The Spain Forums

Lee

There are a lot of reports of the Guardia civil stopping and in some cases impounding English registered cars that have been in Spain for more than six months.

This is just one account of what some one witnessed

There are a lot of similar stories circulating on the internet. One person reported seeing the Guardia civil checking cars parked in a road on another forum, with one person having a wheel clamp fitted to their car.

What gets to me is that many of us move here to make a new life and get away from those taking the mikey out of the UK. And yet some move here and do the same here and the immigrants do back in the UK. Double standards in other words

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El Sid

While I'm back in the UK I'm going to build a custom bike ( chopper ) to bring back with me which should be a right laugh to homologate. It'll still be cheaper than buying a bike here though.

I can think of ways around the 6 month rule, but I'm going to keep them to myself I might need them

I'm in two minds about all these bullshit regulations involving vehicles. There is a safety aspect, but mostly it's just an excuse for governments to fleece you out of your money so they can spend it on their own expense accounts, give it to people who don't work or just generally waste it on a load of crap. They justify their thievery by saying it's saving the planet or the children or something like that.
Having had two cars written off and one badly damaged in the UK by uninsured drivers who didn't stop I can see the justification in laws making insurance compulsary though.

Also, why do the Spanish make the homologation process so difficult and expensive ? is it going to cause millions to die if you have sidesteps on your 4x4 or different tyres than the manufacturer originally installed ? Of course it isn't - it's just bureacracy for the sake of it, sheer stupidity.
If they want to make a major contribution to road safety they would be better off teaching the indigeneous population how to drive properly. It only has to rain and the daft buggers are arse-ending each other left right and centre. Most of them drive like 80 year old women, can't park to save their lives and the number of Spanish vehicles with major dents and scrawks is mind boggling

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When I was here I wanted to be there. When I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle.
I've been here a week now. Waiting for a mission, getting softer.
Every minute I stay in this room I get weaker. And every minute Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter.

Lee

I think Australia have one of the best systems for car insurance. I cant remember fully how it works, but I seem to remember it being on the lines of when you tax your car, a basic insurance is included in the road tax.

One of the biggest problems with UK registered cars here is the fact of no road tax, normally means no MOT and any insurance is totally worthless.

You do have to jump a few hoops to import a car. Some of the Spanish rules and regulations can seem pointless. My own truck initially failed its ITV for having side steps fitted along with several other reasons that meant a few calls to the DVLA. Then they added the side steps as an approved add on for the ITV certificate.

The general rule of thumb from my own understanding was, keep your car to factory spec. No add ons like flash wheels or nudge bars

We used an import specialist and I am sure the guy started off with a full head of hair and ended up bald by the end.

But when you live in a foreign country, you abide by their laws

Road tax over here compared to the UK is cheap. Road tax on mine in the UK would be about £1000 or what ever they now charge for 4ltr anti green anti PC cars and over here is about 150 euro

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Lee

This custom bike, will this one have BMX on it instead of mountain bike and a shopping basket for your beers

It used to crack me up seeing the City Of London police on their mountain bikes with flashing blue lights. Just short of shouting "ne nah ne nah" as they went in high speed pursuit of suspects

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El Sid

I take a different view there. I ask myself " will my actions potentially inconvenience someone else, or curtail their liberty and enjoyment of life ? " and if the answer is " Yes " then I'll try not to do whatever it was I was considering.

Laws made by politicians I have no respect for whatsoever. They interfere in peoples lives way too much. Although as you know, in my profession I have to be squeaky clean ( or not get caught )

__________________
When I was here I wanted to be there. When I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle.
I've been here a week now. Waiting for a mission, getting softer.
Every minute I stay in this room I get weaker. And every minute Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter.

El Sid

It'll be an old school 1950's style chopper and so loud that it'll shake the olives off the trees

Women will fall at my feet, the Trafico won't have a car fast enough to catch it and people will think I'm the president of the Oakland Hells Angels. You wait and see

__________________
When I was here I wanted to be there. When I was there, all I could think of was getting back into the jungle.
I've been here a week now. Waiting for a mission, getting softer.
Every minute I stay in this room I get weaker. And every minute Charlie squats in the bush he gets stronger.
Each time I look around the walls move in a little tighter.