Question. Need Help From N.C. Friends | FerrariChat

Question. Need Help From N.C. Friends

Discussion in 'North & South Carolina' started by pdtrixceo, Mar 20, 2005.

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  1. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    I am buying a 612 supposedly with 129 miles on it from Foreign Cars Italia.
    Yesterday I got a message saying that before the car could be registered, they would have to do an inspection (mandatory in N.C.) that would put another 40 or 50 miles on the car.
    I live in Fla and am not familiar with N.C. automobile registration requirements.
    Can anyone plese tell me if this is correct, or am I just buying a car with more miles on it that originally represented?. I have not seen the car in person. Thank you.
    Roger.
     
  2. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    Never heard of that. FCI is a state inspection location, so they can perform the emissions/safety inspection, if for some reason that was required (but I don't think it is). You're not registering or titleing the car in NC, so I'm not sure I understand where the extra miles would come from.

    Maybe it's part of the dealer prep to perform some basic roadtest on a *new* FNA car (as opposed to a trade in)?

    I've bought plenty of new cars, and some have had less than 10 miles on the odometer when I drove them off the lot.


    -Daniel
     
  3. worth it

    worth it Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2002
    299
    North Carolina
    Full Name:
    David C.
    Roger,

    Like Daniel says - FCI is a State inspection location. My guess for the inspection would be more along the lines of the OBD ( on board diagnostics ) stuff.

    I know a car will not pass if the computer reads anything from the OBD memory. For example, say an oxygen sensor gets a bad reading, this will be stored in memory. Even if it was a false reading - it is still stored until cleared. After it is cleared the emissions computer will NOT pass the car if it does not have some miles stored to read against. Make sense ??

    This means driving the car to get the data in the memory.

    I am not saying this 612 has problems - it probably has not been driven enough since a re-set to pass. Darn computers. This happened to me on a previously owned car, they told me to drive a few days and come back.

    As for requiring a NC inspection before titling - I have no idea. It does make some sense though - providing proof that the car they sold was inspected and passed before delivery.

    I am not far from FCI if you need some help. As a matter of fact I am headed to Central Florida with the family next week. Does the 612 have a DVD player ?? If yes, I can deliver for you - ha-ha.

    Let me know if I can help.

    David C.
     
  4. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Thanks guys. The story doesn't make any sense to me either, except perhaps as David says. The interesting thing is that after weeks of waiting and negotiating the car was supposed to be delivered today, then all of a sudden I get a message left on my cell phone saying what I posted yesterday. My first question is, "you just found this out the day before you were supposed to deliver the car?". I don't have any more details, but I will call them today and let you know what happens. Thanks again for your help.
    Nice try, David........ :)
     
  5. L8Braker

    L8Braker Formula 3

    Nov 10, 2003
    1,567
    Asheville NC
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Stafford
    My experience with FCI has been similiar........they wait till the last minute to do any real work and then they are left behind the 8-ball making up excuses.

    They had a M3 I was going to buy at one point, so after having a salesman email me pics and several phone conversations I say I'll be there tomorrow to buy the car. After driving 3 hours this is what I got.......there is the car, here are the keys, but oh wait someone just bought it an hour ago.

    The best part is they then tried to blame it on me because I didn't put a deposit down??? of course they never told me I needed to. After all I had already bought a new 996 from them 2 years before hand.

    After this whole fiasco I decided to leave the place alone.


    I've never heard of needing to drive a car for an insepction. I would have to agree with Daniel, it may be some pre delivery inspection, but not a state inspection. Hell I think when I bought my 996 from them back in 2001 it only had 13 miles on it.
     
  6. 4RECCCXLVIII

    4RECCCXLVIII Karting

    Oct 10, 2004
    84
    East TN
    Full Name:
    John
    I bought my STi while in Minnesota and had it registered in NC since that is where I live. Never got it inspected. I have the title and NC plates on it right now. So I would say that you do not need to get it inspected in order to get it registered.
     
  7. BubblesQuah

    BubblesQuah F1 World Champ
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 1, 2003
    13,232
    Charlotte
    Well, depending on the NC address you used when you registered it, you may be in for a $265 suprise - the fine for not having an emissions check. However, you might be in a county that doesn't require that.
     
  8. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Thanks again to all for your thoughts and input. Here's the rest of the story:
    It was as David C suspected, the car failed to pass the emissions test that, according to them, is a new (as of 2 years ago) law in N.C. They claim they would have to drive the car for the OBD to reset. The catch is that they had already driven the car for 40 or 50 miles (or more, it seems) and it had failed to reset. Now we're up to 230 miles and a failed emissions test.
    Needless to say, I have cancelled the order and asked them for a refund. Hopefully, I will get my check in the next couple of days. If not, I will let you know and ask for your kind help once again.
    The comments, ideas and suggestions offered on this board were very helpful. I appreciate everyone's genuine interest.
    Roger.
     
  9. L8Braker

    L8Braker Formula 3

    Nov 10, 2003
    1,567
    Asheville NC
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Stafford
    Good luck with the refund Roger! I'd call them everyday until it shows up. The whole thing sounds kinda fishy huh? You can reset the computer by pulling the power to the computer or they should have the tools to clear the code, by plugging into the thing.

    Where are you going to buy your 612 from now? I'll help David C deliver it haha
     
  10. Tinbender

    Tinbender Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2004
    327
    Raleigh,Lake Lure,NC
    Full Name:
    Terry W. Phillips
    What year model was the 612? New vehicles(current year model) are not required to have the emissions test done, only the safety inspection. This is for registration in North Carolina. Registration in another state would not require either.
     
  11. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Terry, they claim that it's a 2 year old law that any car sold in N.C. must pass this inspection (really an emissions test) independently of where the car is headed.The car is a 2005 model.
    Here's the 5PM update: They're trying hard to resuscitate this deal and offering me a guaranteed less than 250 miles on the car, a passed emissions test and a $15,000 discount to the originally agreed upon price (which I already thought was pretty good, since I had agreed to it). So, I've decided to take the chance and accept their offer. We'll see what happens, I'll keep you in the loop and post pictures when I get it. Thanks again for all your help,
    Roger.
     
  12. Tinbender

    Tinbender Formula Junior
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Mar 13, 2004
    327
    Raleigh,Lake Lure,NC
    Full Name:
    Terry W. Phillips
    Hi Roger,
    You have a PM.
     
  13. ECTurboGSX

    ECTurboGSX Formula 3

    Dec 26, 2004
    1,074
    Bay Area, CA
    Full Name:
    Eric
    A brand new car that has never been registered to an owner other than the dealership does not have to pass an emissions inspection, period. I check new cars in daily, so either they are yanking your chain or the car has been titled previously. The vehicle does have to have a NC safety inspection prior to going on the lot though. Good luck.
     
  14. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Sorry if I wasn't very clear. This is not an exactly "brand new" car. It's a car that was originally represented to have only 129 miles on it.
    Roger.
     
  15. 4RECCCXLVIII

    4RECCCXLVIII Karting

    Oct 10, 2004
    84
    East TN
    Full Name:
    John
    I am luckily not in one of those counties that require it.
     
  16. worth it

    worth it Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2002
    299
    North Carolina
    Full Name:
    David C.
    ECTurbo, Tinbender and others :

    I am not challenging what you do when checking cars in - however, FCI is in Guilford County. Guilford County requires emissions inspection on ALL cars built after 1975 or 76 . You can not receive a "safety" sticker without passing emissions also. Other counties in the State do not require the emissions to obtain a safety sticker. maybe your county is like this.

    Beginning in 2006 - cars built after 1995 will require emissions testing ( OBDII ) earlier cars will just have safety checks. Something to do with new computers that read the data from OBDII and nothing earlier.

    Even if the car was titled earlier it still must pass emissions for any dealer to sell it in Guilford County. It can not leave a dealers lot without passing. If you buy from an individual this is not required.

    Cars is a hobby for me, not a job so I am just stating what I have learned over the years while supporting my hobby.

    David C.
     
  17. worth it

    worth it Formula Junior

    Oct 31, 2002
    299
    North Carolina
    Full Name:
    David C.
    To ALL :

    It was just pointed out to me via PM - that Current model year vehicles do not require Emissions test to get their safety sticker, even in Guilford County.

    It is up to the dealer to do a "safety or emissions test " - I guess FCI is doing the latter.

    David C.

    P.S. That is why cars is a "hobby" for me.
     
  18. DrStranglove

    DrStranglove FChat Assassin
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Oct 31, 2003
    31,487
    Google Maps
    Full Name:
    DrS
    Sorry to hear you are going through this!!! I would recomend you contact Sport Auto in the same city and aske them to get you a car. I have had bad juju from FCI.
     
  19. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Here's today's update: The car has supposedly passed inspection and is on a truck on it's way down to Florida. I will let you know when it gets here and post some pictures. Thanks again for you advice and concern,
    Roger.
     
  20. pdtrixceo

    pdtrixceo Karting

    Aug 19, 2004
    134
    Little Havana
    Full Name:
    Roger
    Well she's home and she's even more beautiful than in pictures. In the end, it all worked out fine. My thanks to the folks at FCI for making good on their word.
    Pictures to follow (as soon as I figure out how to use the F-1 transmission).
    Roger.
     
  21. Ricambi America

    Ricambi America F1 World Champ
    Sponsor Owner

    G.D. Roger !!! That is simply gorgeous !!! That color combination is stunning and makes the 612 look dead sexy. Be sure to post some pix in the Showroom forum too.

    Drive it in good health (and fast).

    Kindly,
    Daniel
     
  22. EnzymaticRacer

    EnzymaticRacer F1 Veteran

    Feb 27, 2005
    5,367
    She's definitely a beaut! I think I remember seeing that exact one at FCI last time I was there. Pictures definitely don't do that Red justice... and I'm becoming more and more of a fan of the cream color interior...
     
  23. L8Braker

    L8Braker Formula 3

    Nov 10, 2003
    1,567
    Asheville NC
    Full Name:
    Jeremy Stafford
    Glad to see it worked out!!! Looks like you forget all about the hassle to get her once you get behind the wheel!!!

    ENJOY

    PS nice house in the background too!!
     
  24. N24RE

    N24RE Formula Junior

    Dec 8, 2003
    532
    Greensboro NC
    Full Name:
    Steve Jones

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