Would you consider selling your modifications to someone in another province?

[TheEnemy]

Glad you got your car back, sometimes learning is painful and now you know more for later.

Concerning the trailer tail lights, precedent has already been placed, the old Jeep CJ model used trailer tail lights straight from the factory, so the LED version should be completely legal.

That officer would have had a heyday with my Jeep... Sharp edges everywhere, tires outside the fenders (almost completely), Heim joints instead of tie rod ends, no windshield washer, no defroster, one tire bead is sealed with silicone, hazard switch is broken, hinge on the tilt steering is broken, the right rear shock is missing, left rear shock is mangled but still intact, front shocks are shot, the tires are all chewed up, rims have dents in them, rear view mirrors are all missing or broken.

All of that, and even driving through a DWI checkpoint only gets a chuckle and a wave.

[Xist]

WD40, how is everything working out with your car?

Originally Posted by WD40

Slow Driving

Motor Vehicle Act s.145(1)

Many people are unaware that you can be ticketed for driving too slowly. You must drive at a speed that is consistent with the normal and reasonable movement of traffic. The only lawful excuse for failing to drive at a normal or reasonable speed is if it is unsafe to do so or if you are complying with the law. Other traffic does not always move reasonably in the circumstances. You are the best judge of what is safe for you and your vehicle.
Penalty: $121 fine and 3 Driver Penalty Points

You need to judge what is safe for you and your vehicle; you are only allowed to drive slower than "normal and reasonable" if you are observing the speed limit.

They cannot cite you for this if you are maintaining the speed limit?

It is a sad day when Xist needs to step in and summarize something!

Originally Posted by cosmick

Since the minimum legal speed in a 55 zone is 35, in every state so far as I'm aware, then I'd expect 45 for a 65.

I looked it up for you!

28-704. Minimum speed limits; requirement to turn off roadway

A. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle at such a slow speed as to impede or block the normal and reasonable movement of traffic except when either of the following applies:

1. Reduced speed is necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

2. The reasonable flow of traffic exceeds the maximum safe operating speed of the lawfully operated implement of husbandry.

B. If the director or local authorities within their respective jurisdictions determine on the basis of an engineering and traffic investigation that slow speeds on any part of a highway consistently impede the normal and reasonable movement of traffic, the director or local authority may determine and declare a minimum speed limit below which a person shall not drive a vehicle except when necessary for safe operation or in compliance with law.

C. If a person is driving a vehicle at a speed less than the normal flow of traffic at the particular time and place on a two-lane highway where passing is unsafe, and if five or more vehicles are formed in a line behind the vehicle, the person shall turn the vehicle off the roadway at the nearest place designated as a turnout by signs erected by the director or a local authority, or wherever sufficient area for a safe turnout exists, in order to permit the vehicles following to proceed.

I had understood that the minimum speed... is it really a limit?... in a 65 was 45, which was why I thought the officer wrote 40-45, but I cannot find any specifics.

I hope that #1 is adequate to avoid or at least beat a ticket if maintaining the speed limit. Otherwise, you could technically be cited for both speeding and impeding traffic!

[BabyDiesel]

I recently asked a NC State Trooper what they laws were concerning driving under the speed limit. I told him I hypermile and am usually going 55 on the Interstate with a posted speed limit of 65. He told me that the only thing I could possibly get in trouble for is impeding traffic.

Quote, kinda - "However, on a 2 lane road where you can pass at anytime, that is almost impossible to do. You would have to have an long line backed up for a couple miles in order to get a ticket. Just be safe out there and use your common sense."

[BabyDiesel]

I recently asked a NC State Trooper what they laws were concerning driving under the speed limit. I told him I hypermile and am usually going 55 on the Interstate with a posted speed limit of 65. He told me that the only thing I could possibly get in trouble for is impeding traffic.

Quote, kinda - "However, on a 2 lane road where you can pass at anytime, that is almost impossible to do. You would have to have an long line backed up for a couple miles in order to get a ticket. Just be safe out there and use your common sense."