Dear Tom and Ray:

My sister lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and wants to buy a new car. Cars (like most everything else) are expensive in Alaska. She wants to fly to California to visit me, enjoy the warm weather and the hot tub, do some sisterly bonding, and then buy a new car and drive it to Alaska (via a ferry from Seattle). Will a California car, with all of its smog devices, survive in Alaska? -- Laura

TOM: Sure it will, Laura. It'll run fine. And if it's a new, or relatively new, car, you shouldn't have any trouble getting it worked on.

RAY: The dealer in Alaska will be able to get information on any California-specific emissions equipment with no problem.

TOM: Now, the hot tub with California emissions equipment she'll be dragging back ... that's another matter.