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Yep, I used to have the same hassles with my '97 Saab - but not nearly so much as when I had my '89 Civic.  There was generally the fear that everytime I would take the Civic in for inspection, that it wouldn't pass the emissions test.  And a few times, it didn't; but I just couldn't see plunking down so much for a new engine for a car so old.  Luckily, my brother had a friend who's a mechanic, and he made it so that he could basically pass me every time.

Mind you, I've only used that advantage twice for the Civic.  The Saab was generally okay with passing emissions, being a newer car after all, save for a time when I really needed to have my brake pads replaced to pass. 

I don't foresee any problems with my new '06 Mazda 3, which is due for its first inspection in November.  Although as far as replacement parts go, I have a feeling I'll have to be going to the dealer, being that Mazda parts are generally quite hard to come by on the after market.

Since we're talkin' about cars in this thread...

I just bought a Camry.

Yeah.

Just remember it's better than Japan.... about $400 car tax every year and $1000-ish car tax every two.  I will never complain about the cost of owning a car when I go back to the states ever again.  >_<

Ohh yeah. This past October we got an inspection and the guy had a laundry list of tags and complaints and denied us the sticker pending a 'closer look'.
Then one day shortly thereafter, we go to another mechanic to get a part fixed, and he throws in a free inspection, wherein he finds NOTHING wrong.

Rigged, I tell you.

Toyota fan, eh? New camry, or old? The new V6 ones are hot, but they're still front-wheel, which turns me right off.

Yeah! Camry!

I bought a 1999 Camry LE back in January, and I love it to bits.
I filled the gas tank up the other day... I'd gone 485 miles on it. :D  I traded in my old 1985 Celica toward it.

Toyota, Toyota, lalala, hooray! (I really wanted a Prius, but there's no way I could afford it, and live in the house I live in, and buy another video game for the next 5 years. :( )

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