09-14-2007, 12:37 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2007
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I have purchased a 1997 Alfa Spider and it is here in the US sadly sitting in my garage. It may never get DOT approved and allowed to be driven. The conversion to federal standards is actually not to expensive, $3500-10,000, but without crash test results the NHTSA will not allow the alfa to be imported.
The Skyline importer in Torrance, CA is a RI (a NHTSA registered importer) actually crash tested the cars to provide safety results. They are now able to import those and resell legally to US. If anyone out there has an extra 1/4 mil, we can partner up and become a RI and crash a few alfa's to start our own import business.
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09-14-2007, 12:13 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Lundun
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 Quote:
Originally Posted by v6alfa
I have purchased a 1997 Alfa Spider and it is here in the US sadly sitting in my garage. It may never get DOT approved and allowed to be driven. The conversion to federal standards is actually not to expensive, $3500-10,000, but without crash test results the NHTSA will not allow the alfa to be imported.
The Skyline importer in Torrance, CA is a RI (a NHTSA registered importer) actually crash tested the cars to provide safety results. They are now able to import those and resell legally to US. If anyone out there has an extra 1/4 mil, we can partner up and become a RI and crash a few alfa's to start our own import business.
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got any pics?
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09-15-2007, 01:33 PM
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No, i dont want to risk losing it to . I have it because of a police auction, someone else must have gotten cute with the plates  .
I'll post some photos, but the car is simply unbelievably gorgeous in real life. It turns everyones head. 
Last edited by v6alfa; 09-15-2007 at 01:52 PM.
Reason: add photo
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09-17-2007, 10:43 AM
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Location: Lundun
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Quote:
Originally Posted by v6alfa
No, i dont want to risk losing it to . I have it because of a police auction, someone else must have gotten cute with the plates .
I'll post some photos, but the car is simply unbelievably gorgeous in real life. It turns everyones head. |
HOW can you resist not driving it!? i'm sure you sneak it out once in a while.....what are your plans for it?
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09-17-2007, 10:19 PM
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Location: seattle
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Well, there are people driving these spiders legally here in the States, but not in Cal, I spect. Seems to be at least one in the NW.
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Del
Seattle
89 Milano
91 164S
94 164LS (Q)
72 Morgan 27
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09-17-2007, 11:31 PM
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Location: Spokane, WA
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Del
Seems to be at least one in the NW.
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This whole DOT and safety thing is an absolute joke. I've been thinking about this the last few weeks every time I see some jacked up truck driving around town after being raised up several inches making the bumpers completely useless. I don't want to see the aftermath of one of these trucks t-boning car at an intersection. I seriously doubt the modern Alfa would inflict half the damage one of these trucks would (or conversely protect you any less than a DOT approved car would when hit).
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- Craig
'78 Sport Sedan
'04 Saab 9-3 Aero
'04 Passat W8 Wagon
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09-18-2007, 03:50 AM
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Location: Louisville,Ky
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Quote:
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I don't want to see the aftermath of one of these trucks t-boning car at an intersection.
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There was a fella I know/knew that was t-boned in an '06 Volvo S 60. The bumper entered the car behind the "a" pillar and pretty much smooshed his head. Not a pretty way to go. I think that we should not be so worried about tail pipe emmissions as safety. Here in Louisville we used to have safety inspections. They got rid of these and changed to a tail pipe test. They have since gotten rid of the tail pipe thing because most of the cars tested passed on the first test. Only a few didn't.
If cars had good tires, suspensions, and brakes there would (IMHO) be fewer accidents. I see way too many cars every day that have bad ball joints or bald tires and all they want to do is fix the air conditioner .
It really pisses me off some times that there is a good chance that the idiot behind me most likely has bad/cheap brakes and bald tires and will slam into one of my cars if I stop too fast
Sorry...a rant..
Paul
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The meek shall inherit the rear view mirror.
Alfas owned/own!
81 GTV-6
83 GTV-6
86 GTV-6
87 Milano Gold
88 Milano Verde
91 164S
77 Alfetta sedan
79 Alfetta GTV(smooshed and ground up)
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09-18-2007, 12:01 PM
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Don't be sorry for your rant. It is a very valid subject. The vehicle smog checks in most States are just a scam run by the private companies which do the testing. Almost all cars pass the tests on the first check. The percentage of those which don't is sooo small, it is meaningless in the scheme of things. Just another sanctioned tax on the vehicle owner. Much better to have a reasonable safety inspection program to ensure a more meaningful safe driving environment.
Same with the cameras for catching red light running. While there are those OUTLAWS who do deliberately run red lights (and may they suffer debilitating plague and pestilence for the rest of their lives), the cameras and the remotely issued tickets are nothing but a big money boon for the companies and just another sanctioned tax piled onto the car owner. If I were to run a red light, I insist on a real person to chastise and ticket me, not some remote camera, not big brother. We have the right to face our accusers.
Not exactly on the subject, though.
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Del
Seattle
89 Milano
91 164S
94 164LS (Q)
72 Morgan 27
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09-18-2007, 12:17 PM
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but this one goes to 11..
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Alfaville
Posts: 2,038
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As far as a kit car goes that would never fly since the local DMV would take one look at it and know that it's not one. Any imported kit still must go through customs and have proper documentation. The EPA or DOT website is pretty clear I'd have to check but maybe the yellow GTV Spider in the NW is a newer model that came through Canada. There are vehicles that are OK from up north after certain years.
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currently: 1984 GTV6 (Sabrina) 1992 164L (Jill) 1992 164S (Kelly) 1989 Spider Veloce (Julie)
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09-18-2007, 03:27 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AlfaTango1
As far as a kit car goes that would never fly since the local DMV would take one look at it and know that it's not one. Any imported kit still must go through customs and have proper documentation. The EPA or DOT website is pretty clear I'd have to check but maybe the yellow GTV Spider in the NW is a newer model that came through Canada. There are vehicles that are OK from up north after certain years.
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09-18-2007, 03:30 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by everso
oh man. very nice!
HOW can you resist not driving it!? i'm sure you sneak it out once in a while.....what are your plans for it?
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Hard to resist, but not having it would suck more!! No plans yet, still looking at options to drive. May just throw on a trailer and bring it to shows so people can get fired up for alfa's return.
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09-18-2007, 03:36 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sptsdn
This whole DOT and safety thing is an absolute joke........ I seriously doubt the modern Alfa would inflict half the damage one of these trucks would (or conversely protect you any less than a DOT approved car would when hit).
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UN has a standard that both euro and asian cars manufactures comply with making it easy to bring your vehicle to other countries.
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09-18-2007, 04:33 PM
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but this one goes to 11..
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Alfaville
Posts: 2,038
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You could always drive it on a race if you have one near by.
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currently: 1984 GTV6 (Sabrina) 1992 164L (Jill) 1992 164S (Kelly) 1989 Spider Veloce (Julie)
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09-18-2007, 05:54 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: danbury CT
Posts: 379
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Del
Don't be sorry for your rant. It is a very valid subject. The vehicle smog checks in most States are just a scam run by the private companies which do the testing. Almost all cars pass the tests on the first check. The percentage of those which don't is sooo small, it is meaningless in the scheme of things. Just another sanctioned tax on the vehicle owner. Much better to have a reasonable safety inspection program to ensure a more meaningful safe driving environment.
Same with the cameras for catching red light running. While there are those OUTLAWS who do deliberately run red lights (and may they suffer debilitating plague and pestilence for the rest of their lives), the cameras and the remotely issued tickets are nothing but a big money boon for the companies and just another sanctioned tax piled onto the car owner. If I were to run a red light, I insist on a real person to chastise and ticket me, not some remote camera, not big brother. We have the right to face our accusers.
Not exactly on the subject, though.
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 My car got exactly that!! then this year last thursday I passed first shot My CO% was 53% and you know what the limit was.....you guessed it 53% When I saw that I just thought this is nothing but a big scam to rip people into fixing or looking into their cars to fix nothing that is wrong. You really wont know whats the TRUE emission limits are because its all a big scam. And I have my tests scores to proove it man.
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09-18-2007, 09:23 PM
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Location: Tempe, Arizona-US
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erik
Well, it seems to me that the unfortunate dealers and owners must contact some Alfa organization in neighboring countries or someone like Altissimo Int. who had an entry on this tread. Int. Auto Parts might be able to help, if they what to. I presume that the dealers still have the special tools, programs and work shop manuals.
Just checked Alfaromeo.com, there is a link to a fully functioning web showing all current Alfa models, are you sure that the Fiat Group just pulls the plug on the market? Just like in the US.
Erik
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I do not think IAP has on-line access to alfa for new parts.
So if there is a need for parts for vehicles not brought to the US, I have no issues supplying the parts.
As far as DOT, I agree it is a joke, it is based on old technology from around the 1970's and still used today.
I think all cars should be inspected like in Europe. If it leaks or has a bad shock or tire. Off the road until fixed. Trucks should not be able to be lifted and cars should not be able to be lowered more than 2". headlight, tail light, side markers, side repeaters should all be legal color, not blue, green purple, whatever. Tail lamps should not be able to be replaced with cheap after-market "stylish" tail lamps that are not approved. Only OEM can replace them.
Certain allowable Db for exhaust.
NHTSA is getting better though. headlight technology for example is adopting both Euro and DOT approved headlamps which is good.
But man they have a lot of work ahead of them to even come close to EEC regulations.
We are still in the stone age here in the US. Some of the cars that are driving around should be in the crusher. I see cars spilling smoke out the tail and a cop drive right by and not blink an eye.
Yet, they somehow pass smog and get a valid registration.
The state spends money on Smog test facilitie | |
