Because I just don’t get how some of these cars are legal. In Maryland there are car inspections before you get the car legal. Does California do the same thing? If so, how do these cars pass inspection? Is Pimp My Ride just rigged for commercial reasons? Because all you see is the new “Alpines” they put in, the new “XBOX360”, the new “JVC Speakers” etc… you get my drift.
There is only smog inspection in California. I have watched only a few pimp my rides. Why would putting an Xbox or two in the trunk with some monitors cause a car to fail inspection where you live?
No, no. I’m not saying that. I’m saying that the cars they “Pimp” are in absolutely horrible condition before they’re pimped. There can’t be any way these things are legal to be driven on the road. I’m saying that the whole show is nothing but a big advertisement, a marketing ploy for big company. The passing inspection thing is a legit question because of the condition the cars are in, they would never be allowed on the road in Maryland.
I am only a casual observer but I have seen the show. Why do they need pristine vehicles? There are lots of people with crappy vehicles around and some of them drive them legal or not. Are you saying that you don’t believe that they are daily driving vehicles?
There are no road worthiness inspections in California. The closest we have is emissions tests every two years. You can get tickets for things like non functioning headlights etc. but in general cops don’t pull people over just cause they are driving a total beater car.
I should add that I have not seen an episode of the show where the car is so bad that I am surprised that it is on the road in California. I don’t have any experience with what it takes to pass a vehicle inspection in other states.
[QUOTE=diggleblop]
I’m saying that the whole show is nothing but a big advertisement, a marketing ploy for big company.
[QUOTE]
…What do you think television is?
I’ve seen cars in worse condition than the ones featured on the show driving the streets and freeways.
I even saw a car FROM “Pimp My Ride” on the street one day.
The few episodes I’ve seen the cars were beaters, but not undriveable. Plus it’s not that hard to fix a smog problem.
Well, it IS one big ad for the various accessories, and for whatever shop Mad Mike works with (first WCC, then GAZ). In fact in some of the latter eps someone said pointedly something to the effect of “that’s the most unnecessary, impractical application of this I’ve ever seen; I like it.”
The two situations I saw where the crew was specially amazed at the ridiculous wreck included one of a pickup truck that was stripped by vandals of almost everything not welded to the frame (and I mean including doors and the damn truckbed itself) and XZibit says to the camera: “obviously in California all you need is a muffler, seatbelts, and working taillights, and they’ll let you be on the road in the daytime.” But the thing is, the frame and powertrain were in fair working order and of a recent model. In another ep they did have an old POC junker that, upon their looking at it more closely, was found to be actually two entirely separate halves of two different vehicles, held together with spots of liquid-weld. The guys in the shop said they would not sign off on putting a vehicle like that back on the road and they decided to buy a new car altogether. THAT was a matter not of regulation but of liability.
You would be surprised, however, at the condition of vehicle that’s on the road even in “functional inspection” jurisdicitions. Around here the emissions part has become so preeminent and time-and-resource consuming in the inspection process, that the rest of the safety check in many inspection-licensed shops is dispatched by observing that you could get the car to the location and into and out of the bay under control and by its own power. And that’s not counting if your cousin’s brother-in-law dates the assistant inspection technician’s sister, and for a reasonable consideration can get your ticket punched…
Still, examples as the two given above WILL make some viewers wonder if there may be set-ups, where the subject deliberately finds him/herself a $250 heap and then tries to beg MTV for a sweet pimped machine. Maybe, but even if that happens, I’d think the producers need not CARE, as the point of the show is #1 to place product #2 to show off their restoration and customizing prowess and #3 show some poor working stiff getting some bitchin’ wheels. If the working stiff has a $250 heap because it has been the only car in the family for 20 years, or because it’s what he could afford to buy last Summer, the net result’s the same. I would, though, expect that there be some specific terms of participation written by the producers’ legal advisors to minimize outright scams.
Although I have to wonder if the beneficiary of the Pimped Ride will henceforth have to sleep in the car, holding a loaded shotgun, 'cause otherwise with all that bling and sound, they’re gonna have to invest some dough in getting a garage with sturdy doors and locks and a good alarm system (and on a trailer, because ISTM none of the cars is left with any usable trunk space…)
Heh. I wish there were road worthiness inspections in Illinois. Here, like California it seems, all you need to do is pass an emissions test every two years. I’ve never had my car checked for anything else.
What I’ve always wanted to know is how these people, who can’t afford to fix or buy a slightly nicer car, will be able to adequately insure a car that now has probably $15,000+ worth of rims, speakers, Xboxes, LCD monitors, etc.?
But I always assumed they fixed the cars somewhat on the show - I remember an instance or two when they gave the person a new engine, or a whole new car.
I live in Maryland, and the only inspection required is when you transfer the title. There is no annual inspection other than emissions testing every two years. So if the car was roadworthy when you bought it, it does not matter how bad it gets - barring any tickets for cracked windshields, missing mufflers, and the like.
I’ve wondered much the same thing as myskepticsight. How can you afford your insurance after they’re done? Also, I’ve wondered if they have to sign something saying that they won’t just turn around and sell the car or strip out all of the upgrades and Ebay 'em. If my situation was the same as some of these people, that would be my first thought.
Now if Overhaulin came a calling…that would be a totally different story.
All I’m saying is, some of the vehicles I’ve seen on that show are just pitiful. Here in Maryland if you are caught driving some of the things I’ve seen on that show, you’d be pulled over, ticketed with an inspection ticket and if you didn’t fix it, you don’t drive it.
And to answer a few people’s questions, yes, I don’t believe that some of these vehicles are these people’s daily driving vehicles. Maybe some of you guys should watch the show more often.
It’s a great show and one of the only good ones on CrapTV (MTV), but just some of the things I’ve seen on that show are ridiculous. Holes in the floorboard, rat’s nest in the trunk, only one break works for the whole car, rust holes the size of a basketball in the quarter panels, the roofs literally cut off with a torch. Just horrendous.
I wonder about the insurance as well, and would also like to see a 42-up style documentary, to see what condition these cars are in after a year, were the stolen, vandalized, etc.
The one where the gave someone a whole new car was specifically because the original car was a front and back of two different cars welded together, and they I think in this one case mentioned that they could not do anything to a car like that.
I have been wondering that too. Can someone answer me this: Is it free? And how can they tell if someone just beat their car with a sledgehammer just so they could get it all cool? THESE QUESTIONS BURN MY MIND!!!
Like what? I’ve just had a car inspected a couple of weeks ago, and unless you’re missing lights, a cracked window, or something like that you will not get a ticket to fix it. The Maryland inspections last the life of the car while you have it tagged. I should know I’ve driven some beaters in my time and never got in trouble.
My favorite part is when they open the door and see Xibit, and start jumping up and down and hollering, as though they were surprised. Check the small of their back next time you see that. I guess they spend all day wearing a radio mic.
My guess? Most of the guests are celeb wannabes more interested in the TV time than the car. That wreck might be on the road, but I am skeptical that it is the one they have actually been driving. I think it’s just as likely that they went and found, or had found for them, a sensational looking wreck.
The insurance question is interesting but how on earth does your insurance company know your car has just been “pimped”. The make and model hasnt changed.