Lots of great responses! If they were hi=test we'd all be flying. BTW, NY has some fairly strict emissions laws, too. Maybe not as much as CA, but then, NY doesn't have an LA (only a NYC, where it's almost impossible to go up to 40 mph without hitting something). Where I live, north of NYC, there are some fine parkways, where some mph is possible, and "upstate", i.e., around Watkins Glen, or in CT around Lime Rock Park, there are some neat spots for doin' your thang, even with OE cats.

Motor on!

 

Another aspect of this discussion which hasn't been considered yet is a less deadly (but still annoying) form of pollution: noise. A catless car is just plain louder than a catted car, regardless of axel or catback muffler, and those who do run catless also typically choose a high-flow muffler element and delete the silencer, which makes for a louder car. I live near a road which is 50mph in the city (gotta love AZ) and every Friday night I get to listen to a chorus of $45 Pep Boys "mufflers" mated to home-welded pipes in a variety of Civics, Altimas, Mustangs and other such ricer favorites.

Ironically, going catless in these N/A, small-displacement engines is worthless in terms of performance; they just want the noise and smoke, because they think it looks cool. However, the sound issue is a very serious one -- it degrades property values, distracts motorists and is generally annoying.

Incidentally, in Arizona it is possible to pay a fee (around $400) which will exempt you from emissions testing entirely for two years; you never even have to show up at the emissions station, you just pay the penalty while registering your car. Seems like the emissions dept in my state is more interested in making money than in actually protecting the environment.

 

Heh! Google search "electric dragster."

Here's a sample:

http://www.wurts.net/ElectrifiedMotorSports/

Not a practical car, by any means, but people forget that electric motors can produce a nearly infinite amount of torque; as much power as the driveshaft can take without shattering, and NO TRANSMISSION to cause power loss due to friction and heat.

Now all we need is a power source lighter than a lead-acid battery...

 

the environment is indeed important, but my .02 is if you are gonna crack down on ppl who go catless then include everybody and plus dont make cars older then what is the cut off point?? older then 1975 exempt...all the muscle cars driving around are polluting just as imports who run catless if not more...so if ppl are gonna argue about imports going catless then extend the rule to everything that grossly pollutes = suvs/trucks, big rigs and cars that are exempt from smog because they pollute also...just my opinion thats all