MegatronUK

I agree. I think you could probably talk your way into a less stringent test for an import model, as you rightly say, there is no exact model match in the UK... the engine and fuelling system have several differences for a start! In the end I guess it comes down to what kind of mood the tester is in! Lets hope he's in a good mood ready for the weekend to arrive -John

I have first hand experience of this... my father runs a garage and we need to be well read up on the SVA and emissions regulations when building the Lotus replica. I've got an SVA manual with the cut-off dates for the various emissions tests somewhere. *Off the top of my head*, there are dates something like this: Pre 78 : Visual test only Post 83 : Emissions (quite a lenient test) Post 88 : More stringent emissions test Post 92 : Emissions + catalytic convertor Post 95 : Cat + more restrictive test I've no idea what the hydrocarbon and co levels for these tests are... but I could probably find out when I get back in tonight. Of course, this is all assuming we are talking about UK cars.... Jap imports are a grey (excuse the pun) area. -John

It's definitely 1992. UK government required all manufacturers to fit catalytic convertors as standard after that date. I think it's August as the cut-off date (ie late J-reg may get away with it.) It is most definitely NOT 1995 for UK cars. That date is merely another cut-off point for a more stringent emissions test, it does not allow a car to run without a catalytic convertor... even if it *could* pass the test. -John

Yeah, they're all made by the same handful of companies and just have different brand names stamped on them anyway! -John

WD40, Carb cleaner, spray grease, copperslip, washers, hoseclips, screenwash fluid top-up etc. Stuff like that. At least thats what my dad includes in that on customer bills. That auxilliary belt for £59 sounds expensive though....

Can't comment on the imports, but any UK car manufactured after 1992 will have a catalytic convertor fitted... it was required by law. Therefore they must be tested as such.... just remember you can be fined for not having the cat on; and this can be up to £1000. Models on the changeover year may get away with it, as well as cars manufactured before that date which had them fitted (they are not required by law to have it fitted for the test, and will be tested for pre 92 non-cat emissions only). -John

Exactly. I'd think that Toyota spend more than a few bob on getting the design of the airbox exactly right, more than any aftermarket company could dream of. How many aftermarket kits retain things like a cold start mechanisom from the exhaust? Or crank case ventilation? At the end of the day, its all down to the noise it makes really, come on, own up ;-) PS. I've got a cone type filter on the Rover... but hell, it came rolling around in the boot and I'm under no illusions that it boosts power by Nova SR proportions! It just sounds good

K&N 'lesser' ??