It seems like it is a bit of a pain in the **** to get anything slightly modified to pass CA smog? Is this true? If so, anyone have any tricks they are willing to share? I have hear all the 'Run it HARD on the freeway for a half hour before' and heard someone say put some kind of alcohol [denatured?] in the tank to help...

I am REALLY looking at getting an RX-7 as my first car, but the thing is, it needs to be a DD for a little bit if it is my first, thus needs to be smoggable...any help appreciated, and TYIA!

 

The current owner of the car will have to smog it before you buy it. You'll find out pretty quickly if it passes smog the way it is.

I haven't had much trouble passing smog over the last 8 years. As long as the air pump, ACV solenoids and cat(s) are in good shape, it should be fine.