Moving to California
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
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jayceepoo wrote:
Not being made/sold in CA has nothing to do with it.
Ah, thanks. I was under the impression that CA cars had special smog-reducing emissions filters equipped.
jayceepoo wrote:
Have you already decided what city you'll be moving to?
Although I'm not 100% sure yet, I'll most likely be living in Westwood. I'm headed to UCLA for a Masters so I wanted to be close(ish).
PhilDanger wrote:
I was under the impression that CA cars had special smog-reducing emissions filters equipped.
Nah, probably just more stringent requirements... I've not been to the Westwood area, but I know some people who have gone to UCLA, and have heard that Westwood is very nice. Good luck w/the Masters btw.
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If your car has been maintained on a regular basis, I wouldn't worry too much about not passing the smog test. Not being made/sold in CA has nothing to do with it. If it doesn't pass, the cost to fix it will, of course, vary depending on how serious a problem.
PhilDanger wrote:
Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated.
The freeways/commutes here SUCK. Its a good thing I live 5 miles or so from my job, otherwise, I would go insane. I guess that isn't so much of a tip as it is a warning... Have you already decided what city you'll be moving to?
jayceepoo wrote:
The freeways/commutes here SUCK.
Don't they everywhere? In the UK we have the M1/M25, M1/M6 in the rush hour. Great fun!
Kevin
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
They hookup a little detector to your muffler and run the engnine for a few minutes then take a reading. It takes about 20min if you don't have to wait in line or anything.
Todd Smith
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
My wife moved out here from Texas back in 1995, and there was to be alot of hassle to get her car squared away with California emissions. It was easier to trade the car in for another. Not sure if that is an option you want :)
"The clue train passed his station without stopping." - John Simmons / outlaw programmer
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
PhilDanger wrote:
general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated.
Anywhere is better. As a native Californian, I'm ashamed of what my former home has become, and consider it unfit for human occupation. My condolences on your unfortunate choice. But while you're there, would you please help to convince those morons that we don't want them in Arizona. They've already f'ed up that state with their asinine ideas of how other people should be forced to live, and now they're trying to do the same here, not to mention driving the cost of worthless desert dirt through the roof. Enjoy your stay; wherever you arrived from, you'll soon be missing it terribly...:(
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
I moved here from the Midwest in 2005. Smog check shouldn't be a problem. By law you have 20 days to get your car registered and 10 days to get a CA drivers license from the time you start your job. I wasn't even close on either. Good luck!
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PhilDanger wrote:
general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated.
Anywhere is better. As a native Californian, I'm ashamed of what my former home has become, and consider it unfit for human occupation. My condolences on your unfortunate choice. But while you're there, would you please help to convince those morons that we don't want them in Arizona. They've already f'ed up that state with their asinine ideas of how other people should be forced to live, and now they're trying to do the same here, not to mention driving the cost of worthless desert dirt through the roof. Enjoy your stay; wherever you arrived from, you'll soon be missing it terribly...:(
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Roger Wright wrote:
Anywhere is better. As a native Californian, I'm ashamed of what my former home has become, and consider it unfit for human occupation. My condolences on your unfortunate choice. Enjoy your stay; wherever you arrived from, you'll soon be missing it terribly...
Well, I left England and arrived in the Central Valley about 9 years ago, and I've loved every minute of it. The only things I miss are a pub on every street corner and a decent curry. :-D Other than that, it's all good. I have a special "rule" that tells me when I'm somewhere special. If you sleep with the window open and the chirping of insects and frogs is loud enough for you to notice it - you're somewhere warm and tropical. Also, I never tire of seeing the mountains in the distance. Summer is awesome - I barbeque outside about 3-4 times a week and I never have to keep a jacket handy in case it rains. Even in winter I can walk around outside in shorts + t-shirt. What's wrong with California? You just have to move out of the over-populated city areas, that's all.
Sunrise Wallpaper Project | The StartPage Randomizer | A Random Web Page
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PhilDanger wrote:
general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated.
Anywhere is better. As a native Californian, I'm ashamed of what my former home has become, and consider it unfit for human occupation. My condolences on your unfortunate choice. But while you're there, would you please help to convince those morons that we don't want them in Arizona. They've already f'ed up that state with their asinine ideas of how other people should be forced to live, and now they're trying to do the same here, not to mention driving the cost of worthless desert dirt through the roof. Enjoy your stay; wherever you arrived from, you'll soon be missing it terribly...:(
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
Well everyone's mileage can vary of course.... I for one think that California is about the best place on the planet (granted I don't live in LA area though). I have lived all around the world and think there are few places better.... And so far as "morons" are concerned, that really is a function of population density...as in there is a fixed ratio of morons per every quantity of folks...so, more folks, more morons.... And gee I thought it was the right-ring, neo-con, scared-of-their-own-shadows-now-they're-older-used-it-all-up-baby-boomer, bible-thumpers that were trying to tell everyone how to live.....So, as far as that goes I don't think *anyone* has *any right* to tell others how to live.... cheers....Happiness is an INTERNAL state, and depends more on the person than the place -- modified at 19:38 Monday 6th August, 2007
Just trying to keep the forces of entropy at bay
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PhilDanger wrote:
I'll be moving to California soon (LA area)
I'm sorry...:(
[ Don't do today what can be done tomorrow!! ;) ]
Dick.
Mark Salsbery Microsoft MVP - Visual C++ :java:
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
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Hey guys/gals, I'll be moving to California soon (LA area) and was wondering if anyone else here has moved there and taken a car that was purchased outside of California. I have heard that my car will have to pass the California emissions standards, but I'm wondering what that will entail. If my car wasn't built/sold in California, is it going to fail the smog test for sure (1999 Mercury Sable). If it does fail, what will it cost to get it up to their standards? Also any general tips/experiences about life in California would be appreciated. Thanks, Phil
I moved to SoCal in 1992 and had no trouble with the 1982 Volvo I had at the time. (I left L.A. for Phoenix three years ago and I only miss the beaches.)
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jayceepoo wrote:
The freeways/commutes here SUCK.
Don't they everywhere? In the UK we have the M1/M25, M1/M6 in the rush hour. Great fun!
Kevin
The two previous summers the highway I take to work was partially narrowed from 4 lanes to two. My average delay was 1-2 minutes on a total commute. Most of that due to the stop sign at the onramp rather than any actual congestion. You just need to get away from the big cities. :cool:
-- You have to explain to them [VB coders] what you mean by "typed". their first response is likely to be something like, "Of course my code is typed. Do you think i magically project it onto the screen with the power of my mind?" --- John Simmons / outlaw programmer
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Dick.
Mark Salsbery Microsoft MVP - Visual C++ :java: