ontario, canada sucks!

[bigyagi]

well, after a couple years, enjoying emission-free motoring, as after a car is 20 years old, in ontario, it is no longer required to get a test. until, after saying they were going to scrap the whole thing, the ontario government has decided that all cars over 20 years old will have to get a test done, on a yearly basis , as opposed to every two years. if your car fails, however, you have to pay at least $600 in repairs, and then you get a "complimentary" pass. what a rip-off. its nothing more than an other tax grab. what makes me really mad about the whole thing is that every year, they raise the pass limits, so that eventually, your car will fail ultimately!
my car passed its last one with flying colors, so i have no worries for now, but know that at some point in the future, i will have to bend over yet again!
as eldorado will attest, apparently clean drinking water, and extensive pollution from over 1500 trucks crossing between detroit, and windsor, driving close to downtown every day, is very low in priority. this is truly a 3rd world country i live in.

[Eldorado]

do you have a source on this??? if so, it's rediculous...

[Eldorado]

we're still safe, Biggie....

direct quote from the Drive Clean website -

"Drive Clean is Ontario's testing and repair program, designed to cut smog-causing emissions from cars, trucks and buses. Currently, the program requires light-duty vehicles that are at least three years old to be tested every two years to renew their licence plates. Light-duty vehicles that are 20 years old or more are exempt from testing. A recent science-based review recommended that the program be improved by exempting newer vehicles and focusing more strongly on older vehicles that are most likely to pollute."

Link to Article: Link to Ontario Drive Clean Revisions as of November, 2005

Edit: GAHH I didn't read the whole article...

"As well, 20-year-old light-duty vehicles, which have a high risk of being serious polluters, will now require testing, with 1988 and newer model year vehicles staying in the program.

Further changes to the Drive Clean program are also proposed:

* Requiring annual testing for vehicles 12 years old and older
* Increasing the amount vehicles owners must spend on repairs should their vehicle fail its Drive Clean test from $450 to $600
* No longer requiring a Drive Clean test for an ownership transfer between family members, or when a vehicle lease is bought out by the lessee
* Using the vehicle’s own on-board computers for testing 1998 and newer vehicles"


this cant stand... how many people are going to be outraged???? it's insane!

[Eldorado]

http://www.ene.gov.on.ca/envregistry/026516ep.htm

I think i'm starting to understand...

BUT they're not implementing the "20 year old car" rule until Jan 1, 2009....

[ae1969]

Move to Alberta...........

I run my cars as rich as possible...........

[OnTheRun2]

California has changed the rules this year also.
Before if your car was 30 years old or older, you got to skip smog all together. Now if your car was made after 1975, you are subject to the same bi-yearly smog check rules.
Although you are lucky if the repairs exced 600.00 you get a pass. Not here, if you repairs exced 500.00 you can get help from the state. If you qualify that is, but you still need to pass the test.
There is a buy back program. Where the state will pay you 1000.00 to buy your car from you if it fails smog and will cost more than 500.00 to fix. Again you must quaify.
Just feel good that you don't live here, our smog checks are much harder to pass than anywhere in the world.
Good luck

[Panzer909]

I genuinely wonder why you don't refer to each other as "comrades" at this point. V.I. Lenin would be proud of the socialist following. Your car is YOUR business - am I mistaken here? Call me a nutball.

[Eldorado]

Comrade Alex... Comrade Biggie - we must unite!!!!!

[BananaClip]

Originally posted by Eldorado

* Increasing the amount vehicles owners must spend on repairs should their vehicle fail its Drive Clean test from $450 to $600

there are so many things wrong with that i don't even want to think about it!

[coldstart]

From the Drive Clean website:

Focusing on vehicles most likely to pollute:
• Two additional newer model years for light duty and heavy duty vehicles exempted (effective January 1, 2006);
• 20 year old rolling exemption of light duty vehicles eliminated. Testing of model years 1988 and newer (effective January 1, 2006; will be implemented January 1, 2009);
• Annual testing for vehicles 12 years old and older (i.e., starting in 2007, 1995 and older vehicles (back to 1988) would require annual testing).


Just to see if I have this correct, they are ending the 20 year old rolling exemption for vehicles 1988 and newer NOT 1987 and older?

This sucks as I was really looking forward to my emission-exempt 1997 993 in 2017.....

[bigyagi]

eldorado, this is going to happen. its the fact that every year, they raise the pass stakes, so at some point, its impossible for your car to pass.
and yes, this legislation is already open to mis-use.
fwiw. when i was running the olds, i took it to can. tire for the emission test {i know, i did not know any better} it failed on no. emissions, but only just. i spent the {then} $225 for repairs/tuning, and they issued my complimentary pass. i looked at the test results from the second test that they do after the repairs, and the no. was off the scale, and it failed on another 3 items!!!!!. what a lot of horse-$hit. this has nothing to do with emissions, and all to do with taking your hard earned shekels. sorry for posting here, i know it should have been on the ot posting, but i wanted eldorado, and all the other guys in this province to see it.
bob.

[BananaClip]

how are the canadian emissions inspectors as far as bribing goes? that sounds like the only reasonable way out of this.

[Eldorado]

not too bad.... the emissions "inspectors" are (basically) any local shop that wants to etest... if you know your mechanic, it's pretty easy for you to get favours from him.. My mechanic does E-testing and appraisals and such...

There's also a new law in Ontario that states when you purchase a used car that is 20+ years old, you no longer are taxed by the government on the "blue book" value of the car. You must get it appraised and you're taxed on that value - regardless of what the receipt of sale says.

My mechanic appraised my car for 3k for tax.. and then said if i took it to him to get the brake pads replaced and a few other minor repairs (a tie rod end, etc..) then he'd re appraise it for 10-12k....

If you've got a nice guy as a mech, then you're set... i dont personally see any problems with my etests coming up (if i'm faced with them)... but it wont be until 2009 that this law is fully implemented.. so i've got a ways to go.. who knows - might not even own this 944 then..

[Slem]

at least you still have some great hockey to enjoy!!!