WOF time again (advice +bitchfest)

My car needs a WOF and it something that always causes me a great deal of stress. The problem is not my car's safety but the fact that it looks a little like some boyracer car (okay it goes like one too if you are that way inclined, I'm a rather sedate driver however).

VTNZ, pack of fucking arseholes, would not give me a WOF due to lots of utterly stupid reasons. I overheard one tester actually say (I think about another vehicle though) "Yeah but we're meant to get these cars off the road". ie, their focus isn't to check the car for saftey, but have extra bias on cars and owners they don't like, based of very weak perceptions.
Anyway, as a result I'm fearful of any type of testing station, which is a shame, I want my fucking car to be checked out for actual saftey!

I went to some dodgy tyre place in Penrose a couple of times. I was never very happy about that because I don't think one could actually leave with confidence that their car was actually safer from that place. People went there to get their cars through. They also seemed to find problems with your tyres, and both times I went there I ended up buying tyres, although the second time I bought the tyres from somewhere else. Fuckers.

I've gone to a mechanic in Ponsonby/Newton area the last three times, and get the perception that he checks it well, but is also more level-headed than a testing station, but he tends to upsell. Last time was the last straw.

I'm not looking for dodgy WOFs, I'm late 20s ffs, I don't need this kind of bullshit that I thought was (unfairly) reserved for younger drivers with over-powered and not so legal cars.

I dont want a dogy WOF, I just want my car checked properly for real faults, no stuuuupid compliance checks (sun visor strip on f/windscreen was apparently 10mm lower than it should have been, for example. ooooooOOOOoooh!) and no fucking upselling.

Any recommendations?

I've had that brought to my attention at one garage too and they wouldn't pass it, yet the tinting place insisted it was legal and that law was open to interpretation.

I have the same faults as you, my car looks like a boy racer car (yet mine doesn't even go like one), and I'm a sedate driver.

But getting my car through Wof's can be a nightmare, from tints, to tires, to exhausts, it's just chaos everytime they change their minds.

I found the old BP top of the hill motors in Browns Bay were very quick and fair, they picked up on one fault which I was able to fix with a trip to Repco, and advised me of things that may need doing before the next warrant, and if I want my vehicle to be really safe. Overall I'd recommend them.

Never had any problems passing my car's at the VTNZ in botany downs, taken my r34 and rx7 there. It was great, the first time i took my skyline there the light for the spoiler wasnt hooked up, the guy still passed me cause i had the rest of the brake lights but still told me about having to have it hooked up. Also warned me I needed new tires and bushes in the next few months which he was right.

go to marua road gas in ellerslie, they will pass anything under the sun basically

Thanks for the responses. Because of crap work hours and my general pissing around nature, and the fact that I'm now scheduled to go on a bit of a trip south next week, so I need the car sorted urgently, I went back to my usual mechanic, got a service while at it. He found a brake hose with a bulge, dunno what a bulge really means, but, y'know, brakes, important, so that's fine.

Labour costs make up half of the total which was btw about $500. Now I gotta get the fucking rego.

Might service the car myself next time methinks and will look at the places suggested in this thread.

i have had my car for 6 years now, and have always taken it to the VTNZ station in upper harbor. i have only "failed" twice, both times was for a brake light. i say "failed" cos they said go walk over there and get a bulb, put it in, and you will pass.

they always do a thorough check, and my car should get the stern eye from all the audio gear they are faced with every time they open the doors/boot, but it has never been a problem there.