Forum Weekly Review June 28

In this weekly segment, we cover the top discussions going on in the car forums. These threads may be the most recent hot topics, or epic threads that we just wanted to dig up and feature.

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Canada Relaxes Bumper Standards and Amends CMVSS Section 215
This fairly old thread has been brought back to life since the announcement by the Canadian Government that it had updated section 215 of the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards pertaining to bumpers. What this means is that cars that meet either the European (ECE) standard, or the US standard are now permissible in Canada. The Canadian bumper 8km/h (5mph) crash test is no longer necessary.

Why So Much JDM / RHD Hate?
Car Is Faded Due to the Japanese Sun: Why JDM/RHD Hatred Exists
The Original Question, followed by the answer :)

Next to an ‘08, RHD vehicle owners are probably the next most ridiculed bunch on the forums. Why is this the case? Are RHD vehicle owners really such big douches that the collective forum members all gather into a mob to make fun of these people? Probably not. I suspect its just a handful of guys that drive around thinking their hot shit ruining it for everyone, but its still entertaining. This thread may also explain why there is such hatred for JDM vehicles and their owners.

Rage2’s Spam / Luncheon Meat Super Review
I dug this one out since rage2’s birthday was this week. If you haven’t already done so, visit the Happy Birthday To Rage2 thread and send your birthday wishes. If you have not visited and gone through every page of the Spam Super Review thread, I suggest you do so now. Have you ever wondered which brand of spam is the best? Ever wonder what kind of spam recipes there are? Get in there and check it out or if you know of some good recipes, post them up!

Hope everyone has a great weekend, and if you are taking Monday off, Happy Long Weekend!

Canadian Bumper Laws Relaxed, Finally

Hideous rear bumper addons like the one seen above on a Ford GT will no longer be necessary after today. Despite opposition from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Canada has harmonized its bumper safety standards with European and United States standards. Specifically, section 215 of the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations will be replaced with the following:

215. (1) A passenger car shall be equipped with bumpers that conform to either

(a) the requirements set out in paragraph 6, and the low-speed-impact test procedure set out in Annex 3, except for paragraph 4 of that Annex, of ECE Regulation No. 42 — Uniform Provisions Concerning the Approval of Vehicles with regard to Their Front and Rear Protective Devices (Bumpers, etc.), in the version dated June 12, 2007, as amended after that date by any amendment in the 00 series of amendments; or

(b) the requirements, conditions and test procedures set out in title 49, part 581 of the Code of Federal Regulations of the United States (revised as of October 1, 2006).

This is both good news and bad news. Car enthusiasts have been waiting for this day long before the Canadian Government made the announcement it was looking to harmonize the Canadian bumper standards with those in the rest of the world. This means that cars that were previously not available in Canada because they did not pass the more stringent bumper standards are now permissible in Canada since they pass either the ECE standard or the US standard. The only hurdle that remains is for the Registrar of Imported Vehicles to update their admissibility list.

The bad news, is the point about safety and durability of front bumpers on newer cars now that they do not need to conform to a higher safety standard. When the Canadian Government first announced this, they mentioned that this harmonizing of the bumper safety standards will help maintain the safety of Canadian roads. I never did quite get that statement. Obviously, a bumper that is designed to withstand at least 5mph (8km/h) will be stronger and safer than a bumper designed for half that speed. Many will argue the trade off is worth it. There will be more variety of cars available in Canada (mainly imports of used vehicles), and a possibility that prices will drop because they are no longer built specifically for the Canadian market.

I look forward to the newly available cars that can be imported into Canada!

Canadian Bumper Standards To Be Lowered

In a move that car enthusiasts have been waiting forever for, the Government of Canada has proposed an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations to harmonize the Canadian bumper standard for passenger cars with those in the United States and Europe.

Canada currently has a more stringent bumper safety standard requiring bumpers to withstand front and rear collisions at speeds of up to 8 kph (5 mph). These safety standards were actually developed with the United States and were harmonized until 1982 when the US lowered their speed requirements to 4kph (2.5 mph) for front and rear impacts.

“This proposed amendment would offer more choice to Canadians who wish to import vehicles,” said the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities. “At the same time, it would help to maintain the safety of Canadian roads.”

I’m not exactly sure how lowering the bumper standards is supposed to “maintain” the safety of Canadian roads. This move is obviously an attempt to increase trade between Canada and the US and has nothing to do with safety, so why spin it that way?

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