Trendline - Why does it exist?

[pologti18t]

At that end of the market $2000 is a lot of money.

[The_Hawk]

To drive any car with a turbo in Victoria (except diesel) is illegal BUT you can apply for a exemption.

It's essentially the same in NSW (and probably other states) and I have to say while writing this response and looking for sources to link to from VIC and NSW roads groups I see they have made changes to the policy. In short, no you can't drive one without an exemption, but the exemption process of lots of vehicles is not much more than an application process which should just be approved.


In NSW there is now some guidelines which make some sense.

Source: P1 and P2 vehicle and passenger conditions < Car < Getting a licence < Licensing < www.rta.nsw.gov.au

Application for an exemption can be made at any motor registry upon payment of a fee. NOTE: a fee is not charged for moderate-performance turbo/supercharged engine vehicle applications.

The vehicle is a moderate-performance turbo/supercharged engine vehicle.

For Moderate-performance turbo/supercharged vehicle exemptions an exemption is given to vehicles under 100kw/t and to vehicles between 100kw/t and 125kw/t if they weigh over 1410kgs and have less than 165kw of power.

The Golf 90TSI and 118TSI as well as the Polo 77TSI are listed under "Examples of moderate performance turbo/supercharged vehicles that are eligible for exemption".

In VIC there is a much longer list which essentially follows the same idea:

Source: P plates & probationary prohibited vehicles : VicRoads

Interestingly there is a note on the VIC website that says:

Note: To clarify some recent reports, VicRoads has not lifted the ban on P Platers driving turbo cars. It has only been lifted for turbo powered vehicles with a power-to-mass ratio of less than 130 kilowatts per tonne, and the manufacturer has placed the power-to-mass ratio on the build plate.

It appears they may be moving to a more generic set of rules which are then managed by the vehicle manufacturers certifiying they meet the restrictions. Of course in the FAQ they seem to line up with the NSW restrictions (although why these groups can't get together and have the same wording and interpretation is a little beyond me).

From 6 July 2009, drivers issued with a probationary licence on or after 1 July 2007 may drive some lower performance turbocharged or supercharged vehicles. The definition of a lower performance turbocharged or supercharged vehicle is a vehicle with 6 cylinders or less that is:

turbocharged or supercharged with a power to weight ratio of less than 100kW per tonne
turbocharged or supercharged with a power to weight ratio between 100kW and 125kW per tonne and that is considered to be a family type vehicle (4 seats or more) rather than a sports type vehicle. A family type vehicle is a sedan, station wagon or hatch normally used to carry families/passengers with 4 or more seats and are equipped with child restraint anchorages. A family type vehicle does not include a sports car (two door coupe).

Source: Probationary Prohibited Vehicles FAQs : VicRoads


So interestingly the Ford Falcon with the EcoBoost engine comes in at 1.7t and 179kW making it 105.3kW/t and therefore likely legal in VIC as it is a "Family Type" vehicle under the limits and illegal in NSW because it has more than 165kW of power!

Sadly for you P platers the Golf GTI and R are out in both states but then the Polo GTI at 132kW and 1.189t = 111kW/t would probably be rejected in VIC as it's a "Sports Type" but is technically within all NSW guidelines??

[Nuggos]

The laws are easily bypassed, my mate drives an arbarth and a Golf R and has exemption forms for both, i honestly couldn't be bothered and honestly since i had my accident this year im kinda not too worried about going quick or having anything too flash, so long as im happy and it looks nice then thats all that matters to me... however once i get off my P's i will most likely get a turbo

[amazeer]

the NSW liberal government are actually pretty pro driver. They removed a lot of speed cameras and normalised a lot of speed zones. The p platers in turbo/V8 rule is also being reviewed and will probably move to a specific power to weight rule.

The different state rules make a mockery of our "national" road rules.

[The_Hawk]

The p platers in turbo/V8 rule is also being reviewed and will probably move to a specific power to weight rule.

It looks like they may have already done that, while you still need to apply for an exemption, it seems that vehicles that fall into the defined power to weight boxes listed will attract no fee and will be passed without [serious] question.

[Nuggos]

I think you can get this exception form called exemption of a moderately powered motor vehicle or something like that and you have to show that you have a ratio of 100kw per ton, but i really dont under stand that