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The inspection here in NZ is fairly tough, but only on safety issues.
There is no emmission testing for any vehicle that I am aware of.
Greg

My 'big engined' (well 3l) dodge is at 160k miles, and probably won't
last another year. It's probably going to need a neew tranny, some
throttle and fuel work. Not even 20 years. My european cars (in
europe) are similar age, and going better than ever.

in the US
87 caravan - 164k miles, aboutt o die
88 civic - 227k miles - needs a CV joint, burnt valveguide, and a
slightly cracked radiator
in the UK
89 MG metro - 143k miles, but heavily modified to 160ish bhp
89 volvo340 - my workhorse, 142k miles, a lot of that towing, and with
heavy loads, running as new.

yes, and no. Certain areas have inspections, others don't A car that
is dangerous will still get you pulled over. That includes trailing
bodywork or bald tyres. Even in rural Georgia. Metro atlanta, of
course, just up the road, does also ahve an annual emissions check.


until it came to an impact, where it'd disintegrate, and you'd be left
with a pile of scrap to be towed away. Watched it happen to a golf
that hit my volvo in 2000. It was a writeoff. Very heavy on the
crumple, not so good on the rigid cage.

i should have separated that a little better!

What I meant was the NZ safety inspections are a LOT worse than here.

Here we have emissions testing. Vehicles older than 1984 don't get
emissions testing.

But, Massachusetts has tightened up CONSIDERABLY on safety, prob in an
effort to get the older cars off the road. No more patching rust with Duct
tape, or using lens tape on a broken taillight. You either bondo it,
fiberglas or metal it, and you get a new or used lens.

On a 1983 Tercel wagon, the only reason it was worth it was cause the
wagon was FREE, I wanted a 'project' car I didn't care if I messed up
(damn! It looked pretty good when I finished it!) and parts were readily
at hand for near nothing.

When it started rotting through again last year I said screw it.