Cali woes.

[envymyz]

So I live in California and I recently bought a TT-Z on the cheap. The problem is it needs work and cannot pass smog. The registration fee's are starting to pile up and I at least want to get the car in my name.

I moved here less than a year ago from Wisconsin where there is no emissions testing on cars older than 96'. So I was thinking about getting the car titled and registered in Wisconsin so I don't have to deal with the emissions BS, ( I still have a home address over there). Any opinions?

[AZhitman]

A couple thoughts - Do you have to have the car present in WI to get it titled and registered? In AZ, if you buy a car in another state, you've got to take it to the DMV so they can inspect the VIN before title / reg will be issued.

Sounds like someone in CA unloaded their problem car on you - not cool.

What kind of work does it need? Maybe we can just help you fix it, so that you can register it legit.

[envymyz]

In wisconsin the car is not required to be there when transferring the title over. I actually have bought cars from Arizona and California and transferred the titles without the car being present ( although I did have them there).

As far as whats wrong with it, 3 of the injectors were bad which I replaced and am in the process of putting it back together. Has some Vacuum leaks and boost leaks. I work 2 jobs though and go to school and don't have the time to really dig in. I am going back to WI for thanksgiving so I was thinking about at least getting it in my name.

I guess the real question I have is how much hassle the cops are going to give me here.

[Bubba1]

In wisconsin the car is not required to be there when transferring the title over. I actually have bought cars from Arizona and California and transferred the titles without the car being present ( although I did have them there).

As far as whats wrong with it, 3 of the injectors were bad which I replaced and am in the process of putting it back together. Has some Vacuum leaks and boost leaks. I work 2 jobs though and go to school and don't have the time to really dig in. I am going back to WI for thanksgiving so I was thinking about at least getting it in my name.

I guess the real question I have is how much hassle the cops are going to give me here.

I doubt CHP would give you any free passes from tickets for driving an old Japanese car with no valid inspection, so you can definitely expect tickets if you drive it that way. How many will depend on where /when you drive the car. But one thought that struck me is possibly registering it as a classic? I don't know CA's specific rules, but your Z might be old enough to qualify as one and maybe exempt from the sniff test. Just food for thought.

[Greenblurr93]

We have a customer at my shop who lives in CA and kept his car reg'd in AZ for the same reasons... After a while CA caught wind and threw the book at him to the tune of close to 10K in fines... I wouldn't recommend it, fixing it would be a lot cheaper

[envymyz]

@Bubba1- Yeah I already looked at the "classic" route, it has to be from 1975 or older to not have to pass smog.

@greenblurr93- DAMN, but that sounds about right for California. I guess I will have to think of something else.

[frapjap]

If you want to live in CA and stay after you've finished school, then get it fixed correctly. However, if you're a student and can prove it if pulled over (you obviously can), then register that bad boy in WI and drive around with your WI plates for the time being.