Ferrari Mailing List: Re: The Lifespan of a Modern Car with Electronics...was Re: Best car I've driven (A.K.A. Old man rambling on Tuesday)

[Jim Conforti (lndshrk]

At 03:53 PM 12/3/2008 -0500, E M wrote:
> Is this due to it not being more than 20 years old and exempt?

  Ed, Federal law gives no such exemption - if a car came with X emissions
  equipment - it must have that equipment, unless it has one of a few very
  narrow exemptions - which an '89 M3 won't qualify for in 2008/9.

  This is why I not only "counsel" people to NEVER remove the stock ecu in
  favor of some half-assed standalone, but I also put my money where my mouth
  is and am about to release "Shark Edit" which will allow the "average guy"
  to make modifications to their ecu.  For very very short money.

>  Could it be registered as a "hot rod", and get some exemption?  How do 
> all those new hot rods get away with it, running hug engines, and often, 
> not build on an old frame or anything that would have a 20 year old or 
> older VIN number?

  I'm not sure where this "20 year old" stuff comes from.

  20 year old cars (that's 1988 model year) are still subject to all
  state and federal emissions regulations.

  (In my state, for example, only cars 1967 or older are exempt)

  For those who doubt the EPA's "ass-reaming capabilities" please read:

  http://www.epa.gov/compliance/resources/decrees/civil/caa/casper-cd.pdf

  That's just one example of a company that performed "emissions tampering"

  Which is loosely defined as disabling any emissions control device.

  Federal Felony - see: FPMITAP  (Google, if you don't recognize it) ;)

  Generally you don't get prison - they just bankrupt you with fines
  and fees and fines and restitution and fines.

  Did I mention fines?

  FedGovCo has to make up for the tax shortfall somehow.

  Jim