In a message dated 12/21/01 10:43:29 AM, dmc@CYBURBAN.COM writes:

<< Here in Arizona, they have an emissions check. Problem solved! . . .

 . . . Older cars are just a scapegoat. How many people drive old cars
anyway? I hardly ever see
one
here in Phoenix. My car is not even 6 yrears old and its one of the oldest on
the road.

>>

dmc,

If I read the alert which started this discussion correctly, the stated
intention of the bill is to increase total fleet efficiency, i.e., to get the
gas guzzlers off the road.

I cannot be the only reactionary on the highway.  My newest car is a 1990 240
Volvo.  I bought it new and it is tucked away from each November until May.
It has less than 35 Kmi. on it.  The only model of car I have bought since
1977 has been the Volvo 240 because it is all the car I need.  Obviously, I
have bought other cars since 1990, but all were 240's and all were allowed to
be ravaged by the road.  I have a 1990 Syncro also tucked away for when my
'86 finally decides it has had enough.  Modern cars and bikes are marvels of
modern mass production; reliable, comfortable and efficient, but they just
don't push my buttons.

I recently bought a "new" BMW R100RS.  It is exactly like, right down to the
color and mileage, the RS I sold in 1991.  Considering what I lost in various
deals during the intervening years only to end up right where I started, I
could have bought any of the latest and the greatest and saved money. My
biggest problem is that I am running out of room to store all my passe
vehicles.  I have a perfect 1989 R100GS with 3800 miles on it that I might
have to part with.

Remember Jay Leno's often quoted line, "I never trusted a bike I couldn't see
through."

Rich