Car ownership, advice welcomed

[Wouter Melissen]

Maybe there are restrictions for cars with higher power to weight ratios?

[Brix]

No offence, but the Italian law system makes no sense to me!

[pimento]

Why is the Clio too light? I don´t get it. Wouldn´t a lighter car give you better gas milage?

Anything more powerful than 55 kW/ton or more than 70 kW is out, new law for newly licensed drivers (the gf), and also for running costs reasons.

It are is being a silly law, yes.

[taz_rocks_miami]

It are is being a silly law, yes.

If you look at it that way, I guess it´s to keep new drivers from killing themselves....too soon

[pimento]

I think that's the point of it, but the limitations are a little harsh. We have a similar thing here that's even more bizarre... no turbos, no V8s.. unless they're diesel. So a novice driver is fine in a 6l V12TT diesel Audi Q7, but a 1.4T Golf is out of bounds. Great huh...

[whiteballz]

That law is crazy! 55Kw with a max of 70Kw is.. Painful.

[LeonOfTheDead]

... and it get worse.
Through carfolio.com, which is supposed to be reliable, I did some math and many cars are too light compared to the modest power.

I see the point of this law, but it's just wrong. You either buy a new small car (given you have the money), or you try to buy an older car. The older they are, the lighter they get, so you have to be careful with which engine you're choosing. Not considering older cars are less safe, with less active/passive safety devices and so on.

I even had to scrap a Daihatsu Cuore, 64 kW and less than 1 ton, but it was for sale a t 2.000 €. Ugly, ugly and ugly, but cheap, for once.

It doesn't help that dealerships are indeed stearliships, with inflated prices and so on, but that way I'd have all the bureaucratic stuff done by the next day.

The Fiesta 1.4 TDCi was a no go, just horribly maintained for that price.
There is a 1.2 petrol Fiesta I hope to check tomorrow, no pics in the ad.

A VW Polo 1.4 TDI at 5.300 € seems a good/better option, mileage wise.
95.000 km, all options I care about, seems in good conditions, will check it out later today.

[clutch-monkey]

jesus. that rule even counts out my mini.. so if it's excluding 40 year old cars... what modern cars stand a chance?

[LeonOfTheDead]

I think the list of new cars is something like 20 models or thereabout.
Companies had to introduce specifically underpowered models, like Alfa Romeo with a 78 bhp MiTo.

[Commodore GS/E]

That's it. I won't move to Italy before I have a five digit income.
ButI mean who the hell would prevent people from buying more efficient cars? That makes no sense at all.

[ruim20]

Well i liked the Jazz but the milage is just crazy, i hope the Polo works out for you, that's one weird law you got over there.

Any Twingos Initiale 1.2 there?

[NSXType-R]

So no Hondas or Japanese cars altogether?

I am disappoint.

[Matra et Alpine]

Are manufacturers/suppliers allowed to provide "kits" to restrict the performance ?

Would make sense then You coudl buy what you really wanted and then add the restrcitor to make it "learner legal".

Bikes in the UK have done this for years. Restrictor kits can be fitted to big bikes to limit them to 33hp. Even an R1 if you wanted Then after 2 years you can remove the restrictor ( or sooner if you hope nobody checks )

[Ferrer]

Being Italy, why not just plain lying?

[LeonOfTheDead]

So no Hondas or Japanese cars altogether?

I am disappoint.

They never had a great success over here unfortunately, and the smaller models are uninspiring. The Jazz may have been an option, but the price/mileage was insane.

I was offered a 2001 Corolla 5-doors, just ugly.

Are manufacturers/suppliers allowed to provide "kits" to restrict the performance ?

Would make sense then You coudl buy what you really wanted and then add the restrcitor to make it "learner legal".

Bikes in the UK have done this for years. Restrictor kits can be fitted to big bikes to limit them to 33hp. Even an R1 if you wanted Then after 2 years you can remove the restrictor ( or sooner if you hope nobody checks )

We have the same scheme for newly licensed riders between 18 and 21 yo. But the bike must meet the power limit as produced by the factory, otherwise you have to re-homologate it. Same would be for cars.

Being Italy, why not just plain lying?

A - because I'm not a relative of our Prime Minister
B - because it appears my ancestors come from Spain
C - because the fine is between 150 and 600 € plus between 2 and 8 months of suspended license