Notices
General Automotive Discuss all things automotive here other than the RX-8

What's special about California cars?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 11-12-2004, 09:18 PM
  #1  
Require IQ test to vote!
Thread Starter
 
jwitzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
What's special about California cars?

OK, the California Air Resource Board (CARB) requires cleaner emissions than the other states. Does that mean that California cars have less power?

I ask because a nationwide search for the car I want only found California cars.

Should I care if the car I drive in Florida was intended to meet California smog rules?
Old 11-13-2004, 01:33 AM
  #2  
Registered User
 
Lyer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
-Yes, in some car makes and models there is a small power decrease, compared to other states. As for your other question, it should fine seeing as how california has the most stringent smog laws. Two cats are required in cars here I believe.
Old 11-13-2004, 01:01 PM
  #3  
Registered User
 
Zoom49's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 233
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
All 2004 RX-8's came with 50 state emission tune. Same exact specifications and performance for all RX-8 sold in all states. Dont know about 2005 models though.
Old 11-13-2004, 02:09 PM
  #4  
Stuck in a love triangle
 
JeRKy 8 Owner's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Posts: 2,201
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Problem isthat Mazda NA is based inCalifornia so thats why theyare more concerned about emissions thanmost manufacturers.
Old 11-13-2004, 02:59 PM
  #5  
Boost needed
 
IZoomZoomI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: San Jose, CA
Posts: 2,557
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
i don't think they would detune cars to control emissions, they impose more rules and regular smog checks. I think there is also a smog test lotto here too.
Old 11-13-2004, 04:42 PM
  #6  
Require IQ test to vote!
Thread Starter
 
jwitzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Zoom49,

Thanks for the feedback.

If what you say is true, then why is there a CE3 option for California emissions (for CA, MA, ME, NY, and VT)?
Old 11-13-2004, 04:50 PM
  #7  
Registered
 
Icemastr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by JeRKy 8 Owner
Problem isthat Mazda NA is based inCalifornia so thats why theyare more concerned about emissions thanmost manufacturers.
All manufacturers are very concerned about emissions. I think the RX-8 met stringent ULEV (ultra low emissions vehicle)standards. Also quite a few manufacturers have major offices in California including, Jaguar, Ford, Land Rover, Nissan, Toyota.
Old 11-13-2004, 05:33 PM
  #8  
Require IQ test to vote!
Thread Starter
 
jwitzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A rotary meeting ULEV???

The RX-7 wasn't sold in the US after 1995 because it was too dirty. The Renesis was a forthright effort to clean up the rotary (via more controlled exhaust/intake overlap, etc) to enable its reentry in the US market.

Is it THAT clean???
Old 11-13-2004, 05:42 PM
  #9  
Registered
 
Icemastr's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Redmond, WA
Posts: 605
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It meets US LEV-II standards which is very clean. It reduced emissions somthing like over 95% over the 13B-REW.

The problem with the 3rd gen RX-7s was more poor yen to U.S. dollar conversion rates making for a greatly inflated price, $38,000 was the MSRP back in 1993, considering that the RX-8 is much less than that do the math. There were a few other reasons including emissions but I think the poor sales was the major reason.
Old 11-14-2004, 09:50 AM
  #10  
Require IQ test to vote!
Thread Starter
 
jwitzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
I paid $29,900 for my 1993 CYM R1. The prices were approximately $32,000 base, $33,000 R1, and $34,000 Touring. Very few options were available outside the packages. The performance competition (C4 Vette, 300ZTT, 3000GT VR4 - the Supra TT wasn't out until the next year) was selling in the $40,000 to $45,000 range.

Mazda's plan, apparently, was to bring the FD in at a reduced price to drive up interest and prove the performance, then price it correctly in the second year. By 1994, the price for a Touring hit $42,000 while the price of the competition stayed relatively steady (so much for the exchange rate theory).

The reaction? "Why would I pay $42,000 for a car that is only worth $34,000?" The marketing backfired. The value was set in the mind of the consumers and adjusting the discounted price to the appropriate value was perceived as an adjustment from the appropriate value to a "whatever we can get" price.

Or so my contacts with Mazda NA insiders said.

What I know is that in late 1994, a Touring could be had for $30,000 and they were still selling 1994's until April or May of 1995. Obviously, the 1995's had to come over slowly.

Mazda JP had allowed Mazda NA to market here. After that, Mazda JP allowed Mazda NA to be even more Ford controlled. I thought the rotary was doomed here after that. Glad I was wrong.
Old 11-14-2004, 09:52 AM
  #11  
Require IQ test to vote!
Thread Starter
 
jwitzer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Glad the emissions of the Renisis are so greatly improved.

I had no idea.
Old 11-14-2004, 07:21 PM
  #12  
Cap'n Limekitten says arr
 
draco067's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 491
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Originally Posted by Zoom49
All 2004 RX-8's came with 50 state emission tune. Same exact specifications and performance for all RX-8 sold in all states. Dont know about 2005 models though.
My sticker/invoice/something said "This car is NOT 50 state emissions legal." My dealer said both NY and CA had additional equipment that reduced power a few more hp and brought it to those states' emissions requirements.
Old 11-14-2004, 08:53 PM
  #13  
Insanely Yellow
 
StewC625's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Buffalo Grove IL
Posts: 2,093
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Easy answer - all the people above are focusing on entirely the wrong issue:

California cars are special because they contain California Girls.

Stew
Old 11-14-2004, 09:08 PM
  #14  
Registered User
 
Rob Tomlin's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Riverside, CA
Posts: 1,160
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
All I know is that my California car had a sticker on it saying it had a 238 horsepower Renesis motor.
Old 11-14-2004, 10:21 PM
  #15  
Registered User
 
vegas RX8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Stew said it best!! I must agree.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
ASH8
Series I Tech Garage
20
09-26-2022 11:55 PM
ASH8
Series II Technical and Trouble shooting
7
10-30-2021 12:50 PM
philip53
RX-8 Parts For Sale/Wanted
1
07-30-2015 04:18 AM
FERRET
West RX-8 Forum
0
07-27-2015 11:03 PM
FERRET
West RX-8 Forum
0
07-22-2015 02:25 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: What's special about California cars?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:57 PM.