No serious plans, really...just a daydream and curiosity.
How to do, whether to do (or sell off and start over), etc. Cars in question are all from 1992 (a VW 1800cc 8v and two 2800cc VR6s..two pass Atlanta Metro smog, and the third would too if I installed a new CatConv).
Well, here's my indirect experience from the early '80s....I doubt things have improved much.
Back about 1979 or 1980, a co-worker had a 1973 or 1974 Fiat X1/9. It's been so long ago I can't remember for 100% certainty, but we were both in the Navy and he HAD previously been stationed in Washington state, so either the car was bought new there(in Washington state)....or through an overseas puchase plan. Either way, it had 49 state smog emissions hardware. The first time he took it into a dealership to have some work done on it (I'll guess a tune-up) the dealership called back and said they were having problems getting it to run while set for Ca. emissions levels. (We were stationed in Mountain View, Ca.) He got royally P.O. that the dealership took it upon itself to swap out the necessary hardware to get his "baby" to run and still meet Ca. standards. Needless to say, he never took his car back there.
To answer your question:
From what I read here, the California smog folks can be VERY "vigilant" when certifying cars from out of state. If you cars can be re-tuned to run while not exceeding the Ca. smog limits....and while using the legendary crappy Ca. gasoline, AND, the smog hardware is the same for Ca. and the other 49 states, on your car....then no problems.
The "usual" problems folks run into usually involve things like having to add a second cat-converter when your car currently has only 1. I seem to remember reading on here that certain models of Volvo and Subaru can sometimes need that 2nd VERY EXPENSIVE, and failure-prone cat.
Sometimes a dealer, a website for your car's brand, or even a Chilton-type shop manual (or a Bentley's) can give you an idea about what would be involved. Only you can determine how attached you are to these cars and where it will be cost effective to transport them from one place to another AND THEN spend money to re-certify them. Cars that are nearly 20 years old? Tough call? Or is it?
I was able to certify my mercedes so anything is possible. You just have to get a description of all the smog parts to pass the visual inspection. I had to add about 10 stupid parts that don't affect emissions. After passing the visual the car needs to go on the treadmill and prove it doesn't just pass at idle speed. My car needs the tune retune every 2 years to pass smog.
"Stationed in Mountain View" = Moffet field. My father works at the lazy L.
As long as it is 100% stock, and you move to California and you are bringing it with you, I think it would be alright. The GTI might be more annoying because the California version of the 8v is a bit different for 91-92.
For a state with such a "car culture" they sure are trying to kill everyone they can. Newer cars like yours should be ok with minor, if any changes. Be prepared to fork out an "impact fee" of $300-$500. For a time, there was a rolling 30 year time limit on emmisions, now they changed it again and anything newer than 1976 must pass. Didn't they make aftermarket converters illegal?
as if I needed it.... one more reason NOT to move to Cal
^^^^ what he said. Why move there? I've been and have no interest in living there. Although Hollywood blvd is a fun cruise on a saturday night.
DO NOT MOVE TO CALIFORNIA, that i cannot stress enough. California compliant emissions are the worst thing you can do to a car, if you absolutely have to bring your car here move to Oregon or Washington or somewhere near California. The rule is, if your just visiting you don't have to comply to their emissions (ex living near California but not in)
as previously stated, for a state with such a huge car culture, they sure like to give everyone the proverbial shaft
As the most populous state in the nation there is some bad smog pollution. As much as I hate complying, you gotta do what you gotta do. The smog from the coastal cities gets blown into the valley and causes a lot of health advisories. If you have a respiratory disorder this can be dangerous to the health. The big plus is better air quality. I think the cities in the valley actually sued the Bay Area saying it is our smog that is poisoning them.
I have moved two cars to CA in the last 11 years. 11 years ago there was an impact fee, I did not have to pay that fee last year when I moved my car from IL. No one told me to modify or alter my emmissions equipment to CA standards (both cars had all factory parts and were completely stock.) It had to pass visual and dyno rolling road emmissions. I think the only time you will run into big problems is if you buy a car in another state and then bring it to CA immediately or if you remove any of the original equipment. If you already own the car for six months or more then you move to CA you should be alright as long as it has all of the factory emmissions installed. "Guaranteed to Pass" fuel addittive has helped me more than once in passing the smog test.
benzbaron wrote:
As the most populous state in the nation there is some bad smog pollution. As much as I hate complying, you gotta do what you gotta do. The smog from the coastal cities gets blown into the valley and causes a lot of health advisories. If you have a respiratory disorder this can be dangerous to the health. The big plus is better air quality. I think the cities in the valley actually sued the Bay Area saying it is our smog that is poisoning them.
with that i understand, especially with jacked up, chipped diesels puking pure smog and diesel. California is one of the few states that would immediately benefit from electric cars, and wide spread infrastructure. sorry for thread jacking