Why California Sucks, Part 1437
Estimated cost of a new catalytic converter and accompanying sensors for my 1998 Accord, including labor and tax, minus AAA discount: $902 and change.
Revised estimate after determining it needs a “California” catalytic converter, though the car was bought in Maryland and has never been west of Kansas: $1446 and change.
Actual cost of same: $1436.57. I appreciate the $10 saving, but it didn’t really help much.
It seems to me that the filthy inhabitants of the filthy state of California owe me $534 (I won’t worry about the pennies).
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We Californians are trying to get the “filth” out of our air. Just who determined that you needed a “California” catalytic converter? And what is a “California” catalytic converter, anyway? Do our laws apply to you in Maryland or Kansas? Really, if you don’t get one that $534.00 will go for medical bills for your lung cancer or other pulmonary problems anyway, so…
And please, stay on your side of the Rockies. Thank you.
Comment by M. Bouffant — Sunday: September 23, 2007 @ 7:00 PM GMT-0500
The AAA Auto Center told me my car needed a California catalytic converter to replace the old one, since it was also a California model, though the car was bought in Maryland. Of course, I could have saved not $534 but $1436 by not replacing the catalytic converter at all, but that would only work until it failed the next inspection, at which point it would be illegal to drive the car at all. As for “lung cancer or other pulmonary problems”, I’m pretty sure the air in North Carolina is a lot cleaner than in California — at least the parts of California where most of the people live — so you can take your smug hostility and stuff it.
Comment by Dr. Weevil — Monday: September 24, 2007 @ 12:31 AM GMT-0500
What really hurts is having to replace the cats on a car with dual exhausts.
Comment by Jonathan — Friday: October 5, 2007 @ 12:35 AM GMT-0500
I would have to agree that California sucks. As a matter of fact, it can suck the non California converter equipped tailpipe on my 13 mpg getting Tahoe for the next two and half months that I am forced to be here. I have yet to find any of the majestic beauty or laid back lifestyle that people say exist here. Sure, there are beaches and mountains. By the time I’ve arrived at these highly recommended destinations, I’ve been too pissed off to enjoy them. The traffic is terrible. The people are rude (the ones the speak english anyway). Everything is overpriced. I encourage anybody that enjoys these thing to come to California and stay. That way, I know that you will be way the hell away from me when I get back to South Carolina. Our beaches and mountains are much nicer by the way.
Comment by somethingclever — Tuesday: December 11, 2007 @ 6:33 PM GMT-0500
That’s ridiculous. Emissions inspections should be outlawed. I’m so glad I live in a state that does not require them.
Restoring cars is one of my hobbies. I can safely inform you that there is nothing special or different about a “california cat” than a regular cat. You’re just getting screwed by the dealer.
Here’s a better idea. Go online, buy a replacement universal high flow catalytic converter for $70. Take it and the converter to a local muffler shop and have them weld it in place of the old one for $30.
AAA is ripping you off based on your ignorance of a cars exhaust system. It’s not as technical and complicated as they would like you to believe.
Not only will you pass the emissions test, you’ll save $1346. You can spend it on whatever you like!
Comment by Adam — Friday: March 7, 2008 @ 12:53 AM GMT-0500
Spend that cash on a Penske to move the hell outta California. It’s a waste. Give it another 5 years, and not only will your lawnmower cost $20 to fill up, it’ll fail emissions tests.
I love being in Wisconsin. While California’s peaking at $4/gallon, we’re hovering at $3.29, and thousands upon thousands of trucks with dual straightpipes.
“”We Californians are trying to get the “filth” out of our air. “” Well gee, who put that filth there?
Comment by Ahanix — Friday: March 21, 2008 @ 12:41 PM GMT-0500
i drive an 18 wheeler flatbed. i hate my job, but it is a job, and i make money. anyways here’s the fucking problem: you can’t idle your truck in california anymore as of the first of this year. they say it’s to reduce the emissions that come out of the stacks…but if i get hot during the summer when i have to sleep in my truck, i have to just burn up? and in the winter, i’m supposed to freeze? okay, i walked into that one. so, what do i do? okay, i agree. just don’t run california. good idea.
Comment by Damon — Friday: March 28, 2008 @ 11:48 PM GMT-0500
I know this is an old post. But i had the same problem,
didnt believe the lies of the auto shops as i’m in the biz
and know better. I got a new cat convertor from the internet
for $55, a cut-and-bolt one. It took me about an hour to put it.
I’ve never seen a tech crawl under the car to check whether the cat is original or not.
Most of them wouldnt have the slightest idea about this, who
can know what OEM looks like for every vehicle??? :-)
This truck with 300,000 miles passes smog with flying colors…
and i saved over a thousand bucks.
Dont believe most auto shops in California, alot of them are run by idiots
, crooks, shysters, vandals and liars!
Comment by Biff — Monday: April 7, 2008 @ 12:42 AM GMT-0500
My beef with California isn’t the regulations. It’s the people and the culture. Pot-heads and a-holes who pretend that they live in the tropics. The OCEAN IS COLD THERE, morons. Here in South Florida it actually is tropical. Bite me! I hate Californians.
Comment by Lee — Sunday: May 11, 2008 @ 1:25 PM GMT-0500
Amen, i have lived in this state since 1969 and it has gotten worse and worse every year. I dont want to take a negative note so i’ll point out the 3 good things about California 1) the weather, 2) the weather, 3) the weather.
This state is a gold-plated Hell, there are more taxes and fees on cigarretes, booze, food, gas, magazines, you name it they tax it – i swear to God this is true, on the state income tax form you are even supposed to pay taxes on your can recycling earnings!(It’s on the long form if you dont believe me). The biennial auto smog pain in the ass gets more expensive and tougher every year. Most of the people are a bunch of assholes who will drop a dime on you for tapping an ash out your car window, and the women are beautiful but completely unf%ckable,(if you live here you know exactly what i mean). The rents are almost twice what they are in other states, the gas costs 10 to 25% more because of all the taxes, they have more cops than Nazi Germany who have the exact same attitude towards you as well. They will pull you over for the tint on your windows or for smoking with your own kids in your own car (a new law that went into effect). I cant wait to retire in 11 years and get the fuck out of here to another state, ANY other state! If you are thinking of moving here, DONT! CALIFORNIA SUCKS!
Comment by Goerring_Fat — Tuesday: May 13, 2008 @ 11:06 PM GMT-0500
I was born in California and have lived here for 26 years. It sucks. It’s a state full of holier-than-thou busy-bodies crusading from their ivory towers to rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Comment by James — Thursday: May 22, 2008 @ 10:17 AM GMT-0500
I live in Cali. The somg restrictions are way too stiff. My car didn’t pass for the 2nd time. Now I’m told it’s the cat converter, which they estimate will cost at least $700. I would prefer to do the work myself, but all the sites that sell cat converters can’t sell to Cali due to the smog laws. This is BS!!! The smog “industry” is a ripoff. I’m sick of all these holier-than thou environMENTALists making the decisions that cost that average citizen more and more each year. Get over yourselves, morons. Oh yeah. you’re gonna save us from ourselves. I think one of the leading causes of cancer is worrying about it. GET RID OF THE BS SMOG LAWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Comment by Bifrons — Tuesday: July 21, 2009 @ 8:14 AM GMT-0500
“1.We Californians are trying to get the “filth” out of our air.”
You are one of these holier-than thou environMENTALists. Please go live somewhere else. Like outer space without a suit.
Comment by Bifrons — Tuesday: July 21, 2009 @ 8:22 AM GMT-0500
Make an appt with the state referee (bureau of auto repairs) and he’ll sign off on you not needing those parts if your car was bought out of state. Every time smog time comes up, we have the papers from him and we pass because of it. They just skip that part of the smog test.
Comment by California sucks monkey chunks — Sunday: February 14, 2010 @ 5:01 PM GMT-0500
I lived in the Bay Area/California for 8 years. I took advantage of all the outdoors stuff(it is what you’re payin for) and bicycled almost everyday, I dug the clean-air but the smog stuff was just far too strict. My car failed 2 times and I had to scam just to get it to pass. Yelp.com can give you some good smog places. Another thing is in Cali. you’re so damn busy just trying to keep your head out of the water that who has time for all that running around with no parking and traffic and red light cameras? Then there is the Cali. DMV feels like cold war Russia. I just wish people were more responsible and kept up their cars, so big brother didn’t need to step in but I live in Arkansas now and just about choke everytime someone passes by, so I can see the bennifit/need. This problem should take care of itself once newer cars take over anyhow…Either way F_ck California
Comment by Jason — Friday: May 7, 2010 @ 6:38 PM GMT-0500