The great australian speedo scam

[bullfrog]

Originally Posted by XR6menace

What spraypaint ??

It's called elbow grease and attention to detail , try it some time...

A country car wouldn't look like that after 150,000Km.

[T3-TS50]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Ok i wasnt going to as it adds nothing, but how many kms do you think were on this
image
image

That TE looks awesome Dallas,the dusty engine bay says 100,000ks and the body says under 50,000 but i wont guess cause i remember from your posts.

I bet you still miss it mate.

[Franco Cozzo]

At Honda when we did a cluster change, it had to be programmed with the scan tool, then it would disable the old cluster so it couldn't be used again.

[AU Mont]

Originally Posted by XR6menace

What spraypaint ??

It's called elbow grease and attention to detail , try it some time...

lol couldnt be bothered

but im sure you get alot of comments on your wheel arches

[T-Pak Addict]

I dont even know how many kays my car has done... See it came with a XR speedo when I got it... so judging by when other cabs are sold in Melbourne as a guide it has done around the 850k mark even tho the speedo now reads 515k. On paper it had 468k when I went thru its inspection here in 2009 so thats it's "true" kays acording to the powers that be......It has given me 2 years relatively trouble free motoring and thats what its all about in the end...

One of the things I like about Vic Taxi's is they are painted their "special" colour and tend not to have adjusted speedos unless they fail but have seen a few SA cabs disappear to be high kay private cars (being white).

[Pedro]

Winding back odo's has been going on since time immemorial and will continue to be done into the future.

I sold used cars throughout the 70’s and after driving hundreds of cars six days a week over the years, I could drive a trade-in and tell within 10 or 20k how many kms it had done without looking at the odo. However, having said that, I think it would be much more difficult to do the same thing with today’s modern cars.

47,000 kms was the magic number back then.

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Sorry although they get a hard life they are maintained a lot better then your average car
On topic I find it difficult to believe that anyone can pick a cars kms by looking at it. I'll post a pic of my old TE and my focus you tell me the kms

Would you beleive someone on a online dating website about their age or km on them just by looking at a photo? You want a face to face inspection, then they cant hide their true mileage.

unfortunately photos dont tell the whole story per your comment above. I said I could tell the proper km following an inspection of the vehicle.

For instance, imagine how many more times a car with 150,000km would have had the doors slammed. So many more times than a car with 60,000km where the doors will still nicely click closed. Same with saggy seats, steering wheel condition, wobbly steering, general condition of dash buttons etc. These things are not evident in a photo but evident in cars with such km (or police cars).

Km are a good measure of a cars health but the actual health of the car should match. Its easy to see.

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Ok i wasnt going to as it adds nothing, but how many kms do you think were on this (Although i may have posted on here though, so without looking)
image
image

my back of the envelope guess would be 123,000km but cant be certain without looking at the drivers seat, steering wheel, feeling the doors close and driving it to see how loose the steering is.

Nice looking car by the way.

[macman]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

... imagine how many more times a car with 150,000km would have had the doors slammed. So many more times than a car with 60,000km ...

I know what you're saying but what if that car with 150,000k's only had it's doors slammed 1/2 of the time (the Mrs on the passenger side ) whereas the 60,000k car had them slammed EVERY time?

You still can't just make assumptions based purely on the odometer alone, which is what TOO MANY people do.

Common sense, a critical eye and a little bit of mechanical knowledge/understanding is all you need. And if you don't have that - pay for an inspection by someone qualified.

It gets to me how many ignorant people are out there that will dismiss a car purely on it's odometer reading. I'm sure they're the ones who will get stung eventually!

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by macman

I know what you're saying but what if that car with 150,000k's only had it's doors slammed 1/2 of the time (the Mrs on the passenger side ) whereas the 60,000k car had them slammed EVERY time?

You still can't just make assumptions based purely on the odometer alone, which is what TOO MANY people do.

Common sense, a critical eye and a little bit of mechanical knowledge/understanding is all you need. And if you don't have that - pay for an inspection by someone qualified.

It gets to me how many ignorant people are out there that will dismiss a car purely on it's odometer reading. I'm sure they're the ones who will get stung eventually!

car dealers are the main culprits. If they are selling a car they say km isnt the be all and end all and that these cars "go forever"

But go and trade them in and have a few km on it, they will just about hit you about the head with a blunt object to convince you its worth nothing.

km is not the be all and end all but it tells about 85% the story (if they are genuine)

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

my back of the envelope guess would be 123,000km but cant be certain without looking at the drivers seat, steering wheel, feeling the doors close and driving it to see how loose the steering is.

Nice looking car by the way.

Well the picture removed almost 70k kms according to your guess inside was as good as the outside

[Auslandau]

I can promise you, the 95 LTD has had it's door slammed way way way less than the BA but has done over double the k's. I know that every trip would have been a long trip while the BA would probably get used 4 times a day at an average of 10k's total per day. You cannot judge a car by the kilometres. That is the silliest thing I have heard...... And I have bought and sold a few in my time!

[Iggypoppin']

Dallas, was going to suggest 180,000. You like to drive your cars but also maintain them.

[FG_Frodza]

Lol someone please start a thread where we post our car picks and Hulk guesses the kms.

[T-Pak Addict]

Guessing kays on a car is like trying to figure out how many guys your girlfriend has slept with or how hard she's been slammed.....

[jphanna]

[QUOTE=DJM83]Still cant be sure, ill never buy second hand again after buying new. (Not just for the odometer wind back issue)



there is always exception to this 'buy new to avoid problems' theory. one of my old mates bought a brand new cougar, years ago. The first 2 years of ownership, the majority of his mileage was going back to the dealer for warranty claims. it leaked oil on the driveway on its first day at his place.....

i think that if you drive several cars of the same model, you can pick differences in them, if the mileage 'appears the same'.

accelaration, braking, vibrations, steering, seats, etc etc. if you jump from one type of car to another brand etc....you become vulnerable then.

[Ben73]

A guy I work with has had a rs focus for over a year and it has 900kms on it. I guess people will think that it's speedo has been messed around with.

You can't judge a car on it's milage alone, too many variables to concider.

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by FG_Frodza

Lol someone please start a thread where we post our car picks and Hulk guesses the kms.

I wont be far off the actual km, let me tell you.

Maybe a "price is right" game where you get to inspect 5 cars and you put them in order of least mileage to most.

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by DJM83

Well the picture removed almost 70k kms according to your guess inside was as good as the outside

As Ive said photos can be rather flattering. If Id had the chance to inspect, id pick it to within a few thousand km Id say. Either way its a nice looking car.

[Bam]

I know that this just the pub forum, hence there is mostly just BS being posted here, but what's with all the Hulk bashing? He's a fellow member...right?

As for my experience with diddled odometers:

XB Falcon; Bought one with with an odo showing low mileage for the car overall but about right for the engine. Previous owner was up front and said that the odo was zeroed when the engine was reconditioned. That turned out to be about right during my long period of ownership.

EA Falcon; Bought a white S Pack showing 90K back when such mileage was believable. I should have looked harder before taking ownership. A detailed inspection later revealed that it was an ex-taxi that had done way more. This experience taught me what to look for so that I don't get burned again. BTW I spoke to the magistrate about and my options and determined that it was too hard to get a win.

XF Falcon; Replaced my standard cluster with a sports cluster. I changed the odo myself to match the original mileage. Not hard at all for mechanical odos. Impossible to change the Ghia/Fairlane digital odo without specialist equipment, however the clusters can be replaced without any setup problems.

EL Falcon; Sold my EL with 280K on the odo. It was in better nick than most I have seen showing much lower mileage (I look after my cars though). Impossible to change the digital odo in all EF~EL models without specialist equipment, however the clusters can be replaced without any setup problems.

SY Territory (presumably same for SX~SY and BA~BF); Ford dealers can change the odo only in new replacement clusters. This permanently sets code B2680. They can't reprogram an old one. As to what the shonks can do I don't know, but there are a couple of codes associated with incorrect odo data. BTW the PCM SmartShield function requires that replacement clusters, ICCs and BEMs be 'trained' by the dealer.

[raptorv8]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

I wont be far off the actual km, let me tell you.

You have told us at least 20 times already

[DJM83]

Originally Posted by Ben73

A guy I work with has had a rs focus for over a year and it has 900kms on it. I guess people will think that it's speedo has been messed around with.

You can't judge a car on it's milage alone, too many variables to concider.

good luck with winding back an odo on an RS, should see the drama in 'unlocking' the ECU

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

As Ive said photos can be rather flattering. If Id had the chance to inspect, id pick it to within a few thousand km Id say. Either way its a nice looking car.

Doubt it.

[kenz]

Originally Posted by Bam

I know that this just the pub forum, hence there is mostly just BS being posted here, but what's with all the Hulk bashing? He's a fellow member...right?

You obviously haven't seen the hulk around here much

[RAPID_BA]

Anyone can be a victim of this dodgy practise of odometer windbacks but there are many signs.

Lets look at the car door theory.

if a car has done 150,000km and lets assume each trip is an average of 15km (probably less). That means the drivers door has been slammed around 10000 times.

Do we think if we stood there and slammed a new car door 10000 times in a row it would behave like a new door? I would argue it would get a little more loose the more times you slam the door. Every 1000 times we would probably see a measurable difference.

Same with the seat, steering wheel, suspension components, etc etc. By looking at all of these you can conclude if the condition is within the vicinity of the displayed km. If it looks far off (like a cop car) well maybe the bells should be ringing in your head. Either its had a terrible history or the km arnt true.

The guy on ACA with the hilux ute, the dash was falling apart, the car was a mess and it had 60,000km. Didnt he look? The attractive price made his vision blurred. Most of us would have uncovered the hoax.

[RAPID_BA]

Originally Posted by Bam

I know that this just the pub forum, hence there is mostly just BS being posted here, but what's with all the Hulk bashing? He's a fellow member...right?

Thanks for the support Bam. I have thick skin, these fellas are ok, I have no animosity to them. The topic subject can sometimes rattles their cage a little. Sometimes I suspect they must have bought a pumpkin and then lash out at me in frustration of their purchases.

[Geez Louise]

Good for you Hulk. That's the way.

Controversial posts or not, you do raise some good...and some not so good threads.... but at least you post them up

[Ben73]

Door slam theory is not accurate. My car has had the door slammed a few times, but have been closed 1000s of times.
But the work cars have probably been slammed hundreds of times. All cars are treated differently.

[GasoLane]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

I wont be far off the actual km, let me tell you.

Maybe a "price is right" game where you get to inspect 5 cars and you put them in order of least mileage to most.

Here ya go Hulkie...

It's a 1988 model but I've only had it for a couple of years, and I'm certain it's never been used as a Police car

[svo supporter]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

You want a face to face inspection, then they cant hide their true mileage.

.

Rubbish. You can have 2 identical mileage cars, being treated identically. ie not washed or cared for. One being based round the seaside, one based round the bush areas. The one from the bush would be in better condition body wise , that the one round the seaside. The suspensions would both be shagged, for different reasons. Sea, due to the salt air, the bush due to the harsh road surfaces.

Need some more examples????? Got a 73 model car here, with a genuine 130,000K on the odo. The body doesn't look to flash,(rust) because it was left parked under a tree for 18 months.

Also got a 76 model car here with 330,000K on the odo. Body wise it's in better condition, than the 73 model, because it spent it's life parked in sheds.

[SM1DY]

Originally Posted by kenz

You obviously haven't seen the hulk around here much

I like Hulk's threads, not all of them but I do enjoy reading the majority of them. I don't know the specific people that are "always trying to bait him", but I get the impression that one person makes a backhanded comment to Hulk and everyone else just dogpiles on.

EDIT: I also like the idea of a km's guessing game based on the condition of a car