Letter from CARB to "borrow" my car

[NGC224]

Got a letter from CARB over the weekend asking if I'd be interested in being part of their vehicle testing project. They wanted to borrow my car for up to 2 months, and as incentive, they will pay $2000 for the time borrowed (if it "qualifies"... whatever that means), a fully-insured comparable rental for the duration, my car fully insured during duration borrowed (flashes back to U.S. gov't getting off the hook for crashed F50 while in gov't possession); my car washed and filled up when returned.

Initially this seemed very attractive (similar to that pawn shop owner inciting you by waving cold-hard cash for 1/4 the amount you actually wanted), but all these incentives started looking highly suspicious.

(Side note, this is also the same group of people who has been practically lying to the citizens of Porter Ranch about the dangerous levels of that gas leak. Yet suddenly all over the news there's a warning of "no barbecuing" because of "pollution" ...uh-huh)

Just wondering if anyone else has received this letter, gone through with this process, or has info/comments...

Also, mine's a TDI, so.... coincidence???

[B G 8er]

Shiesh. I wouldn't do it. You know they're not going to take care of it like you would.

[ToddBrunswick]

Shiesh. I wouldn't do it. You know they're not going to take care of it like you would.

I second that. Not sure the risk/reward is enough.

[skiracerblah]

If they drive your car around town with all their testing equipment hooked up to it and your license plate is still visibile, your car will make front page news...

[MikeyB3]

Tell them to cordially fuck off.

[Saracen]

Screw that.

If I got that letter, I'd tell CARB I'd sell it to them for MSRP. Otherwise, yeah, fuck off.

[unknowna4]

lol you people are jokes, grow up

Sounds interesting, I'd ask them how many miles they'd put on the car ect. and go from there

[unknowna4]

I would also be interested to hear people's experience from this, hopefully some people can contribute with useful info

[Wagonholic]

The rental sounds interesting...after all, we know rental cars are the world's fastest cars

[MikeyB3]

lol you people are jokes, grow up

Sounds interesting, I'd ask them how many miles they'd put on the car ect. and go from there

They're tied to the government in CA, they cant afford to just buy/lease/rent ONE car for testing? pssssh.

[NGC224]

lol you people are jokes, grow up

Sounds interesting, I'd ask them how many miles they'd put on the car ect. and go from there

They're saying approx 100 miles of testing, plus round trip from pick-up/drop-off point (home or office) to El Monte, CA testing facility.

[NGC224]

For some fun, here are the letters received in the mail.

Interesting how they've addressed it "Dear Audi Owner". I wonder if other brand owners get such /special/ treatment.

[tar]

What year? My parents have a q5 2.0t and didn't get said letter.

Tell them to eat a dick or give you lifetime exempt smog and 2k plus tt rs rental car.

[NGC224]

What year? My parents have a q5 2.0t and didn't get said letter.

Tell them to eat a dick or give you lifetime exempt smog and 2k plus tt rs rental car.

14 tdi

carb's response: eating a dick will be cheaper. wait, what's a tt rs? do we need to test it?