[DiabloJohn]

I live in California but I want to buy a new SSC Aero 8/T ($249,000, 908 BHP). This car is made in Washington State. The problem is that it is 49-state legal only. It is "not a California car", which means it can not be registered here. I am not sure what this means exactly, nor does the manufacturer. I found the information regarding smog certification for California, which I believe is administered by the Air Resouces Board...there are some exemptions that allow you to get around the smog certification (if you bought the car while you were out of state because you're car was stolen while you were out of state, or if you inherited the car...plus a few other useless exemptions). The other issue seams to be airbags: I heard that California cars have to have airbags (the SSC has none). I don't know if there are more issues, but anyway does anyone know any other ways get around the problem of registering an out of state car in California? What if I had an address in Nevada and had a Nevada driver's license (in addition to my California address and license)...is it legal to drive the car here, and if I am pulled over can I just pull out the Nevada license and say I'm here on vacation for a few days?

Any ideas? I really want this car.

Thank you.

 

[DaLamboMan]

I live in California but I want to buy a new SSC Aero 8/T ($249,000, 908 BHP). This car is made in Washington State. The problem is that it is 49-state legal only. It is "not a California car", which means it can not be registered here. I am not sure what this means exactly, nor does the manufacturer. I found the information regarding smog certification for California, which I believe is administered by the Air Resouces Board...there are some exemptions that allow you to get around the smog certification (if you bought the car while you were out of state because you're car was stolen while you were out of state, or if you inherited the car...plus a few other useless exemptions). The other issue seams to be airbags: I heard that California cars have to have airbags (the SSC has none). I don't know if there are more issues, but anyway does anyone know any other ways get around the problem of registering an out of state car in California? What if I had an address in Nevada and had a Nevada driver's license (in addition to my California address and license)...is it legal to drive the car here, and if I am pulled over can I just pull out the Nevada license and say I'm here on vacation for a few days?

Any ideas? I really want this car.

Thank you.

I dont see a problem if you can proof residence In Nevada. But I would reccomend to put some airbags in a 908 hp car , they might come in handy one day.

 

[wiz357]

I live in California but I want to buy a new SSC Aero 8/T ($249,000, 908 BHP). This car is made in Washington State. The problem is that it is 49-state legal only. It is "not a California car", which means it can not be registered here. I am not sure what this means exactly, nor does the manufacturer. I found the information regarding smog certification for California, which I believe is administered by the Air Resouces Board...there are some exemptions that allow you to get around the smog certification (if you bought the car while you were out of state because you're car was stolen while you were out of state, or if you inherited the car...plus a few other useless exemptions). The other issue seams to be airbags: I heard that California cars have to have airbags (the SSC has none). I don't know if there are more issues, but anyway does anyone know any other ways get around the problem of registering an out of state car in California? What if I had an address in Nevada and had a Nevada driver's license (in addition to my California address and license)...is it legal to drive the car here, and if I am pulled over can I just pull out the Nevada license and say I'm here on vacation for a few days?

Any ideas? I really want this car.

Thank you.

Forget about registering the car in CA. Because it a 49-state car, you would have to go through a lot of red tape to get it registered here. Even if you are willing to put in the time, money and effort, you still might not be able to register it here. You're best bet is your Nevada residency. I see a lot of out of state Oregon plates on different kinds of exotics where I live.

 

[RossoLambo]

Yes, I would wager that it would be quite a feat getting this one registered in CA, knowing what I know now just from getting my Jalpa registered. But Wow. That car definitely was designed with Italian inspiration. It has a lot of Lambo lines, and also has a similar footprint. Nice butterfly doors. But that engine! A modded Corvette V-8.. wow.. 249 mph? Can that be true?

 

[DiabloJohn]

I'm told they haven't done the proper aerodynamic testing to prove the 249 top speed, however they are working on this and they are serious about it. It sounded like within the next year they will have at least made a strong effort to achieve it. From everything I've learned about the car it appears to be well-planned with an emphasis on driveability and "easy" maintenance.

Interesting note: the car does not come with a key (push button start) and to open the door you use a remote (there are no door handles). The door swing open and close completely by remote!

A few people (very few) have told me that the car ride very smooth. There is only one made now (at a cost reported to be $2 million?!)...the car is in the Scottdale Motorsports showroom (but will be moved soon). The first car will be ready early 2005 (they are building 8 per year...25 total). I better stop; I'm sounding like a commercial.

Anyway, I want one of these and I would have put in a deposit already if it weren't for the registration problem. If anyone (California residents) has done the "register it in another state while living in California" trick please post the full "how-to" instructions if at all possible. It would be very much appreciated!

Thank you.

 

[DaLamboMan]

Are you sure there wont be any airbags in it? I mean, at any moderate to high speeds you would be toast in most crashes without an airbag.

 

[RossoLambo]

I'd wait til the verdict is in on that top speed claim. We already have been waiting for proper stats on Bugatti's Veyron for ages.. they cannot seem to stabilize the car at high speeds. But they keep showing and talking about what it can do.

The remote with auto doors sounds awesome, but I recall the Mercedes Gull Wing .. if the battery went down you would get locked in the car. Hopefully they thought through these scenarios!

Also, I don't think this is the Shelby we all know.. it is some other Shelby fellow.. I would wait a bit to commit a deposit.. you don't want to have situation like they had with Vector. The company ran out of capital and could not deliver.

 

[DiabloJohn]

This Shelby is unrelated to Carrol Shelby...just a coincidental name. The way I understand it, the remote door woro by air pressure (but I don't know if you could still get locked it..that would be a strange AAA call!) I think it's a little risky putting a deposit in this early too...if I'm not careful my better judgement can be trumped by the possibility of 908 HP! But thanks for the warning.

It will be interesting to see if they get the speed records (240.1, McLaren). Manufacture stats mean little if they haven't been substantiated, plus who really know the HP of cars these days. I heard that Car & Driver's test of the SL600 was tainted because Benz sent them a car with 80 HP too much (0-60 3.6). So who really knows until you drive one of these supercars (or ask a reliable source like Lambotalk!).

Today I was poking around the CHP website and right on the homepage is a form to fill out if you want to FINK ON SOMEONE WHO HAS AN OUT OF STATE CAR! That would be rude...you'd think they'd have more pressing matters than a little more smog. CA has the most strict smog regulations and of course still has the worst smog.

 

[stekki18t]

Hi to all, can someone post a pic and specs of this car? Thnx!!

S.

 

[thrash]

Here is a link

I must admit its a pretty car. It looks like a testarossa with a koenig kit.
SSC Aero

Don't put a down payment just yet. They still need to get full DOT approval. Maybe 2 years at best.

In the meantime buy one of these, they might only take a year to get:
Saleen S7
Ultima GTR
Konisegg CCR
I would suspect, using my couch enginering skills that those three streetlegal cars will would smack arround the SSC by a good margin on a race track. The Ultima GTR being the quickest street car ever made.