Newer cars, by and large have virtually nil emissions. A single poorly maintained older car can put out more emissions than a city full of reasonably maintained vehicles.
The situation is hardly as bleak (in regards to auto pollution) as most environmentalists portray. A single volcanic eruption, such as the 1981 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, can put the same, or more, particulate and CO2, and other pollutants into the air as humans have total since the beginning of the industrial revolution in the 1800's.
I actually don't have an issue with emissions testing per se, but I don't like the limits that are set. If appropriate and meaningful limits were set for emissions (as opposed to the arbitrary and excessivily ridiculous limits in places such as CA) then most of our well tuned modified vehicles would have little issue passing, while the true offenders to the envrionment could be weeded out.
Current regulations are much akin to having a lake, and treating a kid that pees in the lake the same as the guy dumping used motor oil into it.
