WOW ---- New cars from US up to 30% cheaper (cost to import under $200)

[whampoa]

If the Canadian buck hits 95 cents, I might sell my US Subaru in Canada for $40k (still save someone serious coin), buy the exact same car in the US again and pocket $5000. That's what that auto importer in Oakville does.

My sentiment exactly, even if you pocket only $5000 per vehicle, multiply by the number of vehicles imported that is serious money people.

Where else can you find this kind of quick return on your investment.

I think the only drawback is to find potential buyer for a used American vehicles, even if it just bought new for resale.

Maybe some RFD members might want to pool their discretionary income for a little investment into this venture. Just an idea to ponder about.

Better investment than cough 6/49 cough, you can actually make real money.

[tzcnd]

Put me down for a 2006 Toyota Sienna purchased November 2006. $10000 in my pocket where it belongs.




This thread is approaching a quarter of a million reads.

Tack on 1800+ replies.

It's great to see how many people have actually purchased cars in the US.

Maybe we should start a list.

RFDers who I know bought in the US and are part of the RFD super savers club.

Monsieurmaggot - Subaru
Tuppin - ?
yyz2hkg - Subaru
Flaming_homer - Subaru

Anyone else want to add to the list?

Then there's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan

[tzcnd]

Drove my Toyota Sienna with a temp MD permit in Ontario for a couple of weeks with no problems. Had cops drive by me (no front plate) and behind me and never had a problem.




I can confirm the MTO does not require a temp ontario trip permit. They will not even provide one till the vehicle is in Ontario they told me.

Anyways A NY State temp permit is enough to drive in Ontario. A friend of mine owns an insurance company, he imported a porsche boxster and drove it with NY temp permit for weeks in Ontario....

Cheers.

[tyrrell]

Nissans seem to be much cheaper in the US

350z in USA starts at 31.5 k CDN as per the Nissan Website
350z in Canada starts at 49k CDN as per the Nissan Website

17.5k price difference, or am I missing something?

[shopper-X]

Nissans seem to be much cheaper in the US

350z in USA starts at 31.5 k CDN as per the Nissan Website
350z in Canada starts at 49k CDN as per the Nissan Website

17.5k price difference, or am I missing something?

No warranty!

[bionicbadger]

No warranty!

$17.5K can fix a whole lot of problems not covered by warranty, and if its really bad, you could always tow/ship it back to the US for warranty work.

[michelb]

$17.5K can fix a whole lot of problems not covered by warranty, and if its really bad, you could always tow/ship it back to the US for warranty work.

I'm usually pretty vocal about buying without a warranty but if you are saving $10k+, I admit that it's pretty much a non-issue.

However as far as returning it to the US for warranty work, I believe the Nissan warranty terms are written in a way that the warranty could become void if it's registered outside the US so I wouldn't count on that.

[slothy@cutey]

For those interested, I've confirmed that Hyundai WILL honour warranty service in Canada.

I have it in an email from their head office (which I'll guard with my life should I end up with a Veracruz.

[JustinZ]

so, so far everybody's only bought Subarus?
Im looking at sport sedans - which would put me into Infinit/Lexus/Acrua

..acuras dont have warranties, are infiniti's and Lexus's ok?

[sonicDX]

Hi, Guys :
Can I drive my import across the Buffalo border on Monday ? it's US holiday .

thanks !

[flaming homer]

so, so far everybody's only bought Subarus?
Im looking at sport sedans - which would put me into Infinit/Lexus/Acrua

..acuras dont have warranties, are infiniti's and Lexus's ok?
I'm also looking into a 2008 Lexus RX350, so far my research shows that like Toyota, warranty is not an issue, it's getting a dealer to sell it to you. When I went to pick up my Subaru from Northtown, I talked to my dealer about this as Northtown actually encompasses 15-20 different brands including Lexus. He said that ALL Toyota/Lexus dealers along the Canadian border has signed into their franchise agreement NOT to sell to Canadians. Out of state is not a problem, but Canadians are.

I "promise" to execute a US Lexus RX350 purchase this year, it will have to happen in Florida, it will have to wait until the 2008 makes it to the RIV list, I will have to find a dealer in Florida that can deal with some paperwork (such as state tax avoidance), but I am fairly confident that I can work through all of these issues.

I'm pretty sure you meant "luxury" sports sedans, right ? Subarus have some pretty mean street sport cars..

Silver Lining: Purchasing a car in the US means you can pay PST/GST/Duty using your credit card - note for point collectors...

[flaming homer]

Hi, Guys :
Can I drive my import across the Buffalo border on Monday ? it's US holiday .

thanks !No, you need the export office to stamp your "title" or else Canada Custom will not let you import it, that's the letter of the law. Practically speaking, Customs did not check either mine or wampoa's subaru when we crossed, they even made us go outside to look up the compliance month/year on the door ourselves, so you may get away with it. I don't think you really want to take that chance, nor leave unfinished paperwork with US Customs...

[cheapmother]

I've pretty muched decided that I'm going to purchase a 2006 BMW M3 (CompetitionPackage option) and have a few questions:

1) Does BMW cover the warranty in Canada?
2) If it's a private sale, what do I tell the buyer? I was thinking I'd send the buyer a deposit while waiting to get the paperwork in order.

Has anyone successfully imported a BMW from the US into Canada?

Anyway, with the dollar so strong, and now the next generation BMW M3 announced, the existing M3's are looking very attractive..

Best Regards,
Cheap Mother

ps> I apologize if some of these have been answered. I've read this thread and haven't seen anyone actually talk about the successful importation of a BMW.

[yyz2hkg]

I've pretty muched decided that I'm going to purchase a 2006 BMW M3 (CompetitionPackage option) and have a few questions:

1) Does BMW cover the warranty in Canada?
2) If it's a private sale, what do I tell the buyer? I was thinking I'd send the buyer a deposit while waiting to get the paperwork in order.

Has anyone successfully imported a BMW from the US into Canada?

Anyway, with the dollar so strong, and now the next generation BMW M3 announced, the existing M3's are looking very attractive..

Best Regards,
Cheap Mother

ps> I apologize if some of these have been answered. I've read this thread and haven't seen anyone actually talk about the successful importation of a BMW.


BMW: The New Vehicle Limited Warranty is transferable from the United States to Canada. The Maintenance Plan which is offered in the US and includes engine oil services, as well as inspections, is not honored in Canada. BMW USA won't allow sellers to sell brand new BMWs to some one who will register it with a CDN address. You can however buy a "used" BMW with no restrictions.

Also check out this previous thread on importing a BMW into Canada, the whole process, and through a private seller.

LINKY (http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50332)

[tzcnd]

For those interested, I've confirmed that Hyundai WILL honour warranty service in Canada.

I have it in an email from their head office (which I'll guard with my life should I end up with a Veracruz.


The U.S. warranty on Hyundai is much better than the Canadian warranty. Did they give you any indication of what warranty you get in Canada? Do you get the U.S. terms or once you import it into Canada do you get the Canadian warranty terms?

Thanks

Ps. can you PM me with the email address of Hyundai Canada where you got your response about the warranty. I would like to have this in writing as well for my records.

[michelb]

BMW: The New Vehicle Limited Warranty is transferable from the United States to Canada. The Maintenance Plan which is offered in the US and includes engine oil services, as well as inspections, is not honored in Canada. BMW USA won't allow sellers to sell brand new BMWs to some one who will register it with a CDN address. You can however buy a "used" BMW with no restrictions.

Also check out this previous thread on importing a BMW into Canada, the whole process, and through a private seller.

LINKY (http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50332)

I believe I also saw somewhere that BMW extended warranties were not transferable to Canada so that's something to keep in mind if you are buying used (you probably want to confirm that as well).

[whampoa]

For those people who bought the Subie with GPS navigation, do you know how to change the voice from a guy to a lady.

I prefer woman voice, anyway I find the GPS navigation really convenient. It diagnoses your car, tire pressure and tell you the fuel economy, etc.

I wonder if you can play DVD and DIVX movies in this thing (since the map comes in DVD format).

Note: If you use the map destination point feature, don't depend your life on it. If you follows the instruction, it will takes you forever to arrive.

[bigbug]

BMW: The New Vehicle Limited Warranty is transferable from the United States to Canada. The Maintenance Plan which is offered in the US and includes engine oil services, as well as inspections, is not honored in Canada. BMW USA won't allow sellers to sell brand new BMWs to some one who will register it with a CDN address. You can however buy a "used" BMW with no restrictions.

Also check out this previous thread on importing a BMW into Canada, the whole process, and through a private seller.

LINKY (http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50332)

Is it a stated policy that US BMW won't sell cars which would be registered outside US? A local BMW dealership here in Boston is so desperate to sell me an X5 that they even agree to let me fax them back the receipt of oil change and other inspection not covered in canada and reimburse me. But the problem is MA is the only state that would not issue temporary plate and I have to tow the car back.

[Deemo]

Is it a stated policy that US BMW won't sell cars which would be registered outside US? A local BMW dealership here in Boston is so desperate to sell me an X5 that they even agree to let me fax them back the receipt of oil change and other inspection not covered in canada and reimburse me. But the problem is MA is the only state that would not issue temporary plate and I have to tow the car back.

His info is correct but if the dealership is willing to break the rule who cares.
Shipping the car back to Canada is a great hassle free option as well.

[davey_fl]

read back around page 4 or 5. I have brought back 2 x5s 4.8is with no hassle whatsoever... fwiw...

[Deemo]

read back around page 4 or 5. I have brought back 2 x5s 4.8is with no hassle whatsoever... fwiw...

I think he is talking "new"....yours were used.

[perfchris]

Is it a stated policy that US BMW won't sell cars which would be registered outside US? A local BMW dealership here in Boston is so desperate to sell me an X5 that they even agree to let me fax them back the receipt of oil change and other inspection not covered in canada and reimburse me. But the problem is MA is the only state that would not issue temporary plate and I have to tow the car back.

Dependable auto shippers ships cars at low prices. Google them.

[jrvic]

I'm also looking into a 2008 Lexus RX350, so far my research shows that like Toyota, warranty is not an issue, it's getting a dealer to sell it to you. When I went to pick up my Subaru from Northtown, I talked to my dealer about this as Northtown actually encompasses 15-20 different brands including Lexus. He said that ALL Toyota/Lexus dealers along the Canadian border has signed into their franchise agreement NOT to sell to Canadians. Out of state is not a problem, but Canadians are.

I "promise" to execute a US Lexus RX350 purchase this year, it will have to happen in Florida, it will have to wait until the 2008 makes it to the RIV list, I will have to find a dealer in Florida that can deal with some paperwork (such as state tax avoidance), but I am fairly confident that I can work through all of these issues.

I'm pretty sure you meant "luxury" sports sedans, right ? Subarus have some pretty mean street sport cars..

Silver Lining: Purchasing a car in the US means you can pay PST/GST/Duty using your credit card - note for point collectors...

I also contemplate on getting an RX350. It does not have to be 2008 model. I just have a few questions:
1- Can I avoid NY sales taxes if I purchased the vehicle in Bufalo using a Dallas, TX address (I have valid TX driver license)?
2- Can I drive the vehicle back to Canada with a NY temporary permit before importing it?

The main idea is to Purchase the RX using a TX address to avoid NY taxes. Bring the car to Canada and then do the export/import a few days later.

Will this fly?

[flaming homer]

I also contemplate on getting an RX350. It does not have to be 2008 model. I just have a few questions:
1- Can I avoid NY sales taxes if I purchased the vehicle in Bufalo using a Dallas, TX address (I have valid TX driver license)?
2- Can I drive the vehicle back to Canada with a NY temporary permit before importing it?

The main idea is to Purchase the RX using a TX address to avoid NY taxes. Bring the car to Canada and then do the export/import a few days later.

Will this fly?All the dealer in Buffalo cares about is that they sell the car to someone not in Canada, and you being out of their tax jurisdiction just means that it is no longer their problem, so yes, I believe this will fly. However, they will NOT / should NOT assist you with any of the required paperwork, meaning you'll have to do the faxing, getting a manufacturer recall leter, etc.

[michelb]

I also contemplate on getting an RX350. It does not have to be 2008 model. I just have a few questions:
1- Can I avoid NY sales taxes if I purchased the vehicle in Bufalo using a Dallas, TX address (I have valid TX driver license)?
2- Can I drive the vehicle back to Canada with a NY temporary permit before importing it?

The main idea is to Purchase the RX using a TX address to avoid NY taxes. Bring the car to Canada and then do the export/import a few days later.

Will this fly?

1. You can possibly get out of the NY tax but you'll have to pay TX tax so I'm not sure how that's beneficial for you (and I'm 99% certain that the dealership has to collect the Texas tax when they sell it to you).
2. I believe that by law you might not be allowed to bring the car into Canada with foreign plates if you are a Canadian resident. In practice, I suspect that customs might not let you do it anyway. Again, I fail to see the purpose of going into Canada first and then importing a few days later.

[darock_sayz]

Question about Costco Auto Club Pricing for Canadians:

I entered my contact info, membership number with US postal code from the dealership I would like to buy.
Good news - He will sell to Canadians / Bad News - He says Costco Auto Club pricing is only available to Americans or if I intend to register the car in the states.

Any Canadians successfully use the Costco Auto Club ? Any tips on getting the best price for Washington state area - please PM me.

Thanks in advance

[perfchris]

Question about Costco Auto Club Pricing for Canadians:

I entered my contact info, membership number with US postal code from the dealership I would like to buy.
Good news - He will sell to Canadians / Bad News - He says Costco Auto Club pricing is only available to Americans or if I intend to register the car in the states.

Any Canadians successfully use the Costco Auto Club ? Any tips on getting the best price for Washington state area - please PM me.

Thanks in advance

That is bull ! You are a Costco member regardless where you live. Most of the time you get a better price by e-mail the internet sales manager. I would try that avenue using another e-mail address and multiple dealers.

[darock_sayz]

To clarify your advice above:

E-mail the Internet Sales Manager instead of using the Costco Auto Club or in conjunction ?

[perfchris]

To clarify your advice above:

E-mail the Internet Sales Manager instead of using the Costco Auto Club or in conjunction ?

Use on on-line quote service such as the one that cars.com has and see what prices you get. Most of the time these prices are better than Costco. Also, to know what people are getting for prices go to edmunds.com forum prices paid and buying experience and look for the car you want to buy.

[Monsieurmaggot]

The list gets longer and bigger. From those listed below, you can see many of us here at RFD have successfully imported cars from the US. Here is the current list of successful RFD importers (part of the elite RFD super savers club):

Monsieurmaggot- Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - Subaru Tribeca
yyz2hkg- Subaru
Flaming_homer- Subaru Forester
Tiffin- Allegro Bay 37' motorhome
Algrande- Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik- Subaru Tribeca
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
MMMM- Honda Element
john_rt- Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna

Anyone else want to add to the list? I'm sure there are more of you out there.

Then there's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan

[Monsieurmaggot]

The U.S. warranty on Hyundai is much better than the Canadian warranty. Did they give you any indication of what warranty you get in Canada? Do you get the U.S. terms or once you import it into Canada do you get the Canadian warranty terms?

Thanks.



When in Rome. From what I've read elsewhere, warranties that are transferable conform to the local standard. You would get the coverage that is offered to Canadian buyers. I don't think the 10-year powertrain US warranty is transferable. If memory serves, me I believe it's only offered to the original owner. I'm sure others can confirm this.

Warranties merit a completely independant thread. This is clearly a money grab by some manufacturers. Increasingly you're seeing comprehensive warranties in Canada longer than the usual 3/36 period. GM recently started offering a 5 year comprehensive warranty in Canada.

[walleye*guy]

Funny thing though - they were much more concerned about the trailer -
needed the recall clearance letter along with the CDN Tire inspection. (ya - go figure inspect the boat trailer)
The boat just needed the CDN Registration #'s and a Coast Guard Certificate.

Proud Owner of an Alumacraft Trophy 165 (2001)

[wildone]

well I've finally signed up after lurking for so long. Thanks to Monsieurmaggot and all the other contributors in this thread I've just made a deal with an Ohio Ford dealership for a new truck. Now, I'm still not clear on *exactly* what I need to do. What I've done so far is put a $1000 deposit on my CC. My understanding is I need to:

1) Get insurance coverage and take that with me.
2) get a recall letter saying there are no outstanding recalls.
3) Get a Certificate of Origin of the Vehicle.
4) fax both sides of MSO to US customs where I will be crossing.

Is that it before I head down to pick up the truck? I understand the temp permit for traveling, the US customs stop and the Canadian customs stop to pay GST and RIV fee and AC fee, I just want to make sure I've got everything covered.

The dealer asked me where the Certificate of Title should be sent as they mail that out after the purchase? Also, what is an MSO? And finally, timing of things?

TIA!

[ecgz88]

That is bull ! You are a Costco member regardless where you live. Most of the time you get a better price by e-mail the internet sales manager. I would try that avenue using another e-mail address and multiple dealers.


Yeah you can get better price than Costco price, but dealer won't willing to do that since they sell to Canadian and they need do more work.:evil: a WA dealer told me he won't sell to me unless he make $1000 over invoice, I rejected.:)

[whampoa]

Yeah you can get better price than Costco price, but dealer won't willing to do that since they sell to Canadian and they need do more work.:evil: a WA dealer told me he won't sell to me unless he make $1000 over invoice, I rejected.:)

Wow, is that what the dealer said. Tell us which dealership, or least the approximate location.

There's should be a wall of shame for those idiots.

As for price, I will compare Edmunds.com, carcost.com and other for an approximate dealers invoice.

For Subaru at least, there's no reason why you can't negotiate a price of several hundreds below dealers invoice and don't forget to add any current incentive to lower the final purchase price.

[brunes]

The list gets longer and bigger. From those listed below, you can see many of us here at RFD have successfully imported cars from the US. Here is the current list of successful RFD importers (part of the elite RFD super savers club):

Monsieurmaggot- Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - Subaru Tribeca
yyz2hkg- Subaru
Flaming_homer- Subaru Forester
Tiffin- Allegro Bay 37' motorhome
Algrande- Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik- Subaru Tribeca
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
MMMM- Honda Element
john_rt- Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna

Anyone else want to add to the list? I'm sure there are more of you out there.

Then there's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan

We're actually looking at a small Aveo... they're about 3K cheaper in the US after the exchange. I assume anything GM made is going to be NAFTA for sure, correct?

[Anessa]

My sentiment exactly, even if you pocket only $5000 per vehicle, multiply by the number of vehicles imported that is serious money people.

Where else can you find this kind of quick return on your investment.

I think the only drawback is to find potential buyer for a used American vehicles, even if it just bought new for resale.

Maybe some RFD members might want to pool their discretionary income for a little investment into this venture. Just an idea to ponder about.

Better investment than cough 6/49 cough, you can actually make real money.

There's no limit to the number of cars you can import right?

[chrisc2]

I tried reading many of these pages and searched things under Toyota. My question is this:

Delaware and New Hampshire does not charge sales tax. Can I not go into a Toyota dealership there and buy a Toyota with any New Hampshire/Delaware address (even the hotel I'm staying at)? I don't pay the tax and the dealer doesnt have to explain why they're selling to a Canadian.

This seems too simple! Is there a reason this wouldn't work?

[whampoa]

There's no limit to the number of cars you can import right?

Yes, there's a limit of 2 vehicles per person in a year.

But if a few RFD members pool together, we might work something else.

Maybe even getting a used car license or something to make it a worthwhile scheme. ;)

[tetris]

Which state or city is comparable lowest in terms of used Car value (Toyota Camry or Honda accord). thinking to buy a 2005 or 2006 Camry or accord. Any suggestion on how to find a used one.

[crasher]

Which state or city is comparable lowest in terms of used Car value (Toyota Camry or Honda accord). thinking to buy a 2005 or 2006 Camry or accord. Any suggestion on how to find a used one.

Not an good idea to buy used car as it would already have that state taxes included, and then you have to pay taxex here again. Unless you want to buy from a state(I think Texas), where they dont have any taxes.

[crasher]

We're actually looking at a small Aveo... they're about 3K cheaper in the US after the exchange. I assume anything GM made is going to be NAFTA for sure, correct?

I think Aveo is made by Daewoo (Hyundai) in Korea. GM just market them.

[scouzi]

The list gets longer and bigger. From those listed below, you can see many of us here at RFD have successfully imported cars from the US. Here is the current list of successful RFD importers (part of the elite RFD super savers club):

Monsieurmaggot- Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - Subaru Tribeca
yyz2hkg- Subaru
Flaming_homer- Subaru Forester
Tiffin- Allegro Bay 37' motorhome
Algrande- Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik- Subaru Tribeca
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
MMMM- Honda Element
john_rt- Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna

Anyone else want to add to the list? I'm sure there are more of you out there.

Then there's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan

I bought a 2007 7 passenger Limited Tribeca today!

[scouzi]

well I've finally signed up after lurking for so long. Thanks to Monsieurmaggot and all the other contributors in this thread I've just made a deal with an Ohio Ford dealership for a new truck. Now, I'm still not clear on *exactly* what I need to do. What I've done so far is put a $1000 deposit on my CC. My understanding is I need to:

1) Get insurance coverage and take that with me.
2) get a recall letter saying there are no outstanding recalls.
3) Get a Certificate of Origin of the Vehicle.
4) fax both sides of MSO to US customs where I will be crossing.

Is that it before I head down to pick up the truck? I understand the temp permit for traveling, the US customs stop and the Canadian customs stop to pay GST and RIV fee and AC fee, I just want to make sure I've got everything covered.

The dealer asked me where the Certificate of Title should be sent as they mail that out after the purchase? Also, what is an MSO? And finally, timing of things?

TIA!

I chose a dealer close to the border that does the leg work. In my case, the Vermont border crossings require that the Title be brought in PERSON 72 hours in advance. No snail mail or faxes. In my case, the dealer sends someone to get it timestamped.

[michelb]

We're actually looking at a small Aveo... they're about 3K cheaper in the US after the exchange. I assume anything GM made is going to be NAFTA for sure, correct?

I think Aveo is made by Daewoo (Hyundai) in Korea. GM just market them.

As stated by crasher, the Aveo is not built in NorthAmerica so you'd have to pay duty (it's easy; just look at the VIN - if it starts by a number, it's built in NA, if it starts by a letter it's built elsewhere in the world and you'll pay 6.1% duty).

Another thing to keep in mind is that for $3k, it's probably not worth the hassle - there will be some costs involved in getting the car (The biggest one is resale (an american vehicle will probably get noticeably less on resale (and I bet any dealership will really try to screw you if you ever try to trade it in), possible warranty difficulties (dealerships might give you a harder time about insurance claims and / or make you pay up front and get reimbursed by the US company, actual import fees ($200 + $100), possible documentation costs (e.g. GM charges $25 for the recall clearance letter), any possible modifications required, possible loss of wages when you have to travel to pick up the car and then you also have to take it to CT for RIV, more gas costs to pick it up, etc)).

[jjjiao]

Which state or city is comparable lowest in terms of used Car value (Toyota Camry or Honda accord). thinking to buy a 2005 or 2006 Camry or accord. Any suggestion on how to find a used one.

I just bought an used Sienna from a Toyota dealer in Niagara Falls, NY. I checked the autotrader.com first for information and cotact them directly.

[jrvic]

1. You can possibly get out of the NY tax but you'll have to pay TX tax so I'm not sure how that's beneficial for you (and I'm 99% certain that the dealership has to collect the Texas tax when they sell it to you).
2. I believe that by law you might not be allowed to bring the car into Canada with foreign plates if you are a Canadian resident. In practice, I suspect that customs might not let you do it anyway. Again, I fail to see the purpose of going into Canada first and then importing a few days later.

michelb, the importing a few days later is neccessary because the Lexus dealer is not suppose to help exporting the car to Canada. So until I have the title of the RX, there is nothing I can do to get the export process started i.e. faxing US custom the title info.
I was hoping that they would not collect TX sales tax, because that would happen only if I actually register the car at a TX DMV office.

[michelb]

michelb, the importing a few days later is neccessary because the Lexus dealer is not suppose to help exporting the car to Canada. So until I have the title of the RX, there is nothing I can do to get the export process started i.e. faxing US custom the title info.
I was hoping that they would not collect TX sales tax, because that would happen only if I actually register the car at a TX DMV office.

You might be onto something.

Dealers in most other states will collect the tax even for out-of-state residents (e.g. I believe both Florida and Arizona (and Quebec) (the only other places I've bought cars) all do this) but upon further review, it doesn't look like they do this in NewYork. You might be able to buy it, tell them you're from Texas and will be registering (and paying taxes) there and then import it into Canada. The obvious thing to do is just ask the dealership how they handle the tax for out-of-state buyers. The biggest drawback is that if there is any exchange of information between NY and TX (e.g. if the dealership needs to fill a special form to explain why they didn't charge any tax (they have to do this for non-US residents in AZ) and then the dealership sends that form to TX (I don't think AZ does this but then again AZ collect tax for other states (I think you get a credit when you register the car in your own state)) then they could probably easily trace it back to you and charge you with tax avoidance. A better alternative would be to get an address in a state with no state tax - in that situation it might work well.

As far as importing later, I don't think you need to do this in any case. There's nothing that says you have to keep it in the US (even if it's registered there) for X amount of days before exporting / importing to Canada. Personally, I don't see why you couldn't just do it all on the same day (you don't need any help from the dealership anyway since you can do all that yourself). However if you do want to try to get it into Canada earlier, you can always just try the 'wave by' technique - just go to the border, don't mention anything about the car and just try entering as if you had nothing to declare. You can also try to see if you can simply get an ON temp permit (I believe some other members have mentioned trying to get one before the car was imported but I'm not sure if they were successful) - if you had a temp permit, I don't think they'd think twice about letting you enter. Lastly you can probably just say that you don't plan on importing it to Canada. Tell them that you spend part of the year in the US (for work, leisure, snowbird, whatever) and that you specifically bought the car there to keep it registered there) - not sure it that will fly but it might.

Good luck.

[jrvic]

Thanks for your opinions/ideas. I do want to keep the RX as a Canadian vehicle. I will email a Lexus dealer in Buffalo stating my case. I will keep the forum updated with their responses.

[crasher]

I made up my mind to import Nissan Altima, after testdriving it yesterday. Hit a major roadblock. New car warranty is only valid for 60 days, by Nissan USA. Whereas 6 months old vehicle have full warranty transferable to Canada.:mad: I have to look into Subaru now.

[slothy@cutey]

Are you interested in purchasing a Honda stateside?

Few Honda dealers in New York state will work with Canadians, but I'll save you some trouble - John Holtz in Rochester sells to Canadians.

Also, I've been avidly following the CR-V production data. Most CR-V's in the US are Japanese (which means duties!)... However, Honda has a plant in East Liberty, Ohio that manufactures CR-V for the Canadian market (d'oh!)... I heard recently that they are starting to ship out the CR-V's to the US market, which means you can avoid duties with a NAFTA qualifying CR-V. Be sure to ask for VIN # to confirm (remember must start with a number).

So far, only the LX models are being shipped out to US dealers first, but soon the EX's will be out there as well..

Also, heard some dealers in Maryland will sell to Canadians and you can get a wicked quote from some Michigan dealers as well.

Just thought I'd share my research! Long live RFD.

PS. Orchard Park, NY - Good dealer for Hyundai! Close to Buffalo

[yyz2hkg]

Are you interested in purchasing a Honda stateside?

Few Honda dealers in New York state will work with Canadians, but I'll save you some trouble - John Holtz in Rochester sells to Canadians.

Also, I've been avidly following the CR-V production data. Most CR-V's in the US are Japanese (which means duties!)... However, Honda has a plant in East Liberty, Ohio that manufactures CR-V for the Canadian market (d'oh!)... I heard recently that they are starting to ship out the CR-V's to the US market, which means you can avoid duties with a NAFTA qualifying CR-V. Be sure to ask for VIN # to confirm (remember must start with a number).

So far, only the LX models are being shipped out to US dealers first, but soon the EX's will be out there as well..

Also, heard some dealers in Maryland will sell to Canadians and you can get a wicked quote from some Michigan dealers as well.

Just thought I'd share my research! Long live RFD.

PS. Orchard Park, NY - Good dealer for Hyundai! Close to Buffalo

Great research slothy, thx... What about the Warranty? If I recall, Honda doesn't honour the Warranty here?

[bigbug]

Great research slothy, thx... What about the Warranty? If I recall, Honda doesn't honour the Warranty here?

Exactly, that kills my MDX...

[slothy@cutey]

Great research slothy, thx... What about the Warranty? If I recall, Honda doesn't honour the Warranty here?

Yes, it's true Honda will NOT honour the warranty.

Interesting, John Holtz claimed that they WOULD and if they didn't, they would easily service our vehicle under "warranty". Not sure how - logistically - that could work even if possible. Regardless of what anyone tells you, Honda won't honour the warranty in Canada. In the US, if the dealership is willing (get it in writing), prepare to make the trek across the border for maintainence work.

The lack of warranty in Canada is not too much of a deterrant if the savings are there. I calculated - worst case - I would still save about $8k on a CR-V EX-L (leather). To me that's worth the trade-off. If I was REALLY worried, I could get 3rd party warranty coverage for an extra $2-$3k which would still be worth it for me (ie. still save $5k on a $40k vehicle)

[Digiital]

How was it compared to Canadian prices?

I just bought an used Sienna from a Toyota dealer in Niagara Falls, NY. I checked the autotrader.com first for information and cotact them directly.

[jjjiao]

How was it compared to Canadian prices?

By comparing autotrader.com and autotrader.ca, I would say for 2005 LE model I saved 2.5-4K. The exchange rate is a big factor.

[crasher]

I made another attempt today and called Toyota dealers in Mass. and CT. But they wont budge to sell new car to Canadians. Will try NC and TX next.
Nissan dealer in CT told me it is fine and Nissan warranty is transferable in Canada, even dealer here in Mississauga said the same thing. But Nissan USA said its not.:confused:

[bilzebub]

Hey everyone!

I've been itchin not quite patiently to get a 2008 Legacy 3.0R sedan, one they are apparently not bringing to Canada anyhow, and wonder: does anyone here know when the '08s might be on the RIV list? Northtown Subaru thought it might be sooner (June/July) rather than later (which others have spoken of) so there is contradictory info floatin out in the ether...

Thanks!

[yyz2hkg]

Hey everyone!

I've been itchin not quite patiently to get a 2008 Legacy 3.0R sedan, one they are apparently not bringing to Canada anyhow, and wonder: does anyone here know when the '08s might be on the RIV list? Northtown Subaru thought it might be sooner (June/July) rather than later (which others have spoken of) so there is contradictory info floatin out in the ether...

Thanks!

Try calling the RIV, they usually have some answers. 1-888-848-8240. I called them to see if they would give me an approximate date last yr for the 07's. The finally put it on the list close to the middle of Oct.

[ecgz88]

Yes, it's true Honda will NOT honour the warranty.

Interesting, John Holtz claimed that they WOULD and if they didn't, they would easily service our vehicle under "warranty". Not sure how - logistically - that could work even if possible. Regardless of what anyone tells you, Honda won't honour the warranty in Canada. In the US, if the dealership is willing (get it in writing), prepare to make the trek across the border for maintainence work.

The lack of warranty in Canada is not too much of a deterrant if the savings are there. I calculated - worst case - I would still save about $8k on a CR-V EX-L (leather). To me that's worth the trade-off. If I was REALLY worried, I could get 3rd party warranty coverage for an extra $2-$3k which would still be worth it for me (ie. still save $5k on a $40k vehicle)

Warranty kill my CR-V:mad: I tried http://www.warrantydirect.com/ but they don't provide service for BC, not sure why:mad:

[shopper-X]

Warranty kill my CR-V:mad: I tried http://www.warrantydirect.com/ but they don't provide service for BC, not sure why:mad:

Not understanding you thought, but if you are asking for another aftermarket warranty company there are a few out there.

try http://www.lubrico.com/ there are many others this is just the 1st one I found.

[waljo88]

I have some details need worked out.


Im seeing some resitence from Toyota dealer as they are not supposed to be selling to Canadians. They will however sell used.

How will the sales tax work if I buy the car.

My understanding was that if I purchase new, I would be taxed on the receipt price. However if the car was used it would be taxed on the book value. I know the book values are high in Canada, this could end up costing like a grand more. Does anyone know the book value on a used 2007 Camry LE base which the customs would use to apply the tax.

[Anessa]

They use the bill of sale to figure out how much to charge you at the border (if you buy from a car dealer, non private).

[waljo88]

They use the bill of sale to figure out how much to charge you at the border (if you buy from a car dealer, non private).


so if I buy a used car, I would pay tax on the invoice. You sure?

[eljay]

so if I buy a used car, I would pay tax on the invoice. You sure?

Yes.

[eljay]

I made another attempt today and called Toyota dealers in Mass. and CT. But they wont budge to sell new car to Canadians. Will try NC and TX next.
Nissan dealer in CT told me it is fine and Nissan warranty is transferable in Canada, even dealer here in Mississauga said the same thing. But Nissan USA said its not.:confused:

Nissan warranty is void if the vehicle is exported from the US within the first 6 months of original ownership (i.e. from the time it was first titled in the US).
Source: Page 8 of Nissan warranty booklet: http://www.nissanusa.com/pdf/warranty/2007_Wrnty.pdf

[bigbug]

Nissan warranty is void if the vehicle is exported from the US within the first 6 months of original ownership (i.e. from the time it was first titled in the US).
Source: Page 8 of Nissan warranty booklet: http://www.nissanusa.com/pdf/warranty/2007_Wrnty.pdf

So if a person gets a driver's license in US, register the car, and drive it to Canada with a US plate for 6 months, then change the registration. Do it work in this way? Is there any law that prohibits driving a car with US plate in Canada for certain amount of time?

[eljay]

So if a person gets a driver's license in US, register the car, and drive it to Canada with a US plate for 6 months, then change the registration. Do it work in this way? Is there any law that prohibits driving a car with US plate in Canada for certain amount of time?

I believe you have to be a U.S. resident to be able to do that.

[ecgz88]

Not understanding you thought, but if you are asking for another aftermarket warranty company there are a few out there.

try http://www.lubrico.com/ there are many others this is just the 1st one I found.

not sure the difference between third party and manufacturer warranty.:confused:

[crasher]

So if a person gets a driver's license in US, register the car, and drive it to Canada with a US plate for 6 months, then change the registration. Do it work in this way? Is there any law that prohibits driving a car with US plate in Canada for certain amount of time?

YES, but then you pay double tax, one for sate, then in Canada again. :mad: I love new Altima:twisted:

[Monsieurmaggot]

The list gets longer and bigger. From those listed below, you can see many of us here at RFD have successfully imported cars from the US. Here is the current list of successful RFD importers (part of the elite RFD super savers club):

Monsieurmaggot (me)- Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - TWO Subaru Tribecas and soon a Subaru Outback
yyz2hkg- Subaru
Flaming_homer- Subaru Forester
Tiffin- Allegro Bay 37' motorhome
Algrande- Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik- Subaru Tribeca
Deemo- 2005 BMW M3
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
MMMM- Honda Element
john_rt- Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna
scouzi - Subaru Tribeca Limited

[Monsieurmaggot]

Some of you have asked to see what the "Certificate Of Origin" looks like.

I had a choice to get an immediate dealer trade (from Pennsylvania) or a factory order. The NY State dealer wanted to get both for me since they had no problems selling the really scarce 3.0r LLBeans. My car was delivery by enclosed carrier with only 5 miles on the odometer. I added two miles to the car (test driving) before it was registered to the NY dealer. The original paperwork shows the car was made on January 26, 2007 and delivered to a dealer in Pennsylvania. The back of the CoO shows a notarized stamp indicating the dealer trade from Pennsylvania to NY State.

The really interesting thing is that you can see the dealer trade was made the same day I agreed to buy the Subaru (February 20th) from West Herr in NY State. The car was barely one month old. I took possession on March 21st and delivery on March 27th

The CoO was embossed and had texture like real money. You can clearly see the US Customs export stamp. The original was kept by my provincial licensing office (MTO):


http://farm1.static.flickr.com/208/516559881_45286ade67.jpg


The NY State Bill of sale:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/220/516488622_e222c3bba2.jpg

[scouzi]

I've been trying to check at which CT I will go to for the inspection but it seems that they don't all do it. So far, 2 of them said that they don't have the qualified people on staff to do these inspections?

Did anyone run into this issue?

[Tuppin]

Yes, I got a 7 passenger Subaru Tribeca Limited and my dad got a 5 passenger Subaru Tribeca limited and now I'm trying to get my sister into a Subaru Outback. I got my Tribeca for less than we paid for a Subaru Forester 9 years ago and the Tribeca is SOOOOO much more vehicle! My sister is looking at getting an Outback for just slightly more than she would pay for a Corolla. It just makes no sense to buy in Canada!

[Monsieurmaggot]

I've been trying to check at which CT I will go to for the inspection but it seems that they don't all do it. So far, 2 of them said that they don't have the qualified people on staff to do these inspections?

Did anyone run into this issue?

I had the exact same problem.

I checked FOUR local CT stores, one had restricted hours as there was only one tech. qualified (Kingston Rd./Ajax, ON), another had a guy who was injured (GTA: McCowan/Sheppard), one wasn't licensed to do it (Brock Rd. in Pickering, ON). I ended up at Rylander Road in Scarborough, ON. In and out in five minutes.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Yes, I got a 7 passenger Subaru Tribeca Limited and my dad got a 5 passenger Subaru Tribeca limited and now I'm trying to get my sister into a Subaru Outback. I got my Tribeca for less than we paid for a Subaru Forester 9 years ago and the Tribeca is SOOOOO much more vehicle! My sister is looking at getting an Outback for just slightly more than she would pay for a Corolla. It just makes no sense to buy in Canada!

Holy cow Tuppin. You are the KING of the RFD Super Saver Club. You certainly qualify for the RFD Platinum Elite Super Saver Club
.

That's really great. Were these posts partly responsible or did you know about the US deals before most of the civilians out there?

[Anessa]

so if I buy a used car, I would pay tax on the invoice. You sure?

Private sales is when they pull out their book and possibly rape you (if the price seems too good to be true). Correct?

[Tuppin]

Holy cow Tuppin. You are the KING of the RFD Super Saver Club. You certainly qualify for the RFD Platinum Elite Super Saver Club
.

That's really great. Were these posts partly responsible or did you know about the US deals before most of the civilians out there?

I actually stumbled upon the whole process. I wanted something to replace our Forester and started looking at rebuilders. I found a guy who imports vehicles that have been damaged to rebuild them and he gave me his auction password so I could see the vehicles. I found a lightly damaged Outback and wanted to find out what they were worth new...so I called a dealer in Maine and was I shocked when I discovered I could buy a brand new Outback for like 25k Canadian. Then one thing led to another and I ended up getting a great deal on a demo Tribeca. We are very pleased with it and even love the Nav unit...came in handy when we drove it to Florida this past winter. My dad who is a GM man liked it so much that he decided to get one as well.

I had been a member of Redflag deals before but my research led me to this thread.

Subaru Canada must know they are bleeding sales to the US.

[Prof]

While I've been in contact stateside about a Legacy or Outback, I haven't passed on considering a Sonata mainly because it offers more space than the Legacy and is also much cheaper stateside. Warranty is great as well. Info on the 2008 has been coming in and a drawback is being remedied. To date, to get the upper end models with the nicer wheels etc, you needed to buy the V6. In Canada you could get the GLS 4cyl. As of the 2008 model year, the 4cyl will be available across the board including the loaded Limited models. I pulled this info from Edmunds (http://http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f108bb3/54)forums.

The new Sonata SE 4-cylinder with manual transmission starts at $19,895 (including $650 freight) and includes all GLS 4-cylinder M/T equipment plus:

·17” Alloy wheels w/ 215/55R17 performance tires
·Power driver seat
·Driver’s lumbar support
·Fog lights
·Automatic light control
·Steering wheel audio controls
·Telescoping steering wheel
·Leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob
·Trip computer
·Metalgrain/woodgrain accents
·Rear spoiler
·Chrome window-belt moldings
·Solar control glass

The new Sonata Limited 4-cylinder with automatic transmission starts at $22,995 (including $650 freight) and includes all of the SE 4-cylinder M/T equipment, excluding SE rear spoiler, plus the following:

·4-speed automatic transmission w/ SHIFTRONIC®
·Leather seating surfaces
·Heated front seats
·AM/FM/XM/6-CD changer/MP3 audio system w/ Infinity® speakers, subwoofer and amplifier
·Electrochromic auto-dimming inside review mirror w/ HomeLink® integrated transceiver and compass
·Automatic temperature control
·Sliding center armrest
·Aluminum bodyside molding
·Chrome center bar grille and door handles
·Premium door sill plates
·“Limited” badge
·215/55R17 standard tires

Current models have a $2000 rebate. With discount, some are reporting prices nearly $4000 below MSRP. Amazing.

I'm still not sure about assembly for the 4cyl models. The V6 is built in the States but in 06 the 4cyl models were built in Korea. The extra duty at the time ate into the cost advantage.

[crasher]

Well, everybody has different tastes, but I did not liked 4cyl. Sonata a bit. It was anemic, where as V6 was OK. But honda, toyota, nissan 4 cyl. all were very spirited. Not tried the Subaru yet.

[Draug]

So, I've tried to read through all 2000 posts on this topic ... I have probably missed the answer to my question.

I think I understand the information surrounding importing a new vehicle into Canada. For me, the biggest drawback seems to be the Canadian dealers not honoring the manufacturer's warranty. I think you'd also want to buy one of the models listed in the Nafta list a few pages back.

But, what about importing an older vehicle? Say a 1 or 2 year old vehicle. Will the Canadian dealerships honor the remaining factory warranty? What duty and taxes need to be paid at the border as you bring it back?

Buying a used vehicle to import should result in the same amount of savings when compared to buying the equivalent used vehicle here. Afterall, the original purchase price in the US was much lower so they used price should be as well.

[shopper-X]

So, I've tried to read through all 2000 posts on this topic ... I have probably missed the answer to my question.

I think I understand the information surrounding importing a new vehicle into Canada. For me, the biggest drawback seems to be the Canadian dealers not honoring the manufacturer's warranty. I think you'd also want to buy one of the models listed in the Nafta list a few pages back.

But, what about importing an older vehicle? Say a 1 or 2 year old vehicle. Will the Canadian dealerships honor the remaining factory warranty? What duty and taxes need to be paid at the border as you bring it back?

Buying a used vehicle to import should result in the same amount of savings when compared to buying the equivalent used vehicle here. Afterall, the original purchase price in the US was much lower so they used price should be as well.

Yes they should honour the warranty of a used car if they honour the warranty of a new car. However read the manual of the used car to see if it is clearly written the warranty will be honoured. In the case of Nissan's & Infiniti's (told to me by the service manager) it varies from model to model, year to year. Some models of one year are honoured and the previous or next year may not be.
You could always phone or email the model, trim level, and VIN to the Canadian office of the manufacture and clarify in fact it will be honoured or not.

[wildone]

Can someone confirm if I have this correct or if I am missing steps? I have a deal on a Ford truck whick will result in a 15K savings, it's new. Is this correct:

1) Need insurance plus binder letter
2) Need temp permit from the State (ohio)
3) Certificate of Origin (or is it Certificate of Title)
4) Recall Clearance Letter
5) Dealership bill of sale

Only the Certificate of Origin (or Title), the Bill of Sale, and the MSO (what is the MSO>) need to be faxed to the US border crossing 72 hours prior to my arrival at that crossing??

I understand the whole process from the border, inspection etc., I just want to make sure I have the first steps correct.

Thanks

[perfchris]

Can someone confirm if I have this correct or if I am missing steps? I have a deal on a Ford truck whick will result in a 15K savings, it's new. Is this correct:

1) Need insurance plus binder letter
2) Need temp permit from the State (ohio)
3) Certificate of Origin (or is it Certificate of Title)
4) Recall Clearance Letter
5) Dealership bill of sale

Only the Certificate of Origin (or Title), the Bill of Sale, and the MSO (what is the MSO>) need to be faxed to the US border crossing 72 hours prior to my arrival at that crossing??

I understand the whole process from the border, inspection etc., I just want to make sure I have the first steps correct.

Thanks

Before you buy make sure your vehicle is on the RIV.CA list of vehicles !

Explain exactly what you are going to do to your insurance company as it is always a good idea to let them know exactly what you are doing.
Some people say that you should get an Ontario temp plate, that is your prerogative, maybe your insurance company will demand as some have according to some posters.

On a new car, it is called the certificate of origin AKA MSO. It is the equivalent document to the title for a used vehicle. Call the border crossing you intend on driving through to ensure they do not want the original certificate of origin and bill of sale. If not, you fax to them copies and have originals with you during your visit at the export office. Ask what times you can cross with the vehicle on the US side as the Canadian border is open to import 24 hours per day but the US border crossings are on a case by case basis.

You need original bill of sale, certificate of origin stamped by export office to go to the Canadian and pay GST using cash, credit card or debit card. You will also pay the RIV fee at the border which accelerates process.

[wildone]

Thanks very much. Clearer now. I did check the RIV list and it says that Ford trucks and SUVs are all acceptable. We're picking up a new F150 King and a new Expedition, saving 15K on the truck and 18K on the Expedition!

[perfchris]

Thanks very much. Clearer now. I did check the RIV list and it says that Ford trucks and SUVs are all acceptable. We're picking up a new F150 King and a new Expedition, saving 15K on the truck and 18K on the Expedition!


That is amazing ! Stick it to Ford of Canada !

[tjuzer]

What is best deal to get?

[lindmar]

What is best deal to get?

Subarus - Seems Higher End Outbacks.. You end up driving a car worth over 50k canadian for around 30k.

[TorontoEh]

Subarus - Seems Higher End Outbacks.. You end up driving a car worth over 50k canadian for around 30k.

Wow! thats lots of savings man.

BTW...did anyone come across a thread on SD regarding a dealership in California back in December was offering a standard 2007 Camry for around $16K USD!!! I actually did a google search and found a thread on it.

Too late though, I woudnt had mine to drive all the way back to cali and picked it up since my local erin paka toyota quoted $30K for a basic entry level CAMRY 07:evil:

[CHIA]

Last summer, I went down to California and bought a used 2005 F150, loaded with ever toy imaginable, and lots of extras.....saved thousands. I ended up selling it 5 months later, as it was a pig on gas compared to my Odyssey. The nice thing was that Ford recognized the factory warranty....one simple phone call to Ford Canada, and it was in my name, all good. Honda says nay to anything imported from the US.

I recently wrote off my Odyssey, and am looking in the US again....the exchange rate is crazy right now, and there's pretty much NO comparison on used vehicles right now.

Bit of a process, but the $$$ saved and selection available, makes it very compelling..........

[scouzi]

Last summer, I went down to California and bought a used 2005 F150, loaded with ever toy imaginable, and lots of extras.....saved thousands. I ended up selling it 5 months later, as it was a pig on gas compared to my Odyssey. The nice thing was that Ford recognized the factory warranty....one simple phone call to Ford Canada, and it was in my name, all good. Honda says nay to anything imported from the US.

I recently wrote off my Odyssey, and am looking in the US again....the exchange rate is crazy right now, and there's pretty much NO comparison on used vehicles right now.

Bit of a process, but the $$$ saved and selection available, makes it very compelling..........

I don't think you can transfer the warranty for new vehicules with Ford. It has to have been previously titled.

I remember 5 years ago when the US importers were coming and buying every SUV from the Canadian Dealer auctions. How things have changed!

At the same time, my brand new 2002 KIA Sedonna was selling for about $5K LESS in Canada than in the US after the exchange rate!

[wildone]

Ford: New vehicles warranty xfers fine, but instead of the 5 year powertrain warranty in the US it's a 3 year warranty in Canada.

[CHIA]

I don't think you can transfer the warranty for new vehicules with Ford. It has to have been previously titled.

As I mentioned, I bought a 2005 used model, which was obviously titled. Honda does not recognize no matter what, the Ford warranty was put in my name in less than 10 min's, over the phone. They simply translate miles--->km's, and then the warranty starts/continues....easy & clean.

Fact is, Honda hates it when people import thier vehicles, and they are doing what they can to make it less attractive. There are dealers in WA state that are not allowed to sell to local BC people for import any longer. That's just Honda's way of trying to protect it's dealer network in Western Canada.

It's funny, 5.5 years ago, when I bought my 2002 Odyssey, the dealers were making people sign a document that said "I will not "export" this vehicle to the US. The Odysseys were made in Canada, and the demand was very high.....tables have now turned for slightly diff reasons....

[lindmar]

So if we're saying Ford will honor the warranty does that include Volvo too?

[wildone]

can someone explain the difference between a Certificate of Origin and a Certificate of Title? My dealer says he will have the Title for me when I come to pick up my vehicle (new).

[eljay]

can someone explain the difference between a Certificate of Origin and a Certificate of Title? My dealer says he will have the Title for me when I come to pick up my vehicle (new).

Different States call it differently, but it's the same thing I'm sure. Check that State's DMV website for correct term.

[flaming homer]

Different States call it differently, but it's the same thing I'm sure. Check that State's DMV website for correct term.
The thing that I don't fully undertstand is that the Ontario MTO took it at Provincial Registration, does that mean that I'll have to get it back if I ever want to sell out-of-province ? Strange....

[whampoa]

The thing that I don't fully undertstand is that the Ontario MTO took it at Provincial Registration, does that mean that I'll have to get it back if I ever want to sell out-of-province ? Strange....

I don't think you can get it backs. If you want to sell your car, use the MTO green ownership card and sign the back of it.

That's what I do with my 7 years old Chevy.

[flaming homer]

I don't think you can get it backs. If you want to sell your car, use the MTO green ownership card and sign the back of it.

That's what I do with my 7 years old Chevy.That's true if you sell it locally. But if the car is sold out-of-province, that piece of paper is meaningless, I think.

[eljay]

That's true if you sell it locally. But if the car is sold out-of-province, that piece of paper is meaningless, I think.

Nope. It would work the same way as you buying let's a car from Florida. You bring the Florida paper to Ontario DMV and get Provincial Title to your car. Same when you sell it. You sign over your provincial title and the buyer takes it to his/her state/provincial authority and gets that province's title document and they keep the original and so on.

I sold my car (nova Scotia title) to an Ontario buyer, signed over my NS title to him, he took it to ON DMV and got ON title document.

[Monsieurmaggot]

That's exactly what the MTO told me.

The US CoO is a US document. In order to "title" the vehicle in Ontario, I surrendered my US ownership and got the green Ontario ownership papers.

Remember for all intents and purposes, once the car is legally imported, it's no longer an American car.

[scouzi]

So if we're saying Ford will honor the warranty does that include Volvo too?

Now that's an excellent question!

With the exchange rate where it is, the 6% duty is still worth it.

[silverspec]

Not sure if this has been covered. I looked through a good portion of the thread and did not find the info I was looking for.
I am looking to buy used C5 Corvette 1999-2002 from the States. Most likely NY, MI or OH. I will be buying the car privately, since it is working out to be significantly cheaper than buying it from a dealer. I plan on using carchex.com or some similar service to check out the car prior to heading down. Couple of questions:
1. If the car checks out, I would like to drive down pay for the car and drive it back up the same day. How would I go about getting a bill of sale 72 hours in advance to the border?
2. Since it is a private sale, will I have to pay any US sales tax in any of the aforementioned states? Also will I have to pay PST in Canada?
3. How would I go about getting insurance and vehicle permit/license for the car in order to drive it back?
Any help will be greatly appreciated.:cheesygri

[eljay]

Not sure if this has been covered. I looked through a good portion of the thread and did not find the info I was looking for.
I am looking to buy used C5 Corvette 1999-2002 from the States. Most likely NY, MI or OH. I will be buying the car privately, since it is working out to be significantly cheaper than buying it from a dealer. I plan on using carchex.com or some similar service to check out the car prior to heading down. Couple of questions:
1. If the car checks out, I would like to drive down pay for the car and drive it back up the same day. How would I go about getting a bill of sale 72 hours in advance to the border?

You will not be able to export it the same day. 72 hours unless you want to argue with U.S. Customs

2. Since it is a private sale, will I have to pay any US sales tax in any of the aforementioned states? Also will I have to pay PST in Canada?

Refuse to pay any sales tax. Check the State's DMV website for tax exempt vehicles and explain to the dealer that you are exporting the car. If buying privately, you would need to do the same explanation at the local DMV to get that state's temp permit.

3. How would I go about getting insurance and vehicle permit/license for the car in order to drive it back?

Your insurance company should take care of that for you. Word of warning: typically insurance companies can cover out-of-province vehicle for 14-days only from the date of purchase as shown on your bill of sale. They may threaten to cancel your insurance. But they will give you enough time to avoid it. So, once you cross the border, act fast and get the car inspected and registered.

Any help will be greatly appreciated.:cheesygri

Good luck!

[hnewfie]

I tried to read and search for my answer but could not find one.

I would like to import a Mini but have called several dealers in the western usa ( I am in AB) and was told they are not permitted under their dealer contracts with mini to sell internationally.

Has anyone had success with importing a mini and if so which dealership?

They have told me the car needs to be sold and registered to a usa resident. I have an aunt in NC who can buy it but then I would have buy it from her correct?

Any info I can get would be great.

Thanks Everyone

[CHIA]

can someone explain the difference between a Certificate of Origin and a Certificate of Title? My dealer says he will have the Title for me when I come to pick up my vehicle (new).

In California, it's just the title....everyone has them, single sheet of paper. The title also tells is the car is clear, salvage, etc.

[CHIA]

1. If the car checks out, I would like to drive down pay for the car and drive it back up the same day. How would I go about getting a bill of sale 72 hours in advance to the border?

As previously mentioned, you cannot do it the same day.....72 hrs notice. So, if you know you are bringing the car back 72hrs before you go down, you could give notice before you leave. I used an auto broker who had an office at our local border crossing to do all the paperwork and importation....cost about $200. I was really pressed for time, so I could not do it myself.

2. Since it is a private sale, will I have to pay any US sales tax in any of the aforementioned states? Also will I have to pay PST in Canada?

Well, people don't collect tax on private sales, so this is non-issue. Yes, you will have to pay all taxes in Canada. One when you cross the border, the other when you insure it.

3. How would I go about getting insurance and vehicle permit/license for the car in order to drive it back? Any help will be greatly appreciated.

I got a waiver which was just added on to my normal insurance. It was a 10 day thing that cost about $90. Now, I'm in BC, so I can almost bet that it varies from province to province. I did not get any type of permit in the US DMV either. I called them in Cali, and they said my local insurer would provide coverage.....it was very confusing to say the least. The guy I biught the truck from left the plates on it, so away I went on a 3 day road trip......all was good.

Another point you might want to consider is payment terms. I found out very quickly, that there is almost no way to easily hand over a large sum of money to a US resident, short of carrying a suitcase full of cash.

Certified cheques that are made on a Canadian bank take at LEAST 3-5 days to clear, and most people will not hand you over the key to their car with some crazy looking cheque from a bank they have never heard of. They can be even less willing when they find out how long the money takes to clear.

What I used, which was very easy, and reasonable, was escrow.com. Without typing a short story on how it works, it's basically a safe way for both the buyer and seller, and cost me about $200 at the time....split 2 ways....$100 each for a safe, fast, and realiable method.....great service!

I was able to meet the seller at the airport, go out, look at the truck, then come back in, sign on to escrow, release the funds, and voila, done deal....very slick!

[wildone]

Is it advisable to give more than 72 hours notice. IE: Have the dealer fax the documents one week before you cross?

[flaming homer]

Is it advisable to give more than 72 hours notice. IE: Have the dealer fax the documents one week before you cross?My dealer faxed it as soon as I paid a depost via Credit Card, which was 3-weeks prior to pick-up. I did make him call them 1 week prior to verify that everything is good to go, and he did just that.

[wildone]

thx. Ok so I spoke with the dealer again. He does have a certificate of Origin on the vehicle but he says he's not sure how to 'sign that over to me'. He says he usually sends that to the DMV and they issue a certificate of title. I figure I don't need the title, just the certificate of origin correct? Less work for him I just need to convince him of this...

[Luckster]

wildone, I just imported a new car from Seattle, WA back to Edmonton. When the car is paid in full, my dealership faxed me with the certificate of origin, on the back there is a place for the dealer to transfer the car to you. You need to fax this to US custom 72 hours before crossing. When you get back to Edmonton, just have RIV email you the Form 2, you can call them to do this. Take the Form 2 and your car to an inspection place. Once the car is inspected, you can take your Form 2 and the certificate of origin to a registry place to register your car. Just a little tip, I took my car to Freedom Ford for the inspection, it was super quick and no hassle. Unlike Crappy Tire where they wanted the car all day to do this. I was in and out of Freedom Ford in 10 min. Just call ahead and make sure that the service advisor that does this is there. He's the only guy that does it, I forgot his name though. I had the car registered 1 day after I got back. Just make sure when you are going through Canadian Custom, have your recall clearance letter ready and make sure they get a copy to fax to RIV with the Form 1. RIV will not send you the Form 2 unless they have both the Form 1 and and recall clearance letter. Call RIV as soon as you get back and make sure they have all the paper work, this usually speed up the process.

Good Luck

[lindmar]

wildone, I just imported a new car from Seattle, WA back to Edmonton. When the car is paid in full, my dealership faxed me with the certificate of origin, on the back there is a place for the dealer to transfer the car to you. You need to fax this to US custom 72 hours before crossing. When you get back to Edmonton, just have RIV email you the Form 2, you can call them to do this. Take the Form 2 and your car to an inspection place. Once the car is inspected, you can take your Form 2 and the certificate of origin to a registry place to register your car. Just a little tip, I took my car to Freedom Ford for the inspection, it was super quick and no hassle. Unlike Crappy Tire where they wanted the car all day to do this. I was in and out of Freedom Ford in 10 min. Just call ahead and make sure that the service advisor that does this is there. He's the only guy that does it, I forgot his name though. I had the car registered 1 day after I got back. Just make sure when you are going through Canadian Custom, have your recall clearance letter ready and make sure they get a copy to fax to RIV with the Form 1. RIV will not send you the Form 2 unless they have both the Form 1 and and recall clearance letter. Call RIV as soon as you get back and make sure they have all the paper work, this usually speed up the process.

Good Luck

What type of car did you import?

[lindmar]

What type of car did you import?

Can anyone confirm for me weather or not they bought a car in Michigan and if you have to pay sales tax.

[silverspec]

As previously mentioned, you cannot do it the same day.....72 hrs notice. So, if you know you are bringing the car back 72hrs before you go down, you could give notice before you leave. I used an auto broker who had an office at our local border crossing to do all the paperwork and importation....cost about $200. I was really pressed for time, so I could not do it myself.



Well, people don't collect tax on private sales, so this is non-issue. Yes, you will have to pay all taxes in Canada. One when you cross the border, the other when you insure it.



I got a waiver which was just added on to my normal insurance. It was a 10 day thing that cost about $90. Now, I'm in BC, so I can almost bet that it varies from province to province. I did not get any type of permit in the US DMV either. I called them in Cali, and they said my local insurer would provide coverage.....it was very confusing to say the least. The guy I biught the truck from left the plates on it, so away I went on a 3 day road trip......all was good.

Another point you might want to consider is payment terms. I found out very quickly, that there is almost no way to easily hand over a large sum of money to a US resident, short of carrying a suitcase full of cash.

Certified cheques that are made on a Canadian bank take at LEAST 3-5 days to clear, and most people will not hand you over the key to their car with some crazy looking cheque from a bank they have never heard of. They can be even less willing when they find out how long the money takes to clear.

What I used, which was very easy, and reasonable, was escrow.com. Without typing a short story on how it works, it's basically a safe way for both the buyer and seller, and cost me about $200 at the time....split 2 ways....$100 each for a safe, fast, and realiable method.....great service!

I was able to meet the seller at the airport, go out, look at the truck, then come back in, sign on to escrow, release the funds, and voila, done deal....very slick!




Thanks a lot for all the info. Really helped me out in getting a better understanding on what's involved. :cheesygri

When using the broker, I am assuming all I would need to provide to the broker is the VIN and the date when I plan to import the vehicle.

Suppose the seller is not willing to leave his plates on the car, what is the procedure to get temporary plates. Since I am not a US resident, will the local DMV issue temp plates to me?

I actually was planning to use escrow.com to take care of the payments, so thanks for confirming how easy it is.

[silverspec]

You will not be able to export it the same day. 72 hours unless you want to argue with U.S. Customs

Refuse to pay any sales tax. Check the State's DMV website for tax exempt vehicles and explain to the dealer that you are exporting the car. If buying privately, you would need to do the same explanation at the local DMV to get that state's temp permit.

Your insurance company should take care of that for you. Word of warning: typically insurance companies can cover out-of-province vehicle for 14-days only from the date of purchase as shown on your bill of sale. They may threaten to cancel your insurance. But they will give you enough time to avoid it. So, once you cross the border, act fast and get the car inspected and registered.


Good luck!

Thanks for all your input.

[scouzi]

This is what I received from Subaru of America for the warranty:

Thank you for visiting the Subaru web site and for your message!

The warranty between Subaru of America and Subaru Canada is mutually interchangeable. As such, you can obtain warranty coverage through any authorized Subaru dealer in Canada as well. This is not mentioned on our web site but the agreement is valid.

Thank you for your message and if you have any other questions, do not hesitate to reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Name Witheld
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer/Dealer Services Department

If you call Subaru of Canada (they have no e-mail), they tell you that it is in theory but the dealers might not be all that helpful!

[82]

So Subaru Canada gave you a honest answer. Can the dealer able to tell the car is from the States?

This is what I received from Subaru of America for the warranty:

Thank you for visiting the Subaru web site and for your message!

The warranty between Subaru of America and Subaru Canada is mutually interchangeable. As such, you can obtain warranty coverage through any authorized Subaru dealer in Canada as well. This is not mentioned on our web site but the agreement is valid.

Thank you for your message and if you have any other questions, do not hesitate to reply to this email.

Sincerely,

Name Witheld
Subaru of America, Inc.
Customer/Dealer Services Department

If you call Subaru of Canada (they have no e-mail), they tell you that it is in theory but the dealers might not be all that helpful!

[jimdorey]

Driving Television has segments on buying and importing from the US. Check out:

http://drivingtv.canada.com/searchbysegments.php?segID=4

--
Jim Dorey
http://marketsaw.blogspot.com

[lindmar]

Just got this from my local Subaru in Detroit

"My name is %%% %%% and I'll be your contact here at ### Sub###aru
in ##. I see from your internet inquiry you're interested in the
Foresters. As for your question about the taxes; according to NAFTA
statutes you will have to pay Michigan's 6% sales tax and you will have
to title and register the vehicle in Michigan prior to transferring it.
Most of our Canadian customers will use a work address or a friend's
address in Michigan in order to expedite this process.
"

What do you guys think of this?

[superwell]

Driving Television has segments on buying and importing from the US. Check out:

http://drivingtv.canada.com/searchbysegments.php?segID=4

--
Jim Dorey
http://marketsaw.blogspot.com


Man if you listen to some of those videos you will just not import anymore. Plus what kind of exchange rate are they stating on that video....

[scouzi]

Just got this from my local Subaru in Detroit

"My name is %%% %%% and I'll be your contact here at ### Sub###aru
in ##. I see from your internet inquiry you're interested in the
Foresters. As for your question about the taxes; according to NAFTA
statutes you will have to pay Michigan's 6% sales tax and you will have
to title and register the vehicle in Michigan prior to transferring it.
Most of our Canadian customers will use a work address or a friend's
address in Michigan in order to expedite this process.
"

What do you guys think of this?

Look elsewhere. State sales taxes and NAFTA have nothing in common.

Buy in New York.

[scouzi]

So Subaru Canada gave you a honest answer. Can the dealer able to tell the car is from the States?

I guess they both gave me the same answer in different words.

Subaru America benefits from this and Subaru Canada suffers from it but they have an agreement between each other to respect.

Subaru Canada is trying to possibly discourage me by "moral suasion" since they can't prevent it.

My insurance company knew that it wasn't a Canadian car when I gave them the VIN - so I guess it's coded into the VIN.

[lindmar]

Look elsewhere. State sales taxes and NAFTA have nothing in common.

Buy in New York.

There wont be much of a savings to come to New York and purchase. If I buy, it will be here in Michigan.

But I thought the same thing. What does NAFTA have to do with sales tax.

Perhaps I'll look at another dealer now.

[perfchris]

Man if you listen to some of those videos you will just not import anymore. Plus what kind of exchange rate are they stating on that video....

Driving tv depends on advertisements and receives most of its cars for the show from these same Canadian car companies that are knowingly selling most of their cars from 15 to 50 percent more expensive in Canada. If manufacturers stopped supplying vehicles, stopped sending the hosts to all the fancy car shows around the world for free and stopped advertising during the show then they would out of a job ! It is as simple as that !

So, although people have written to them to discuss the topic driving TV has tried to discourage people from going through with the process by portraying it as a gruesome, tedious endeavour. From the over 2000 posts on this topic, many people have stuck it to the Canadian branch of these auto manufacturers and the process is not as difficult as driving tv portrays it to be. Also, in most cases, you do not need a broker to do it. If you have ever done some simple paperwork for your passport, for example, it is as easy as that !

Now, could we stop using driving tv as a reliable source of information as these videos have been referenced on this forum at least 10 times.

Know let us continue buying cars from the US with a 93.25 cent dollar !

[superwell]

Driving tv depends on advertisements and receives most of its cars for the show from these same Canadian car companies that are knowingly selling most of their cars from 15 to 50 percent more expensive in Canada. If manufacturers stopped supplying vehicles, stopped sending the hosts to all the fancy car shows around the world for free and stopped advertising during the show then they would out of a job ! It is as simple as that !

So, although people have written to them to discuss the topic driving TV has tried to discourage people from going through with the process by portraying it as a gruesome, tedious endeavour. From the over 2000 posts on this topic, many people have stuck it to the Canadian branch of these auto manufacturers and the process is not as difficult as driving tv portrays it to be. Also, in most cases, you do not need a broker to do it. If you have ever done some simple paperwork for your passport, for example, it is as easy as that !

Now, could we stop using driving tv as a reliable source of information as these videos have been referenced on this forum at least 10 times.

Know let us continue buying cars from the US with a 93.25 cent dollar !


true dat!!

[wildone]

wildone, I just imported a new car from Seattle, WA back to Edmonton. When the car is paid in full, my dealership faxed me with the certificate of origin, on the back there is a place for the dealer to transfer the car to you. You need to fax this to US custom 72 hours before crossing. When you get back to Edmonton, just have RIV email you the Form 2, you can call them to do this. Take the Form 2 and your car to an inspection place. Once the car is inspected, you can take your Form 2 and the certificate of origin to a registry place to register your car. Just a little tip, I took my car to Freedom Ford for the inspection, it was super quick and no hassle. Unlike Crappy Tire where they wanted the car all day to do this. I was in and out of Freedom Ford in 10 min. Just call ahead and make sure that the service advisor that does this is there. He's the only guy that does it, I forgot his name though. I had the car registered 1 day after I got back. Just make sure when you are going through Canadian Custom, have your recall clearance letter ready and make sure they get a copy to fax to RIV with the Form 1. RIV will not send you the Form 2 unless they have both the Form 1 and and recall clearance letter. Call RIV as soon as you get back and make sure they have all the paper work, this usually speed up the process.

Good Luck

Excellent info and advice Luckster! Much appreciated. I will report back on the whole process.

[flaming homer]

Just got this from my local Subaru in Detroit

"My name is %%% %%% and I'll be your contact here at ### Sub###aru
in ##. I see from your internet inquiry you're interested in the
Foresters. As for your question about the taxes; according to NAFTA
statutes you will have to pay Michigan's 6% sales tax and you will have
to title and register the vehicle in Michigan prior to transferring it.
Most of our Canadian customers will use a work address or a friend's
address in Michigan in order to expedite this process.
"

What do you guys think of this?
I say "I'll take my business to Western New York then, spank you very much"...

On a unrelated note, anyone have a GTA Subaru dealer that will service US cars without attitude ? I heard Markham, anywhere else ?

On a even more unrelated note, NY cars seems to have the same emmision standard as California cars (in the case of Subaru), what's that all about, and how does that compare to Canadian models ?

[michelb]

A bit off topic so please respond in this thread http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447598 (this thread is already long enough without discussing specifics of various trim levels) but I'm thinking of getting a Subaru Outback as well as was curious about opinions of a 2.5XT vs a 3.0R and since so many of you have already made the choice, I thought I'd ask here as well.

[82]

I guess he means import tax are eliminated by NAFTA but you still need to pay States tax. But you are right, you pay States tax not because of NAFTA, bad explanation on his part.

There wont be much of a savings to come to New York and purchase. If I buy, it will be here in Michigan.

But I thought the same thing. What does NAFTA have to do with sales tax.

Perhaps I'll look at another dealer now.

[lindmar]

I guess he means import tax are eliminated by NAFTA but you still need to pay States tax. But you are right, you pay States tax not because of NAFTA, bad explanation on his part.


OK. So are we then saying Sales taxes MUST be paid in Michigan.

But not in New York & Washington?

I've got another dealer who is motivated to deal with me checking. I know we have a few WIndsor people here who have imported.. Can anyone chime in.

There is an exemption form they can fill out and a check box that says "other" they are wondering if they can just put "Canadian" in the box.

[flaming homer]

OK. So are we then saying Sales taxes MUST be paid in Michigan

But not in New York & Washington?

I've got another dealer who is motivated to deal with me checking.

There is an exemption form they can fill out and a check box that says "other" they are wondering if they can just put "Canadian" in the box.Ask him if you showed him a Texas address and driver's license does he still charge you Michigan tax.
There is definetly exemption forms for NY. My dealer gave me copies of them (inside my "package"), but I had absolutely no need for it.

[lindmar]

Ask him if you showed him a Texas address and driver's license does he still charge you Michigan tax.
There is definetly exemption forms for NY. My dealer gave me copies of them (inside my "package"), but I had absolutely no need for it.

I'll wait and hear back from the other dealer.
It appears the exemption forms are for the retailer themselves and I simply must sign it and they retain it.
But, if Michigan requires Sales Tax to be paid, this is an official deal kill for residents of this end of Ontario...

[michelb]

I'll wait and hear back from the other dealer.
It appears the exemption forms are for the retailer themselves and I simply must sign it and they retain it.
But, if Michigan requires Sales Tax to be paid, this is an official deal kill for residents of this end of Ontario...

Looks like Michigan is no go (and the dealer wasn't trying to screw you); from their website:

...
Foreign Registration. Persons buying vehicles for titling and registration in another country must pay 6 percent Michigan
sales tax.
...

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/485_72279_7.pdf

[lindmar]

Looks like Michigan is no go (and the dealer wasn't trying to screw you); from their website:

...
Foreign Registration. Persons buying vehicles for titling and registration in another country must pay 6 percent Michigan
sales tax.
...

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/485_72279_7.pdf

Weird.

I looked back in this thread, and we have a importer from Windsor who bought from the same dealer I got that email from and he didnt pay sales tax. He was required to pay a $140 Michigan Registration fee.

[whampoa]

I say "I'll take my business to Western New York then, spank you very much"...

On a unrelated note, anyone have a GTA Subaru dealer that will service US cars without attitude ? I heard Markham, anywhere else ?

On a even more unrelated note, NY cars seems to have the same emmision standard as California cars (in the case of Subaru), what's that all about, and how does that compare to Canadian models ?

I think some Michigan dealers don't bother to do the leg work themselves and fill out the Michigan States tax exemption form.

If that' the case, what else won't they do for their out of States, or even Canadian customers.


According to yyz2hkg, Richmond Hills Subaru and probably others won't give you the attitude. But I'll try to go to Markham and see what happen, I definitely won't take a 'NO' for an answer.


According to this http://www.cleancarcampaign.org/emissions.shtml, NY cars having same emmision standard as California cars. If that's the case do Subaru Outback qualify for a 'Green' rebate. :razz:

The whole process of importing a car from US 'IS' not rocket science, I would even go so far as saying, it's even easier than applying for a passport.

The whole process from beginning to registering the vehicles took me about a week. Try that with the passport office, it's more likely 10 months of just waiting around.

Make sure you have all the paperwork ready and call the border custom days ahead of time to confirm they have the title of your vehicle.

When crossing the border to the US side, tell the US custom that you come to purchase a vehicle and show them the dealer invoice.

[michelb]

Weird.

I looked back in this thread, and we have a importer from Windsor who bought from the same dealer I got that email from and he didnt pay sales tax. He was required to pay a $140 Michigan Registration fee.

If he's an importer, he might have some commercial license that makes him tax exempt (no idea - just guessing). But if he paid the registration fee then he might have registered it in Michigan as well (since he can maybe do it tax free) which isn't what you're doing so it's 2 pretty different cases.

[flaming homer]

Looks like Michigan is no go (and the dealer wasn't trying to screw you); from their website:

...
Foreign Registration. Persons buying vehicles for titling and registration in another country must pay 6 percent Michigan
sales tax.
...

http://www.michigan.gov/documents/485_72279_7.pdfWhat an interesting documentExempt States: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon. These states have no sales tax. New Mexico has no sales tax on vehicles.

[Monsieurmaggot]

A bit off topic so please respond in this thread http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=447598 (this thread is already long enough without discussing specifics of various trim levels) but I'm thinking of getting a Subaru Outback as well as was curious about opinions of a 2.5XT vs a 3.0R and since so many of you have already made the choice, I thought I'd ask here as well.

I narrowed my choices down to the two vehicles you outlined above.

For me, after more Internet research (of course) it came down to a simple decision. The XT runs exclusively on Premium fuel. The 3.0R runs on any grade (Premium is recommended but not required). The XT has the same HP but more torque WHEN the turbo kicks in. This didn't make any difference in my decision. Most of the time (regular driving) you running a four banger. You do get a "fancy-pants" air intake in the hood of the XT. The repair costs on a turbocharged model is much higher than a regularly aspirated engine. There is no indicator that there's a 3.0 Litre in my vehicle whereas the XT has a logo on the back. Mine does have the oval LLBean logo but that's also available as a 2.5 litre trim model. The XT and 3.0R are essentially the same price and have exactly the same options. There is a minor instrumentation difference on the turbo. As you pointed out, the 3.0R is only available with the shiftronic 5-speed transmission. No manual is available.

[yyz2hkg]

I say "I'll take my business to Western New York then, spank you very much"...

On a unrelated note, anyone have a GTA Subaru dealer that will service US cars without attitude ? I heard Markham, anywhere else ?

On a even more unrelated note, NY cars seems to have the same emmision standard as California cars (in the case of Subaru), what's that all about, and how does that compare to Canadian models ?

Flaming Homer...do you mean you heard Markham Subaru services your vehicle with or without attitude, can you confirm. thx...I'd like to know too. I personally have been to many of the dealerships and want to know what you think.

[yyz2hkg]

Richmond Hills Subaru and probably others won't give you the attitude. But I'll try to go to Markham and see what happen, I definitely won't take a 'NO' for an answer.





Whampoa, let me know how everything went. I'd like to know from the guys who imported their vehicles, especially Subaru in Ontario and see how the dealership treat "US Vehcles" Let me know all...A warranty is a warranty after all.

[Monsieurmaggot]

There wont be much of a savings to come to New York and purchase. If I buy, it will be here in Michigan.

But I thought the same thing. What does NAFTA have to do with sales tax.

Perhaps I'll look at another dealer now.

It's interesting that the State of Michigan website indicates that Sales tax is applied to all vehicles. I can't believe they can get away with that. I do remember hearing that Michigan is on the verge of bankruptcy like New Jersey was last year.

I also think volume purchases have a bearing on this. My NY State Subaru dealer was processing about a dozen Canadian sales a month. I don't think a single Michigan Subaru dealer is processing that many for the Windsor market. The Windsor/Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo markets are exactly the reverse. Where there might be little volume car purchases coming from Windsor into Detroit, I did read that Windsor was a hotbed of US purchases a few years ago when the dollar was so low. Windsor car dealers made a killing for years. The recent Toyota class action anti-trade lawsuit brought this to light. Now the tables have reversed.

Lots of money crossing the border on a daily basis.

There are huge numbers of buyers in the GTA going into NY State buying and importing cars. As Canada Customs at Lewiston told me, they process about 100 - 150 private sales per day. That number can jump to 600 - 650 in the peak summer period. That's a lot of cars coming over and cash leaving the country. Auto Trader is full of US imported cars. Lots of curb-side vendors selling US cars in the Toronto papers too. With the Canadian dollar getting closer to par, you know those numbers will continue to rise. I'd expect some reaction from the Canadian automotive retailers but I suspect they're powerless to stop the free trade or risk the same wrath that Toyota endured in the US. They can stop honouring warranties but when you save $10,000 or more, that won't stop many buyers...

[scouzi]

It's interesting that the State of Michigan website indicates that Sales tax is applied to all vehicles. I can't believe they can get away with that. I do remember hearing that Michigan is on the verge of bankruptcy like New Jersey was last year.

I also think volume purchases have a bearing on this. My NY State Subaru dealer was processing about a dozen Canadian sales a month. I don't think a single Michigan Subaru dealer is processing that many for the Windsor market. The Windsor/Detroit and Toronto/Buffalo markets are exactly the reverse. Where there might be little volume car purchases coming from Windsor into Detroit, I did read that Windsor was a hotbed of US purchases a few years ago when the dollar was so low. Windsor car dealers made a killing for years. The recent Toyota class action anti-trade lawsuit brought this to light. Now the tables have reversed.

Lots of money crossing the border on a daily basis.

There are huge numbers of buyers in the GTA going into NY State buying and importing cars. As Canada Customs at Lewiston told me, they process about 100 - 150 private sales per day. That number can jump to 600 - 650 in the peak summer period. That's a lot of cars coming over and cash leaving the country. Auto Trader is full of US imported cars. Lots of curb-side vendors selling US cars in the Toronto papers too. With the Canadian dollar getting closer to par, you know those numbers will continue to rise. I'd expect some reaction from the Canadian automotive retailers but I suspect they're powerless to stop the free trade or risk the same wrath that Toyota endured in the US. They can stop honouring warranties but when you save $10,000 or more, that won't stop many buyers...

It's the price to be in a free market economy. Canadian dealers can argue all they want but it's the same for many Canadian companies selling abroad. Their business gets hurts as well. Car companies who lobby for free trade can't have their cake and eat it too. Free trade is for everyone.

Car companies can't really lower there MSRP in Canada since they will piss-off recent buyers. All they can do is offer huge incentives like 0% financing etc.

[crasher]

Private purchase or company purchase, is same as in both case most of the cars are coming from US, so money is leaving Canada for US. But then there are so many models which are made here in Canada.

[swiler]

I'm very interested in purchasing a Subaru and I'm looking for a dealership in the Eastern US. Just want to cut down on the driving time back to Newfoundland. Anyone able to recommend a dealership otherwise its probably off to NY

Thanks

[loplop]

Hi all, with the dollar being sooooo strong right now, I am looking to import a USED BMW 3 series. I live in Alberta so does anyone know any reputable dealers in the seattle or montana state? Does anyone have experience importing a used bmw cuz I'll definitely appreciate any assistance. From what I have read, the airbag sticker has to be replaced? and does BMW have day time running lights? Any help is appreciated! :) :)

[Gromit]

Car companies can't really lower there MSRP in Canada since they will piss-off recent buyers.

Of course they can. Every other business has fluctuating prices. Some guy got his computer cheaper than I did. Somebody else got his plasma tv cheaper than I did. I got my house cheaper than some other guy.

They keep their MSRP high because they *want* to. Because most mindless sheep trot off to their local dealer and pay whatever they ask.

[Luckster]

What type of car did you import?

2007 Subaru Outback 2.5 with a few options - Total including all taxes and import fees was just under $26,000 Cnd, the same car here in Edmonton with all taxes out the door at a local dealership is over $40K

That was three weeks ago, with today's exchange rate, you should be able to get the same car for around $25,000 Cnd

[sphinxx]

2007 Subaru Outback 2.5 with a few options - Total including all taxes and import fees was just under $26,000 Cnd, the same car here in Edmonton with all taxes out the door at a local dealership is over $40K

That was three weeks ago, with today's exchange rate, you should be able to get the same car for around $25,000 Cnd

DAMN DAMN DAMN...
very nice deal man. Maybe I can afford a decent car now.
LIKE THE BMW 5 series...2005 or 2004.:cheesygri

[Dr.Evil]

Hi all, with the dollar being sooooo strong right now, I am looking to import a USED BMW 3 series. I live in Alberta so does anyone know any reputable dealers in the seattle or montana state? Does anyone have experience importing a used bmw cuz I'll definitely appreciate any assistance. From what I have read, the airbag sticker has to be replaced? and does BMW have day time running lights? Any help is appreciated! :) :)

Please keep us updated, I am in Alberta as well and would like to import a car.

[scouzi]

I'm very interested in purchasing a Subaru and I'm looking for a dealership in the Eastern US. Just want to cut down on the driving time back to Newfoundland. Anyone able to recommend a dealership otherwise its probably off to NY

Thanks

Look at the entire New England inventory (MASS,VT,CT,RI,MAIN,NH) at www.sne1.com.

You click on the vehicule of your choice and make an offer. Someone will either call you or e-mail you within a few hours accepting or counter-offering

Easiest car purchase I ever made.

[hnewfie]

No one replied so I take it that there has been no experience with the Mini Cooper. I am looking for a fun and different car to import but not a true 2 seater. Any suggestions from the group?

Here is the original post:

I tried to read and search for my answer but could not find one.

I would like to import a Mini but have called several dealers in the western usa ( I am in AB) and was told they are not permitted under their dealer contracts with mini to sell internationally.

Has anyone had success with importing a mini and if so which dealership?

They have told me the car needs to be sold and registered to a usa resident. I have an aunt in NC who can buy it but then I would have buy it from her correct?

Any info I can get would be great.

Thanks Everyone

[lindmar]

Got confirmation back from the dealer. He checked with the Michigan Treasury.

I just received the current documentation; it is necessary to pay a 6%
Michigan sales tax on a vehicle purchased from us by Canadian citizens.

So this is a dead deal (a year later) for Windsor/Sarnia area residents.

[Draug]

Look at the entire New England inventory (MASS,VT,CT,RI,MAIN,NH) at www.sne1.com.

You click on the vehicule of your choice and make an offer. Someone will either call you or e-mail you within a few hours accepting or counter-offering

Easiest car purchase I ever made.

Is there a similar service for Montana or Oregon?

[gamer4Life]

Ok, there's like 100+ pages of posts on this thread... is there a post somewhere in there that explains the pros and cons of how to import a car from the US, and how to do it? Can we put a summary in the OP?

[flaming homer]

Ok, there's like 100+ pages of posts on this thread... is there a post somewhere in there that explains the pros and cons of how to import a car from the US, and how to do it? Can we put a summary in the OP?Sure sounds like you're volunteering, good luck and godspeed.

[DSTU]

Ok, there's like 100+ pages of posts on this thread... is there a post somewhere in there that explains the pros and cons of how to import a car from the US, and how to do it? Can we put a summary in the OP?

It's simple.

1. Go to riv.ca to see if the vehicle qualifies to be imported.
2. Shop for car in US
3. Buy car, cross border, pay Riv Fee

As for Warranty coverage in Canada, some manufacturers cover it some don't, its been posted many times in this thread.

[MMMM]

Hi all, with the dollar being sooooo strong right now, I am looking to import a USED BMW 3 series. I live in Alberta so does anyone know any reputable dealers in the seattle or montana state? Does anyone have experience importing a used bmw cuz I'll definitely appreciate any assistance. From what I have read, the airbag sticker has to be replaced? and does BMW have day time running lights? Any help is appreciated!

Try this link:

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50332 Great info and guidelines on how to improt a car step by step.

[crasher]

With ToyotaUSA giving hard time, I may jump for Subaru too.

[loplop]

Thanks MMMM, definitely some good tips. Will update here once I get my facts and info straight! I say we GROUP BUY! LOL:cheesygri

Try this link:

http://www.maxbimmer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=50332 Great info and guidelines on how to improt a car step by step.

[whampoa]

Thanks MMMM, definitely some good tips. Will update here once I get my facts and info straight! I say we GROUP BUY! LOL:cheesygri

I'm in, what are you looking for? Merc, Bimmer or a Lex?

Sedan, SUV or convertible?

[crasher]

I am in for a group buy too. Camry/Legacy

[swiler]

Look at the entire New England inventory (MASS,VT,CT,RI,MAIN,NH) at www.sne1.com.

You click on the vehicule of your choice and make an offer. Someone will either call you or e-mail you within a few hours accepting or counter-offering

Easiest car purchase I ever made.

Thanks for the link ... who did you deal with in particular?

[bigbug]

There are contrary info as to whether Lexus (Toyota) would honour their warranty in Canada or not. And they are still debating if the $2000+$1000 tax rebate would be offered to imported hybrid cars.

If all the results are positive, buying a RX400h in US is not much higher than a RX350. Here is the math:

Rx350: $35000*1.1*1.14= $43890 CAD
Rx400h: $38000*1.1*1.14-3000=$44652 CAD

(based on base model I quote from a US dealer)

difference is merely $762, let alone the huge difference between import price and the Canadian price.

Did I miss something here?

[perfchris]

You are missing the 6.1 % duty of the RX400H built in Japan vs RX350 built in Canada.

There are contrary info as to whether Lexus (Toyota) would honour their warranty in Canada or not. And they are still debating if the $2000+$1000 tax rebate would be offered to imported hybrid cars.

If all the results are positive, buying a RX400h in US is not much higher than a RX350. Here is the math:

Rx350: $35000*1.1*1.14= $43890 CAD
Rx400h: $38000*1.1*1.14-3000=$44652 CAD

(based on base model I quote from a US dealer)

difference is merely $762, let alone the huge difference between import price and the Canadian price.

Did I miss something here?

[j27lee]

Got this last night from a Toyota dealer I was working with:

Sorry to let you know that we took too long to move on the Matrix...Toyota cut off all US Dealers this afternoon - we can no longer sell cars to Canada unless you have dual citizenship - I no longer can help you, nor should any other US Dealers be able to without violating their franchise agreement. Wish we had moved on the Matrix a couple of days ago.

Thank You for the Opportunity.

:(

back to square one... maybe a subaru?

[sphinxx]

I am in for a group buy too. Camry/Legacy

Count me in...I'm looking for a German !:razz:
The prices are scary here.
spx

[scouzi]

Got this last night from a Toyota dealer I was working with:

Sorry to let you know that we took too long to move on the Matrix...Toyota cut off all US Dealers this afternoon - we can no longer sell cars to Canada unless you have dual citizenship - I no longer can help you, nor should any other US Dealers be able to without violating their franchise agreement. Wish we had moved on the Matrix a couple of days ago.

Thank You for the Opportunity.

:(

back to square one... maybe a subaru?

Subaru is probably the best choice of all (if you like them of course) for the following reasons).
1) The MSRP spread after exchange rate between Canada and the US is probably the largest
2) There are some large factory incentives right now in the US (making way for the 2008)
3) Warranty is interchangeable between countries (in writing)
4) Easy system to browse and bid at existing inventory
5) Dealers are extremely eager to unload them to Canadians
6) Some models are NAFTA cars

You can get $6k off a Tribeca by merly asking. (I got $5500 off because it was the last blue one and they were physically closer).Some demos with 4000 miles can be had for $8k off.

[jrvic]

Got this last night from a Toyota dealer I was working with:

Sorry to let you know that we took too long to move on the Matrix...Toyota cut off all US Dealers this afternoon - we can no longer sell cars to Canada unless you have dual citizenship - I no longer can help you, nor should any other US Dealers be able to without violating their franchise agreement. Wish we had moved on the Matrix a couple of days ago.

Thank You for the Opportunity.

:(

back to square one... maybe a subaru?


So now they want you to show citizenship to purchase a new Toyota in the U
s?

[jrvic]

Thanks for your opinions/ideas. I do want to keep the RX as a Canadian vehicle. I will email a Lexus dealer in Buffalo stating my case. I will keep the forum updated with their responses.

I contacted the dealer and was informed that they can only sell new Lexuses to people with valid US driver licence, address and insurance. That's it. They don't want to know what you do with your purchase afterward.

[scouzi]

Thanks for the link ... who did you deal with in particular?

I'm dealing with Burlington Subaru which is good so far. Supposed to pick up the car tomorrow.

The deaper South you go the less familiar they are about the exporting process. However, you get better deals as you move south it seems. At least, I noticed that they give you better pricing right off the bat in the south.

[bigbug]

Got this last night from a Toyota dealer I was working with:

Sorry to let you know that we took too long to move on the Matrix...Toyota cut off all US Dealers this afternoon - we can no longer sell cars to Canada unless you have dual citizenship - I no longer can help you, nor should any other US Dealers be able to without violating their franchise agreement. Wish we had moved on the Matrix a couple of days ago.

Thank You for the Opportunity.

:(

back to square one... maybe a subaru?


What dealership did you talk to? There are so many students and work-permit holders living in US without US citizenship. I don't believe Toyota won't sell cars to them. All you need is a US driver's license.

[michelb]

I'm dealing with Burlington Subaru which is good so far. Supposed to pick up the car tomorrow.

The deaper South you go the less familiar they are about the exporting process. However, you get better deals as you move south it seems. At least, I noticed that they give you better pricing right off the bat in the south.

I think it's often convenient to find a dealer nearby simply to save on traveling but I really wouldn't worry about finding a dealer familiar with the exporting process as there really isn't much for them to do; the only thing they might do for you is fax the title to the POE but in most cases, it's no more trouble just to do that yourself anyway so it's not much of a benefit. The only case where it helps is if they fax it over before you pick up the car but that only really works if you are prepared to pay for the car in full before picking it up (I think most of us still want to inspect / test drive the car before we buy it) because I think the title you fax to the POE has to be signed over and they dealership won't sign it over until you pay for it (please correct me if I'm wrong). In a way, it's actually almost more convenient to go far since US Customs needs the title 72 hrs before you export - if you buy in NY and live in TO, you have to wait to export the car - if you buy in FL, you can drive back and it's pretty much been long enough by the time you get to the border.

[whampoa]

...The only case where it helps is if they fax it over before you pick up the car but that only really works if you are prepared to pay for the car in full before picking it up (I think most of us still want to inspect / test drive the car before we buy it) because I think the title you fax to the POE has to be signed over and they dealership won't sign it over until you pay for it (please correct me if I'm wrong). In a way, it's actually almost more convenient to go far since US Customs needs the title 72 hrs before you export - if you buy in NY and live in TO, you have to wait to export the car - if you buy in FL, you can drive back and it's pretty much been long enough by the time you get to the border.

No, you don't have to paid in full to get the title, you just have to make a small deposit.

In my case, no deposit at all, only gentlemen agreement. :D

The dealer should fax it directly to the US border custom 72 business hours prior to export.

Note, different border crossing have different rule at how they want the title to be received (fax, mail or in person).

[TorontoEh]

So now they want you to show citizenship to purchase a new Toyota in the U
s?

What! ? i think that guy from toyota is on drugs or something... Unless they've recently changed their policy of no selling to canadians...its bs.... If I were on the phone, I would've told him so yall should stop selling Toyotas in California

[bigbug]

You are missing the 6.1 % duty of the RX400H built in Japan vs RX350 built in Canada.

You are right...now someone please convince me the extra $2600 is acceptable...:(

[flaming homer]

What! ? i think that guy from toyota is on drugs or something... Unless they've recently changed their policy of no selling to canadians...its bs.... If I were on the phone, I would've told him so yall should stop selling Toyotas in CaliforniaA request for US driver's license, address and insurance does eliminate most Canadians...

[michelb]

No, you don't have to paid in full to get the title, you just have to make a small deposit.

In my case, no deposit at all, only gentlemen agreement. :D

The dealer should fax it directly to the US border custom 72 business hours prior to export.

Note, different border crossing have different rule at how they want the title to be received (fax, mail or in person).

Thanks for the update.

I guess that's one more thing that each POE might do differently. I believe mine wanted the 'completed' title (i.e. with the information on the back completed saying that it was sold to me) even though technically they don't need this since all they are looking for is liens on it so it doesn't matter if it's 'completed' or not. I can't imagine a dealership agreeing to sign over the title before you pay the full amount.

Even in this case though, as long as you have access to a fax machine, you can just get the dealership to fax it to you and you can fax it to the POE so there's still not much being done by the dealership.

[michelb]

A request for US driver's license, address and insurance does eliminate most Canadians...

Actually the insurance is relatively easy (although it can still be a pain and expensive if you don't have driving history in the US); it's the US driver's license that's a real pain. Unless I'm mistaken, it's illegal to hold more than one driver's license and when you a apply for one in a new state, you need to surrender the old one (there are a few exceptions to this (e.g. FL has (or had) a 'temp resident license' and I believe 'international drivers licenses' are treated differently).

Basically, what they are saying is that you need to be a US resident. For what it's worth, I suspect (but haven't verified) that most dealers would sell to you no problem with only a US address (and insurance, although that's a licensing issue and not a selling one, I think technically, they'd probably still sell to you if you didn't have insurance but they won't be able to provide you temp/perm tags).

-- Update --

US drivers license: I double checked Florida's website and they actually have a 'For Use In Florida Only' label on the license they give to Canadians so other states may have the same thing so it's possible to hold a US and a CND drivers license.

[sonicDX]

The form 2 asks for these modifications :
1. mile odometer --------done
2. DRL --------------------done
3. French SRS maintenance label if it is equipped with an air bag that requires periodic meaintenance . ???
4. Vehicle been modified --------no.
5. air bad equipped vihicles are required to have functioning air bags ----------yes.

what is the French SRS maintenance lable there ?
Will CT put some lable for me ?

I don't want to go to CT and they disapprove this vehicle .

thanks !

[michelb]

The form 2 asks for these modifications :
...
3. French SRS maintenance label if it is equipped with an air bag that requires periodic meaintenance . ???
4. Vehicle been modified --------no.
5. air bad equipped vihicles are required to have functioning air bags ----------yes.

what is the French SRS maintenance lable there ?
Will CT put some lable for me ?

I don't want to go to CT and they disapprove this vehicle .

thanks !

I believe the stickers on the visor and any stickers about airbag maintenance (maybe in the glove compartment) need to be French/English. I thought I read that the best place to get them was from Chrysler (many other manufacturers 'bake' the label onto the visor and you can't really just buy the label - Chrysler has actual stickers).

If you look at some of the external links that are included in the messages (I think there was some a few days ago, one of them has the actual part number).

[whampoa]

You are right...now someone please convince me the extra $2600 is acceptable...:(

Yes, a saving of 20k including the extra $2600 is definitely acceptable, don't you think so.

In response to michelb, it doesn't matter to the dealer if they fax the title. both front and back, to you and to US custom.

The dealer should do all they can to make it easier for you to take it back, unless you're Toyota.

Even if the US custom have your title, you still have to paid the dealer in full at the time of possession. Otherwise, you won't have the vehicle to bring back, right.

[Monsieurmaggot]

The form 2 asks for these modifications :
1. mile odometer --------done
2. DRL --------------------done
3. French SRS maintenance label if it is equipped with an air bag that requires periodic meaintenance . ???
4. Vehicle been modified --------no.
5. air bad equipped vihicles are required to have functioning air bags ----------yes.

what is the French SRS maintenance lable there ?
Will CT put some lable for me ?

I don't want to go to CT and they disapprove this vehicle .

thanks !

Hold on a second! They had you modify the odometer to import your car?

My Form 2 simply indicated that the tech. needed to check the speedometre (for dual readings) and to confirm the odometer measured in miles. I didn't have to modify my odometer in any way. My conformation sticker says my vehicle conforms to all Canadian Standards. Sounds like there might be an inconsistency here.

The weird thing about my US Subaru is that ALL stickers (everywhere including the airbag warnings, the engine compartment and door sill warning labels) are in both English and French.

[sonicDX]

Hold on a second! They had you modify the odometer to import your car?

My Form 2 simply indicated that the tech. needed to check the speedometre (for dual readings) and to confirm the odometer measured in miles. I didn't have to modify my odometer in any way. My conformation sticker says my vehicle conforms to all Canadian Standards. Sounds like there might be an inconsistency here.

French.


my bad , the actual writing is " attach miles odometer lable if required . "
I am not going to make any odometer modification .

BTW, I checked the visor , there are warning lable for airbags with English/French/Spanish .

CT and MVP , here I come !

[michelb]

...
In response to michelb, it doesn't matter to the dealer if they fax the title. both front and back, to you and to US custom.
...
Even if the US custom have your title, you still have to paid the dealer in full at the time of possession. Otherwise, you won't have the vehicle to bring back, right.

Others have mentioned wanting to find a dealer 'familiar' with the export process - my point was simply that the dealer really doesn't do anything that you can't do yourself so IMO, there's not much to gain even if the dealer is willing to help you export it; there's just not much for them to do.

As far as the title, if it's signed over to you, the car belongs to you. You might owe them money on it since you haven't paid it all but officially it's your car (and to make things worse, they haven't registered a lien on it so it could be hard for them to collect the money for it). Once it's signed over, the dealer is screwed if you back out - the car is in your name and only you can sell it to someone else (technically, if they still have the original, they could destroy it and then apply for a new one but there could be legal issues with that).

[j27lee]

What dealership did you talk to? There are so many students and work-permit holders living in US without US citizenship. I don't believe Toyota won't sell cars to them. All you need is a US driver's license.

It was a dealer in Montana. If anyone knows of a dealer close to Alberta who is still willing to deal, let us know!

[whampoa]

my bad , the actual writing is " attach miles odometer lable if required . "
I am not going to make any odometer modification .

BTW, I checked the visor , there are warning lable for airbags with English/French/Spanish .

CT and MVP , here I come !

A little word of advice, if the MTO licensing office ask for a copy of safety certificate. Unless you bought it used, just tell them it's brand new from the dealer.

And if you have a copy of Form 2, which you don't have, don't show it to them it has the odometer reading from CT.

And if they still insist on the certificate just tell them it has 0 miles and that it was tow to your destination. They won't physically go and look at the reading.

[jayk]

I'm in a group buy for Mercedes for a friend. (I wish me)

[whampoa]

As far as the title, if it's signed over to you, the car belongs to you. You might owe them money on it since you haven't paid it all but officially it's your car (and to make things worse, they haven't registered a lien on it so it could be hard for them to collect the money for it). Once it's signed over, the dealer is screwed if you back out - the car is in your name and only you can sell it to someone else (technically, if they still have the original, they could destroy it and then apply for a new one but there could be legal issues with that).

That's the thing, the dealer don't sign the back of the title until they're paid. They only fax a copy of the title with vehicle description and VIN.

Technically, you haven't bought it yet, and it's not your vehicle. What custom care about it's ONLY the title of the vehicle and VIN.

OBTW, it seemed you're worried too much, keep repeating the same questions and making it sounds more troublesome to import than it's in reality.

[whampoa]

I'm in a group buy for Mercedes for a friend. (I wish me)

I will advise against it, unless you want to make a few grand out of it. Think about it, your friend has to pay PST on top of the one you pay for registering it in Ontario.

Oh, did I mentioned your friend has to pay PST base on the retail Canadian used car value.

[darock_sayz]

He,
Could anyone potentially detail the process to get your Toyota warranty registered in Canada ? I know they saw they will honour it, but not sure what steps or obsticles I might have to face.

Also, as per a few threads above, it seems Toyota has warned all its dealers against selling to Canadians recently again...I think there are still a few out there...wish me good luck (washington state area)!

[superwell]

He,
Could anyone potentially detail the process to get your Toyota warranty registered in Canada ? I know they saw they will honour it, but not sure what steps or obsticles I might have to face.

Also, as per a few threads above, it seems Toyota has warned all its dealers against selling to Canadians recently again...I think there are still a few out there...wish me good luck (washington state area)!

There really isn't a "way" to have it warrantied. Either it is or isn't. The Toyota story has changed 50 times in the last year..yes, then no, then yes. then no. According to the drivingtv video toyota was the only one to respond and they said yes. So people have said no. I think your bigger worry should be if you can buy it or not instead of warranty. It seems as this is getting more popular that it's harder and harder to get any car right now. Warranty is a bonus but with the money you save you can put that into repairs in the next 3 years if needed anyway.

[james-007]

He,
Could anyone potentially detail the process to get your Toyota warranty registered in Canada ? I know they saw they will honour it, but not sure what steps or obsticles I might have to face.

Also, as per a few threads above, it seems Toyota has warned all its dealers against selling to Canadians recently again...I think there are still a few out there...wish me good luck (washington state area)!

There is no process you need to go through to registered in Canada. Just take you vehicle in to a dealer in Canada to have the warranty work done on it. This I'm speaking from experience. I had to get minor work done my new Highlander and small town dealership knew exactly what they need to do.

[sonicDX]

Hold on a second! They had you modify the odometer to import your car?

My Form 2 my US Subaru is that ALL stickers (everywhere including the airbag warnings, the engine compartment and door sill warning labels) are in both English and French.


All done .
I am now a official RFD !
Sienna has nothing to modify if DRL is enabled .( it is an option , but there is a way to enable it with just a fuse )

[shopper-X]

All done .
I am now a official RFD !
Sienna has nothing to modify if DRL is enabled .( it is an option , but there is a way to enable it with just a fuse )

ha ha ha....$100 option with a $0.50 part, gotta love the auto industry.

[Luckster]

I've got a lot of Private Messages regarding where I bought my new 2007 Outback, so I'm going to post here to help all those considering a Subaru that are living in Alberta and BC.

I bought my car from Carter Subaru in Seattle. I dealt with the internet sales manager Joe Spitz, he has a website that is the most comprehensive Subaru information website that I know... www.cars101.com Here he provides all invoice prices, rebates etc... and all features and changes of each model, if you are considering a Subaru, definitely check that site out. Joe evens gives you a step by step guide on importing a vehicle to Canada. Joe was super easy to deal with and he is a straight shooter, you do not get any BS from him. Carter Subaru also have a one price no haggle policy. But believe me, their price is more than fair. When I call Joe to get a quote on my car, the price that I got beat my expectation by more than $700, this was without any negotiation or haggling. I did all my pricing research on www.edmunds.com and www.kbb.com. Joe Spitz and Carter Subaru definitely has lots of experiences in selling to Canadians so it was a zero hassle experience for me. It was definitely the easiest new car purchase I've ever made. The importation process is super easy as long as you follow the instructions and have all your paperwork ready when crossing the border.

For those living in Edmonton, I suggest you take your car to Freedom Ford to get the RIV inspection done. I tried Canadian Tire and gave up. Crappy Tires gave me the go around like 'our tech that does this is not available so you have to come back' and 'you have to leave your car here all day as we can only do it when we get around to it'. So I called Freedom Ford because they was also on the approved inpectors list that RIV provided. Freedom Ford have a Service advisor that specifically do this, just call and make sure that he's around. If he is, you're in and out with the inspection in less than 15 minutes. There was zero modification that needed to be done as Subaru has DRL, the french airbag stickers and the metric speedomter marking. After this was done, I went straight to a registry and had my car registered 15 minutes later.

I hope that answers a lot your questions. This was definitely the easiest $13-14K that I saved. Definitely easier than doing a PM at Staples or Futureshop.

[Liquidium]

After reading all this I got excited and now I am picking up a 2007 White Subaru STi. Im going down Tuesday to get it. After flying, taxes (including duty) I am still saving over $10,000. A couple questions though...

1) Should I take my alberta plate down with me?
2) Can I get the temporary insurance before hand?
3) Is that all I need is a plate and insurance to drive it back?

Its going to be a FUN drive throught the rockies from Seattle to Edmonton :)...Ill see what this car is REALLY made of!

[crasher]

After reading all this I got excited and now I am picking up a 2007 White Subaru STi. Im going down Tuesday to get it. After flying, taxes (including duty) I am still saving over $10,000. A couple questions though...

1) Should I take my alberta plate down with me?
2) Can I get the temporary insurance before hand?
3) Is that all I need is a plate and insurance to drive it back?

Its going to be a FUN drive throught the rockies from Seattle to Edmonton :)...Ill see what this car is REALLY made of!

Congratulations for your new Subaru!
You dont need any plate, as your dealer would provide you with temp. permit, which is good for 21 days.
Dont know about Alberta, but here in ontario, the existing insurance covers for new vehicle for 30 days.
EDIT: Just checked the Ontario Insurance Policy section 2.2.1. New vehicle is automatically insured for 14 days, NOT 30 days as I previously stated.

[Da Mango]

Has anyone in the GTA or neighbouring cities had success in importing a Lexus RX 400h? Can you provide any info wrt the dealer, process, taxes paid, etc...? Thanks... if not, anybody want to start thinking about a group buy for any Lexus cars?

[algrande]

I've got a lot of Private Messages regarding where I bought my new 2007 Outback, so I'm going to post here to help all those considering a Subaru that are living in Alberta and BC.

I bought my car from Carter Subaru in Seattle. I dealt with the internet sales manager Joe Spitz, he has a website that is the most comprehensive Subaru information website that I know... www.cars101.com Here he provides all invoice prices, rebates etc... and all features and changes of each model, if you are considering a Subaru, definitely check that site out. Joe evens gives you a step by step guide on importing a vehicle to Canada. Joe was super easy to deal with and he is a straight shooter, you do not get any BS from him. Carter Subaru also have a one price no haggle policy. But believe me, their price is more than fair. When I call Joe to get a quote on my car, the price that I got beat my expectation by more than $700, this was without any negotiation or haggling. I did all my pricing research on www.edmunds.com and www.kbb.com. Joe Spitz and Carter Subaru definitely has lots of experiences in selling to Canadians so it was a zero hassle experience for me. It was definitely the easiest new car purchase I've ever made. The importation process is super easy as long as you follow the instructions and have all your paperwork ready when crossing the border.

For those living in Edmonton, I suggest you take your car to Freedom Ford to get the RIV inspection done. I tried Canadian Tire and gave up. Crappy Tires gave me the go around like 'our tech that does this is not available so you have to come back' and 'you have to leave your car here all day as we can only do it when we get around to it'. So I called Freedom Ford because they was also on the approved inpectors list that RIV provided. Freedom Ford have a Service advisor that specifically do this, just call and make sure that he's around. If he is, you're in and out with the inspection in less than 15 minutes. There was zero modification that needed to be done as Subaru has DRL, the french airbag stickers and the metric speedomter marking. After this was done, I went straight to a registry and had my car registered 15 minutes later.

I hope that answers a lot your questions. This was definitely the easiest $13-14K that I saved. Definitely easier than doing a PM at Staples or Futureshop.

I also bought a 2006 XT Outback from Joe. It was a pleasure dealing with Joe. Straight shooter, no BS. I know where I"ll be buying my next Subaru!!!

[darock_sayz]

In regards to my Toyota I am purchasing from Washington…wanted to know if this seems ok with the RFD SME's (Subject Matter Experts :)

From a reputable dealer:
They want me to put $500 deposit on my credit card to secure the car - no problem
Then he said they have had some issues with people showing up with certified cheques and would like the money wired to them in advance
At that time, they will fax me my bill of sale and documents needed to go over the border, I'll get them to US Customs, go pick up my car in three days..

I'm just a little weary of paying up front for a piece of paper, but again these guys are quite reputable, is there any other way I could possibly do this transaction ? I'm 2 hours away, so I could drop off the certifed cheque, let it clear and come back and pick up the car I guess…

Thoughts ? Comments ?

[wildone]

safe, easy, trackable... no problem IMO. it's what I did and it'll be two weeks before I pick mine up.

[sonicDX]

Hold on a second! They had you modify the odometer to import your car?
French.

It took me 2 days to finish everything , bought from Northtown .

day 1 :
8:15 Greyhound to Buffalo , with refundable round-trip ticket .
10:30 Reach Peace bridge Lake Erie custom. The custom office asked a few simple questions . I told them I have a draft with me . They looked at it and said it's not endoresed at the back so it's not counted as currency , but they appreciate I showed it to them .
11:30 some delay , then out of custom.
11:45 reach bus station .
1:00 dealer picked me up , I waited for an hour .
1:20 reach dealer office .
2:20 finished all paper work and checked vehicle .
2:30 going across Grand Island on I-190 , paid $0.75 bridge toll.

3:00 reach custom . DO NOT GO ON BRIDGE ! Do not pass the Tim Hortons . The custom office and gate is on the other side of the road . There is a left turn in the middle of the road which is very easy to miss . You can park at the Tim Hortons and check around first. Across the road , there is some buildings , and the Vehicle export office door is facing the road . It's a very small red door , with 6-7 steps stairs outside the building . It's the only red trimed building and the only small red door there .
Just park out side the red door and find the office . There is notes on the doors to lead the way . I went upstairs and got pointed back to the first floor . Follow the instructions , I reached a small room . Only one lady officer there and no one else . She took my certificate of title and found the fax in a cabinet , checked computer , stamp the title ( bill of sale is not required ), I am out of the door . 3 minutes max . No one went outside to check the vehicle .
http://maps.google.ca/?ie=UTF8&t=h&om=1&ll=43.151884,-79.035392&spn=0.002696,0.004989&z=18
Check this link , the lower building is the export office , the upper left building is Tim Hortons.
You have to cross the CA->US traffic to reach the export building .

3:15 heading on the bridge , and reach Canadian custom gate . They asked a few simple questions , price , purpose , gave a yellow slip and pointed me to the custom . The custom is in the middle of HWY .
3:20 find the custom vehicle import counter , they filled form1 and pointed me to the cashier counter which is in the same room . I told the cashier that I want to pay the $206.7 in the RIV office at the 405 West Mall . They are ok . I paid the GST only with credit card . Collect all the paper and leave . No one went outside to check the vehicle again ! 10 minutes max .

3:20 reach another gate , paid USD$3.00 or CAD$3.50 , I am on the way home . No time to go to RIV today .

Day 2:
11:00 at RIV 405 West Mall , parked in the under ground parking , went down all the way to P7 to find a space . The RIV office is on the fifth floor , follow the signs to get there . Again , a small room for customers , no one is waiting . I handed in form1,recall-letter,etc and waited 20 minutes . They process the document and gave me form 2 .

12:30 at Canadian tire , I was told I need to do emission test and safety-check , $136 in total.
2:45 everything clear , no extra charge , I am going to MTO .
3:30 no problem in MTO , pay registration and tax , I got my plates !

It's a fun experince , like a lady shopping in the mall , one excitement after an other .
Thanks you all , especially Monsieurmaggot ! :razz:

Now I understand why rising dollar hurts Canadian export . :razz:

[perfchris]

Someone on acurazine.com imported an RDX and saved about 8000 dollars. He has step by step instructions and even includes the dealer name and sales rep !

So, if anyone is interested in an Acura RDX I guess you can do it and save some serious money: 8000 to 10000 dollars !

[ecgz88]

In regards to my Toyota I am purchasing from Washington…wanted to know if this seems ok with the RFD SME's (Subject Matter Experts :)

From a reputable dealer:
They want me to put $500 deposit on my credit card to secure the car - no problem
Then he said they have had some issues with people showing up with certified cheques and would like the money wired to them in advance
At that time, they will fax me my bill of sale and documents needed to go over the border, I'll get them to US Customs, go pick up my car in three days..

I'm just a little weary of paying up front for a piece of paper, but again these guys are quite reputable, is there any other way I could possibly do this transaction ? I'm 2 hours away, so I could drop off the certifed cheque, let it clear and come back and pick up the car I guess…

Thoughts ? Comments ?

What you can do? nochoice, make sure get the VIN number then wire money.

they just give me one piece paper sold order, I write down clearly I need one made in US, finally they get one made in Japan and give me credit refund back right away.;) Still 20 days passed and I lost 30 dollars:mad: (exchange rate change from .86 to .91) and I lost another 300 dollars since I exchange 6000 CAD upfront.

[ecgz88]

Someone on acurazine.com imported an RDX and saved about 8000 dollars. He has step by step instructions and even includes the dealer name and sales rep !

So, if anyone is interested in an Acura RDX I guess you can do it and save some serious money: 8000 to 10000 dollars !


http://rdx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1410

MDX maybe more:cheesygri

[flaming homer]

http://rdx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1410

MDX maybe more:cheesygri
$245 processing fee ?
No warranty ?
No tricks here....

[perfchris]

$245 processing fee ?
No warranty ?
No tricks here....

What do you mean ?

Processing fees are part of the profit - game in some states....

[perfchris]

http://rdx.acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1410

MDX maybe more:cheesygri

MDX easily 15000 for the high end model. It is made in Canada !

[flaming homer]

What do you mean ?

Processing fees are part of the profit - game in some states....
I mean dude bought a RDX from Washington DC, while he skipped the "state" tax, he didn't end up with Warranty and paid some processing fee that you shouldn't have to. These are not Canadian dealers you know, $1500 PDI + Processing Fees + $ for gas is not really the norm in the States.

No tricks here, anyone can do that. If he can figure out how to get a Ontario made RDX back into Ontario with Warranty and paid as little as possible, then it would be "impressive".

[perfchris]

I mean dude bought a RDX from Washington DC, while he skipped the "state" tax, he didn't end up with Warranty and paid some processing fee that you shouldn't have to. These are not Canadian dealers you know, $1500 PDI + Processing Fees + $ for gas is not really the norm in the States.

No tricks here, anyone can do that. If he can figure out how to get a Ontario made RDX back into Ontario with Warranty and paid as little as possible, then it would be "impressive".

I think it is pretty impressive because Honda and Acura dealers are not supposed to sell to Canadians. I agree with you that he probably could have gotten a better deal on the price and the processing fee but if he was happy saving 8000 instead of 10000 that is his prerogative.

[flaming homer]

I think it is pretty impressive because Honda and Acura dealers are not supposed to sell to Canadians. I agree with you that he probably could have gotten a better deal on the price and the processing fee but if he was happy saving 8000 instead of 10000 that is his prerogative.I haven't read that Honda/Acura dealers not selling to Canadians, I've read here that Toyota/Lexus are the ones that refuses to sell to Canadians. Honda/Acura seems to protect the border via the no-warrranty-on-either-side-of-the-border-once-you-have-exported-it-across-to-Canada strategy...

[thenatureboy]

I'm in, what are you looking for? Merc, Bimmer or a Lex?

Sedan, SUV or convertible?

I'm in for a bimmer group buy.. most likely a 328 or maybe even a 335 :D

[Luckster]

Actually, the Washington State temporary trip permit is only good for 3 days. You can call your insurance to have the car insured on the day you pick it up, they should be able to fax you a temporary pink card. Make sure you have valid insurace as custom may ask you to show proof of insurance on the car before they let you enter the country. I didn't drive back with an Alberta plate, just the temporary permit in the window. The drive back is fun, because you have to vary the rpm on the first thousand miles.


Congratulations for your new Subaru!
You dont need any plate, as your dealer would provide you with temp. permit, which is good for 21 days.
Dont know about Alberta, but here in ontario, the existing insurance covers for new vehicle for 30 days.

After reading all this I got excited and now I am picking up a 2007 White Subaru STi. Im going down Tuesday to get it. After flying, taxes (including duty) I am still saving over $10,000. A couple questions though...

1) Should I take my alberta plate down with me?
2) Can I get the temporary insurance before hand?
3) Is that all I need is a plate and insurance to drive it back?

Its going to be a FUN drive throught the rockies from Seattle to Edmonton :)...Ill see what this car is REALLY made of!

[wildone]

so you can use the temp permit from the US in alberta? You don't have to buy a temp permit from an Alberta registries and swap it at the border?

thx

[scouzi]

Went to Vermont to pick up my Tribeca today:

1) I crossed the US border 3 hours early (69 of 72 hours) at Highgate Springs (I-89). They did not care and stamped the title without even looking at the car.

2) Paid my GST on the Canadian side. From my conversation with them they can't believe the amount of new cars coming through. They said it used to be used cars coming through. They asked me how much I saved and I was reluctant to tell them as it may have been some kind of trick question to pay more taxes. They tortured me (A la Jack Bauer) and I told them the truth :)

3) The price I had to pay taxes on was applied to a value of about $700 less than what I echanged my money at last week when I wired the money. So I saved taxes on the $700 difference. I would have paid $700 CDN less for the car had i bought it a week later.

4) My insurance company went from telling me no for the binder to a full blown insurance policy even before the car is even registered! So I have a full insurance policy right now.

5) Vermont paper plates are valid for 2 months!

6) The dealer gave me free window etching and a $2000 insurance policy on a new car if the car is stolen and not found for free.

[crasher]

Finally secured a deal for new Camry XLE, will do paperwork on Monday, hopefully have it on 7th. Will get another Sienna too.:cheesygri
Savings of $11K on each of them.;)
The list gets longer and bigger. From those listed below, you can see many of us here at RFD have successfully imported cars from the US. Here is the current list of successful RFD importers (part of the elite RFD super savers club):

Monsieurmaggot- Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - Subaru Tribeca
yyz2hkg- Subaru
Flaming_homer- Subaru Forester
Tiffin- Allegro Bay 37' motorhome
Algrande- Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik- Subaru Tribeca
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
MMMM- Honda Element
john_rt- Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna

Anyone else want to add to the list? I'm sure there are more of you out there.

Then there's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan

[Draug]

There's the list started by xriddle indicating what cars have been confirmed as NAFTA vehicles:

Acura: RDX, MDX, TL, CSX,
Mazda: Mazda 6, Tribute
Honda: Accord, Civic, Pilot, CRV, Element
Toyota: Matrix, Corolla, Camry, Tundra, Tacoma, Sienna, Sequoia
Lexus: RX350 2006-07 RX330
Mercedes: R-class, ML
Mitsubishi: Galant, Eclipse, Eclipse Spyder, Raider, Endeavor
BMW: 2002-07 X5, Z4
Saab:9-7x
Subaru: Legacy, Outback, Tribeca
Suzuki: XL7
Hyundai: 2006+2007 Sonata, 2007 Santa Fe
Nissan: Altima, Armada, Titan



Are there any other vehicles that are duty free thanks to NAFTA?

Simply put, the requirement is that more than 50% of the vehicle has to be manufactured in North America. But, I searched the internet for quite some time and wasnt able to find a comprehensive list.

Does anyone have a list containing more vehicles than this?

[crasher]

Are there any other vehicles that are duty free thanks to NAFTA?

Simply put, the requirement is that more than 50% of the vehicle has to be manufactured in North America. But, I searched the internet for quite some time and wasnt able to find a comprehensive list.

Does anyone have a list containing more vehicles than this?

If you looking for particular model, call the manufacturer.

[Draug]

Yeah... that is just it. I am not looking for a specific model.

Rather, I am looking for all vehicles manufactured in North America so that I can choose the possible vehicles from that list. From there, I can decide which one I like best.

At this point, all I know is I want a Wagon or large SUV. I've ruled out the Mazda's because the savings from importing just arent there.

[Gentile]

Does anyone know for sure if there is duty on motorcycles, regardless of where they were made?

[jrvic]

Yeah... that is just it. I am not looking for a specific model.

Rather, I am looking for all vehicles manufactured in North America so that I can choose the possible vehicles from that list. From there, I can decide which one I like best.

At this point, all I know is I want a Wagon or large SUV. I've ruled out the Mazda's because the savings from importing just arent there.

A new Lexus LX 470 will save around 25-30K depending on the exchange rate. However it still cost you around CAD 90K more or less.

[jrvic]

Not sure this has been discussed here before. I am about to pull the trigger on an RX or LX. This purchase will have to go under my name, but I want to eventually has the vehicle on a lease to my business once it's registered in Canada ( don't ask why ). In theory if I sold the car to the leasing company and lease it right back, I would get full credit of the PST and GST, so the taxes would not be an issue.
My question is are there leasing companies willing to do this? who are they?
I think this will probably help a lot of people who don't want to tie up huge chunk of cash in a car.

Comments/suggestions please.

[scouzi]

Not sure this has been discussed here before. I am about to pull the trigger on an RX or LX. This purchase will have to go under my name, but I want to eventually has the vehicle on a lease to my business once it's registered in Canada ( don't ask why ). In theory if I sold the car to the leasing company and lease it right back, I would get full credit of the PST and GST, so the taxes would not be an issue.
My question is are there leasing companies willing to do this? who are they?
I think this will probably help a lot of people who don't want to tie up huge chunk of cash in a car.

Comments/suggestions please.

Mine was bought under my incorporated business name. I did not import it under my personal name. The Title and everything was done to my business name right away. US Customs wanted the Canadian business number. I brought with me my company book and business registration documents but I never had to use it.

Remember, the limit for buying a car in Canada under a business is $30k. You can only get a tax refund on the 30k part. The depreciation expense for income taxe purposes on you business must be as if you paid 30k for the car.

The lease-back part might be interesting but then you give the savings to the leasing company unless they buy it a Canadian inflated prices. Why not drive it one year and sell it at the same price you paid?

[perfchris]

Buyer beware as Chrysler seems to be tightening the screws on Canadians purchasing in the US. From edmunds.com:

"Just as a word of warning regarding the warranty coverage in Canada on some US vehicles. In my case it was a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500. I first became aware of the dealer through Ebay which in his ad he stated he could sell to Canada. I didn't bid but negotiated an deal over the internet and by phone. I asked repeatedly about the warranty coverage in Canada and he said it would be no problem. I asked him to check with Chrysler, he did or so he said and again it was no problem so we had a deal. We firmed up the deal, set a delivery date and I made arrangements to fly down and pick it up. When they went to register it, Chrysler would not accept the registration and the only way I could get the truck was if I purchased it without warranty. Who would purchase a $50K vehicle with no warranty? I talked to Chrysler in the US and in Canada and the answer was the same, no warranty coverage either on new or used no matter how many miles were on it or how long it had been registered. I am finding out now that it is in their franchise agreements that they cannot sell outside of the US. I have set up a complaint file with Chrysler in the US as I think it is a fraud for these dealers to advertise that they can sell to Canada, take your money and then when the dust settles, say they can't sell to you and refund your money. In this case I lost about 2K in exchange and reservations and I thought I had done my homework, so be careful and make sure you check with the manufacturer regarding warranties before you give them any money. So much for free trade. "

[jrvic]

Mine was bought under my incorporated business name. I did not import it under my personal name. The Title and everything was done to my business name right away. US Customs wanted the Canadian business number. I brought with me my company book and business registration documents but I never had to use it.

Remember, the limit for buying a car in Canada under a business is $30k. You can only get a tax refund on the 30k part. The depreciation expense for income taxe purposes on you business must be as if you paid 30k for the car.

The lease-back part might be interesting but then you give the savings to the leasing company unless they buy it a Canadian inflated prices. Why not drive it one year and sell it at the same price you paid?

Yes, I understand the tax implication for business deduction. The trouble with Lexus is that the dealer would not sell the new car to Canadian people/companies. I just happen to have US licence and address.
You have a good point about driving one year and resell it.

[scouzi]

Buyer beware as Chrysler seems to be tightening the screws on Canadians purchasing in the US. From edmunds.com:

"Just as a word of warning regarding the warranty coverage in Canada on some US vehicles. In my case it was a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500. I first became aware of the dealer through Ebay which in his ad he stated he could sell to Canada. I didn't bid but negotiated an deal over the internet and by phone. I asked repeatedly about the warranty coverage in Canada and he said it would be no problem. I asked him to check with Chrysler, he did or so he said and again it was no problem so we had a deal. We firmed up the deal, set a delivery date and I made arrangements to fly down and pick it up. When they went to register it, Chrysler would not accept the registration and the only way I could get the truck was if I purchased it without warranty. Who would purchase a $50K vehicle with no warranty? I talked to Chrysler in the US and in Canada and the answer was the same, no warranty coverage either on new or used no matter how many miles were on it or how long it had been registered. I am finding out now that it is in their franchise agreements that they cannot sell outside of the US. I have set up a complaint file with Chrysler in the US as I think it is a fraud for these dealers to advertise that they can sell to Canada, take your money and then when the dust settles, say they can't sell to you and refund your money. In this case I lost about 2K in exchange and reservations and I thought I had done my homework, so be careful and make sure you check with the manufacturer regarding warranties before you give them any money. So much for free trade. "

There are supposed to be free-trade and anti-trust laws. A Chrysler is a Chrysler no matter who buys it. If companies start playing with warranty coverage so they can sell cars at higher prices in Canada then their brand will suffer.

3rd party warranty coverage will be more and more popular. There is no justification for these price differences. The exchange rate is not the reason. There seems to be some collusion involved.

Car companies lobby for free-trade but they prevent the consumer from taking part. You just remind me why I don't buy Chryslers.

Don't give up on your fight. Maybe we can all back you with a RFD petition.

Put up a vote post and we will vote in support.

[Luckster]

No duty on motorcycles, regardless of where they are made. You can find this info on the Canada Custom site.


Does anyone know for sure if there is duty on motorcycles, regardless of where they were made?

[TIB]

http://www.ldrider.ca/importing/importing.htm

[st7860]

Not sure this has been discussed here before. I am about to pull the trigger on an RX or LX. This purchase will have to go under my name, but I want to eventually has the vehicle on a lease to my business once it's registered in Canada ( don't ask why ). In theory if I sold the car to the leasing company and lease it right back, I would get full credit of the PST and GST, so the taxes would not be an issue.
My question is are there leasing companies willing to do this? who are they?
I think this will probably help a lot of people who don't want to tie up huge chunk of cash in a car.

Comments/suggestions please.

many leasing companies will buy a car from you then lease it back to you.

[Symcrapico]

Went to Vermont to pick up my Tribeca today

Do you mind informing us the model you bought and how much you paid and saved?

[eliteblaze]

which ones/

many leasing companies will buy a car from you then lease it back to you.

[crasher]

With Canadian $ getting par with US $. The savings are about 30% on majority of vehicles.;)

[Gromit]

From a reputable dealer:
They want me to put $500 deposit on my credit card to secure the car - no problem

Shouldn't be a problem. That's the only way my dealer would work things. You've got a wire receipt showing tens of thousands of dollars went into their account, so you're fine.

Make sure you get the $500 back on the credit card. Some dealers forget and you have to chase them down.

Only one lady officer there and no one else . She took my certificate of title and found the fax in a cabinet , checked computer , stamp the title ( bill of sale is not required ), I am out of the door . 3 minutes max . No one went outside to check the vehicle .


It really is hilarious just how different everyone's experience on this can be. My guys went over it with a fine tooth comb, *both* sides of the border inspected the vehicle for about half an hour each.

[scouzi]

I found this on the Mazda USA web site:

http://www.mazdausa.com/MusaWeb/pdf/faq/usa_canada_imp_exp_form.pdf

[scouzi]

Shouldn't be a problem. That's the only way my dealer would work things. You've got a wire receipt showing tens of thousands of dollars went into their account, so you're fine.

Make sure you get the $500 back on the credit card. Some dealers forget and you have to chase them down.



It really is hilarious just how different everyone's experience on this can be. My guys went over it with a fine tooth comb, *both* sides of the border inspected the vehicle for about half an hour each.

I just wired them $500 less.

[scouzi]

Do you mind informing us the model you bought and how much you paid and saved?

I bought I Tribeca and I got $5600 off MSRP out the door including documentation fees.

Dealer included window etching with a $2k cash back towards the purchase of a new one if the car is stolen and not recovered
Dealer physically brought the paperwork to US customs for timestamp
Dealer put a 2 month Transit plate

You can pretty much take any Tribeca and reduce the price by $6k. I chose a dealer closest to me rather than the best deal.

[xcel]

Finally secured a deal for new Camry XLE, will do paperwork on Monday, hopefully have it on 7th. Will get another Sienna too.:cheesygri
Savings of $11K on each of them.;)

I am also looking for Camry 4cyl SE/XLE. Appreciate if you can PM me with some details.

[jayk]

I will advise against it, unless you want to make a few grand out of it. Think about it, your friend has to pay PST on top of the one you pay for registering it in Ontario.

Oh, did I mentioned your friend has to pay PST base on the retail Canadian used car value.

but how's that different from buying any other brand of car?

[quadraphonic]

With parity so close maybe there will be more pressure on the federal government to intervene. We really should be paying the same as our American counterparts on virtually all goods at this point. I'm holding off on a new vehicle purchase for at least year with the hopes (probably naively) that there will be some positive changes in the canadian auto industry.

[shopper-X]

With parity so close maybe there will be more pressure on the federal government to intervene. We really should be paying the same as our American counterparts on virtually all goods at this point. I'm holding off on a new vehicle purchase for at least year with the hopes (probably naively) that there will be some positive changes in the canadian auto industry.

Why would the goverment intervene? They are getting more tax dollars when the Canadian price is set higher.
The Canadian government allows the Canadian auto manufactures to hide the true invoice prices in the efferts to collect more tax dollars.

The only thing I can see happening is the importation rules change in favor of the auto industry.

[Prof]

Finally secured a deal for new Camry XLE, will do paperwork on Monday, hopefully have it on 7th. Will get another Sienna too.:cheesygri
Savings of $11K on each of them.;)

Would also like the details if possible, thanks.

[r2r]

Hi,

Im looking to bring in a 2004 Nissan Altima from New York.

I read through the RIV site, but there are a couple of things Im not sure of. Firstly, I understand that I have to bring title + proof of purchase to the border, but I was told I should mail/fax customs something a couple of days in advance. What is this that I have to send ahead of time?

Also, on the RIV site it talks about a recall clearance letter. This is a private sale, so I don't have the convenience of a dealer doing anything for me to make the process smoother. How would I go about getting this letter? Do I just go to Nissan dealer in New York and get it, any fees?

Thanks

[Analyst]

A new Lexus LX 470 will save around 25-30K depending on the exchange rate. However it still cost you around CAD 90K more or less.

That is what I brought in last year and I paid $80K CAD all in, including shipping it to my door step. It had 1700 miles on it, but I bought it from a dealer.

[Analyst]

Yes, I understand the tax implication for business deduction. The trouble with Lexus is that the dealer would not sell the new car to Canadian people/companies. I just happen to have US licence and address.
You have a good point about driving one year and resell it.

I didn't have a US address and it was no problem.

[quadraphonic]

Why would the goverment intervene? They are getting more tax dollars when the Canadian price is set higher.
The Canadian government allows the Canadian auto manufactures to hide the true invoice prices in the efferts to collect more tax dollars.

The only thing I can see happening is the importation rules change in favor of the auto industry.

Like I said, I'm optomistic.. however, if people keep buying cars anyway, canadian dealers won't have any reason to change.

[shopper-X]

Like I said, I'm optomistic.. however, if people keep buying cars anyway, canadian dealers won't have any reason to change.

Yeah lets just hope the Canadian dealers don't get the Government to change the rules on importing, cutting out all savings.

[whampoa]

but how's that different from buying any other brand of car?

It doesn't matter what brand of car you are importing.

You want to sell to your friend the car you're importing. The problem with that is, your friend have to pay PST when registering to his name, on top of the one you're paying at the MTO.

Remember MTO base the PST on the Canadian use car price (use or new it doesn't matter, and it's usually way higher), and not the US purchase price.

Unless you feel charitable and deduct the cost of the PST from your final selling price to your friend.

It's much better to have your friend purchase it. You do the negotiating, documentation, etc.

However, he had to pick the vehicle himself, show up at the border and pay any taxes.

[Luckster]

It doesn't look like the personal importing is hurting new car sales in Canada, new car sales in May 2007 was the best one month ever in the industry. Sales up 10.3% over May 2006. If people are still paying what the industry is charging here in Canada, I don't think that we'll ever see any change even if the dollar is on par with the USD.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/070604-1.htm

[shopper-X]

It doesn't look like the personal importing is hurting new car sales in Canada, new car sales in May 2007 was the best one month ever in the industry. Sales up 10.3% over May 2006. If people are still paying what the industry is charging here in Canada, I don't think that we'll ever see any change even if the dollar is on par with the USD.

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/070604-1.htm

This is because people like to lease and take advantage of the financing rate and do not want to through all the "hassle" importing.

[jrvic]

I didn't have a US address and it was no problem.


This is what the US dealer told me. I think Lexus is trying to make thing harder to import new cars from the US for Canadians.

[crasher]

This is what the US dealer told me. I think Lexus is trying to make thing harder to import new cars from the US for Canadians.

I am in middle of getting 3 new toyotas(1 Camry, 2 Siennas), and getting so many PMs. So I would mention it here. Only northern states are being instructed by Toyota Motors for not selling to Canadians. Southern states are still OK to sell. I know it is far, but stronger Cad $ makes it worth.
I am getting mine from NC
Just called Lewiston crossing their # is 716-282-1500 x 3. Fax for title is acceptable to them. Fax # is 716-285-3565. They are open from M-F, 8am-4pm
There is additional new tax for vehicles drinking more than 13L/100kms.

[Thumper]

Has anyone brought a RV back from the states? I have been looking at a couple of RV sites for 5th wheels and it would appear I could save $8k+ going across the border. Has anyone used a RV dealer in the states, I live in BC so would prefer someone close in Washington or Oregon.

[jrvic]

I am in middle of getting 3 new toyotas(1 Camry, 2 Siennas), and getting so many PMs. So I would mention it here. Only northern states are being instructed by Toyota Motors for not selling to Canadians. Southern states are still OK to sell. I know it is far, but stronger Cad $ makes it worth.
I am getting mine from NC
Just called Lewiston crossing their # is 716-282-1500 x 3. Fax for title is acceptable to them. Fax # is 716-285-3565. They are open from M-F, 8am-4pm
There is additional new tax for vehicles drinking more than 13L/100kms.

Are you by any chance buying a Sienna XLE Ltd? If yes, please share some details. I am having second thought about the SUVs... I think the minivan is best for transporting baby and family.

[michelb]

Are there any other vehicles that are duty free thanks to NAFTA?

Simply put, the requirement is that more than 50% of the vehicle has to be manufactured in North America. But, I searched the internet for quite some time and wasnt able to find a comprehensive list.

Does anyone have a list containing more vehicles than this?

This has been asked several times and the answer is trivial - NorthAmerican built vehicles have a VIN that starts with a number, Imports have a VIN that starts with a letter. Ask the dealer (or look for the same car on eBay) for the VIN - starts with a number -> duty free, starts with a letter -> 6.1% duty (the only catch is that some cars (e.g. Camrys) are available built in the US and in Japan so it depends on the actual one you get).

Does anyone know for sure if there is duty on motorcycles, regardless of where they were made?

No duty on motorcycles, regardless of where they are made. You can find this info on the Canada Custom site.

I was under the impression that pretty much ANYTHING you buy that is not made in North America (e.g. TV, appliances, clothes, etc) can be subject to duty so I'd double check this.


Has anyone brought a RV back from the states? I have been looking at a couple of RV sites for 5th wheels and it would appear I could save $8k+ going across the border. Has anyone used a RV dealer in the states, I live in BC so would prefer someone close in Washington or Oregon.

I bought a used motorhome in the States (AZ (90 day temp permit or non-residents!!!) and it was pretty trivial. You still have to do the RIV registration for trailers (or motorhomes) but there's not a whole lot to do (I just needed DRLs (I just hard-wired the driving lights to go on when the ignition was on but the guy at CT never checked it anyway). A small hassle with motorhomes is that the chassis and RV manufacturer are usually 2 companies (e.g. GMC or Ford or whatever chassis plus actual RV builder) so you have to get Recall Clearance letters from each.

[applejuice]

Anyone know if I can buy a Harley in Buffalo/Detroit and save major $$$????

Any harley would be a part of Nafta right?

[rkrk]

I am looking for a camry hybrid with the B package (leather/heated seats, moon roof...).

I have received $1800 over invoice so far.

Please share the deals you got and dealer recommendations.

I am in Toronto, Ontario

If anybody had success buying a camry hybrid in the US (NY or NJ) please let me know the details.

[flaming homer]

You can pretty much take any Tribeca and reduce the price by $6k. I chose a dealer closest to me rather than the best deal.When I went to pick up my Forester, I complained to my dealer that I would not want the Turbo version as it requires Premium gas, he said that's the exact reason why the 2007 Tribeca is selling so slowly. The 2008 Tribeca (just announced) uses regular gas, and he expect the sale to pick up.

[scouzi]

When I went to pick up my Forester, I complained to my dealer that I would not want the Turbo version as it requires Premium gas, he said that's the exact reason why the 2007 Tribeca is selling so slowly. The 2008 Tribeca (just announced) uses regular gas, and he expect the sale to pick up.


The 2007 Tribeca does not "require" premium gas. The specs are with premium gas but it is not required. You will lose some horsies and mileage (in the city) if you use regular. There is no warranty issue if you don't.

Nobody's certain why the Tribeca didn't sell but the new one looks kinda generic if you ask me. The previous model was polarizing but I decided to go for a 2007 when I saw the 2008!

The Murano is selling well and uses premium gas. My opinion is that Subaru did not market it right.

[michelb]

When I went to pick up my Forester, I complained to my dealer that I would not want the Turbo version as it requires Premium gas, he said that's the exact reason why the 2007 Tribeca is selling so slowly. The 2008 Tribeca (just announced) uses regular gas, and he expect the sale to pick up.

The 2007 Tribeca does not "require" premium gas. The specs are with premium gas but it is not required. You will lose some horsies and mileage (in the city) if you use regular. There is no warranty issue if you don't.

Nobody's certain why the Tribeca didn't sell but the new one looks kinda generic if you ask me. The previous model was polarizing but I decided to go for a 2007 when I saw the 2008!

The Murano is selling well and uses premium gas. My opinion is that Subaru did not market it right.

I agree with scouzi, lots of cars require premium and lots are cars are selling well (if nothing else the Outback XT and WRX sell well). Also lots of people (myself included) have cars that recommend premium but are driving with regular or mid-grade (I even asked my mechanic and he said if the check engine light doesn't come on, I'm fine).

For whatever reason, a lot of people were turned off by the Tribeca (I have to admit that I'd buy a minivan before buying a Tribeca if I wanted the 7 seats and if I wanted the 5, I'd get an Outback instead).

[michelb]

When I went to pick up my Forester, I complained to my dealer that I would not want the Turbo version as it requires Premium gas, he said that's the exact reason why the 2007 Tribeca is selling so slowly. The 2008 Tribeca (just announced) uses regular gas, and he expect the sale to pick up.

The 2007 Tribeca does not "require" premium gas. The specs are with premium gas but it is not required. You will lose some horsies and mileage (in the city) if you use regular. There is no warranty issue if you don't.

Nobody's certain why the Tribeca didn't sell but the new one looks kinda generic if you ask me. The previous model was polarizing but I decided to go for a 2007 when I saw the 2008!

The Murano is selling well and uses premium gas. My opinion is that Subaru did not market it right.

I agree with scouzi, lots of cars require premium and lots are cars are selling well (if nothing else the Outback XT and WRX sell well). Also lots of people (myself included) have cars that recommend premium but are driving with regular or mid-grade (I even asked my mechanic and he said if the check engine light doesn't come on, I'm fine).

For whatever reason, a lot of people were turned off by the Tribeca (I have to admit that I'd buy a minivan before buying a Tribeca if I wanted the 7 seats and if I wanted the 5, I'd get an Outback instead although those prices are starting to tempt me !!!).

[crasher]

I am looking for a camry hybrid with the B package (leather/heated seats, moon roof...).

I have received $1800 over invoice so far.

Please share the deals you got and dealer recommendations.

I am in Toronto, Ontario

If anybody had success buying a camry hybrid in the US (NY or NJ) please let me know the details.

You wont find any dealer in NY or NJ selling to Canadian. For price check Edmunds.com, or call costco car.

[wildone]

is there any benefit crossing the border into the province you reside in? I live in alberta but I will save 300 miles of driving if I cross at North Portal, SK. I don't know if the import process is the same etc....

thx

[crasher]

is there any benefit crossing the border into the province you reside in? I live in alberta but I will save 300 miles of driving if I cross at North Portal, SK. I don't know if the import process is the same etc....

thx

Import process is same, in Canada

[st7860]

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070604/vehicle_quality.html?.v=5
Hyundai Grabs Lead in Auto Quality Study
Monday June 4, 6:41 pm ET

Korea's Hyundai Leads in 5 Categories in the Annual Vehicle Quality Study

DETROIT (AP) -- When it comes to car quality, think Korean. Hyundai Motor Co. leads in five categories in the annual vehicle quality study released Monday by Strategic Vision Inc., a San Diego-based market research company and consultant to automakers.

Hyundai's rise in the rankings is only the latest sign of the improved overall quality and declining number of defects in today's cars and trucks, said David Cole, chairman of the Center for Automotive Research in Ann Arbor.

"They're coming together to a point where the differences are almost meaningless," Cole said.

He said that means buyers will pay increasing attention to dealer service, new technology, fashion features, price and fuel economy.

Once known best as the maker of cheap, entry-level cars with nagging manufacturing flaws, the South Korean automaker outperformed its Japanese, European and U.S. rivals in this year's survey, based on interviews with 27,780 people who bought 2007 models in September-November 2006.

Last year, Hyundai had no winners. And highly regarded Toyota Motor Corp., despite improving its overall quality, went from four leaders last year to one in 2007.

"Even though Hyundai is often overlooked by the U.S. customer, Hyundai's success in 2007 is not surprising given its current products and ... leadership that is looking to the near and distant future with new designs from styling to powertrain," said Darrel Edwards, Strategic Vision's chief executive.

Hyundai's Azera led among large cars, and its Santa Fe led among small sport utility vehicles. Its Entourage was tied for best minivan with the Quest by Nissan Motor Co. and the Sedona by Hyundai affiliate Kia Motors Corp.

The Kia Sorento led among medium SUVs, Strategic Vision said.

BMW AG led in three individual categories plus best overall brand, and Nissan, Ford Motor Co. and DaimlerChrysler AG led in three each.

Strategic Visions asks buyers to rate all aspects of their new vehicles, from the purchase itself to the ownership and driving experience.

What's new this year is not who's first or second, but rather how satisfied buyers are in general, said company President Alexander Edwards.

"Everybody's doing a terrific job -- that's the news," he said.

Based on a 1,000-point scale, the average new vehicle was rated 864, up from 861 in 2006 and 831 in 1998. As a result, he said, "cues of quality" rather than the number of defects "have a greater impact on the purchase decision."

Overall, Volkswagen AG had the highest corporate average, followed by Honda Motor Co., General Motors Corp., Toyota and Hyundai. Among brand names, BMW was followed by Infiniti, Mercedes Benz, Mini and Jaguar.

Strategic Vision Inc.: http://www.strategicvision.com

[hiphopforce]

is it difficult to import a used car over?

what are the procedures i have to follow?

[nocash]

Also lots of people (myself included) have cars that recommend premium but are driving with regular or mid-grade (I even asked my mechanic and he said if the check engine light doesn't come on, I'm fine).

I've never understood this.

Why did you pay the premium for a performance oriented car then not put the recommended fuel in?

All modern engines will compensate the timing for regular fuel and the car will run just fine. But the cost of changing the timing is lowered performance and lower fuel economy.

[yyz2hkg]

is it difficult to import a used car over?

what are the procedures i have to follow?

Not difficult at all.

Click HERE (http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html)

Then go HERE (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416)

[iceage]

on impreza.

really want to pull the trigger on it.
Due to the strong cad, it's really a good deal.

[Analyst]

It's easy to get used cars over, just buy them from dealers though. Then you don't to go down to get the vehicle. You can have it shipped to Canada for $1700 US. Way better than driving it up. Take into consideration how many days it will take to drive up, the gas, food, hotels, and time. You're not saving much by driving yourself unless it is really close.

I bought my vehicle from Washington, sight unseen. I had it inspected by the Lexus dealership, it was a 2006 Lexus LX470 with 1700 miles on it. I had it shipped to my door step. Everything was cleared for me at the border by the customs broker. It was easy.

[sphinxx]

It's easy to get used cars over, just buy them from dealers though. Then you don't to go down to get the vehicle. You can have it shipped to Canada for $1700 US. Way better than driving it up. Take into consideration how many days it will take to drive up, the gas, food, hotels, and time. You're not saving much by driving yourself unless it is really close.

I bought my vehicle from Washington, sight unseen. I had it inspected by the Lexus dealership, it was a 2006 Lexus LX470 with 1700 miles on it. I had it shipped to my door step. Everything was cleared for me at the border by the customs broker. It was easy.

Really..that sounds like somethign I would do...
You think I could find a good deal on 2005 rx330?

[Gromit]

I just wired them $500 less.

Might be a problem. Your dealer ends up paying the credit card company a percentage of that $500, and it cuts into their profit.

Mine was very insistent that we wire the full amount, and refund the $500.

[Analyst]

Really..that sounds like somethign I would do...
You think I could find a good deal on 2005 rx330?

Keep an eye on Autotrader.com, I usually looked at the site every day or second day to get an idea of what was a good deal. If you find one, just have them take it to a Lexus dealer to have it inspected.

[yyz2hkg]

on impreza.

really want to pull the trigger on it.
Due to the strong cad, it's really a good deal.

Do it...you never know if/when these savings may come to an end. With the current CAD $ over 0.94 cents, what a deal.

[LegiT]

Well....now this thread has got me thinking.

If I were to import a non-NAFTA vehicle, I must pay 6.1% extra after taxes?

[yyz2hkg]

Well....now this thread has got me thinking.

If I were to import a non-NAFTA vehicle, I must pay 6.1% extra after taxes?

FOR EXAMPLE:IIRC

Yes...the 6.1% is applicable.

6% GST, 8% PST on top of the 6.1% duty. Taxes on a top of a tax is always annoying.

So for a $20,000 car, we would pay 6.1% duty, bringing the price up to $21,220.

Then we pay GST/PST on $21,220, bringing the price up to $24190.80.

[wildone]

So has anyone crossed at the SK/ND (Portal) border crossing?

[shopper-X]

So has anyone crossed at the SK/ND (Portal) border crossing?

I'm thinking of there too since I'm in Regina. I will not be ready to buy for another 6 months.

[Monsieurmaggot]

So has anyone crossed at the SK/ND (Portal) border crossing?

If you're in Alberta, why on earth would you cross in SK? Coutts, Alberta is a designated port for car imports.

Where are you planning to buy a car?

[wildone]

buying in Ohio and it would save me 400km of a drive by coming across in SK...

[shopper-X]

buying in Ohio and it would save me 400km of a drive by coming across in SK...

What are you buying?
Have you tried Grand Folks ND?

[wildone]

haven't looked at grand forks. I'm buy 1) 2007 F150 King Ranch and 2) 2007 Expedition EL Limited.

[Ragged]

Sorry guys, but I tried to go through a few pages and am pretty confused, so my simple question is if I am interested in getting a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, will this work at all?

If it does, I will look into it more, but if it doesn't then I guess I'll just move on.

Once again, thanks to those that can just answer my quick question.

[michelb]

Sorry guys, but I tried to go through a few pages and am pretty confused, so my simple question is if I am interested in getting a 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer, will this work at all?

If it does, I will look into it more, but if it doesn't then I guess I'll just move on.

Once again, thanks to those that can just answer my quick question.

2008 no, 2007 yes (except for Evolution)

If it's not on the admissible list at riv.ca, you can't import it. Since the 2007 is there, it's not unrealistic to think that the 2008 will be there eventually but as of today, you can't import it. From past observations, I think it takes a good 6 months after introduction for new model years to make it onto the list so you might be able to in the fall.

[Ragged]

2008 no, 2007 yes (except for Evolution)

If it's not on the admissible list at riv.ca, you can't import it. Since the 2007 is there, it's not unrealistic to think that the 2008 will be there eventually but as of today, you can't import it. From past observations, I think it takes a good 6 months after introduction for new model years to make it onto the list so you might be able to in the fall.

Ya, I just checked the list...that sucks...but assuming it will make the list in the fall, what would be the ballpark saving I'm looking at?

[belgiangenius]

HOLY F####. I just priced out the car I want in Canada and the U.S. $17,000 more in Canada. What the living hell?

Guess where I'm off to...

[Alexo]

There are supposed to be free-trade and anti-trust laws.

Silly person.
Free-trade laws were inacted in order to allow corporations to take advantage of globalization to screw the little guy.

[bigbug]

I am in middle of getting 3 new toyotas(1 Camry, 2 Siennas), and getting so many PMs. So I would mention it here. Only northern states are being instructed by Toyota Motors for not selling to Canadians. Southern states are still OK to sell. I know it is far, but stronger Cad $ makes it worth.
I am getting mine from NC
Just called Lewiston crossing their # is 716-282-1500 x 3. Fax for title is acceptable to them. Fax # is 716-285-3565. They are open from M-F, 8am-4pm
There is additional new tax for vehicles drinking more than 13L/100kms.



This sounds good to me! I asked NH dealers but they are prohibitted to sell new cars to Canadian too. Now I am going to ask RI and CT dealers :twisted:

[grisensko]

My dad just won a car on ebay.

Someone already did that?

What should he do first?

Is it simpler to go get it or ship it?

His english is really bad so me or my brother would need to go with him.

[bionicbadger]

If it's not on the admissible list at riv.ca, you can't import it. Since the 2007 is there, it's not unrealistic to think that the 2008 will be there eventually but as of today, you can't import it. From past observations, I think it takes a good 6 months after introduction for new model years to make it onto the list so you might be able to in the fall.

Usually cars will appear on the list, shortly after that years model is introduced in Canada. So when the Mitsubishi dealers here start having 2008 models in stock, then is the time to start checking RIV.

[DSTU]

HOLY F####. I just priced out the car I want in Canada and the U.S. $17,000 more in Canada. What the living hell?

Guess where I'm off to...

Can you give us more details?

[whampoa]

Can you give us more details?

No need for details, purchasing a car in the US save you on average about 5K,

for 10K you have a steal and for anything above 20K well where do you want me to sign on the dotte line.

[Yorker86]

Wow guys, I really read up on this thread and all the stuff people wrote. I wake up in the morning every day now and thank god I found out about this :D
The one thing this thread needs is a step by step process of the entire procedure or if not, the original creator to edit this post and say "CALL RIV AND THEY WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU"

Anyways, I managed to convince my dad that its better to import. He is looking at purchasing 07 Altima or an 07 Camry or even an 07 Civic. I'll call up the RIV in the oncoming days and ask for more info.

[yyz2hkg]

Wow guys, I really read up on this thread and all the stuff people wrote. I wake up in the morning every day now and thank god I found out about this :D
The one thing this thread needs is a step by step process of the entire procedure or if not, the original creator to edit this post and say "CALL RIV AND THEY WILL EXPLAIN EVERYTHING TO YOU"

Anyways, I managed to convince my dad that its better to import. He is looking at purchasing 07 Altima or an 07 Camry or even an 07 Civic. I'll call up the RIV in the oncoming days and ask for more info.

If you really read the thread thoroughly enough, a search would've helped you out. This thread has many links and others that have posted their step by step process.

Here it is again: LINKY (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416)

[EGee6]

Anyways, I managed to convince my dad that its better to import. He is looking at purchasing 07 Altima or an 07 Camry or even an 07 Civic. I'll call up the RIV in the oncoming days and ask for more info.

I thought Honda warranty doesn't work up here?

[bigbug]

http://www.naata.org/pdfs/Toyota%202006.pdf

Too long:(

So why Toyota/Nissan/Honda are still blocking us from buying in US? They paid the settlement and keep the policy? Someone familiar with law please explain.

[scouzi]

So why Toyota/Nissan/Honda are still blocking us from buying in US? They paid the settlement and keep the policy? Someone familiar with law please explain.

The suit was about Toyota from prventing cars from flowing from Canada to the US. Now it's the opposite. In our case, somone in Canada would have to file suit.

But they are essentially still doing it. Car companies in Canada have the government in their pocket. You can expect the government to protcect "car jobs" and the companies rather than the consumer.
I wouldn't be surprised to see the government put more barriers to prevent imports.

Back to Toyota, the Toyota dealers in the US will become more and more vocal if more and more Candiadians consult them for a car purchase and they have to tell them no. They might sue Toyota themselves.

Media companies have the same scheme going with their regional coding on DVDs and video games.

In the meantime, take advantage of the bridge while you can.

I my case, I saved thousand of dollars. The dealers in Quebec have a lot to learn about selling cars. They are closed on saturdays and they remove all stickers from the windshields (which is illegal I believe) so you can't do any window shopping in their lot on saturdays . In the wintertime, the only way to see a car while it's not dark is to take time off. They act as if the internet doesn't even exist.

This was by far the easiest and pleasant purchase I ever made. The dealer gave me some extras I wasn't even aware of until I got there.

[scouzi]

Look at this document:

http://www.naata.org/pdfs/Rip_Off_USA.pdf

You can basically interchange US and Canada to refresh the document!

[erschand]

Got a question, since I have family in the USA.

What if I got one of them to purchase a car for me, and then waited
two weeks, and then they sold it to me as a used car.

Would a Honda have warranty coverage in Canada?
Would there be more hassle at the border since it's "used"?
Any duties on used vehicles, versus a brand new one?

ers

[HotDeal]

Has any one recently purchased a toyota product ( I am in the market for Sienna) maybe in southern states like Alabama (low sales tax) or NC?

Please post or pm me. Thank you.

[Gentile]

Has any one recently purchased a toyota product ( I am in the market for Sienna) maybe in southern states like Alabama (low sales tax) or NC?

Please post or pm me. Thank you.

You don't pay State tax, so it doesn't matter what state you buy it in.

[spdztr]

Hey guys,

I've been following the thread since inception, and I'm certain that when it comes time to replace one of our cars, that I'll be getting a Subaru from the states.

So, as a bit of preliminary work, I looked up the cost of some cars on Edmunds.com, and got some dealers to send me quotes. One of the dealers sent me a very detailed document identifying what the salesrep and the customer have to do. Consider it a step-by-step guide. Since so many people have requested something similar, I thought many people would find it useful.

Enjoy!



Determine the permissibility of the vehicle purchased in the US by going to the RIV (Registrar of Imported Vehicles) website at WWW.riv.ca or calling them at 1-888-848-8240. This site will also tell you what modifications may be required.

Obtain from Canadian Customs the brochure “Importing a Vehicle into Canada “ and vehicle Import Form #1 at WWW.ccra.gc.ca or calling them at 1-800-461-9999.

All New Subaru models manufactured after June 2001 all have the required daytime running lamps.

All new Hyundai models must have the Daytime Running Lamp modification completed. All new models have the speedometer display that reads in both US (Outer Circle) and metric (Inner Circle)

Provide the dealer with a legible copy of your driver’s license and current insurance card.

You must provide a minimum deposit of $500 (U.S. Funds) on in stock vehicles and $1,000 (U.S. Funds) on dealer trades and factory orders. Final Payment also U.S. Funds by Bank Draft / Check

The salesperson will fax you a copy of the purchase agreement listing all costs. You must sign and return fax the purchase agreement back to the dealership.

The salesperson will fax the MSO or title to the US Customs office at the Lewiston / Queenston Bridge. There is a 72 hour clearance requirement…does not include the weekend. The phone number is (716) 282-1500 press 3 for Vehicle Export Clearance. Fax number is (716) 285-3565.

Contact your insurance company and have them fax an insurance binder and cards to the dealership.
This is required so that an In transit permit can be obtained from New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. This temporary registration permit will allow you to drive it across the border and you have up to 15 days to register the vehicle. The insurance card and binder shall be dated the pick-up date (Delivery).

Pickup the vehicle at the dealership. Allow 1 to 1.5hours to complete all the paperwork, have the salesperson explain all the features of the vehicle and provide you with all copies of paperwork that you may need.

After leaving the dealership you must stop at the US Customs office to have the MSO or title stamped cleared to go. You must take the paperwork to the customs office which is located in the customs warehouse / Room 135. The vehicle can only clear between the hours of 900 am and 330 pm Monday thru Friday.

Canadian Customs bring in all the paperwork provided by the dealership. You will pay by check or credit card the following: GST on the value paid converted to Canadian dollars, $209 to RIV program and 6.1 % duty if the vehicle is NOT manufactured in the USA. (Ie Japan, Korea)

Canadian customs will issue “Casual Goods Accounting Document” showing all details of what you have paid.

Your will also receive a letter from RIV in the mail approximately 10 days later outlining any modifications that are required with a time limit to do so.

Take the vehicle to any Canadian Tire Corp. store for the Inspection. The CTC federal inspection is included in the $209 that was paid at the border. When completed the CTC will fax the information to RIV. You must keep the original document.

If light modification are necessary you can take your vehicle to an auto electric garage. (St. Catherine’s Auto Electric, 23 Hanover Drive)

Within 14 days of crossing the border you must register the vehicle at the Ministry of Transport. They will need the following forms and documentation:
Original Title (MSO), Form 1, Casual Goods Document, Proof of Insurance, Recall Clearance Letter,Federal Inspection Report (CTC). At this time you are required to pay the PST Tax.

[HotDeal]

"You don't pay State tax, so it doesn't matter what state you buy it in. "

I have checked with Florida and you still pay State tax even if Sienna or any other car is exported to Canada.

I have read in this thread that NY state will not charge tax on out of state purchases (unconfirmed). Unfortunately Toyota dealers in Northern states were scared off from dealing with Canadians.

[develop]

I am in the market for a 7 seats Suv right now, I prefer V6.
So far I am watching Toyota 4Runner SR5 and Nissan Pathfinder.
I like the 4Runner,but it was made in Japan ,has duty on it.
Not sure about the Pathfinder warranty.
I was working hard trying to find another one made in NA,but still no clue.
Any suggestions?

[spdztr]

I am in the market for a 7 seats Suv right now, I prefer V6.
So far I am watching Toyota 4Runner SR5 and Nissan Pathfinder.
I like the 4Runner,but it was made in Japan ,has duty on it.
Not sure about the Pathfinder warranty.
I was working hard trying to find another one made in NA,but still no clue.
Any suggestions?

Hyundai Santa Fe comes in 7 seat version, and is made in N.A.

[shopper-X]

I am in the market for a 7 seats Suv right now, I prefer V6.
So far I am watching Toyota 4Runner SR5 and Nissan Pathfinder.
I like the 4Runner,but it was made in Japan ,has duty on it.
Not sure about the Pathfinder warranty.
I was working hard trying to find another one made in NA,but still no clue.
Any suggestions?

Hyundai Santa Fe comes in 7 seat version, and is made in N.A.

What about the B9-Tribeca 7-passanger?

[flaming homer]

Please don't rule out non-NAFTA cars because of duty. It is only 6.1%. Do the math before writting it off...

2007 Subaru Forest, non-NAFTA, still saved over CAD$ 8K after Duty, PST, GST, bus ticket, bridge and road toll, etc...

[scouzi]

Went to Vermont to pick up my Tribeca today:

1) I crossed the US border 3 hours early (69 of 72 hours) at Highgate Springs (I-89). They did not care and stamped the title without even looking at the car.

2) Paid my GST on the Canadian side. From my conversation with them they can't believe the amount of new cars coming through. They said it used to be used cars coming through. They asked me how much I saved and I was reluctant to tell them as it may have been some kind of trick question to pay more taxes. They tortured me (A la Jack Bauer) and I told them the truth :)

3) The price I had to pay taxes on was applied to a value of about $700 less than what I echanged my money at last week when I wired the money. So I saved taxes on the $700 difference. I would have paid $700 CDN less for the car had i bought it a week later.

4) My insurance company went from telling me no for the binder to a full blown insurance policy even before the car is even registered! So I have a full insurance policy right now.

5) Vermont paper plates are valid for 2 months!

6) The dealer gave me free window etching and a $2000 insurance policy on a new car if the car is stolen and not found for free.

My Tribeca is now plated - 100% legal.

To speed up the process, call RIV after 2 days and get them to e-mail you the FORM2. They do it instantly.

So I picked it up Friday June 1st, plated today.

[develop]

What about the B9-Tribeca 7-passanger?

Thanks for the reply.
I understand SUV's third row seats are mostly designed for kids, but I still wish The Tribeca has more space. Subaru has the best savings and it was my first place to check, if the Tribeca is a little bigger and taller and more horse power, I will be all over on it.

[slothy@cutey]

I am in the market for a 7 seats Suv right now, I prefer V6.
So far I am watching Toyota 4Runner SR5 and Nissan Pathfinder.
I like the 4Runner,but it was made in Japan ,has duty on it.
Not sure about the Pathfinder warranty.
I was working hard trying to find another one made in NA,but still no clue.
Any suggestions?

The Hyundai Santa Fe has been mentioned and it's a good 7 seater. I like the Hyundai Veracruz even better... it's been well received and is modelled after the Lexus RX350 but costs less, and is safer and built better (hard to believe, but true)... It's advantage over the Santa Fe is increased cargo space in 7 seater mode and of course the LOADS of interior features that come standard in the GLS model. The only thing is that i'm not aware of any Veracruz' made in North America - all are Korean built.

Hyundai warranty is trasferrable to Canada - big advantage.

[develop]

Hyundai Santa Fe comes in 7 seat version, and is made in N.A.

Heard more and more good reviews from Hyundai in recent years, I will check the Santa Fe today , 2007 Hyundai Veracruz looks also good.

[slothy@cutey]

Please don't rule out non-NAFTA cars because of duty. It is only 6.1%. Do the math before writting it off...

2007 Subaru Forest, non-NAFTA, still saved over CAD$ 8K after Duty, PST, GST, bus ticket, bridge and road toll, etc...

Very good point... +1

[develop]

The Hyundai Santa Fe has been mentioned and it's a good 7 seater. I like the Hyundai Veracruz even better... it's been well received and is modelled after the Lexus RX350 but costs less, and is safer and built better (hard to believe, but true)... It's advantage over the Santa Fe is increased cargo space in 7 seater mode and of course the LOADS of interior features that come standard in the GLS model. The only thing is that i'm not aware of any Veracruz' made in North America - all are Korean built.

Hyundai warranty is trasferrable to Canada - big advantage.

Yes I agree that the Veracruz looks well, and i check some dealers invertory, their vin numbers start from K.:cry:

[scouzi]

Here's a list of cars made in the USA:

http://automotivecenter.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_page_order_int/1/article_id_int/612

[develop]

Here's a list of cars made in the USA:

http://automotivecenter.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_page_order_int/1/article_id_int/612

Nice find!

[Nightwing]

Buyer beware as Chrysler seems to be tightening the screws on Canadians purchasing in the US. From edmunds.com:

"Just as a word of warning regarding the warranty coverage in Canada on some US vehicles. In my case it was a 2007 Dodge Ram 2500. I first became aware of the dealer through Ebay which in his ad he stated he could sell to Canada. I didn't bid but negotiated an deal over the internet and by phone. I asked repeatedly about the warranty coverage in Canada and he said it would be no problem. I asked him to check with Chrysler, he did or so he said and again it was no problem so we had a deal. We firmed up the deal, set a delivery date and I made arrangements to fly down and pick it up. When they went to register it, Chrysler would not accept the registration and the only way I could get the truck was if I purchased it without warranty. Who would purchase a $50K vehicle with no warranty? I talked to Chrysler in the US and in Canada and the answer was the same, no warranty coverage either on new or used no matter how many miles were on it or how long it had been registered. I am finding out now that it is in their franchise agreements that they cannot sell outside of the US. I have set up a complaint file with Chrysler in the US as I think it is a fraud for these dealers to advertise that they can sell to Canada, take your money and then when the dust settles, say they can't sell to you and refund your money. In this case I lost about 2K in exchange and reservations and I thought I had done my homework, so be careful and make sure you check with the manufacturer regarding warranties before you give them any money. So much for free trade. "


I've been poking around this form a bit, and I have a question. I know that there's a on-going discussion on warranty, but what about safety recalls? Will Canadian dealers honor recalls? or try to make you pay out of pocket?

Mark

[KillaB]

Sorry, meant to be a PM

[Monsieurmaggot]

The suit was about Toyota from prventing cars from flowing from Canada to the US. Now it's the opposite. In our case, somone in Canada would have to file suit.

Sounds like a plan but while it might be hard for the government to jump on the bandwagon, I might have everyone start calling the Competition Bureau and Consumer and Corporate Affairs. While there's obviously a grey area here, from my perspective, something underhanded is going on.

Barring that, we might start calling around and see what Toronto law firms would be interested in looking into this.

Based on what folks on this forum are saying, it would be relatively easy to name companies in the lawsuit.

Toyota Canada, Honda Canada and Chrysler Canada (for attempting to stop Americans from selling to Canadians) are three that I can think of. Toyota is particularly hipocritical since they claim to honour warranties on US purchased cars but obviously have gone to the front office and ask that the US vendors not sell to Canadians. You could literally copy over the US lawsuit since it now applies north of the border. Toyota violated a ton of rules under the Free Trade Agreement and the US Sherman Act. Since I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea what the Canadian Protection Acts would be. I would look at who the lawfirm in the US was. I'm sure additional US acts are being broken again.

While Subaru's pricing might be way off between Canada and the US, at least they haven't attempted to stop us from buying down south.

I'm wondering who else could be named in the lawsuit. It could be anyone who does not permit sales of cars to Canadians.

From what I remember reading, anyone who was registered as a plaintiff and proved a Canadian purchase received something like $2000 - $3000 in damages.

[Monsieurmaggot]

As I have mentioned in the past, if you think that Canadian dealers and manufacturers are taking advantage of the Canadian consumer, there is something you can do. Contact the following organizations:

The Canadian Competition Bureau:

File a complaint by phone or by fax:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Eastern Time.
Toll-free: 1 800 348-5358
TDD (for hearing impaired): 1 800 642-3844
Fax: (819) 997-0324

File a complaint by mail:

Competition Bureau
50 Victoria Street
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0C9

Send them an email and have them look into this. Someone is making huge money here and it's not us. email: compbureau@cb-bc.gc.ca

Some companies are obviously trying to stop the free trade.

You can also file a complaint with Consumer and Corporate affairs:

http://consumerinformation.ca/app/oca/complaintcourier/index.do?lang=e

Canadian Consumer Information Gateway - Office of Consumer Affairs
Industry Canada
235 Queen Street
6th Floor West
Ottawa, ON
K1A 0H5
Tel: (613) 946-2576
E-mail: consumer.information@ic.gc.ca

Something's SERIOUSLY wrong when you have to buy a car outside the country.

Here is the contact information...

[KillaB]

Ok, so the exchange rate is amazing right now and I have my eyes set on a particular '06 model.

I want to convert at today or tomorrow's exchange rate, so what do I convert it to? Obviously I don't want cash, so what should I get?

I have the money to buy outright, but it's in an ING account. I would imagine I'd need to transfer it to my bank account first....but maybe not.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Ok, so the exchange rate is amazing right now and I have my eyes set on a particular '06 model.

I want to convert at today or tomorrow's exchange rate, so what do I convert it to? Obviously I don't want cash, so what should I get?

I have the money to buy outright, but it's in an ING account. I would imagine I'd need to transfer it to my bank account first....but maybe not.

I was in the same boat. ING does not permit cheque writing or electronic transfers outside of Canada.

Set up a US chequing account with your branch. Transfer the US cash from ING into the US account. Write a US bank draft for your car. My bank charged me $6 for one.

[Draug]

Ok, so the exchange rate is amazing right now and I have my eyes set on a particular '06 model.

I want to convert at today or tomorrow's exchange rate, so what do I convert it to? Obviously I don't want cash, so what should I get?

I have the money to buy outright, but it's in an ING account. I would imagine I'd need to transfer it to my bank account first....but maybe not.

Here is the best exchange rate tool.

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi

[crasher]

I was in the same boat. ING does not permit cheque writing or electronic transfers outside of Canada.

Set up a US chequing account with your branch. Transfer the US cash from ING into the US account. Write a US bank draft for your car. My bank charged me $6 for one.

I used XE to send the draft too.

[KillaB]

Hmmm, not really my question, but thanks anyway.

My favorite tool is the one provided by the Bank of Canada.
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html

EDIT: Ok, thanks crasher...now I see.

[a4toronto]

Here's a list of cars made in the USA:

http://automotivecenter.autobytel.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_page_order_int/1/article_id_int/612

here's the list of cars made in the USA by "import" manufacturers:
canadian or mexico manuf cars are not listed:

Acura TL – Marysville, Ohio
BMW X5 – Spartanburg, South Carolina
BMW Z4 – Spartanburg, South Carolina
Honda Accord – Marysville, Ohio
Honda Civic – East Liberty, Ohio
Honda Element – East Liberty, Ohio
Honda Odyssey – Lincoln, Alabama
Honda Pilot – Lincoln, Alabama
Mercedes-Benz M-Class – Vance, Alabama
Mercedes-Benz R-Class – Vance, Alabama
Mazda 6 – Flat Rock, Michigan
Mazda B-Series – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Mazda Tribute – Kansas City, Missouri
Hyundai Sonata – Montgomery, Alabama
Hyundai Santa Fe – Montgomery, Alabama
Infiniti QX56 – Canton, Mississippi
Isuzu Ascender – Moraine, Ohio and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Isuzu i-Series Pickup – Shreveport, Louisiana
Mitsubishi Eclipse – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Endeavor – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Galant – Normal, Illinois
Mitsubishi Raider – Warren, Michigan
Nissan Altima – Smyrna, Tennessee and Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Armada – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Frontier – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Maxima – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Pathfinder – Smyrna, Tennessee
Nissan Quest – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Titan – Canton, Mississippi
Nissan Xterra – Smyrna, Tennessee
Saab 9-7X – Moraine, Ohio
Subaru Baja – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru B9 Tribeca – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru Legacy – Lafayette, Indiana
Subaru Outback – Lafayette, Indiana
Toyota Avalon – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Camry – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Camry Solara – Georgetown, Kentucky
Toyota Corolla – Fremont, California
Toyota Sequoia – Princeton, Indiana
Toyota Sienna – Princeton, Indiana
Toyota Tundra – Princeton, Indiana
Toyota Tacoma – Fremont, California

[scouzi]

Sounds like a plan but while it might be hard for the government to jump on the bandwagon, I might have everyone start calling the Competition Bureau and Consumer and Corporate Affairs. While there's obviously a grey area here, from my perspective, something underhanded is going on.

Barring that, we might start calling around and see what Toronto law firms would be interested in looking into this.

Based on what folks on this forum are saying, it would be relatively easy to name companies in the lawsuit.

Toyota Canada, Honda Canada and Chrysler Canada (for attempting to stop Americans from selling to Canadians) are three that I can think of. Toyota is particularly hipocritical since they claim to honour warranties on US purchased cars but obviously have gone to the front office and ask that the US vendors not sell to Canadians. You could literally copy over the US lawsuit since it now applies north of the border. Toyota violated a ton of rules under the Free Trade Agreement and the US Sherman Act. Since I'm not a lawyer, I have no idea what the Canadian Protection Acts would be. I would look at who the lawfirm in the US was. I'm sure additional US acts are being broken again.

While Subaru's pricing might be way off between Canada and the US, at least they haven't attempted to stop us from buying down south.

I'm wondering who else could be named in the lawsuit. It could be anyone who does not permit sales of cars to Canadians.

From what I remember reading, anyone who was registered as a plaintiff and proved a Canadian purchase received something like $2000 - $3000 in damages.

It's interesting to note that Toyota et al. were sued in the US for their actions in Canada. They are still doing it but in the opposite direction.

[tetris]

My dad just won a car on ebay.

Someone already did that?

What should he do first?

Is it simpler to go get it or ship it?

His english is really bad so me or my brother would need to go with him.

First, ask the seller if he can provide you a recall clearance letter from the manufacturer or a dealer. later you will also need title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of compliance label and manufacturer’s
recall clearance letter.

I would suggest to go in person and drive back the car.
Tetris

[yyz2hkg]

Was at a dealer today in the US...priced out a Legacy GT Sedan here in Ontario...Came out to $49 074.95.

At the US dealer...his price quoted at $26 487 USD => $27 996.44 CAD at today's rate.

$27 996 * PST/GST = $31 915 CAD + misc fees = $32 171 CAD.

$49 074.95- $32 171 = A SAVINGS OF approx $16 903.95 CAD.

Oh yeah...Legacy GT Turbo goes 0-60 in 5.1 secs...:cheesygri

[crasher]

Welcome to Toyota of XXXXX and thank you for requesting information about our new Toyota Camry's. We know your time is valuable, which is why we make car buying easy and hassle free. Below is the price on the vehicle you requested and some other vehicles in the line.

MODEL
TRANSMISSION
MSRP
UNBELIEVABLE PRICE*

CE # 2513
5-SPEED
$19,775.
$15,988

CE # 2514
AUTOMATIC
$20,624.
$17,977

LE # 2532
AUTOMATIC
$22,099.
$18,977

XLE #2540
AUTOMATIC
$26,015.
$22,977

SE #2546
AUTOMATIC
$23,449.
$21,577

LE V-6 #2552
AUTOMATIC
$24,844
$21,977

HYBRID #2560
AUTOMATIC
$27,539
$24,977

[RRKnight]

Welcome to Toyota of XXXXX and thank you for requesting information about our new Toyota Camry's. We know your time is valuable, which is why we make car buying easy and hassle free. Below is the price on the vehicle you requested and some other vehicles in the line.

MODEL
TRANSMISSION
MSRP
UNBELIEVABLE PRICE*

CE # 2513
5-SPEED
$19,775.
$15,988

CE # 2514
AUTOMATIC
$20,624.
$17,977

LE # 2532
AUTOMATIC
$22,099.
$18,977

XLE #2540
AUTOMATIC
$26,015.
$22,977

SE #2546
AUTOMATIC
$23,449.
$21,577

LE V-6 #2552
AUTOMATIC
$24,844
$21,977

HYBRID #2560
AUTOMATIC
$27,539
$24,977

Which Toyota dealer is this???

[TorontoEh]

Was at a dealer today in the US...priced out a Legacy GT Sedan here in Ontario...Came out to $49 074.95.

At the US dealer...his price quoted at $26 487 USD => $27 996.44 CAD at today's rate.

$27 996 * PST/GST = $31 915 CAD + misc fees = $32 171 CAD.

$49 074.95- $32 171 = A SAVINGS OF approx $16 903.95 CAD.

Oh yeah...Legacy GT Turbo goes 0-60 in 5.1 secs...:cheesygri

OMG! That's a hell lotta savings worth waiting for and working on. I'm going to get either a camry if this toyota dealer works with me or definitely a suburu......

[TorontoEh]

Hey all, found this nuggest of good info on edmunds and wanted to share:
disregard if this has been already posted or not useful.

Re: Price in Canada [jskho]
by subahonda on Tue Jul 11 06:32:13 PDT 2006
I live in Toronto. I don't do trade-ins - sold the old one for twice the trade-in through Autotrader (always do it that way or craig's list)- then the deal is simple. I'll bet the dealer in Bellingham has sold plenty to Canadians. In fact, there is a dealer in Oakville On who sells Subarus from the US (he's on autotrader - his price is $3000 less than in Canada and $5000 more than if you do it yourslef in the US). I bought a 2006 Legacy i-LTD in Buffalo for a about 30% less tyhan in Canada(check the price at kbb.com and edmunds.com). The warranty crosses the border (just ask Subaru Canada and US) - I confirmed this when I had warranty work done in Canada with no problem. The registrar of imported vehicles gives step by step directions (http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html). The main thing to get clear is that US entry point requires that the title be faxed three full business days ahead of entry and they are only open during business hours. They clear the car for export and mark it on the title. You can drive in Canada with no plates (I got a temp NY plate) until you complete the provincial stuff (after the RIV inspection at Canadian Tire) . The US models are completely acceptable for Transport Canada requirements (Daytime running lights, km/hr notations, French language on airbags). The import fee is $206 and there is no duty as the car is made in Indiana. You can get it for $500 over invoice less rebates and no US tax. Freight is included and there is no PDI fee. If you buy it in Canada the best I could find is $700 over invoice and no rebates. The difference is about 8k on the i-Ltd. There are differences in the features per model and colour schemes so shop carefully. A helpful salesman in the US is necessary. The "no recalls" letter can come from the dealer if its a new car, otherwise Subaru America writes it.

[darock_sayz]

In reference to the post above about Camry's, I'm a phone call away from buying mine and getting some incredible savings, but...

Has anyone driven the '07 or bought it ? There seems to be quite a negative review from actual owners that there are transmission/hesitation problems, lots of trips to dealerships for warranty work. The reviews from magazine's are great, but the actual owners are having mixed reviews...can anyone comment ? Is my mind playing tricks with me at this last second, at 6k saving on an LE, should I do it anyways ??

http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_camry-reviews_user/
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Camry

[TorontoEh]

In reference to the post above about Camry's, I'm a phone call away from buying mine and getting some incredible savings, but...

Has anyone driven the '07 or bought it ? There seems to be quite a negative review from actual owners that there are transmission/hesitation problems, lots of trips to dealerships for warranty work. The reviews from magazine's are great, but the actual owners are having mixed reviews...can anyone comment ? Is my mind playing tricks with me at this last second, at 6k saving on an LE, should I do it anyways ??

http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_camry-reviews_user/
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Camry


Dont know which dealership you're getting it from, though it's good to know there are still out there that canadians can purchase from.

I guess you gotta make the decisions after looking at reviews and yes mind does play tricks :)

[Monsieurmaggot]

OMG! That's a hell lotta savings worth waiting for and working on. I'm going to get either a camry if this toyota dealer works with me or definitely a suburu......

Using my recent Subaru Outback driveaway purchase price as a guide and factoring in today's dollar (.942), if you bought today you're looking at saving over $23,000 buying in the US.

Using today's dollar, if I bought my car today, my total cost would be just under $34,000 Canadian. Sadly I bought on roughly at 10% exchange rate.

I offered two Subaru Canada dealers, $50,000 and was turned down. Add 14% tax = $57,000.

Do the math. It now makes more sense than ever, BUY IN THE US.

[flaming homer]

I offered two Subaru Canada dealers, $50,000 and was turned down.Gee, it's not like you're holding a grudge or anything :twisted:

[Monsieurmaggot]

Gee, it's not like you're holding a grudge or anything :twisted:

Me? Never LOL :rolleyes:

[michelb]

...

Has anyone driven the '07 or bought it ? There seems to be quite a negative review from actual owners that there are transmission/hesitation problems, lots of trips to dealerships for warranty work. The reviews from magazine's are great, but the actual owners are having mixed reviews...can anyone comment ? Is my mind playing tricks with me at this last second, at 6k saving on an LE, should I do it anyways ??

http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_camry-reviews_user/
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Camry

I think part of the problem is unrealistic expectations - if you're buying full size sedan with a 4 cyl engine and a transmission geared towards mileage vs performance, you can't expect blazing acceleration. If you want more speed / power, go for a 6 cyl, if you want better mileage, go for a 4 but you can't really get both.

[superwell]

Was at a dealer today in the US...priced out a Legacy GT Sedan here in Ontario...Came out to $49 074.95.

At the US dealer...his price quoted at $26 487 USD => $27 996.44 CAD at today's rate.

$27 996 * PST/GST = $31 915 CAD + misc fees = $32 171 CAD.

$49 074.95- $32 171 = A SAVINGS OF approx $16 903.95 CAD.

Oh yeah...Legacy GT Turbo goes 0-60 in 5.1 secs...:cheesygri


What kind of GT model did you get to have a price of $49,XXX? It lists for $40,XXX CDN. Heck The Spec B lists for $44,XXX CDN on subaru's website

[whampoa]

What kind of GT model did you get to have a price of $49,XXX? It lists for $40,XXX CDN. Heck The Spec B lists for $44,XXX CDN on subaru's website

You're almost there, that's roughly $40,000.00 + PDI/FREIGHT + A/C TAX + GOD KNOW WHAT ELSE TAX / FEE + PST + GST = $49,000.00

Yeah, whoever paid full price for PDI and admin fee is in for a big ripoff.

[darkmagician]

I've been wanting a new car badly, and now this just tiped the scale.
So im interested in getting a new civic. According to the list of possible dealers in the U.S it says: Honda Civic – East Liberty, Ohio. So does that mean i have to contact Honda dealer on East liberty, Ohio for a deal?

I checked Honda.ca vs Honda.com, and its comes to CAN$26,000 vs US$18,000 respectively, but U.S doesnt calculate taxes and frieght ect...
Right now its about 1.07 CAN for US so its about 19260 x 1.14 tax in ontario which totals about CAN$22,000. So im save about $4k?

am i correct or im still missing something?

[George K]

I think part of the problem is unrealistic expectations - if you're buying full size sedan with a 4 cyl engine and a transmission geared towards mileage vs performance, you can't expect blazing acceleration. If you want more speed / power, go for a 6 cyl, if you want better mileage, go for a 4 but you can't really get both.

you can have performance in a 4 cyl engine. i'd say stay away from automatic (if your wife lets you). reliability & performance suffer with auto. if you go for stick Passat 2.0T does 0-60 in under 7s and Altima is around 8s

[MilkyWind]

I've been wanting a new car badly, and now this just tiped the scale.
So im interested in getting a new civic. According to the list of possible dealers in the U.S it says: Honda Civic – East Liberty, Ohio. So does that mean i have to contact Honda dealer on East liberty, Ohio for a deal?

I checked Honda.ca vs Honda.com, and its comes to CAN$26,000 vs US$18,000 respectively, but U.S doesnt calculate taxes and frieght ect...
Right now its about 1.07 CAN for US so its about 19260 x 1.14 tax in ontario which totals about CAN$22,000. So im save about $4k?

am i correct or im still missing something?

I was thinking of purchasing a civic from the states as well. However, there's only basically only 2.5 more months to go before alot of the 2008 models come out. They've redesigned the corolla for 2008 as well.

Personally, I would might as well wait to see what september brings before purchasing.

[dudestr]

I just picked up an 07 Tundra from Portland yesterday. My rough calculations on saving was around $10k. Once I get the thing up here and figure out how much I saved I will post it.

[inspire]

I checked Honda.ca vs Honda.com, and its comes to CAN$26,000 vs US$18,000 respectively, but U.S doesnt calculate taxes and frieght ect...
Right now its about 1.07 CAN for US so its about 19260 x 1.14 tax in ontario which totals about CAN$22,000. So im save about $4k?

am i correct or im just lost!?
You're close. You still have to add RIV fee ($200), A/C tax ($100), temporary plates to get from Ohio to Ontario, border fees (<$10), temp plates in Ontario ($10) -- I don't know the legalities of using the Ohio temp plate in Ontario, and the incidentals in the US [ freight = approx US$500, admin fees (~$100), state registration (~$170 in Michigan ... ? in Ohio) ]

There is controversy with this part ... but I was able to avoid paying state taxes on the car since it was going to be directly exported out of state. I asked them to put on the bill of sale -- for Export to Canada so they didn't collect 6% Michigan sales tax. :D

[George K]

quick pricing, approx. Canadian price for Ontario

NAFTA car - US price + 22%
Import - US price + 30%

the second one is a bit less, but 30% is easier for quick estimate. these are based on $1.07 exchange rate and 8%+6% tax. you'll need to add fees and travel expenses on top - something like $500

[George K]

about exchange rates, my company buys/sells USD from Jameson
http://www.jameson.on.ca
i asked them and they said they work with private customers too, though you need to set up an account and do bank drafts with them.
they charge just over $0.005 on the dollar from the current spot rate
http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=USDCAD=X
which means that today you can buy USD for $1.065

[yyz2hkg]

What kind of GT model did you get to have a price of $49,XXX? It lists for $40,XXX CDN. Heck The Spec B lists for $44,XXX CDN on subaru's website

Step by Step Process.
1. Go to www.subaru.ca
2. Build a Legacy GT Sedan
2.5GT Sedan
# 4-cylinder turbo engine
# Premium audio system
# Perforated leather interior
# SI-DRIVE engine management system
# Power moonroof
Starting at $40,295
3. Add Options that the US model were standard and in Canada were options, such as the spoiler ($638.xx) and Auto dimming mirror ($392.xx) and some other accessories I didn't bother to add.
4. Add PDI/Freight at $1495.00, Air Tax $100.00, PST $3436.15, GST $2577.12, Administrative Fee $299.00 (WTF).

The US price included everything, so nothing to add except for the admin fee and temp plates...which still totalled under $100.oo US.

You're almost there, that's roughly $40,000.00 + PDI/FREIGHT + A/C TAX + GOD KNOW WHAT ELSE TAX / FEE + PST + GST = $49,000.00.

Yeah, whoever paid full price for PDI and admin fee is in for a big ripoff.

+1

[superwell]

What....YOU don't pay taxes for vehicles if you live in Woodbridge?

Step by Step Process.
1. Go to www.subaru.ca
2. Build a Legacy GT Sedan
2.5GT Sedan
# 4-cylinder turbo engine
# Premium audio system
# Perforated leather interior
# SI-DRIVE engine management system
# Power moonroof
Starting at $40,295
3. Add Options that the US model were standard and in Canada were options, such as the spoiler ($638.xx) and Auto dimming mirror ($392.xx) and some other accessories I didn't bother to add.
4. Add PDI/Freight at $1495.00, Air Tax $100.00, PST $3436.15, GST $2577.12, Administrative Fee $299.00 (WTF). You do the math...heck...i'll do the math...and I was off too...$49 232.xx.

The US price included everything, so nothing to add except for the admin fee and temp plates...which still totaled under $100.oo US.



+1


Sorry..don't take offence to it..I was onlt asking what you added...without having to go through all the options.... I didn't know what you added to make to so much more....there are almost $3000 worth of options there even after all taxes and such are paid for. :calm down:

[yyz2hkg]

Sorry..don't take offence to it..I was onlt asking what you added...without having to go through all the options.... I didn't know what you added to make to so much more....there are almost $3000 worth of options there even after all taxes and such are paid for. :calm down:

No offence taken...sorry to blow up on my other thread...it's others who start PMing me asking where I got these "made up" number from. It's all on the websites, and I've already imported a Subie up here, so the numbers and taxes I'm quite familiar with.

[Monsieurmaggot]

No offence taken...sorry to blow up on my other thread...it's others who start PMing me asking where I got these "made up" number from. It's all on the websites, and I've already imported a Subie up here so the numbers and taxes I'm quite familiar with. I'm here to help...

That makes me chuckle yyz2hkg, (hey I just figured out your handle: Toronto to Hong Kong?) as I get PMs all the time telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. Automatically I know it's someone associated with the Canadian car industry. They'd rather attack us privately than ask questions in this public forum.

Let me ask them publicly: What are you doing to equalize the spread between the two nations?. Don't you know that many people now have the Internet and don't automatically believe everything you tell us? I noticed GM dealers are offering, three months no payment, 3 months maintenance and 3 months free gas to all new purchases. This is over and above their recent increase to a 5/160 warranty. GM seems to be paying attention.

In almost all cases, the Canadian reps. made it sound like there was no impact in their dealerships by folks buying in the US. Right. Just like I was told I couldn't import a car without paying "hefty import taxes" and "duties".
yyz2hkg and I both know the savings are there. I'm seriously considering dumping my new 2007 in the spring here in Canada and getting a 2008. I could literally pocket thousands of dollars doing this. The buyer of my car would get a relatively new car for THOUSANDS less than a Canadian version.

Unless my math is wrong, I could sell my loaded 3.0R for $35-40k and pick up a new 2008 US model for about $34k (based on today's dollar).

I see why the importer in Oakvilles is selling so many US Subarus and BMWs. It's just too easy. As others pointed out, he's making 3/5k profit per unit.

[flaming homer]

quick pricing, approx. Canadian price for Ontario

NAFTA car - US price + 22%
Import - US price + 30%

the second one is a bit less, but 30% is easier for quick estimate. these are based on $1.07 exchange rate and 8%+6% tax. you'll need to add fees and travel expenses on top - something like $500
Not too sure if I like this type of thinking, people will tend to use your factors and compare to a MSRP price in Ontario, which does not include:

- PST
- GST
- "Processing Fee"
- Outragous PDI

Yes, you save $1000 alone in PDI fee by buying from the US.

Someone said earlier that this is easier than getting a PM @ Staples, so true...

[Trigger]

you can have performance in a 4 cyl engine. i'd say stay away from automatic (if your wife lets you). reliability & performance suffer with auto. if you go for stick Passat 2.0T does 0-60 in under 7s and Altima is around 8s

I'd argue that reliability suffers if you go for a VW or a Nissan. :)

[TorontoEh]

Guys, this is such a useful thread and there are so many responses (all good ones) and i think this has saved the most money on rfd community.

I think we should compile a list of steps a newbie should take to import car, just so they wont ask again and its easy to find (probably on 1st page of this thread)

ALso, post page #'s of this thread that you may think are great for advice (for importing subarus, toyotas and etc)

I'm still trying to catch up since I left off a couple months ago and know I need to go and read all pages :)

:idea: ;)

[whampoa]

I noticed GM dealers are offering, three months no payment, 3 months maintenance and 3 months free gas to all new purchases. This is over and above their recent increase to a 5/160 warranty. GM seems to be paying attention.

GM better close the gap quickly or else they are not only loosing sales to import but to import from the south literally.

Other automaker might just weather out this storm, especially the big Japanese one.

But if the CND dollar keep rising like it had, it might threaten their bottom line.

There are no valid reason to pay a 20% to 40% premium for the same car here than over there.

[dudestr]

I don't know if this info is in this thread but for those who are in BC - email for an information package.

blaine-export@customs.treas.gov

[michelb]

I've been wanting a new car badly, and now this just tiped the scale.
So im interested in getting a new civic. According to the list of possible dealers in the U.S it says: Honda Civic – East Liberty, Ohio. So does that mean i have to contact Honda dealer on East liberty, Ohio for a deal?

I checked Honda.ca vs Honda.com, and its comes to CAN$26,000 vs US$18,000 respectively, but U.S doesnt calculate taxes and frieght ect...
Right now its about 1.07 CAN for US so its about 19260 x 1.14 tax in ontario which totals about CAN$22,000. So im save about $4k?

am i correct or im still missing something?

You need to read a bit more a the thread.

That list is simply a list of which cars are built in NorthAmerica and where. If a car is on that list, it means you can import it duty free - if it's not, you need to pay an extra 6.1% duty.

The list doesn't mean to buy the car there ...

The other thing you need to be concerned about is that Honda will not honour the new car warranty in Canada unless you first register it in the US (and most likely pay taxes on it there) so for most people, importing a Honda is not really that good of an option.

That being said, if you think the warranty is not worth $4k, you can certainly import it (personally I don't think $4k is a large enough saving to not having a warranty (although it's not bad and you can argue it both ways)). But when you consider that other cars can be bought with full warranty, I think it makes more sense to look at other cars.

[superwell]

No offence taken...sorry to blow up on my other thread...it's others who start PMing me asking where I got these "made up" number from. It's all on the websites, and I've already imported a Subie up here, so the numbers and taxes I'm quite familiar with.

LOL, no problem dude....internet....you never know what people are sayin' Either way I DO know that reguardless of the cost here you are looking at at least $10,XXX savings on most subaru's....

[George K]

Not too sure if I like this type of thinking, people will tend to use your factors and compare to a MSRP price in Ontario, which does not include:

- PST
- GST
- "Processing Fee"
- Outragous PDI

Yes, you save $1000 alone in PDI fee by buying from the US.

Someone said earlier that this is easier than getting a PM @ Staples, so true...

you are not required :D

this only accounts for exchange, duties and tax and will give you an idea how much you'll need to fork out. it's good for comparing US quotes vs CAN quotes which usually include all the extra fees and taxes.

btw i never thought a Canadian car price is what they print in the paper - you need to add all the small print and more

[George K]

dudestr, your avatar really bugs me. do you have the boy's POV in hires?

[darkmagician]

You need to read a bit more a the thread.

That list is simply a list of which cars are built in NorthAmerica and where. If a car is on that list, it means you can import it duty free - if it's not, you need to pay an extra 6.1% duty.

The list doesn't mean to buy the car there ...

The other thing you need to be concerned about is that Honda will not honour the new car warranty in Canada unless you first register it in the US (and most likely pay taxes on it there) so for most people, importing a Honda is not really that good of an option.

That being said, if you think the warranty is not worth $4k, you can certainly import it (personally I don't think $4k is a large enough saving to not having a warranty (although it's not bad and you can argue it both ways)). But when you consider that other cars can be bought with full warranty, I think it makes more sense to look at other cars.

Thanks a bunch! The only thing i didnt understand was the list of availiable cars, but now i do. I ran though some of the treads, and toyota isnt bad choice for me either. I wanna make a comparison but i need a valid US zip code. Does anyone know of one?

[wildone]

So I'm getting a real hassle from the dealer I'm buying my two trucks from. I've sent them $80K US, they've cashed it, and now they're saying "we don't know if we can give out the MSO as it usually goes to the state" WTF. These people are idiots. I need to provide this info to Customs ASAP as I'm going early next week!!!:mad:

[Monsieurmaggot]

Guys, this is such a useful thread and there are so many responses (all good ones) and i think this has saved the most money on rfd community.
ALso, post page #'s of this thread that you may think are great for advice (for importing subarus, toyotas and etc)

Pages 1 through 159 have some excellent suggestions.

In all seriousness, michelb asked me to post a FAQ in the first message which I did today.

I have also copied the link to RIV's excellent "How to import a car into Canada" document.

[dudestr]

dudestr, your avatar really bugs me. do you have the boy's POV in hires?

didn't you try to look up shirts when you were a kid?

lol :lol:

[Monsieurmaggot]

Holy cow, the RFD Super Savers List has grown considerably;

Here is the most current list of successful importers:

Subaru:
Monsieurmaggot (me) - Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - TWO Subaru Tribecas and soon a Subaru Outback
yyz2hkg - Subaru Outback
Flaming_homer - Subaru Forester
luckster - Subaru Outback
liquidium - Subaru STi
Algrande - Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik - Subaru Tribeca
john_rt - Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
scouzi - Subaru Tribeca Limited

BMW:
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3

Toyota:
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna
dudestr - Toyota Tundra
crasher - THREE Cars: Toyota Camry XLE and Two Toyota Siennas
sonicDX - Toyota Sienna

Honda:
MMMM - Honda Element

Ford:
wildone - TWO trucks: Ford F150 King Ranch AND Ford Expedition EL Limited

Lexus:
analyst - Lexus LX470

Motorhomes:
Tiffin - Allegro Bay 37' motorhome



If you want to be added to the list, let me know.

[yyz2hkg]

That makes me chuckle yyz2hkg, (hey I just figured out your handle: Toronto to Hong Kong?) as I get PMs all the time telling me I don't know what I'm talking about. Automatically I know it's someone associated with the Canadian car industry. They'd rather attack us privately than ask questions in this public forum.

Let me ask them publicly: What are you doing to equalize the spread between the two nations?. Don't you know that many people now have the Internet and don't automatically believe everything you tell us? I noticed GM dealers are offering, three months no payment, 3 months maintenance and 3 months free gas to all new purchases. This is over and above their recent increase to a 5/160 warranty. GM seems to be paying attention.

In almost all cases, the Canadian reps. made it sound like there was no impact in their dealerships by folks buying in the US. Right. Just like I was told I couldn't import a car without paying "hefty import taxes" and "duties".
yyz2hkg and I both know the savings are there. I'm seriously considering dumping my new 2007 in the spring here in Canada and getting a 2008. I could literally pocket thousands of dollars doing this. The buyer of my car would get a relatively new car for THOUSANDS less than a Canadian version.

Unless my math is wrong, I could sell my loaded 3.0R for $35-40k and pick up a new 2008 US model for about $34k (based on today's dollar).

I see why the importer in Oakvilles is selling so many US Subarus and BMWs. It's just too easy. As others pointed out, he's making 3/5k profit per unit.

Planning to do the same on picking up a '08. You're right about my handle. I do a lot of travelling from T.O to HK.

Yes, the hefty fees the dealer charges just gets to me. Half the time, they can't even justify why they're charging so much for BS fees like the admin fees, for what? Paperclips??? I mean, if you want to be competitve, it's not that hard. The killer is the PDI/Freight --$1495. I've tried to negotiate that previously here in Ontario, to no avail...I mean, when you ask them what it covers, ummm welll...it covers....OK THANKS...

[crasher]

Already had poster @ office for selling my CamryXLE:twisted: I may increment to Avalon:cheesygri

[sonspot]

i've been looking at this thread on and off from the start, am trying to find how much you guys got your Subaru Tribeca for, i live in windsor now so the border is minutes from me,. i found a 2007 tribeca with nav fully loaded but no dvd for $31995 USD, its a demo 7000 miles on it, we're looking at getting a grand caravan sxt loaded for around the same price (when convert to CND) new with extended warranty but the tribeca is by far a better car, i just want to see how much room (space) am loosing in the back of the tribeca, any help would be great,..

the dealer told me if i really want it and not messing around they will work out a better price for me.

thanks

[treo22]

Does anyone know if the on provincial and federal rebates apply to this vehicle when purchased in US?

TOYOTA CAMRY HYBRID
AUTOMATIC
$27,539
$24,977

[scouzi]

i've been looking at this thread on and off from the start, am trying to find how much you guys got your Subaru Tribeca for, i live in windsor now so the border is minutes from me,. i found a 2007 tribeca with nav fully loaded but no dvd for $31995 USD, its a demo 7000 miles on it, we're looking at getting a grand caravan sxt loaded for around the same price (when convert to CND) new with extended warranty but the tribeca is by far a better car, i just want to see how much room (space) am loosing in the back of the tribeca, any help would be great,..

the dealer told me if i really want it and not messing around they will work out a better price for me.

thanks

I've been shopping for a long time and brand new ones for almost $6k off MSRP. In your case, the MSRP is about 36K so you should be able to get a BRAND NEW one for around $30k.

This is not so much a good deal. I paid $28600 US for a brand new 2007 Tribeca 7 passenger Limited (NO NAV-NO DVD). The NAV is not the best in these units so I bought a Street Pilot C550 with BlueTooth and MP3 player which I connect to the AUX input. Now I have fully integrated NAV/Cell phone and Music on a SD card.

Here's an add to give you an idea. 6K off all Tribecas.

http://www.stacy.sne1.com/07_ad.jpg

[scouzi]

I've been shopping for a long time and brand new ones for almost $6k off MSRP. In your case, the MSRP is about 36K so you should be able to get a BRAND NEW one for around $30k.

This is not so much a good deal. I paid $28600 US for a brand new 2007 Tribeca 7 passenger Limited (NO NAV-NO DVD). The NAV is not the best in these units so I bought a Street Pilot C550 with BlueTooth and MP3 player which I connect to the AUX input. Now I have fully integrated NAV/Cell phone and Music on a SD card.

Here's an add to give you an idea. 6K off all Tribecas.

http://www.stacy.sne1.com/07_ad.jpg

I have a van also. They don't really compare as to comfort for all 7 passengers. You can only sit the kids in the Tribeca on the 3rd row.

[scouzi]

So I'm getting a real hassle from the dealer I'm buying my two trucks from. I've sent them $80K US, they've cashed it, and now they're saying "we don't know if we can give out the MSO as it usually goes to the state" WTF. These people are idiots. I need to provide this info to Customs ASAP as I'm going early next week!!!:mad:


From which state?

That's why I chose a dealer that was used to all these things. I paid a bit more for the car though but he took care of the US customs side since he was near the border.

[Ragged]

This thread really has me thinking. The only downside is I guess you have to buy the car in full with cash. So I'm thinking that not too many of us have 25,000 dollars lying around.

Is that what you guys have done? I mean, that's a lot of money to put out and losing a return on that sum.

[chepel]

I am going to Carter Subaru from Calgary in 2 weeks to pick up my
2007 Outback 2.5i.
Total cost will come to approx. CAD 25K (manual trnsmission).
Add me to your list.
Thanks for info!

Holy cow, the RFD Super Savers List has grown considerably;

Here is the most current list of successful importers:

Subaru:
Monsieurmaggot (me) - Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - TWO Subaru Tribecas and soon a Subaru Outback
yyz2hkg - Subaru Outback
Flaming_homer - Subaru Forester
luckster - Subaru Outback
liquidium - Subaru STi
Algrande - Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik - Subaru Tribeca
john_rt - Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
scouzi - Subaru Tribeca Limited

BMW:
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3

Toyota:
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna
dudestr - Toyota Tundra
crasher - THREE Cars: Toyota Camry XLE and Two Toyota Siennas
sonicDX - Toyota Sienna

Honda:
MMMM - Honda Element

Ford:
wildone - TWO trucks: Ford F150 King Ranch AND Ford Expedition EL Limited

Lexus:
analyst - Lexus LX470

Motorhomes:
Tiffin - Allegro Bay 37' motorhome



If you want to be added to the list, let me know.

[rkrk]

I have received $1150 over invoice so far. $39389 OTD with B package.

Let me know what deal you have got.

In reference to the post above about Camry's, I'm a phone call away from buying mine and getting some incredible savings, but...

Has anyone driven the '07 or bought it ? There seems to be quite a negative review from actual owners that there are transmission/hesitation problems, lots of trips to dealerships for warranty work. The reviews from magazine's are great, but the actual owners are having mixed reviews...can anyone comment ? Is my mind playing tricks with me at this last second, at 6k saving on an LE, should I do it anyways ??

http://autos.yahoo.com/toyota_camry-reviews_user/
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/overview.aspx?year=2007&make=Toyota&model=Camry

[abowodun]

How much did u get Camry in NC??? How much was invoice and how much under invoice did u get it

Did u pay SALES TAX???

Did u use a USA address to buy???

[Draug]

How much did u get Camry in NC??? How much was invoice and how much under invoice did u get it

Did u pay SALES TAX???

Did u use a USA address to buy???

I know it isnt a Camry, but . . . .

I've just purchased a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon from a Subaru dealership in Jacksonville, NC. I wired them the US money this afternoon. I used my Canadian address and did not pay sales tax. They said any car going out of state does not require the collection of the sales tax.

It is unfortunate that I had to buy the car from a dealer 4000 kms away, but it was the only GT wagon left in the US (that I found - dealers couldnt find any with their searches), that wasnt white or blue, and there is no US 2008 Legacy wagon. I could have the car shipped to my door for $2400 Cdn, but I'd rather drive - I oddly love road trips.

I paid $30731 US for the car, including every added cost. Translated at todays exchange rate, the cost for the car will be $33014 Cdn, plus GST. I dont know exactly what I will save yet because I dont know how much the drive back will cost. Using my very conservative estimate, I will save $11,000 Cdn. Once I get home from the trip, I will tally everything up and report back, down to the dollar.

Also, when talking about buying these cars, it is important to note that the car must be paid for in full. That means either you have $25-50K in the bank, or you have borrowed with a loan or HELoC. In either case, that money comes with a lost opportunity cost that must not be forgotten about; either the interest paid on the loan or the lost income from investment of the cash asset you put into the vehicle. Using a conservative estimate of only 7% annual return, having my money tied up in this car will cost me over $200 a month. That is a cost that isnt lost if I finance a car in Canada because I am paying month to month and only losing the interest rate on the finance, which surely is less than 7%. Not to say it isnt worth it, but it should be calculated into the total financial picture.

[yyz2hkg]

I know it isnt a Camry, but . . . .

I've just purchased a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon from a Subaru dealership in Jacksonville, NC. I wired them the US money this afternoon. I used my Canadian address and did not pay sales tax. They said any car going out of state does not require the collection of the sales tax.
I paid $30731 US for the car, including every added cost. Translated at todays exchange rate, the cost for the car will be $33014 Cdn, plus GST. I dont know exactly what I will save yet because I dont know how much the drive back will cost. Using my very conservative estimate, I will save $11,000 Cdn. Once I get home from the trip, I will tally everything up and report back, down to the dollar.

Also, when talking about buying these cars, it is important to note that the car must be paid for in full. That means either you have $25-50K in the bank, or you have borrowed with a loan or HELoC. In either case, that money comes with a lost opportunity cost that must not be forgotten about; either the interest paid on the loan or the lost income from investment of the cash asset you put into the vehicle. Using a conservative estimate of only 7% annual return, having my money tied up in this car will cost me over $200 a month. That is a cost that isnt lost if I finance a car in Canada because I am paying month to month and only losing the interest rate on the finance, which surely is less than 7%. Not to say it isnt worth it, but it should be calculated into the total financial picture.

Draug is right +1. Don't get caught up in the hype. Do the math first, and ask yourself if it's worth it. If you borrowing the full amount for the vehicle you intend to purchase, calculate the whole financial picture as stated above, including interest rates, travel cost etc. You may save but YMMV.

[CHIA]

Holy cow, the RFD Super Savers List has grown considerably;

Here is the most current list of successful importers:

Subaru:
Monsieurmaggot (me) - Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - TWO Subaru Tribecas and soon a Subaru Outback
yyz2hkg - Subaru Outback
Flaming_homer - Subaru Forester
luckster - Subaru Outback
liquidium - Subaru STi
Algrande - Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik - Subaru Tribeca
john_rt - Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
scouzi - Subaru Tribeca Limited

BMW:
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3

Toyota:
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna
dudestr - Toyota Tundra
crasher - THREE Cars: Toyota Camry XLE and Two Toyota Siennas
sonicDX - Toyota Sienna

Honda:
MMMM - Honda Element

Ford:
wildone - TWO trucks: Ford F150 King Ranch AND Ford Expedition EL Limited

Lexus:
analyst - Lexus LX470

Motorhomes:
Tiffin - Allegro Bay 37' motorhome



If you want to be added to the list, let me know.


Add me to the list X2. Bought an 05 F150 Lariat last summer from Cali, and just bought an 06 Odyssey from WA state yesterday.....bringing it across the border Monday......little bit of work shopping for the deals, but when you look at the savings and better selection, it's a no-brainer.

That said, it's really not for everyone, and I appreciate some people just don't have the energy or time to dedicate........

[j27lee]

I am going to Carter Subaru from Calgary in 2 weeks to pick up my
2007 Outback 2.5i.
Total cost will come to approx. CAD 25K (manual trnsmission).
Add me to your list.
Thanks for info!

Is that the 2.5i basic? Or the 2.5i?

[Luckster]

That's probably for a 2.5i, you can get the basic for a couple of grands less.

[slothy@cutey]

Sorry, I'm pushing the Hyundai Veracruz... getting REALLY excited about this vehicle...

Check out MotorTrend magazine... they compared it to the Lexus RX350 (2008 version no less... ie. dealt with the not so good safety ratings)... and get this: Veracruz won the "showdown"!

Only about a $2k advantage buying in the US if you compare apples to apples (tough as different trim packages and options available in US versus Canadian version)... but $2k IS $2K... not sure what impact US vehicle will mean resale in Canada... ....

Took it for a test drive... and man-o-man... I never thought I'd be impressed with a Hyundai... but my days of prejudice are over... Lots of positive reviews/feedback from net research... this could be my vehicle! wow! :)

EDIT: Okay, last plug... responding to the earlier post regarding comfort of 7 seater... enough space in the Veracruz makes 3 seat row (which IS leather, not cloth) actually comfortable for adults too... not just kiddies.

[sonspot]

I have a van also. They don't really compare as to comfort for all 7 passengers. You can only sit the kids in the Tribeca on the 3rd row.

i guess the price the dealer gave me would be ok, its not great but its not bad, remember am getting everything except for the dvd and hes willing to go even lower with price if am serious about it, i could end up getting it for $30500 or less am hoping,..

[scouzi]

i guess the price the dealer gave me would be ok, its not great but its not bad, remember am getting everything except for the dvd and hes willing to go even lower with price if am serious about it, i could end up getting it for $30500 or less am hoping,..

It's up to you but what I'm saying is that you can get a NEW 7 passenger limited with NAV for US $30,000 to $30,500. A demo should be 2k to 3k less than that.

Look at what the low mileage used 2007 (DVD + NAV) are going for here:

http://www.billkolbjrsubaru.com/Preowned/

Don't forget that in some provinces (in Quebec at least), if they don't see the word NEW somewhere on the bill of sale, they will ask for a provincial inspection as well.

I'm just passing on my experience with the Tribeca as I had been shopping for about 6 weeks prior to buying mine. I have a rough idea on how low they can go. The discounts on the 2007 will probably increase in the next few weeks as the 2008 are rolling in now.

[scouzi]

Sorry, I'm pushing the Hyundai Veracruz... getting REALLY excited about this vehicle...

Check out MotorTrend magazine... they compared it to the Lexus RX350 (2008 version no less... ie. dealt with the not so good safety ratings)... and get this: Veracruz won the "showdown"!

Only about a $2k advantage buying in the US if you compare apples to apples (tough as different trim packages and options available in US versus Canadian version)... but $2k IS $2K... not sure what impact US vehicle will mean resale in Canada... ....

Took it for a test drive... and man-o-man... I never thought I'd be impressed with a Hyundai... but my days of prejudice are over... Lots of positive reviews/feedback from net research... this could be my vehicle! wow! :)

EDIT: Okay, last plug... responding to the earlier post regarding comfort of 7 seater... enough space in the Veracruz makes 3 seat row (which IS leather, not cloth) actually comfortable for adults too... not just kiddies.

The Subaru dealer where I picked up my Tribeca also sells Hyundais. I was tempted to try out the Veracruz but I was afraid it might spoil my own purchase :-)

[bigbug]

Just got a call from Federal ecoAuto program. They confirmed that hybrid cars purchased out of Canada are not eligible for $1000 to $2000 rebate. However, the Ontario program is still available because it is based on PST.

[chepel]

Is that the 2.5i basic? Or the 2.5i?
It's 2.5i

[scouzi]

Just got a call from Federal ecoAuto program. They confirmed that hybrid cars purchased out of Canada are not eligible for $1000 to $2000 rebate. However, the Ontario program is still available because it is based on PST.


So this is blatant subsidy to the Canadian car industry. What's the difference if it's bought in Canada or not. They all come from the same place.

The energy footprint for hybrid cars is just as bad if you consider the energy input needed to produce the batteries.

The solution is smaller cars and diesel engines. Hybrid is a feel good technology.

I would go ahead and apply for the rebate anyways since it is not stated anywhere that the cars has to be purchased in Canada.

[jrvic]

Sorry, I'm pushing the Hyundai Veracruz... getting REALLY excited about this vehicle...

Check out MotorTrend magazine... they compared it to the Lexus RX350 (2008 version no less... ie. dealt with the not so good safety ratings)... and get this: Veracruz won the "showdown"!

Only about a $2k advantage buying in the US if you compare apples to apples (tough as different trim packages and options available in US versus Canadian version)... but $2k IS $2K... not sure what impact US vehicle will mean resale in Canada... ....

Took it for a test drive... and man-o-man... I never thought I'd be impressed with a Hyundai... but my days of prejudice are over... Lots of positive reviews/feedback from net research... this could be my vehicle! wow! :)

EDIT: Okay, last plug... responding to the earlier post regarding comfort of 7 seater... enough space in the Veracruz makes 3 seat row (which IS leather, not cloth) actually comfortable for adults too... not just kiddies.


I thought about getting a Veracruz too, but I am worried that it does not hold value well for resell down the road. Also, it is in the first model year. I test drove it a month ago. It drove very nice and had all the toys for a very reasonable price comparing to RX350.

[Soaring]

Holy cow, the RFD Super Savers List has grown considerably;

Here is the most current list of successful importers:

Subaru:
Monsieurmaggot (me) - Subaru 3.0R Outback LLBean
Tuppin - TWO Subaru Tribecas and soon a Subaru Outback
yyz2hkg - Subaru Outback
Flaming_homer - Subaru Forester
luckster - Subaru Outback
liquidium - Subaru STi
Algrande - Subaru Outback XT
Fruzmatik - Subaru Tribeca
john_rt - Subaru Legacy GT
whampoa - Subaru 2.5i Outback LLBean
scouzi - Subaru Tribeca Limited

BMW:
Deemo - 2005 BMW M3

Toyota:
Gromit - Toyota Sienna
Mongo - Toyota Tacoma Doublecab 4X4 TRD Sport
tzcnd - Toyota Sienna
dudestr - Toyota Tundra
crasher - THREE Cars: Toyota Camry XLE and Two Toyota Siennas
sonicDX - Toyota Sienna

Honda:
MMMM - Honda Element

Ford:
wildone - TWO trucks: Ford F150 King Ranch AND Ford Expedition EL Limited

Lexus:
analyst - Lexus LX470

Motorhomes:
Tiffin - Allegro Bay 37' motorhome



If you want to be added to the list, let me know.

I want to thank the OP Monsieurmaggot for starting this thread.
I have completed the import of a 2007 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited.
I saved over $14,000 buying in the states...
All the info and help from this thread made the process simple.
The only unexpected delay I encountered was with opening an account with XEtrade.com so if you plan to use them pay for your purchase, give yourself at least 6 business days just to open and activate the account then add at least another 4 business days to do the actual electronic fund transfer.

[bigbug]

I thought about getting a Veracruz too, but I am worried that it does not hold value well for resell down the road. Also, it is in the first model year. I test drove it a month ago. It drove very nice and had all the toys for a very reasonable price comparing to RX350.

Keep in mind that Veracruz is Made in Korea, which will add another 6.1% duty on top.

[thegradas]

In your example ($18,000), if the State tax is
4% -> you pay $720 extra
6% -> you pay $1,080 extra
it's almost as paying the duty tax, or almost the difference between a canadian freight+PDI and a US one.

I have to admit, it doesn't work very well for the Civic (savings of ~$3,000 only) but it works OK with other brands/models...




[QUOTE=michelb;5190651]
The other thing you need to be concerned about is that Honda will not honour the new car warranty in Canada unless you first register it in the US (and most likely pay taxes on it there) so for most people, importing a Honda is not really that good of an option.
QUOTE]

[sonspot]

It's up to you but what I'm saying is that you can get a NEW 7 passenger limited with NAV for US $30,000 to $30,500. A demo should be 2k to 3k less than that.

Look at what the low mileage used 2007 (DVD + NAV) are going for here:

http://www.billkolbjrsubaru.com/Preowned/

Don't forget that in some provinces (in Quebec at least), if they don't see the word NEW somewhere on the bill of sale, they will ask for a provincial inspection as well.

I'm just passing on my experience with the Tribeca as I had been shopping for about 6 weeks prior to buying mine. I have a rough idea on how low they can go. The discounts on the 2007 will probably increase in the next few weeks as the 2008 are rolling in now.


thanks for the advise so far, you said you have or had a van too,. i know or hope the tribeca is a much better car, is there anything you dont like about the tribeca compare to the van. the only reason i was looking at a van, i wanted good size trunk space but thinking i wont get that with the tribeca..

thanks

[scouzi]

thanks for the advise so far, you said you have or had a van too,. i know or hope the tribeca is a much better car, is there anything you dont like about the tribeca compare to the van. the only reason i was looking at a van, i wanted good size trunk space but thinking i wont get that with the tribeca..

thanks

I have a 2002 Kia Sedonna. The Tribeca is more versatile because of the folding seats. However most newer vans have that also. My 2 3rd seats weigh about 80lbs each and they are a pain to remove and put back!

As far as comfort for 7 passengers, a van is better. I bought my Tribeca as a 2nd car as I have been driving a Van for 10 years. I wanted the drive of a car with the height of a Van.

If my budget was for 1 vehicule only, I would still chose a good ole Van since they are the best value for the money of any other type of vehicule based on their price and versality. Subaru would have had more success with an AWD Van since it fits more with their buyer base. Subaru is the Apple of the car world.

I love my Tribeca. I don't notice all the quirks outlined in the reviews. I find the engine quite adequate. Gas mileage is about the same as my Van. I actually prefer the looks of the 2007 vs the 2008.

The only issue I have is the tires (Good Year Eagle GTs) - Never liked them. But that is easily fixable.

[thegradas]

FYI

$16,855
Purchase Price*
2007 Honda Civic Sedan

Ragsdale Honda Central
350 Turnpike Rd
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: (774) 760-0500
Fax: (774) 760-0529





In your example ($18,000), if the State tax is
4% -> you pay $720 extra
6% -> you pay $1,080 extra
it's almost as paying the duty tax, or almost the difference between a canadian freight+PDI and a US one.

I have to admit, it doesn't work very well for the Civic (savings of ~$3,000 only) but it works OK with other brands/models...





The other thing you need to be concerned about is that Honda will not honour the new car warranty in Canada unless you first register it in the US (and most likely pay taxes on it there) so for most people, importing a Honda is not really that good of an option.

[TorontoEh]

FYI

$16,855
Purchase Price*
2007 Honda Civic Sedan

Ragsdale Honda Central
350 Turnpike Rd
Westborough, MA 01581
Phone: (774) 760-0500
Fax: (774) 760-0529


So after all the paperwork, including hassles with honda usa warranty work, do you think it's worth buying from there?

BTW...have anyone dealt with BURDICK TOYOTA in Syracause, NY?

[sonspot]

I have a 2002 Kia Sedonna. The Tribeca is more versatile because of the folding seats. However most newer vans have that also. My 2 3rd seats weigh about 80lbs each and they are a pain to remove and put back!

As far as comfort for 7 passengers, a van is better. I bought my Tribeca as a 2nd car as I have been driving a Van for 10 years. I wanted the drive of a car with the height of a Van.

If my budget was for 1 vehicule only, I would still chose a good ole Van since they are the best value for the money of any other type of vehicule based on their price and versality. Subaru would have had more success with an AWD Van since it fits more with their buyer base. Subaru is the Apple of the car world.

I love my Tribeca. I don't notice all the quirks outlined in the reviews. I find the engine quite adequate. Gas mileage is about the same as my Van. I actually prefer the looks of the 2007 vs the 2008.

The only issue I have is the tires (Good Year Eagle GTs) - Never liked them. But that is easily fixable.


so far its just three of us in our family, the van would be great when have more kids (one more ), we're always thinking a van is good when family and friends visits dont need two cars but on the other hand the 7 seat trideca would be more than enough for a family four or five and still have room for a quinny stroller (suv of strollers).

the bad thing about looking for the tribeca now is the dealer dont have what you want except for fully loaded and 5 seater,. i found another one its fully loaded every special edition with tax $352289 USD out the door, guess i'll keep looking am hoping for something around 28000 to 31500..

[ecgz88]

So this is blatant subsidy to the Canadian car industry. What's the difference if it's bought in Canada or not. They all come from the same place.

The energy footprint for hybrid cars is just as bad if you consider the energy input needed to produce the batteries.

The solution is smaller cars and diesel engines. Hybrid is a feel good technology.

I would go ahead and apply for the rebate anyways since it is not stated anywhere that the cars has to be purchased in Canada.



Yeah, it is not stated anywhere.......I called them 4 times one month ago still not get feedback yet.:mad:

[scouzi]

so far its just three of us in our family, the van would be great when have more kids (one more ), we're always thinking a van is good when family and friends visits dont need two cars but on the other hand the 7 seat trideca would be more than enough for a family four or five and still have room for a quinny stroller (suv of strollers).

the bad thing about looking for the tribeca now is the dealer dont have what you want except for fully loaded and 5 seater,. i found another one its fully loaded every special edition with tax $352289 USD out the door, guess i'll keep looking am hoping for something around 28000 to 31500..

Where do you live?

[thegradas]

1. No.
2. No.

So after all the paperwork, including hassles with honda usa warranty work, do you think it's worth buying from there?

BTW...have anyone dealt with BURDICK TOYOTA in Syracause, NY?

[thegradas]

Hyundai Offers Famous 10 year/100k Mile Warranty On Its Used Vehicles

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF., 05/30/2007 Hyundai Motor America today announced an industry first with its new Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty, boasting a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty on used vehicles going back five model years with less than 60,000 miles. The enhanced pre-owned program and pre-owned warranty provides buyers with an added level of comfort and satisfaction with their vehicle purchase. The enhanced pre-owned program was launched to Hyundai dealers in May 2007, with warranty being effective from date of original sale. Hyundai’s enhanced Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program will provide buyers with:


· Powertrain 10 year/100,000 mile warranty
· 150-Point Inspection
· $50 deductible
· Vehicles up to five model years old with less than 60,000 miles are eligible
· Roadside assistance
· Rental car coverage (up to $35/day for up to 10 days)
· Towing coverage (up to $75 per occurrence)
· Travel breakdown coverage (up to $375 per occurrence) · Diagnostics
· Related damage for specific parts
· Fluids
· New car financing rates through Hyundai Motor Financing Company


“We are very excited to launch an industry first,” said Kimberly Walker, Hyundai Motor America’s national manager of Assurance Products. “Hyundai’s new vehicles feature America’s Best Warranty™ and adding the same level of value to our pre-owned vehicles is just another example of how Hyundai stands behind their vehicles.”

Additional options available to the Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty include service contracts such as the Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned Wrap Contract which raises the comprehensive coverage on non-powertrain components, Hyundai Vehicle Care Maintenance Program and Hyundai Road Hazard Tire and Wheel option.

[sonspot]

Where do you live?

i live in windsor, i've been looking in michigan only so far, its closer to me less hassle if i have to take it back for whatever reason.. just to confirm theirs no duty on the tribeca right?

thanks

[scouzi]

i live in windsor, i've been looking in michigan only so far, its closer to me less hassle if i have to take it back for whatever reason.. just to confirm theirs no duty on the tribeca right?

thanks

No duty on Tribeca since it's made in Indianna. They now produce the Toyota Camry at the very same plant.

Be carefull about Michigan, some people mentioned on this forum that you must pay state taxes even if the vehicle is for export.

[slothy@cutey]

I thought about getting a Veracruz too, but I am worried that it does not hold value well for resell down the road. Also, it is in the first model year. I test drove it a month ago. It drove very nice and had all the toys for a very reasonable price comparing to RX350.

Yeah.. 2 for real and good concerns. I ended up leasing it here in Canada... it's more flexible for my needs, and I don't have to worry about it's valuation after lease ends as i'd never do a buyout.. and also allows me to "test" my experience with a Hyundai.

I hear that the Veracruz's have been out in the US for just over a year, so that's somewhat comforting... I keep trying to find reasons not to get this vehicle, but from the info coming my way, it keeps impressing me... I hear it's a contender for car/SUV of the year...

The big criticisms (lack of Nav system) don't really affect me much so it really comes down to what you are really looking for.

I got an APA quote, but apparently after me, they said they contacted APA to reduce the savings on a Veracruz - indicating that they are not looking to discount this puppy much and have high expectations for its success in the market.

PM me from time to time, and I'd be happy to share my experience with this vehicle with you.

[opus]

Know there is no warranty once crossed into Canada. Does anyone have advice regarding getting a 3rd party warranty? I am in BC and Warranty Direct does not currently cover.

Thanks for your help.

opus

[slothy@cutey]

Know there is no warranty once crossed into Canada. Does anyone have advice regarding getting a 3rd party warranty? I am in BC and Warranty Direct does not currently cover.

Thanks for your help.

opus

Search the thread - I think someone mentioned 1 or 2 that for sure covers Honda's north of the border

[abs3]

It's easy to get used cars over, just buy them from dealers though. Then you don't to go down to get the vehicle. You can have it shipped to Canada for $1700 US. Way better than driving it up. Take into consideration how many days it will take to drive up, the gas, food, hotels, and time. You're not saving much by driving yourself unless it is really close.

I bought my vehicle from Washington, sight unseen. I had it inspected by the Lexus dealership, it was a 2006 Lexus LX470 with 1700 miles on it. I had it shipped to my door step. Everything was cleared for me at the border by the customs broker. It was easy.

Analyst,

What custom broker/shipping company do you use ? Do you have to get the temporary license plate yourself ?

[develop]

We all see the good warranty from Hyundai, 10 years for powertrain , but it is for US owners, I wonder after we import the car here, we will follow the Canadian warranty which is 5 years.
Local sales mentioned the 2007 Veracruz are made in both Korea and US, needs to confirm.

[Analyst]

Analyst,

What custom broker/shipping company do you use ? Do you have to get the temporary license plate yourself ?

I just used whichever one the transport company recommended. They handled all the paperwork. You don't need a temporary license plate but you can get a transport document / insurance for your vehicle through the vehicle licensing.

[slothy@cutey]

Local sales mentioned the 2007 Veracruz are made in both Korea and US, needs to confirm.

So far, everything I've seen and heard suggest the Veracruz is Korean only. But that would be interesting if true. Where did you hear this? I'll keep my fingers crossed...

[gocolts]

Based on this thread, I bought a used 2005 Montana for 9,000 US. I have paid my GST and RIV fee, but have yet to get it saftied.

I am now thinking of selling it to make a few dollars. Can I sell it before registering it in Ontario? (to save PST) Or could I sell it, get the safety and go to MTO with the new owner and have it directly put into their name so they pay the PST? Also, can I get my GST back?

Just wondering.....

[eljay]

Based on this thread, I bought a used 2005 Montana for 9,000 US. I have paid my GST and RIV fee, but have yet to get it saftied.

I am now thinking of selling it to make a few dollars. Can I sell it before registering it in Ontario? (to save PST) Or could I sell it, get the safety and go to MTO with the new owner and have it directly put into their name so they pay the PST? Also, can I get my GST back?

Just wondering.....

I'm pretty sure you need to be a used car dealer to do that.

[MMMM]

Know there is no warranty once crossed into Canada. Does anyone have advice regarding getting a 3rd party warranty? I am in BC and Warranty Direct does not currently cover.

Thanks for your help.

opus

Try this company. Its underwritten by Co-operators.

http://www.securewarranty.ca/drive.html

[abowodun]

[QUOTE=Draug;5192718]I know it isnt a Camry, but . . . .

I've just purchased a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon from a Subaru dealership in Jacksonville, NC. I wired them the US money this afternoon.


I will take a cue from this and buy this weekend. The few Toyota Dealerships I have called are reluctant to sell to Canadians. NC might be different.

Will u be flying there and driving to Calgary?
Will u drive with Dealers temp Licence plate thru all US states and Montana to Calgary? Can the US plate get u into Calgary and do u have to get 1 or 2 insurance to cover in US/Canada.
If I buy on time can we both get a mover move to Montana and we pick up in Montan rather than go to NC.
Do u have to be physically in NC to pick-up car?

[Draug]

I know it isnt a Camry, but . . . .

I've just purchased a 2007 Subaru Legacy GT Limited Wagon from a Subaru dealership in Jacksonville, NC. I wired them the US money this afternoon.


I will take a cue from this and buy this weekend. The few Toyota Dealerships I have called are reluctant to sell to Canadians. NC might be different.

Will u be flying there and driving to Calgary?
Will u drive with Dealers temp Licence plate thru all US states and Montana to Calgary? Can the US plate get u into Calgary and do u have to get 1 or 2 insurance to cover in US/Canada.
If I buy on time can we both get a mover move to Montana and we pick up in Montan rather than go to NC.
Do u have to be physically in NC to pick-up car?

The plan is to fly to Raleigh, get a 1 way Enterprise rental to Jacksonville, pick up the car and drive back to Calgary. That non-stop flight can be had for about $300. Getting a connecting flight from Raleigh or Charlotte to Jacksonville seems to over double the ticket cost, from what I can find.

Once I get to Canada, I was thinking I will put on my own license plate, from my other car on my insurance policy, since I will add the new Subaru to that policy before I leave. I've never seen a temporary plate offered by dealer. If they look reasonably like real license plates, I will keep it on as I drive through all the US states. Otherwise, I will put my Alberta plate on down there.

I dont think you need to pick up the car in person, but I plan to do so. I did get a quote from a transport company; it was $2400 Cdn right to my door in Calgary. I've never been to the Eastern US (except Florida), and am very much looking forward to it. I'll spend a week or so out there before heading home.

[develop]

So far, everything I've seen and heard suggest the Veracruz is Korean only. But that would be interesting if true. Where did you hear this? I'll keep my fingers crossed...

I was at my local dealer today, the Hyundai sales rep told me some of the Veracruz were made in States, I double checked with him, he seemed very confident. I noticed the Vin No in the show room starts from K.

I called dealer in US , their sales said every single Veracruz was made in Korea.

I also confirmed with them about the warranty issue, I was told if registered in US we would get 10 years warranty for powertrain (US warranty), but if we import and register the car in Canada then we only Canadian warranty which is 5 years powertrain.
What a joke to our Canadian! We pay much more here but get poor warranty.

[develop]

If you have Toyota US dealer is willing to sell to you, you'd better act ASAP.
My US dealer called me today he could not sell to me directly any more, he said he would have problem to get me the MSO right now, i know he just sold one to a Canadian not too long ago.
Now I have to start it over try to find another dealer or go to other brand.
Toyota doing this won't help the Canadian dealers at all, once we know the huge difference , who will be happy to buy car locally? Instead, Toyota will be hurt.

Lucky Subaru lovers, you guys get so much good deal and never have problems finding US dealers.

[rf134a]

Maybe my search skills are lacking, but what happens if a relative drove a 6-month old Rav4 here and sold it to me? This question was asked but I didn't find an answer.

The reason for this is that all Rav4 are made in Japan. This would allow me to evade the 6.1% import tax. Basically my configuration on the V6 LTD with DRLs, leather, sunroof, backup camera, backup sensors, step bars, heated seats and some other random parts comes out to US$29k vs C$39k without the backup camera, and paint sealant. Costco Auto will help me save around $7k. :cheesygri

[stewpy]

Lucky Subaru lovers, you guys get so much good deal and never have problems finding US dealers.

I've always bought Toyota... I think my next purchase is a Subaru.

[darock_sayz]

If a am buying a car from Washington state...will the insurance that I buy from the US dealership be valid in Canada or do I need to have something prepared when I drive into Canada from ICBC, can I use plates from another car ?

Please post or PM me with any other "Blaine border" crossing details.

Thanks

[crasher]

After flood of PMs, I am posting the toyota dealer here (http://toyotaoflakenorman.com/Specials-New.aspx).
I dealt with them in NC. They have fixed price, wont budge even a single $.
Most important is that they sell to Canadians, no NC tax. add $647 as their fee(profit) and temp. tag(permit). They wont even pick you from airport, and want full payment in advance, so you can send your title at border.

[Gromit]

After flood of PMs, I am posting the toyota dealer
I dealt with them in NC. They have fixed price, wont budge even a single $.
Most important is that they sell to Canadians, no NC tax. add $647 as their fee(profit) and temp. tag(permit). They wont even pick you from airport, and want full payment in advance, so you can send your title at border.

Holy crap, they're taking advantage of folks. My dealer took thousands off the posted internet price, fee and permit was $100, and they picked me up at the airport.

Don't know if they're still doing this, but it was Darcars.com

[crasher]

Holy crap, they're taking advantage of folks. My dealer took thousands off the posted internet price, fee and permit was $100, and they picked me up at the airport.

Don't know if they're still doing this, but it was Darcars.com

I checked Darcars prices, its much higher than what I got. I dont mind paying $20 for taxi, if it can save me thousands $:cheesygri

[yyz2hkg]

After flood of PMs, I am posting the toyota dealer here (http://toyotaoflakenorman.com/Specials-New.aspx).
I dealt with them in NC. They have fixed price, wont budge even a single $.
Most important is that they sell to Canadians, no NC tax. add $647 as their fee(profit) and temp. tag(permit). They wont even pick you from airport, and want full payment in advance, so you can send your title at border.

Thx Crasher, great deals to be had for the little extra drive. Could be a nice road trip if anyone decides to buy.

[shopper-X]

Maybe my search skills are lacking, but what happens if a relative drove a 6-month old Rav4 here and sold it to me? This question was asked but I didn't find an answer.

The reason for this is that all Rav4 are made in Japan. This would allow me to evade the 6.1% import tax. Basically my configuration on the V6 LTD with DRLs, leather, sunroof, backup camera, backup sensors, step bars, heated seats and some other random parts comes out to US$29k vs C$39k without the backup camera, and paint sealant. Costco Auto will help me save around $7k. :cheesygri

When they register the RAV4 new they will pay the state tax. Not sure when they sell it.

[boci]

Hey guys what do you think of this price $33.600 USD for a new 2007 Tribeca 7- passanger limited with
DVD
NAV
XM SATELLITE RADIO-FREE 90
PUDDLE LIGHTS
REMOTE ENGINE STARTER
SPLASH GUARDS
REAR BUMPER COVER

[abowodun]

If you have Toyota US dealer is willing to sell to you, you'd better act ASAP.
My US dealer called me today he could not sell to me directly any more, he said he would have problem to get me the MSO right now, i know he just sold one to a Canadian not too long ago.
.

I just called Toyota dealership in NC and they are using wrong excuses (emmisssion wont pass in Canada) to not sell to Canadians.
Are USA emmissions standars different from ours?????

Toyota dealerships are refraining now.....one has to act fast

[abowodun]

After flood of PMs, I am posting the toyota dealer here (http://toyotaoflakenorman.com/Specials-New.aspx).
I dealt with them in NC. They have fixed price, wont budge even a single $.
Most important is that they sell to Canadians, no NC tax. add $647 as their fee(profit) and temp. tag(permit). They wont even pick you from airport, and want full payment in advance, so you can send your title at border.

You guys have better skills than most of us. All Toyota dealerships have declined to sell to me as a Canadian. There must be something I am missing.

Maybe, they sell to one Canadian.....the they hit a brickwall...then they send out an alert out and start refusing. I need help from this forum as I am not getting any headway and my wife needs car urgently.
Someone should help with more specifics...
who did u call...? was it an internet sales? did u have to tell them u are paying cash? what must u say

[Gromit]

I checked Darcars prices, its much higher than what I got. I dont mind paying $20 for taxi, if it can save me thousands $:cheesygri

Well yeah, that's because you didn't negotiate thousands off, like I said. :)

Were you checking the MSRP or the Internet price? You have to click on each vehicle to see the internet price, the overview shows only the MSRP. After that, you negotiate downwards.

For example, this vehicle http://toyotaf.darcars.com/new_vehicle_details.htm?vehicleId=e6e415d44046381e 002133393b78025e
initially says $36,900 for MSRP, Internet price is $32,900, and you could probably get it for $30,900 or less.

[inspire]

Easiest way to negotiate is to work backwards ... go to autos.yahoo.com to find out the INVOICE cost of a car (including what model you want) and offer them something like $500 over that. I did that with my TSX and they only 'jacked me for $170 registration fee (any car purchase has to register to the state DOT (dept of transport)... varies from state to state) and $300 for an option kit that I didn't want, but that was the only one they had in stock (mudguards and trunk tray).

That's how I've always bought my car and that's how I'll always do it. We have access to the Internet ... you can find out virtually anything about car prices.

[Luckster]

I did not check into this but I heard Magic Toyota in Seattle may sell to Canadians.

You guys have better skills than most of us. All Toyota dealerships have declined to sell to me as a Canadian. There must be something I am missing.

Maybe, they sell to one Canadian.....the they hit a brickwall...then they send out an alert out and start refusing. I need help from this forum as I am not getting any headway and my wife needs car urgently.
Someone should help with more specifics...
who did u call...? was it an internet sales? did u have to tell them u are paying cash? what must u say

[alanbrenton]

Does it make sense to import the Infinit G35x at the current exchange rate? I believe it has been mentioned that there will be a 6.1% duty slapped on the vehicle. Will Infiniti Canada honor the warranty? According to some people here, Nissan Canada will not.

Thanks.

[Analyst]

Has anyone considered checking out Autotrader.com ? You can usually find the new models that have been driven slightly, maybe a couple of thousand miles, for MUCH less than what the best price a Toyota dealer would have and they would not have a problem selling to you. I am talking about buying from a dealer who may have gotten the Toyota in trade, etc. You will not have these issues, plus you will save even more money. Think outside the box.... everyone knows cars depreciate as soon as they leave the lot, so why not take advantage of that. Cars with a few thousand miles are just as good as new. Just have them inspected by an authorized dealership and you're good to go.

[abowodun]

If you have Toyota US dealer is willing to sell to you, you'd better act ASAP.
My US dealer called me today he could not sell to me directly any more, he said he would have problem to get me the MSO right now, i know he just sold one to a Canadian not too long ago.
.

I am expreiencing similar problems. Can u pls let me know if u are successful with any other Toyota Dealership in the USA. I will appreciate this help as i travel to the states in 2 weeks. Crasher seems to be the only one that successfully did this.

I believe u need a US address (say in Oregon/Montana) to ensure tax-free sales.

[jsonli]

Hi first post.

If I import a used G35/350Z I am going to pay GST + duty (manufactured in Japan) + PST (ontario?)?

[shopper-X]

Hi first post.

If I import a used G35/350Z I am going to pay GST + duty (manufactured in Japan) + PST (ontario?)?

Both taxes are paid when Importing used or new. Duty (6.1%) is paid on non-NAFTA automobiles. GST and Duty are paid while importing (@Border) and PST when register the automobile at your local MTO/DMV/DOT/ETC..

[sonspot]

No duty on Tribeca since it's made in Indianna. They now produce the Toyota Camry at the very same plant.

Be carefull about Michigan, some people mentioned on this forum that you must pay state taxes even if the vehicle is for export.


i found a fully load b9 with nav/dvd chrome opt, yes its a demo :) around 6000 ml on it, the dealer is asking $35629 with tax ( before tax $33612 min the rebate $30862), am trying to tell him i dont pay them tax, i pay that tax at the border,. anyhow before go over and taking it for a drive the dealer told me $33291 before rebate, guess he should have talked it over with his boss first.. am think of driving a few extra miles for a better deal..

whats the mileage like on the tribeca, the 08 use 87 octane anyone using 89 instead of 91 with the 07?

thanks

[inspire]

whats the mileage like on the tribeca, the 08 use 87 octane anyone using 89 instead of 91 with the 07?
This may be off-topic here, but why do people think they can save a couple dollars by using a lower grade fuel than the manufacturer recommends? :confused: Quick answer: yes, the car will compensate with the lower octane at the expense of sacrificing performance, fuel economy, and risk of 'knocking'. If you're going to buy a car in the US and save thousands, how much 'more' money are you going to save using a lower grade fuel? (Average car has a tank of 60L @ $0.05/L difference from one grade to another = $3 / tank ... but then you lose out on having to fill more more often ... your time to fill up the car, etc)

Just use what the manufacturer recommends from the money you saved importing the car ...

[inspire]

Has anyone considered checking out Autotrader.com ? You can usually find the new models that have been driven slightly, maybe a couple of thousand miles, for MUCH less than what the best price a Toyota dealer would have and they would not have a problem selling to you.
The catch is buying from a private party is ...

1) You don't know if the car has been in an accident (Carfax isn't 100%) and you'd have to take it to a trusty mechanic to see if anything has been done to the car. Where are you gonna find that if you're not from that area? If a dealership lies to you about the condition of the car, they can get into serious trouble.
2) The price you pay for the car is not necessarily what Canada Customs will accept and they may determine a 'fair price' according to them, so the savings may not be as great as you calculated
3) Where are you going to obtain an up-to-date recall letter? It can be a pain.
4) You'll have to fax the border crossing your intention to import a car 72 hrs before crossing the border ... you might have to wait in the US before crossing, unless you pay the guy ahead of time to fax the ownership to US Customs ...

Overall, you will most likely save money compared to buying from a dealership but the time and effort may be too great for most to bear. For first-timers, I wouldn't recommend this route since there are far too many variables that come into play. Pay $1-2k more for peace of mind and less potential for headaches.

[Analyst]

The catch is buying from a private party is ...

1) You don't know if the car has been in an accident (Carfax isn't 100%) and you'd have to take it to a trusty mechanic to see if anything has been done to the car. Where are you gonna find that if you're not from that area? If a dealership lies to you about the condition of the car, they can get into serious trouble.
2) The price you pay for the car is not necessarily what Canada Customs will accept and they may determine a 'fair price' according to them, so the savings may not be as great as you calculated
3) Where are you going to obtain an up-to-date recall letter? It can be a pain.
4) You'll have to fax the border crossing your intention to import a car 72 hrs before crossing the border ... you might have to wait in the US before crossing, unless you pay the guy ahead of time to fax the ownership to US Customs ...

Overall, you will most likely save money compared to buying from a dealership but the time and effort may be too great for most to bear. For first-timers, I wouldn't recommend this route since there are far too many variables that come into play. Pay $1-2k more for peace of mind and less potential for headaches.

Maybe you need to read my post AGAIN.

1. Look on Autotrader.com
2. Choose vehicles sold by DEALERS, eg. GM dealer may have a Toyota on trader.
3. Have them take it to a Toyota dealership in the area for an inspection, call the Toyota dealership as you will have to pay for the inspection.
4. If the car checks out, get CARFAX - if it isn't as accurate, they provide a guarantee to buy the vehicle back from you via their insurance. http://www.carfax.com/guarantee/buyback_pop.cfm
5. Call Toyota directly and give them the VIN and they will send you the recall clearance letter. It's FREE to get.
6. Have vehicle shipped to you in Canada - about $1700 US.
7. Transport company forwards all documents to the border crossing and arranges for the custom broker
8. It arrives at your door.
9. It is not difficult as I did it myself for MY FIRST TIME. I brought in a Lexus LX470 this way, NO PROBLEM.

It's not rocket science and it is not necessary to be the sharpest tool in the shed to be able to do this. So there is no need to make it out to be such a "production" to bring one in. I never stated you should buy from a private individual, always from a dealer down in the US.

[develop]

Never thought about used car before, but now maybe...
Question about used car, do you still need to pay duty if car made in Japan?

Maybe you need to read my post AGAIN.

1. Look on Autotrader.com
2. Choose vehicles sold by DEALERS, eg. GM dealer may have a Toyota on trader.
3. Have them take it to a Toyota dealership in the area for an inspection, call the Toyota dealership as you will have to pay for the inspection.
4. If the car checks out, get CARFAX &
5. Have vehicle shipped to you in Canada - about $1700 US.
5. Transport company forwards all documents to the border crossing and arranges for the custom broker
6. It arrives at your door.
7. It is not difficult as I did it myself for MY FIRST TIME. I brought in a Lexus LX470 this way, NO PROBLEM.

It's not rocket science and it is not necessary to be the sharpest tool in the shed to be able to do this. So there is no need to make it out to be such a "production" to bring one in. I never stated you should by from a private individual, always from a dealer down in the US.

[Analyst]

Never thought about used car before, but now maybe...
Question about used car, do you still need to pay duty if car made in Japan?

Yes you do still, but the cost savings vs. brand new is huge. Look at my case : Brand New 2006 Lexus LX470 was $69K US down there. I got mine for $61K with 1700 miles on it. That's like two months driving on it ? It is practically new. With the exchange at that time of $1.14, duties, taxes, shipping, I landed it for $80K Can all in. The list is $105K plus GST here. So I estimated I saved $30K and I can still sell it for about $95K. I'm probably going to flip it and bring in a 2007 soon.

I always go with cars that are at most a couple of years old unless it is high end, when you can go a bit older. The more expensive the vehicle, the more likely the person who bought it took care of it. This is not always the case, but I don't think most people won't beat the crap out of a Lexus if they paid $100K unless they're Mike Tyson.

Compare the difference and you will see how incredible the deals can be. I bought my vehicle in February last year, so it was maybe 5 months old max. I think it was made in December 2005. I stayed with a 2006 at that time as the 2005 had a smaller engine, but otherwise I would have considered it as well when I was searching.

[TorontoEh]

Maybe you need to read my post AGAIN.

1. Look on Autotrader.com
2. Choose vehicles sold by DEALERS, eg. GM dealer may have a Toyota on trader.
3. Have them take it to a Toyota dealership in the area for an inspection, call the Toyota dealership as you will have to pay for the inspection.
4. If the car checks out, get CARFAX - if it isn't as accurate, they provide a guarantee to buy the vehicle back from you via their insurance. http://www.carfax.com/guarantee/buyback_pop.cfm
5. Call Toyota directly and give them the VIN and they will send you the recall clearance letter. It's FREE to get.
6. Have vehicle shipped to you in Canada - about $1700 US.
7. Transport company forwards all documents to the border crossing and arranges for the custom broker
8. It arrives at your door.
9. It is not difficult as I did it myself for MY FIRST TIME. I brought in a Lexus LX470 this way, NO PROBLEM.

It's not rocket science and it is not necessary to be the sharpest tool in the shed to be able to do this. So there is no need to make it out to be such a "production" to bring one in. I never stated you should buy from a private individual, always from a dealer down in the US.


wow cool! thnx analyst.....now i might think about a used car too ;-)

[TorontoEh]

I just read a few articles (http://www.torontosun.com/Money/2006/06/22/1646786-sun.html) that mention that new car prices are considerably cheaper in the US.

For a couple of hours of paperwork (www.riv.ca) you could save anywhere from $8000 to $12000 on a $30,000 car.

I am looking at a Subaru Outback.

For that car, the US dealers also offers $2750 cash back on a 2006 model.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru_prices.html

http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

The only drawback, the odometer is in miles. Lucky for me this model has daytime running lights as standard US equipment.



Edit: I have since purchased a 2007 Subaru Outback in Buffalo NY.

Thanks to Michelb for helping compile this FAQ:

IMPORTING A CAR FROM THE USA INTO CANADA FAQ
--------------------------------------------

1) Why bother importing a car from the US?

- Partially of the recent strength of the Canadian dollar, many models are significantly less expensive in the US than in Canada. Also some models/trims are available in the US but not in Canada.


2) Can any car from the USA be imported?

- No, check the list at www.riv.ca. While many cars can be imported without any or with very little modifications, some might need modifications like the addition of Daytime running lights, and/or child tether anchors

3) Do I have to pay duty and taxes?

- There is no duty on cars built in North America. Cars from elsewhere will be charged 6.1% duty. You have to pay GST when you import the vehicle and PST when you register your vehicle as per your Province's regulations.

For a list of currenly know duty exempt cars (NAFTA Cars) click on this subsequent link:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/s...postcount=2325


4) How do I know if I can import a car without paying duty?

- If the VIN starts with a number, it's made in North America and can be imported duty free. If they VIN starts with a letter, it's made elsewhere in the world and you will be charged 6.1% duty.


5) IS this only for new cars?

- Any car that can be imported (check point #1) can be imported new or used - does not make any difference and the process is the same (other than things like safety checks and clean air checks which really have nothing to do with importing the car).


6) Will the new car warranty be valid in Canada?

- This varies by manufacturer and you should contact the one for the car you wish to import. Some manufacturers (e.g. Subaru, Toyota) will honor the warranty, others will honor the warranty but under a few conditions (e.g. Nissan), while others void the warranty if the car is not registered in the US first (e.g. Honda)


7) Do I need a US address?

- No, but some dealerships (e.g. Toyota, particularly those near the Canadian border) may not want to sell you a car if you don't register it in the US first. In general dealerships very close to the Canadian border may not be as willing (because of pressure from the manufacturer) to sell to Canadians and you may have to travel further South.


8) I have a friend / relative / whatever with an address in the US, can I or they buy the car in the US and register it there before importing it to Canada?

- Yes but you may be charged sales taxes in the US and in Canada if you do that. Different states have different tax rates (and some none) so it may be possible to do it there. It has been confirmed that Canadian buyers pay NO sales tax in certain states like New York but are charged sales tax in Michigan. Also, there are certain conditions under which Customs Canada will allow you to import the car without paying taxes but this is only for those who are out of Canada for extended periods of time.


9) Can I get financing for a car purchased in the US?

- You cannot get financing through the dealership or manufacturer. You may be able to get a car loan from your bank but probably only once the vehicle is imported into Canada. Some Canadian banks are now offering US loans.


10) Can anyone do this for me?

- There are importers / brokers that will handle shipping and importing however they do charge a significant amount. Individuals can do it for themselve for the cost of a few hours time and the $200 RIV fee.


11) Are there any drawbacks from having a US car?

- Generally no. There are some inconveniences such as having an odometer in miles rather than kilometers and having the 'principal' display (outer ring) in the speedometer in MPH rather than KPH. It may be more difficult to resell an 'US' vehicle and you may get less for it. Dealer supplied bonuses (e.g. free oil changes for the first year) are usually not valid in Canada. Some automatic climate control and computer data information can also be in Imperial measurements. Some vehicles can easily switch between Imperial and Metric measurements while others cannot.


This information is supplied to the best of our knowledge, if you have any recommendations or corrections please let us know.

Okay now you're convinced to buy in the US. How do you do it?

Follow the import instructions posted at the Registrar Of Imported Vehicles. http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html. It's easier than it sounds.

If you have any questions, ask those of us at RFD who've gone through the process.

Bump for a great thread and your commitment to updating and saving people money!!! BRAVO

[George K]

regarding state sales tax, Delaware has no sales tax
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_sales_tax

[sonspot]

This may be off-topic here, but why do people think they can save a couple dollars by using a lower grade fuel than the manufacturer recommends? :confused: Quick answer: yes, the car will compensate with the lower octane at the expense of sacrificing performance, fuel economy, and risk of 'knocking'. If you're going to buy a car in the US and save thousands, how much 'more' money are you going to save using a lower grade fuel? (Average car has a tank of 60L @ $0.05/L difference from one grade to another = $3 / tank ... but then you lose out on having to fill more more often ... your time to fill up the car, etc)

Just use what the manufacturer recommends from the money you saved importing the car ...



wait a minute, one i was not sure what gas octane was needed for the 07 thats why asked the question i had a mazda mx6 turbo it called for premium fuel which was 89 in the book not 91 but only i put 94 in it except for when i could not find a sunoco , i dont have a book for the tribeca so even though it says premium i dont know which it is.. i wouldnt use a lower grade fuel on a new car to save money when i same time put 94 octone in freaking cavalier, maybe asked the question wrong but i was not looking to save on gas by killing the engine sooner than later

[abowodun]

Cheapest STATES to buy and maintain cars (low taxes, etc)

OREGON
ALASKA
ALABAMA
VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
WYOMING
NEW MEXICO
LOUISIANA

As Canadians u should be able to buy without paying taxes BUT dealerships likeTOYOTA have threatened their dealerships NOT TO SELL TO NON-RESIDENTS of the USA.

Some guys on this forum have successfully done no-sales-tax with Toyota in different states. Some of us are still working on it...more hits will help

[Analyst]

Just to clarify, there is no sales tax on vehicles if they are taken out of state. So if you buy in NY and are taking it back to Canada, there is no state sales tax. You will still have to pay GST when you bring it to Canada and if you live in those "other" provinces, you will pay PST. Gotta love the Alberta way !

I was also reading the FAQ post and the other benefit of buying used is that the vehicle has already been registered in the US, so the warranty issue should be a bit better as well. I never had an issue here, the Lexus dealer was awesome and I got my first two oil changes free as per the "benefits"

[abowodun]

Just to clarify, there is no sales tax on vehicles if they are taken out of state. So if you buy in NY and are taking it back to Canada, there is no state sales tax. You will still have to pay GST when you bring it to Canada and if you live in those "other" provinces, you will pay PST. Gotta love the Alberta way !
"

While you are right about sales tax above.....(U will not have to pay state sales tax if u are taking car outside of the USA or to Oregon, Delaware, New Hamsphire, Alaska and MONTANA)

There are two important issues though when it comes to auto sales
(1) The car manufacturers are very wise as they intentionally sell cars at higher rates to dealers in no-slaes-tax sates. A $21k car in California will be sold at $24k in Montana to even the plain field. The auto-lobbysts in washington are allowed t do this.

(2) In cases of out-of-country sales....where prices are lower in the USA...they THREATEN the manufacturers with HEAVY PENALTIES if they sellto out-of-country residents. While this is not LEGAL...they are able to force anti-competition strategies

The folks that have bought new cars on this forum from Toyota were successful in doing so because the dealers are either unaware or have other means of explaining their sales. The Term RESIDENT in the USA means a lot....and can be interpreted variedly.

Rather than all of us talking about the same issues tirelessly over and over in 166pages ...we should tackle the problem of designing strategies that will allow US to exercise our rights of purchasing freely from the USA without paying Double taxes......

Law suits are typical ways of settling this score....

Americans buy here and get refunded their GST

[KillaB]

Does anyone know if Toyota cash rebates can be obtained by us Canadians?

Do you have to live in the state where you purchase the vehicle to be eligible for the rebate, or does the process allow people to buy from a state with a better rebate?

Is it mailed to the customer or applied instantly at the dealership?

[Analyst]

(2) In cases of out-of-country sales....where prices are lower in the USA...they THREATEN the manufacturers with HEAVY PENALTIES if they sellto out-of-country residents. While this is not LEGAL...they are able to force anti-competition strategies


But this is also what I am saying, by buying used and usually it is not from the actual dealer who normally sells that brand of vehicle, you avoid the problem. You might be buying a Toyota from a Ford dealer or Saturn or Mercedes dealership, whatever. In terms of selling used cars, I don't think that they really care or look at it. I didn't have any hassles at all.

Sure it does not resolve the problem, but there is always ways around it. I have always found that non-original brand dealers often sell the product for less than what the original brand dealer would sell it for. So I've found for example the Chrysler dealership selling the Toyota used for less than what the Toyota dealership would sell the same used Toyota for. Just food for thought if you really want to save money and hassles....

[crasher]

Does anyone know if Toyota cash rebates can be obtained by us Canadians?

Do you have to live in the state where you purchase the vehicle to be eligible for the rebate, or does the process allow people to buy from a state with a better rebate?

Is it mailed to the customer or applied instantly at the dealership?

Yes, the rebates are applied instantly. Got 1500 off the invoice for each Sienna

[chadw01]

Yes, the rebates are applied instantly. Got 1500 off the invoice for each Sienna

Which state did you get your Sienna(s) from?

[leafsrule06]

I too am not able to find a Toyota dealer who will sell to Canadians. I am in the GTA and have contaced the dealer in NC that was posted recently and they told me that they do not sell for export. Where have people been getting their brand new Toyotas from recently? It seems we have been cut off altogether from Toyota USA. Must be an agreement with Toyota as the dealer should not care where the car is going as long as they get their money.

[ecgz88]

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

[tetris]

Cheapest STATES to buy and maintain cars (low taxes, etc)

OREGON
ALASKA
ALABAMA
VIRGINIA
NORTH CAROLINA
SOUTH DAKOTA
WYOMING
NEW MEXICO
LOUISIANA

As Canadians u should be able to buy without paying taxes BUT dealerships likeTOYOTA have threatened their dealerships NOT TO SELL TO NON-RESIDENTS of the USA.

Some guys on this forum have successfully done no-sales-tax with Toyota in different states. Some of us are still working on it...more hits will help

Are these states are also cheapest in terms of resale value for used car market or some other states where you can buy the car at lowest possible price.

[TorontoEh]

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

Ah forget that..then.....so lets scrap off nissan for sure off our no canadian list!!!! I'm working with a toyota guy in Ny and probably get the same answer....

[crasher]

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

I called their toll free number and got that reply in 19 sec. Their warranty is even posted here. But you do get 60 days warranty on new vehicle.:twisted:

[tanim]

Has anyone bought a US Car using ebay motors. Is this a good way to buy cars from the united states? Also does anyone know if it is possible to finance a car with a bank for a car from the states?

[j27lee]

Does anyone know if Toyota cash rebates can be obtained by us Canadians?

Do you have to live in the state where you purchase the vehicle to be eligible for the rebate, or does the process allow people to buy from a state with a better rebate?

Is it mailed to the customer or applied instantly at the dealership?

When I was talking to a dealer in Montana, he said it would be taken off the price... the promo on right now is for either the cash back, or the good financing rates.

[KillaB]

When I was talking to a dealer in Montana, he said it would be taken off the price... the promo on right now is for either the cash back, or the good financing rates.

Excellent. I'm looking for the $1500 rebate that's supposed to exist for the Tacoma, but can only find a handful of states that offer the $1000 rebate.

[stock_junkie]

The Wheels section of the Toronto Star on Saturday had an article on the 2008 Subaru Tribeca. Seemed quite favorable and I like the new styling better. One intriguing thing mentioned was that the price of the Tribeca will include 3 years of free maintenance at Subaru! I wonder if this would still apply to Tribeca's bought in the States?

[scouzi]

The Wheels section of the Toronto Star on Saturday had an article on the 2008 Subaru Tribeca. Seemed quite favorable and I like the new styling better. One intriguing thing mentioned was that the price of the Tribeca will include 3 years of free maintenance at Subaru! I wonder if this would still apply to Tribeca's bought in the States?

They currently have that promotion for all Tribecas. They basically give you 10 oil changes and fluid top-offs. The rest are mostly inspections only.

This isn't worth all that much.

It 's just weird how they have 0 promotions of subtance in Canada while they are discounting them by $US 6k off an already lower price!

Personally I bought the 2007 instead of wating for the 2008 since it's pretty bland now. I find the power on the 2007 quite adequate for my needs.

[tanim]

Has anyone bought a US Car using ebay motors. Is this a good way to buy cars from the united states? Also does anyone know if it is possible to finance a car with a bank for a car from the states?


anyone?

[boci]

Does anyone know if the same applies for Subaru, or if Subaru warranty is valid in Canada?
Thanks

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

[j27lee]

Does anyone know if the same applies for Subaru, or if Subaru warranty is valid in Canada?
Thanks

Subaru warranties are valid in Canada. Check http://www.cars101.com

[boci]

I know about that site I read that, thanks. I'm not sure when that site was updated as it says that warranty transfer is subject to change.
Did anyone import the subaru lately and had warranty work done her in Canada and how was the expirience dealing with Canadian diler?
Subaru warranties are valid in Canada. Check http://www.cars101.com

[ecgz88]

Ecoauto call me today inform me rabte for Hybrid donot apply for vehicle buy in states:mad:

They need 2 month to fingue out answer.;)

[Liquidium]

I know about that site I read that, thanks. I'm not sure when that site was updated as it says that warranty transfer is subject to change.
Did anyone import the subaru lately and had warranty work done her in Canada and how was the expirience dealing with Canadian diler?

I brought back an 07 STi about 2 weeks ago. There are 2 minor things I am taking it in to get fixed (fuel map problem and whistling side mirror). They had no problem fixing these problems. They girl I went to see had a lot of knoweldge too. So far so good! :)

[dudestr]

I just came back and it took me less than 30 minutes to pass US and Canada customs, neither came out to inspect the truck.

07 DC 5.7 LTD 4X4, Option C, running boards, TRD dual exhaust, Black with Red Rock leather.

This beast had only 100miles on it, the guy who bought it visited clients alot and couldn't keep it clean so he bought a silver one. Yes, I did have it checked out by Toyota dealership and it is clean of accidents and etc... I picked her up for US$38,000, paid CAD$206 RIV and CAD$2400 Tax & AC at the Canadian border. Will have to pay the other tax when I register it.

Looking at the Toyota Canada website this baby list for CAD$54,417.50 before taxes. I paid CAD$41,800 before taxes (1.10 exchange) thats $12,617.5 difference and I could of saved another $1,100 if I waited to exchange my money.

I love this beast except for the gas bill

Good luck to all

[hotshu]

I brought back an 07 STi about 2 weeks ago. There are 2 minor things I am taking it in to get fixed (fuel map problem and whistling side mirror). They had no problem fixing these problems. They girl I went to see had a lot of knoweldge too. So far so good! :)

What's the approx. $$ savings of buying an STI from the USA?

[Prof]

Got a quote today closer to home for a 2008 Legacy SE auto for 21,685. That price includes a block heater. The price is higher than I have seen but may be negotiable. The rep claims there is quite a bit of activity from canucks in my area. At .94, it works out to 23, 069 plus costs and taxes. The Cdn equivalent (which does have heated seats only available in the Limited stateside) is $32000. Rough estimate, after all taxes it about 35,500 - 26000 = a savings of $9500 less travel costs which are easily less than $1000. Of course, if I went with the Limited the savings are greater at nearly $11,000. I have to wait at least until the car hits RIV but then...?

[moloman]

I've been reading this thread for a while, and i'd like to thank you guys for giving such great infos....now i'd like to buy a car down in the states and I'm in need of some help

I'm looking for a Lexus ES350, I live in the Toronto area and hoping to drive the car back, anyone know of any dealers around that sells to canadians?

[Schirmdog]

I have a legal question. I am looking into this myself but wanted to know if anyone else knew the answer. Can I buy a Toyota in Delaware and register it at the dealer's address and then take it across the border and re-register it in Ontareio? (Assuming the dealer is willing to do this.) This way the dealer gets around the address thing. In the same vain what about a "phantom" (hotel) address in a no sales tax state and buying in NY?

[sphinxx]

I just came back and it took me less than 30 minutes to pass US and Canada customs, neither came out to inspect the truck.

07 DC 5.7 LTD 4X4, Option C, running boards, TRD dual exhaust, Black with Red Rock leather.

This beast had only 100miles on it, the guy who bought it visited clients alot and couldn't keep it clean so he bought a silver one. Yes, I did have it checked out by Toyota dealership and it is clean of accidents and etc... I picked her up for US$38,000, paid CAD$206 RIV and CAD$2400 Tax & AC at the Canadian border. Will have to pay the other tax when I register it.

Looking at the Toyota Canada website this baby list for CAD$54,417.50 before taxes. I paid CAD$41,800 before taxes (1.10 exchange) thats $12,617.5 difference and I could of saved another $1,100 if I waited to exchange my money.

I love this beast except for the gas bill

Good luck to all



DAMN! ....for the price !
DAMN again ! ....for the specs on this monster !

[sphinxx]

I've been reading this thread for a while, and i'd like to thank you guys for giving such great infos....now i'd like to buy a car down in the states and I'm in need of some help

I'm looking for a Lexus ES350, I live in the Toronto area and hoping to drive the car back, anyone know of any dealers around that sells to canadians?

Me too ...looking for
a) rx330 2004+
b) audi sedan 2005+
c) 5 series 2004+

Currently on the hunt for the best deal!

[crasher]

I have a legal question. I am looking into this myself but wanted to know if anyone else knew the answer. Can I buy a Toyota in Delaware and register it at the dealer's address and then take it across the border and re-register it in Ontareio? (Assuming the dealer is willing to do this.) This way the dealer gets around the address thing. In the same vain what about a "phantom" (hotel) address in a no sales tax state and buying in NY?

I was offered the same option, but I shied away. I didnt want to take any chances at Border. I had a very bad experience before while crossing 5 years ago, and they still have my record in their system.

[scouzi]

Just for fun I asked Toyota what was the deal with sales to Canadians from US dealers and here is the reply I got. I suggest you do the same and take your reply to a US dealer.


Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize if the previous email did not fully address your question.

Toyota does not have a set policy that United States dealerships must follow regarding a sales transaction that may lead to a vehicle being exported to another country. All United States Toyota dealerships are independently owned and operated and reserve the right to make their own decisions on individual sales transactions.

EDIT: Maybe the restriction lies with the distributor agreement.

[john_rt]

Take this with a grain of salt but I was talking to the service mgr at a subie dealership when I was getting my oil changed and he was asking me about buying the car in the states, why, how much cheaper, how hard etc.,

Then, he mentioned that Subaru of Canada is talking about closing the option of having your warranty work done in Canada for American cars (not for people who've already done it). So if you're considering, you may want to consider faster :cheesygri

[bionicbadger]

Take this with a grain of salt but I was talking to the service mgr at a subie dealership when I was getting my oil changed and he was asking me about buying the car in the states, why, how much cheaper, how hard etc.,

Then, he mentioned that Subaru of Canada is talking about closing the option of having your warranty work done in Canada for American cars (not for people who've already done it). So if you're considering, you may want to consider faster :cheesygri

Or buy the extended warranty. It states in writing that the work can be done and is covered in the US or Canada.

[scouzi]

Or buy the extended warranty. It states in writing that the work can be done and is covered in the US or Canada.

Then Subaru would be joining the ranks of the FEW that don't honor the warranty.

Canadian dealers should lobby Subaru Of Canada to lower the prices instead to have more volume.

For me, it was a Subaru in the US or no Subaru at all.

[yyz2hkg]

Take this with a grain of salt but I was talking to the service mgr at a subie dealership when I was getting my oil changed and he was asking me about buying the car in the states, why, how much cheaper, how hard etc.,

Then, he mentioned that Subaru of Canada is talking about closing the option of having your warranty work done in Canada for American cars (not for people who've already done it). So if you're considering, you may want to consider faster :cheesygri

I heard this last time at one of the dealerships. The service manager wasn't too pleased, and at one point didn't want to honour the warranty until I told him to call Subaru of Canada. One of the advisors there mentioned that they hated warranty work with all the paperwork that had to be submitted to be reimbursed.

[Beradon]

Take this with a grain of salt but I was talking to the service mgr at a subie dealership when I was getting my oil changed and he was asking me about buying the car in the states, why, how much cheaper, how hard etc.,

Then, he mentioned that Subaru of Canada is talking about closing the option of having your warranty work done in Canada for American cars (not for people who've already done it). So if you're considering, you may want to consider faster :cheesygriIt would be very foolish for Subaru to consider this course of action. A two bit player like Subaru needs to consider the increase in market share they are getting with Canadians buying their vehicles versus the stagnant growth like they had a few years ago when the Cdn dollar was low.

[whampoa]

Comparing apple to apple and with all the standard, and optional features that came with a Subaru.

There's no doubt that it had the best bang for the buck, at this time, compare to other makes.

I would never consider buying a Subaru if it wasn't for this once in a lifetime deal.

Grab it while it's hot, you'll never know when this deal turn cold.

[bigbug]

I have a legal question. I am looking into this myself but wanted to know if anyone else knew the answer. Can I buy a Toyota in Delaware and register it at the dealer's address and then take it across the border and re-register it in Ontareio? (Assuming the dealer is willing to do this.) This way the dealer gets around the address thing. In the same vain what about a "phantom" (hotel) address in a no sales tax state and buying in NY?

you need a driver's license in the State to register the car

[dudestr]

I have a legal question. I am looking into this myself but wanted to know if anyone else knew the answer. Can I buy a Toyota in Delaware and register it at the dealer's address and then take it across the border and re-register it in Ontareio? (Assuming the dealer is willing to do this.) This way the dealer gets around the address thing. In the same vain what about a "phantom" (hotel) address in a no sales tax state and buying in NY?

I tried to buy a Toyota using my friends address in Portland but with my Canadian driver's licence but the dealership still wouldn't sell it to me.

[scouzi]

I tried to buy a Toyota using my friends address in Portland but with my Canadian driver's licence but the dealership still wouldn't sell it to me.

Read my post:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5209697&postcount=2478

Ask him the real reason.

[Schirmdog]

Just got the following email.

"I can not sell you a new vehicle for export into Canada. Honda does not allow us to sell cars made for the American market to be exported to Canada. Good luck with you vehicle purchase and sorry I could not be of assistance."

[Schirmdog]

Here is the website of the lawfirm that is handling the case for when the automakers where artificially inflating prices in the US. The case is still outstanding with all the other automakers. Toyota settled out of court and they stated that they would not continue the practice. Hope this helps.

http://www.bermanesq.com/Antitrust/CasePage.asp?caseid=464

[Draug]

Just go the following email.

"I can not sell you a new vehicle for export into Canada. Honda does not allow us to sell cars made for the American market to be exported to Canada. Good luck with you vehicle purchase and sorry I could not be of assistance."

It is unacceptable that companies do this.

Personally, I am going to boycott any company that prevents free trade. The only reason to prevent free trade is to screw over the consumer. I wont stand for it.

I am glad I bought my Subaru already. I am heading down to get it next week. It was a win-win for Subaru. I would have NEVER considered getting a Subaru here in Calgary. They gained a customer. Nothing came at the expense of the dealerships here.

[Schirmdog]

It is unacceptable that companies do this.

Personally, I am going to boycott any company that prevents free trade. The only reason to prevent free trade is to screw over the consumer. I wont stand for it.

I am glad I bought my Subaru already. I am heading down to get it next week. It was a win-win for Subaru. I would have NEVER considered getting a Subaru here in Calgary. They gained a customer. Nothing came at the expense of the dealerships here.

I have seriously thought about it. The only problem is that I really want a Sienna or Odyssey. The warranty thing would scare me off the Honda so I have been pursueing the Toyota thing fairly vigilantly.

[thenatureboy]

Does it make sense to import the Infinit G35x at the current exchange rate? I believe it has been mentioned that there will be a 6.1% duty slapped on the vehicle. Will Infiniti Canada honor the warranty? According to some people here, Nissan Canada will not.

Thanks.

I was thinking of that too, and from the infiniti.ca website, I priced out a G35x w/ Premium Package for about $47k + taxes ~54k (quebec 15% tax)

From the infiniti US site, I calculated the same car to come about $37k US, so would this calculation be right:

$37k x 1.06 (exchange) ~ 39k x 1.06 (6% duty) ~ 41k x 1.15 (quebec gst/pst 15%) ~ 47k + misc fees (riv, etc)

About ~ $7000 in savings, unless my calculations are wrong? And does anyone know the invoice price on the G35x by any chance?

Thanks

[scouzi]

I was thinking of that too, and from the infiniti.ca website, I priced out a G35x w/ Premium Package for about $47k + taxes ~54k (quebec 15% tax)

From the infiniti US site, I calculated the same car to come about $37k US, so would this calculation be right:

$37k x 1.06 (exchange) ~ 39k x 1.06 (6% duty) ~ 41k x 1.15 (quebec gst/pst 15%) ~ 47k + misc fees (riv, etc)

About ~ $7000 in savings, unless my calculations are wrong? And does anyone know the invoice price on the G35x by any chance?

Thanks


You have to factor that you will be able to negociate more in the US on the price of the car. The discount off MSRP will most likely be steeper.

Go here to get a feel of what the street price is:

http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/WebX?14@@.f0ef29f.ef0b873/4460

[scouzi]

It is unacceptable that companies do this.

Personally, I am going to boycott any company that prevents free trade. The only reason to prevent free trade is to screw over the consumer. I wont stand for it.

I am glad I bought my Subaru already. I am heading down to get it next week. It was a win-win for Subaru. I would have NEVER considered getting a Subaru here in Calgary. They gained a customer. Nothing came at the expense of the dealerships here.

Ditto for me. Subaru was always way off my Radar. I never knew the Tribeca even existed.

[leafsrule06]

So I'm planning to forward this to a few Toyota dealers.....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize you have not been able to purchase a Toyota in New York.
Because our dealership are independently owned and operated, they have the right to set up their dealership policies. This in no way reflects Toyota's position in the matter. Toyota U.S.A. and Toyota Canada have an agreement to honor each other's warranty therefore we are not opposed to Canadian customers purchasing their vehicles in the U.S.A. only to take them to Canada. We are sorry you may need to call several dealership in the area closest to you to determine their policies in this matter.
http://www.toyota.com/toyotaApp/dealers/index.jsp?s_van=GM_STN_DEALERS_ADV Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706121211. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

This was my email to them.....

Hi, I am a Canadian who wishes to purchase a new Toyota in the US to export from the US into Canada. I am not able to find a dealer that will sell to me and am not sure why. The reason I ask is that I know there have been some recent sales to Candadians that I have read about and don't know whether a policy has been put in place to prohibit sales to Candadians? If you could provide information as to whether I can purchase in the US and then possibly recommend a dealer close to the the Canada/US border in Niagara Falls that would be great. Thanks

[TorontoEh]

Hi all, just this morning I heard something and it made be sad and chuckle at the same time.

They said even after our soaring loonie, the savings are NOT being passed to the consumers!!!!

A honda accord costs $3k extra here then in US. Book prices, clothes and etc.....

They said instead of companies passing the savings to consumers, they're profiting from this trend.

+++ They said they better offer better deals and prices b4 consumers head down further to shop (USA) :)

[TorontoEh]

So I'm planning to forward this to a few Toyota dealers.....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize you have not been able to purchase a Toyota in New York.
Because our dealership are independently owned and operated, they have the right to set up their dealership policies. This in no way reflects Toyota's position in the matter. Toyota U.S.A. and Toyota Canada have an agreement to honor each other's warranty therefore we are not opposed to Canadian customers purchasing their vehicles in the U.S.A. only to take them to Canada. We are sorry you may need to call several dealership in the area closest to you to determine their policies in this matter.
http://www.toyota.com/toyotaApp/dealers/index.jsp?s_van=GM_STN_DEALERS_ADV Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706121211. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

This was my email to them.....

Hi, I am a Canadian who wishes to purchase a new Toyota in the US to export from the US into Canada. I am not able to find a dealer that will sell to me and am not sure why. The reason I ask is that I know there have been some recent sales to Candadians that I have read about and don't know whether a policy has been put in place to prohibit sales to Candadians? If you could provide information as to whether I can purchase in the US and then possibly recommend a dealer close to the the Canada/US border in Niagara Falls that would be great. Thanks

Hi, contact Burdick toyota in syracuse (i know not that near the border) coupel of hrs away....

[crasher]

According to Toyota website here (http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyota.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4420&p_created=1018446324&p_sid=X9VyM*Di&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9NyZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9 jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jYW5hZGE*&p_li=&p_topview=1). Toyota dealerships in the U.S. and Alaska are not authorized to sell Toyota Motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.
Please note, however, that your vehicle may not be repaired free of charge because the local Toyota distributor may have no obligation to provide warranty service for your vehicle, and/or your vehicle may not comply with local regulatory or environmental requirements. In addition, Depending on the model, it may be difficult to obtain the appropriate Toyota Genuine parts for service and repairs.

[scouzi]

Hi all, just this morning I heard something and it made be sad and chuckle at the same time.

They said even after our soaring loonie, the savings are NOT being passed to the consumers!!!!

A honda accord costs $3k extra here then in US. Book prices, clothes and etc.....

They said instead of companies passing the savings to consumers, they're profiting from this trend.

+++ They said they better offer better deals and prices b4 consumers head down further to shop (USA) :)

Must be a reference to this article in the Globe.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070613.RPRICES13/EmailTPStory/

[Liquidium]

What's the approx. $$ savings of buying an STI from the USA?

Approx 13-15k.

[scouzi]

According to Toyota website here (http://toyota.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/toyota.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=4420&p_created=1018446324&p_sid=X9VyM*Di&p_accessibility=0&p_redirect=&p_lva=&p_sp=cF9zcmNoPTEmcF9zb3J0X2J5PSZwX2dyaWRzb3J0PSZwX 3Jvd19jbnQ9NyZwX3Byb2RzPTAmcF9jYXRzPTAmcF9wdj0mcF9 jdj0mcF9wYWdlPTEmcF9zZWFyY2hfdGV4dD1jYW5hZGE*&p_li=&p_topview=1). Toyota dealerships in the U.S. and Alaska are not authorized to sell Toyota Motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.
Please note, however, that your vehicle may not be repaired free of charge because the local Toyota distributor may have no obligation to provide warranty service for your vehicle, and/or your vehicle may not comply with local regulatory or environmental requirements. In addition, Depending on the model, it may be difficult to obtain the appropriate Toyota Genuine parts for service and repairs.

The message is not consistent. To people wishing to buy from a US Toyota dealer, I would simply ask Toyota to give you an authorization in writing for that specific dealer. There is probably some kind of collusion going in here.

[TorontoEh]

Must be a reference to this article in the Globe.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070613.RPRICES13/EmailTPStory/

Yes indeed it is: and here's a part related to this thread:

Merchants across the border don't mind the extra business.

Rick Izzo, vice-president and general manager of Superior Auto Sales Inc. near Buffalo, N.Y., said his lot is bustling with Canadian shoppers. "All of these cars are available in Canada, but people are saving money by buying them through us."

Depending on the type and age of the car, Canadians are saving between $1,000 and $30,000 (Canadian) by purchasing these vehicles in the United States, he said.

[TorontoEh]

So I'm planning to forward this to a few Toyota dealers.....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize you have not been able to purchase a Toyota in New York.
Because our dealership are independently owned and operated, they have the right to set up their dealership policies. This in no way reflects Toyota's position in the matter. Toyota U.S.A. and Toyota Canada have an agreement to honor each other's warranty therefore we are not opposed to Canadian customers purchasing their vehicles in the U.S.A. only to take them to Canada. We are sorry you may need to call several dealership in the area closest to you to determine their policies in this matter.
http://www.toyota.com/toyotaApp/dealers/index.jsp?s_van=GM_STN_DEALERS_ADV Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706121211. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

This was my email to them.....

Hi, I am a Canadian who wishes to purchase a new Toyota in the US to export from the US into Canada. I am not able to find a dealer that will sell to me and am not sure why. The reason I ask is that I know there have been some recent sales to Candadians that I have read about and don't know whether a policy has been put in place to prohibit sales to Candadians? If you could provide information as to whether I can purchase in the US and then possibly recommend a dealer close to the the Canada/US border in Niagara Falls that would be great. Thanks

i bet you they've been documenting all these letters we've been sending to them regarding their policies...:idea:

[bigbug]

So I'm planning to forward this to a few Toyota dealers.....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize you have not been able to purchase a Toyota in New York.
Because our dealership are independently owned and operated, they have the right to set up their dealership policies. This in no way reflects Toyota's position in the matter. Toyota U.S.A. and Toyota Canada have an agreement to honor each other's warranty therefore we are not opposed to Canadian customers purchasing their vehicles in the U.S.A. only to take them to Canada. We are sorry you may need to call several dealership in the area closest to you to determine their policies in this matter.
http://www.toyota.com/toyotaApp/dealers/index.jsp?s_van=GM_STN_DEALERS_ADV Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706121211. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

This was my email to them.....

Hi, I am a Canadian who wishes to purchase a new Toyota in the US to export from the US into Canada. I am not able to find a dealer that will sell to me and am not sure why. The reason I ask is that I know there have been some recent sales to Candadians that I have read about and don't know whether a policy has been put in place to prohibit sales to Candadians? If you could provide information as to whether I can purchase in the US and then possibly recommend a dealer close to the the Canada/US border in Niagara Falls that would be great. Thanks

Would you mind if you scan the lette/email to PDF so we can use it as bullets?

[leafsrule06]

So after forwarding my message from Toyota to this dealer, here was their reply.....

We cannot sell to Canada they will financially penalize us they don't tell you that little detail.

[scouzi]

i bet you they've been documenting all these letters we've been sending to them regarding their policies...:idea:

To be fair I think that the some car companies are trying to prevent wholesale abitrage by large unfranchised importers rather than individual sales.

[Neb]

Anyone shopped at Sutherland Auto before? www.sutherlandautosales.com I asked them this morning, they do sell to CDNs and will do all recall letter etc, and no NY sales tax.

If u are looking for an eurpoean car, this might be an option..

[killbillvol1]

I saw screw the lazy and reactive Canadian sales industry and buy at the most competitive place you can. I've already done that in the past for car repairs ($390 US vs 1270 Cdn for one repair), a lot of clothing and some electronics as well.

The more you buy from ripoff Canadian retailers the more you support their gouging tactics.

[thenatureboy]

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

I guess this also applies to Infiniti's? Can anyone confirm? I searched the thread, but there seems to be mixed answers.

[maurice t]

Has anyone here bought a car from the States that lives in Winnipeg? Where did you buy it and how much did you save?

[dealzuser]

Got reply from Nissan USA FINALLY (AFTER 19 DAYS:mad: )

Warranty is only valid in Canada if car is registered in US and import to canada after 6 month.

I wonder if buying a slightly used car (i.e. 6 months old :cheesygri ) would satisfy this condition. Can anyone comment / verify?


Just an aside, RFD is killing me! :) Surfing these threads makes me want to buy a new car, laptop, and lotsa other things!!! (Wife is "helping" me to fight the urge to spend.)

[Analyst]

I think this is what I said a few pages ago that would overcome all the problems have been talking about for the last few days. That is how I imported my vehicle without any problems at all. Third party dealer sold me the vehicle and I have not had any problem with warranty. In fact I got my first 2 oil changes free ! Buy used from a dealer, you save even more and less hassles !


I wonder if buying a slightly used car (i.e. 6 months old :cheesygri ) would satisfy this condition. Can anyone comment / verify?


Just an aside, RFD is killing me! :) Surfing these threads makes me want to buy a new car, laptop, and lotsa other things!!! (Wife is "helping" me to fight the urge to spend.)

[yu130960]

This may have already been answered but if you buy a slightly used car say a 2007 Subaru WRX STI with 390 miles on it, do you still have to pay the 6.1% duty on the car coming over?

Just wondering.

[Neb]

This may have already been answered but if you buy a slightly used car say a 2007 Subaru WRX STI with 390 miles on it, do you still have to pay the 6.1% duty on the car coming over?

Just wondering.

yes

[elmst200]

Can anybody use the information you gathered from Toyota USA and your dealer to sue Toyota in the US? What's the odd to find a lawyer and win such lawsuit?:evil:


So after forwarding my message from Toyota to this dealer, here was their reply.....

We cannot sell to Canada they will financially penalize us they don't tell you that little detail.

[scouzi]

Can anybody use the information you gathered from Toyota USA and your dealer to sue Toyota in the US? What's the odd to find a lawyer and win such lawsuit?:evil:


Now that's interesting!

[Schirmdog]

Can anybody use the information you gathered from Toyota USA and your dealer to sue Toyota in the US? What's the odd to find a lawyer and win such lawsuit?:evil:

Below is the link to the website of one of the lawfirms that have won a settlement from Toyota for doing the same thing to Americans buying cars in Canada. There is an injunction against automakers doing these practices to Americans. Sadly it does not go the other way.

Thi slinks to the case mentioned above. I have already sent my info and case, if many people here do so as well they may start another action. (More money for them as well...They just find replace as someone mentioned earlier in this thread.)

http://www.bermanesq.com/Antitrust/CasePage.asp?caseid=464

[Alexo]

regarding state sales tax, Delaware has no sales taxApparently, so do New Hampshire and Oregon, according to my understanding of the page below.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_sales_tax

[GoodDeal]

1. So far what is the best deal around $30K (ie. the highest % of savings compared to Canadian car) ?

2. What is the most popular (here on RFD) US dealership closest to Ottawa?

3. Anyone from Ottawa imported a car from US? If yes, what car and from what dealership?

[scouzi]

http://www.globeauto.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070614.wh-subaru-0614/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/?pageRequested=1

And they wonder why they are not selling in Canada - Hello?

[djjosee]

1. So far what is the best deal around $30K (ie. the highest % of savings compared to Canadian car) ?

2. What is the most popular (here on RFD) US dealership closest to Ottawa?

3. Anyone from Ottawa imported a car from US? If yes, what car and from what dealership?

Try Gromit:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5198382&postcount=2422

[flaming homer]

http://www.globeauto.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070614.wh-subaru-0614/GAStory/specialGlobeAuto/?pageRequested=1

And they wonder why they are not selling in Canada - Hello?Good article. Some of you have mentioned here that you only considered Subaru because of the cross border savings, I like to say "not me". I had 2 cars in my final list, Mazda CX-7 and Subaru Forester. Both can be imported, both had full warranty coverage across the border, but Subaru won when I discovered that CX-7 is premium gas only (turbo) and costs several thousands more - even costs more for insurance. The Toyota/Lexus Hybrids would have been nice, but costs are just way too high, and am not crazy about anything from Honda/Acura at this time.

[Luckster]

The best deal around 30K for a car imported from the US is probably the Subaru Outback. And Subaru is also the easiest to buy from the US as US dealers has no problems selling to Canadians + the waranty transfer over.


1. So far what is the best deal around $30K (ie. the highest % of savings compared to Canadian car) ?

2. What is the most popular (here on RFD) US dealership closest to Ottawa?

3. Anyone from Ottawa imported a car from US? If yes, what car and from what dealership?

[whampoa]

The best deal around 30K for a car imported from the US is probably the Subaru Outback. And Subaru is also the easiest to buy from the US as US dealers has no problems selling to Canadians + the waranty transfer over.

You should also mentioned a fully loaded Scoobie Outback 3.0 RLL w/ V6, leather seats and moonroof.

A 4 cyl. Outback will cost way less than that.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Depending on where you go and what you negotiate, the base Outback 2.5i is about $6/7k cheaper than the FULLY loaded 3.0R LLBean. If you can still find one, you can get an LLBean with every option available including navigation, VDC, ESC and a few thousand dollars worth of accessories for well under $30k US.

I'm reading that folks are picking up the base models for about $25k Canadian.

For a mid-level car, you seem to get the best value buying Subarus in the US.

Depending on what you're looking for, you can easily save $30-40k on higher end cars simply by buying down south.

Shop around and do your math. DON'T GET HUNG UP ON WARRANTIES!

I noticed the press (CTV, CBC, City, Globe and Mail, The Star) have all had articles in the past few days asking why items like cars are on average about 20% cheaper in the US. Gouging? Greed?

I'm compelled to contact the US law firm mentioned in an earlier post to have them enquire why Toyota US quietly refuses to sell to Canadians. I'm hoping someone reading this can give us some idea how we can have a Canadian lawsuit do the same in Canada. This is wrong!

[Draug]

I noticed the press (CTV, CBC, City, Globe and Mail, The Star) have all had articles in the past few days asking why items like cars are on average about 20% cheaper in the US. Gouging? Greed?



Man, I wish they would quit doing that.

The less people that know about this, the better it is for each of us as individual consumers. For those of us willing to do it, we can save a lot of money. The less people that do it, the less Canadian automakers will care.

If more people buy cars from the US, they will close the market down however they can. I doubt they will ever lower Canadian prices to match the US ones....

[abowodun]

I know folks are working on lawsuits already.

The anti-competition rules stage-managed by Toyota is "WRONG"
Lawyers will feed on this

[Monsieurmaggot]

I know folks are working on lawsuits already.

The anti-competition rules stage-managed by Toyota is "WRONG"
Lawyers will feed on this

I did a bit of digging and called the lawfirm involved in the anti-competition class action lawsuit. The lawyer who handled this was Todd Seaver. His number is listed on the link:

http://www.bermanesq.com/Antitrust/CasePage.asp?caseid=464

Interesting to read that the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association was also fined $700,000 for their actions. Direct from the website:

"Moreover, on September 6, 2006, plaintiffs’ counsel negotiated a settlement with the Canadian Automotive Dealers’ Association (CADA). Under the agreement, CADA agreed to pay $700,000 and stipulated to a five-year injunction prohibiting them from engaging in anticompetitive practices at issue in the lawsuit. Like Toyota, CADA agreed to cooperate in facets of the discovery process in the litigation against the remaining defendants."

Those of you interested in buying cheap Toyotas or Hondas might want to call him and see what can be done to stop Toyota and Honda from prohibiting car sales to Canadians.

If it looks like you can get millions, let me know, I could use some extra cash LOL...:lol:

[st7860]

Depending on where you go and what you negotiate, the base Outback 2.5i is about $6/7k cheaper than the FULLY loaded 3.0R LLBean. If you can still find one, you can get an LLBean with every option available including navigation, VDC, ESC and a few thousand dollars worth of accessories for well under $30k US.

I'm reading that folks are picking up the base models for about $25k Canadian.

For a mid-level car, you seem to get the best value buying Subarus in the US.

Depending on what you're looking for, you can easily save $30-40k on higher end cars simply by buying down south.

Shop around and do your math. DON'T GET HUNG UP ON WARRANTIES!

I noticed the press (CTV, CBC, City, Globe and Mail, The Star) have all had articles in the past few days asking why items like cars are on average about 20% cheaper in the US. Gouging? Greed?

I'm compelled to contact the US law firm mentioned in an earlier post to have them enquire why Toyota US quietly refuses to sell to Canadians. I'm hoping someone reading this can give us some idea how we can have a Canadian lawsuit do the same in Canada. This is wrong!


Yes, who cares about the warranty. If its really important, you can buy an extended warranty from a 3rd party warranty company for $1000.

[whampoa]

I don't mind the extra millions plus a Lexus RX350 in my garage too.

Seriously, if there's any clear case of anti-competition and collusion, this will be it.

Monsieurmaggot, where can I sign up for this class action lawsuit. The odd of winning are way better than any lottery.

[crasher]

Although I was able to get Toyota, but I will join for lawsuite too. Was trying to buy another Corolla, and dealer wont give the cash rebate, available to US buyers.

[MilkyWind]

if there will be a lawsuit, I'd sign up.

I was planning to buy a car last month then notice the outrageous price difference of cars here in Canada and the US.

Was planning to go across the border to purchase one but after reading this thread, it seems like most dealers @ the border will not sell anymore.

Wanted to purchase a honda civic. If I got it in the states, it would be 4000-6000 cheaper than getting it here. I'd do it in an instant even if the warentee wasn't transferable.

[michelb]

Yes, who cares about the warranty. If its really important, you can buy an extended warranty from a 3rd party warranty company for $1000.

I agree that if you are saving enough the warranty isn't a huge deal but I wouldn't count on finding a 3rd party one for a good price and that offers good coverage. As far as I can tell, all the 'bumper-to-bumper' extended warranties require that the car is still covered by the manufacturer's warranty. You can probably get limited powertrain warranties but you won't get nearly the same coverage and they are expensive.

[michelb]

I did a bit of digging and called the lawfirm involved in the anti-competition class action lawsuit. The lawyer who handled this was Todd Seaver. His number is listed on the link:

http://www.bermanesq.com/Antitrust/CasePage.asp?caseid=464

Interesting to read that the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association was also fined $700,000 for their actions. Direct from the website:

"Moreover, on September 6, 2006, plaintiffs’ counsel negotiated a settlement with the Canadian Automotive Dealers’ Association (CADA). Under the agreement, CADA agreed to pay $700,000 and stipulated to a five-year injunction prohibiting them from engaging in anticompetitive practices at issue in the lawsuit. Like Toyota, CADA agreed to cooperate in facets of the discovery process in the litigation against the remaining defendants."

Those of you interested in buying cheap Toyotas or Hondas might want to call him and see what can be done to stop Toyota and Honda from prohibiting car sales to Canadians.

If it looks like you can get millions, let me know, I could use some extra cash LOL...:lol:

A lawsuit would probably be successful in getting US companies (e.g. Toyota) to sell to Canadians but that's probably all you'd get from it. Any punitive payment is probably going to get chewed up by the lawyers (e.g. the $700k mentioned above was probably a fraction of the legal fees).

Also you can force them to 'play' but they don't have to 'play nice'. Even if they are forced to sell cross-border, there's nothing that prevents them from stopping their practice of extending the warranty over both countries (a lot of goods sold in the US don't extend the warranty to Canada (e.g. most electronics) and I don't think there's any legal grounds to force them to offer the warranty in Canada. Same can probably sound for manufacturers rebates - they could probably just revise their prices to have higher MSRPs but more rebates as well.

Just food for thought ...

[abowodun]

Although I was able to get Toyota, but I will join for lawsuite too. Was trying to buy another Corolla, and dealer wont give the cash rebate, available to US buyers.

Crasher,
I am off to the states next week for a Camry Purchase
Pls, Pls, Pls, let me know the Toyota dealership u are dealing with or better the NAME of salesman. U mention NC as place of purchase.

Let me know who/where/how to get this guy to sell to me.
I called and they wont even hear Canada

[scouzi]

I asked them why the difference in an e-mail response and their web site.

Here is their response:


Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We apologize for any lack of clarify in our previous reply and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify Toyota's position in this matter:

Toyota dealerships in the U.S. are not authorized to sell Toyota motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.

We value you as a customer, and appreciate this opportunity to review your concerns.

Toyota Customer Experience

[ecgz88]

Yes, Auto Manufacturer don't need to offer the warranty in Canada. :cheesygri To be honest who cares Canada market? :mad: consider it's <10% States market size


A lawsuit would probably be successful in getting US companies (e.g. Toyota) to sell to Canadians but that's probably all you'd get from it. Any punitive payment is probably going to get chewed up by the lawyers (e.g. the $700k mentioned above was probably a fraction of the legal fees).

Also you can force them to 'play' but they don't have to 'play nice'. Even if they are forced to sell cross-border, there's nothing that prevents them from stopping their practice of extending the warranty over both countries (a lot of goods sold in the US don't extend the warranty to Canada (e.g. most electronics) and I don't think there's any legal grounds to force them to offer the warranty in Canada. Same can probably sound for manufacturers rebates - they could probably just revise their prices to have higher MSRPs but more rebates as well.

Just food for thought ...

[Gromit]

Try Gromit:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5198382&postcount=2422

Just a note to folks, there's no need to PM me on this. I've posted everything I know in this thread already. :)

[michelb]

Yes, Auto Manufacturer don't need to offer the warranty in Canada. :cheesygri To be honest who cares Canada market? :mad: consider it's <10% States market size

Obviously Auto Manufacturers offer a warranty in Canada as well but you need to remember that the Manufacturers in Canada and in the US are 2 separate companies (e.g. Subaru Canada, Inc and Subaru of America, Inc). If one chooses to honour the warranty of the other, they do it as a service to the customer but there's no legal requirement for them to do it. They are also free to impose whatever limitations they wish (i.e. warranty from Daimler-Chrysler USA is only valid in Canada for cars registered in the US and normally driven in the US but temporarily in Canada (e.g. vacation) or like Honda where the Honda USA warranty is only valid in Canada for cars previously registered in the US and imported by that owner and only valid for that owner, etc).

As far as the market size, it's true that the auto manufacturers aren't going to bend over backwards for a market 10% of the size but on the other hand, it's still 10% of a very significant market so they'll still try to do what they can do have a piece of it.

[scouzi]

Obviously Auto Manufacturers offer a warranty in Canada as well but you need to remember that the Manufacturers in Canada and in the US are 2 separate companies (e.g. Subaru Canada, Inc and Subaru of America, Inc). If one chooses to honour the warranty of the other, they do it as a service to the customer but there's no legal requirement for them to do it. They are also free to impose whatever limitations they wish (i.e. warranty from Daimler-Chrysler USA is only valid in Canada for cars registered in the US and normally driven in the US but temporarily in Canada (e.g. vacation) or like Honda where the Honda USA warranty is only valid in Canada for cars previously registered in the US and imported by that owner and only valid for that owner, etc).

As far as the market size, it's true that the auto manufacturers aren't going to bend over backwards for a market 10% of the size but on the other hand, it's still 10% of a very significant market so they'll still try to do what they can do have a piece of it.


You're right about the warranties. However, preventing cross border sales is another matter. The lack of warranty is a consumer choice. If Toyota actually prevents sales to Canadian from US dealers for the sole purpose of keeping prices high in Canada- that is bordering on violating anti-trust laws.

I'm really surprised they are still doing this after admiting guilt to price-fixing under the "Access" program.

I am still able to buy a Honda and a Chrysler knowing it won't be warrantied.

[holders]

If I buy a used car from states, from a private party, do I have to pay PST in Ontario>?

[thegradas]

yes


If I buy a used car from states, from a private party, do I have to pay PST in Ontario>?

[crasher]

If I buy a used car from states, from a private party, do I have to pay PST in Ontario>?

As someone quoted before, you may get away with the murder, but cannot without paying tax :twisted:

[scouzi]

As someone quoted before, you may get away with the murder, but cannot without paying tax :twisted:

The only tax that falls through the cracks is the tire tax :)

[abowodun]

TAX RATES for NEW CAR PURCHASES IN THE USA

http://www.kiplinger.com/features/archives/2006/04/cartax.html


Buy in arizona

[holders]

I tried to order a new BMW from US dealers,,, but the deal didn't go through because the dealers can't sell to Canadians (dealer agreement), WTF... many bmw dealers told me the same thing.
Looks like the only option is a used one. Damn why do we have to pay $10k more to support those Canadian dealers? Not gonna happen for me!

[69Stang]

Just purchased a 2007 CAMRY SE V6 loaded, saved over 9k vs a Canadian dealership. Bought it in Ohio (no tax & $10.50 for a 30 day temporary tag). I searched Autotrader for cars with low mileage, email the dealer to see if the car has been titled if so it's good for export. If a Toyota VIN starts with a 1,2,3 or 4 it means it's domestic (no duty), J = Japan (6.1% duty). All of the Toyota dealerships I contacted were very receptive in dealing with Canadians providing it was a pre titled car. Make sure they will give you a recall letter with your purchase, Toyota does not have a problem doing this.

Good luck all.

[ecgz88]

Obviously Auto Manufacturers offer a warranty in Canada as well but you need to remember that the Manufacturers in Canada and in the US are 2 separate companies (e.g. Subaru Canada, Inc and Subaru of America, Inc). If one chooses to honour the warranty of the other, they do it as a service to the customer but there's no legal requirement for them to do it. They are also free to impose whatever limitations they wish (i.e. warranty from Daimler-Chrysler USA is only valid in Canada for cars registered in the US and normally driven in the US but temporarily in Canada (e.g. vacation) or like Honda where the Honda USA warranty is only valid in Canada for cars previously registered in the US and imported by that owner and only valid for that owner, etc).

As far as the market size, it's true that the auto manufacturers aren't going to bend over backwards for a market 10% of the size but on the other hand, it's still 10% of a very significant market so they'll still try to do what they can do have a piece of it.


Another Major thing manufacturer consider not to lower down price is:

Used Car value

Consider 2007 Honda CR-V EX $34K in Canada, USD 24K=CAD 26K in US.
a certified 2005 Honda CR-V EX price is CAD 28K.:mad:

If Honda drops the price for new car, what dealer got to do with their used car stock? And car owner will also not been happy because of higher depreciation.

so that's why back in 2002 lots of USA people come to Canada buy the car, but manufacturer still don't want cut the price in US market.

[abowodun]

I tried to order a new BMW from US dealers,,, but the deal didn't go through because the dealers can't sell to Canadians (dealer agreement), WTF... many bmw dealers told me the same thing.
Looks like the only option is a used one. Damn why do we have to pay $10k more to support those Canadian dealers? Not gonna happen for me!

Buy in a low-tax state

[abowodun]

Just purchased a 2007 CAMRY SE V6 loaded, saved over 9k vs a Canadian dealership. Bought it in Ohio (Good luck all.

Pls share pricing with us ($$$$) and how many miles did it have (used, pre-owned, or certified).
Which dealership???
So no sales tax for a pre-titled car
What does pre-titled mean????????

[abowodun]

Just purchased a 2007 CAMRY SE V6 loaded,
Good luck all.


Did u pay GST on SALES VALUE
OR
Did Canadian customs use RED BOOK to ascertain value???

[69Stang]

Pls share pricing with us ($$$$) and how many miles did it have (used, pre-owned, or certified).
Which dealership???
So no sales tax for a pre-titled car
What does pre-titled mean????????

1480 Miles = 2400 kms, pre-titled = pre-owned. Ohio does not charge sales tax for out of state sales, you will have to pay gst and pst. I paid 26,300 US = 28,141 cdn.....huge savings since it's virtually brand new. The deal is currently in process, I will post the dealer name after it becomes a seamless transaction. Once you find the car you want do a google search to find out what the dealers cost is and negotiate from there.

[scouzi]

Did u pay GST on SALES VALUE
OR
Did Canadian customs use RED BOOK to ascertain value???

Customs requires the bill of sale and converts the US price to Canadian at their exchange rate for the day. They charge GST on that value. Provincial wise, they will use the GST amount to calculate the PST amount (at least in Quebec).

All taxes are based on purchase price. What I am not sure about in my case is weither the insurance company would give me Canadian value or US value in case in is wrecked or stolen.

[69Stang]

Did u pay GST on SALES VALUE
OR
Did Canadian customs use RED BOOK to ascertain value???

Not sure yet, the deal is still in process but with the amount that I am saving it doesn't really matter. Others have indicated they generally use the bill of sale since the vehicle is so new. Once it crosses the border I will let you know what I was assessed.

[michelb]

... The deal is currently in process, I will post the dealer name after it becomes a seamless transaction. Once you find the car you want do a google search to find out what the dealers cost is and negotiate from there.

If you don't mind getting a used car, it's certainly a lot easier as there are no 'restrictions' on selling used to Canadians.

Customs requires the bill of sale and converts the US price to Canadian at their exchange rate for the day. They charge GST on that value. Provincial wise, they will use the GST amount to calculate the PST amount (at least in Quebec).

All taxes are based on purchase price. What I am not sure about in my case is weither the insurance company would give me Canadian value or US value in case in is wrecked or stolen.

My insurance has stated that they'll replace the price paid in CND$ but with an appraisal (maybe even showing RedBookValue), I can increase the coverage.

Not sure yet, the deal is still in process but with the amount that I am saving it doesn't really matter. Others have indicated they generally use the bill of sale since the vehicle is so new. Once it crosses the border I will let you know what I was assessed.

I bought used from a dealer and they charged me tax on the bill of sale price. If you buy used privately, it's *possible* that they might want to charge you tax based on the RedBook value since that's what they do for 'in-province' private sales anyway (this also probably depends on the province - I'm refering to Ontario (home of the center of the Universe :cheesygri )). I suspect that customs will probably do GST and duty on the sale price (that's how they do charge in goods coming in from the USA) but it's possible that the when you register you have to pay PST on RedBook value if it's a private sale so even if that happens it's really not that much of an increase).

[Schirmdog]

For all you Toyota, Lexus or BMW wannabe owners you need to contact the people at the website below. For $300USD they will "buy" the car for you. You work out the deal and the final price and then inform the salesman that this company will be taking title in Utah. The dealership will send the paperworkto them and they will sign it and then send you the paperwork for you to sign. Three days later you are at Customs. They are a member of NAATA. Check it out!

http://www.crossbordertrading.com/

[crasher]

For all you Toyota, Lexus or BMW wannabe owners you need to contact the people at the website below. For $300USD they will "buy" the car for you. You work out the deal and the final price and then inform the salesman that this company will be taking title in Utah. The dealership will send the paperworkto them and they will sign it and then send you the paperwork for you to sign. Three days later you are at Customs. They are a member of NAATA. Check it out!

http://www.crossbordertrading.com/

What are taxes for Utah? I dont understand, why would you go through them, when the salesperson @ dealership can provide you same service for free. You just have to ask them. And many dealership sell to Canadians anyway, just keep calling till you find one.;)

[whampoa]

I thing Schirmdog meant importing certain NEW vehicles make, i.e. Toyota, Honda and BMW.

If you're looking for used than you can save quite a bit by doing yourself in this case.

[mmonro]

I asked them why the difference in an e-mail response and their web site.

Here is their response:


Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

We apologize for any lack of clarify in our previous reply and we appreciate the opportunity to clarify Toyota's position in this matter:

Toyota dealerships in the U.S. are not authorized to sell Toyota motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.

We value you as a customer, and appreciate this opportunity to review your concerns.

Toyota Customer Experience

This respsonse from Toyota is a joke, I called spoke to 4 dealers in Seattle and they all told me that toyota US told them not to sell new vehicles to Canadians however, they are allowed to sell used Toyotas to Canadians. So they will take our money on used Toyota but not brand new. How nice of them to be so generous with our money. Makes me sick the games Toyota is playing. I did find one dealer that would sell, however it was only at MSRP. If you want a toyota in the US you are going to have figure out another angle. I wonder if having a US address on the bill of sale when you are not resident will mess you up when try and bring the car back into Canada. Anyone tried it?

[soupnazi]

This respsonse from Toyota is a joke, I called spoke to 4 dealers in Seattle and they all told me that toyota US told them not to sell new vehicles to Canadians however, they are allowed to sell used Toyotas to Canadians. So they will take our money on used Toyota but not brand new. How nice of them to be so generous with our money. Makes me sick the games Toyota is playing. I did find one dealer that would sell, however it was only at MSRP. If you want a toyota in the US you are going to have figure out another angle. I wonder if having a US address on the bill of sale when you are not resident will mess you up when try and bring the car back into Canada. Anyone tried it?

I've heard that Mazdausa is the same way. They're not allowed to sell new cars but used ones are fine.:|

[flaming homer]

I've heard that Mazdausa is the same way. They're not allowed to sell new cars but used ones are fine.:|Northtown Mazda (Buffalo NY) had no problem quoting me a CX-7 as a export.

[tzm_oasis]

After reading this thread for two weeks. I finally got my Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited. I bought it from Van Bortel Subaru. 2007 model is not easy to find. I asked Northtown and another one, but they couldn't find one. The transaction was smooth, they offered Invoice price minus 500(2007 Van Bortel rebate), 75(Internet rebate), 1500(Subaru rebate). I don't think I need to write down my steps anymore as there are plenty of them in the thread already.
Van Bortel is near Rochester. I had to take Greyhound to Rochester the night before. I stayed in East Anvenue Inn that night. East Anvenue Inn is near Greyhound Terminal and pretty cheap (about US$60 a night). It got good reviews too.
I followed the steps of others and everything went smoothly. I went to MTO 10 minutes before they close, they challenged me for Safety inspection and Emission test, I reponded with the answer "New car doesn't need it". Within minutes it was done.
About temporary permit of Ontario. The Canadian Custom officer told me there is a license fee inclueded in the payment, so it serves as a temporary license. I could be wrong, as I didn't see the license fee on the receipt. Could it be the excercise fee?
My insurance company is StateFarm. The agency is Ed Wells. They gave me 30 days of free coverage without much restriction.
Paying at RIV in person is a very good idea. So everything can be done in one day.
Many thanks to Monsieurmaggot and others. This deal saved me more than 10,000 bucks.

[holders]

lol, if they register the car in utah, they have to pay the utah sales tax anyway. what's the point? and btw, their website is down.

For all you Toyota, Lexus or BMW wannabe owners you need to contact the people at the website below. For $300USD they will "buy" the car for you. You work out the deal and the final price and then inform the salesman that this company will be taking title in Utah. The dealership will send the paperworkto them and they will sign it and then send you the paperwork for you to sign. Three days later you are at Customs. They are a member of NAATA. Check it out!

http://www.crossbordertrading.com/

[93dx]

anyone had any luck with GM dealerships anywhere in the USA??.........if so where ?????....BTW I'm looking for a Chevy Trailblazer SS....

thanks in advance

[Schirmdog]

What are taxes for Utah? I dont understand, why would you go through them, when the salesperson @ dealership can provide you same service for free. You just have to ask them. And many dealership sell to Canadians anyway, just keep calling till you find one.;)

I think if the salesman will do it free great. The problem I found is that the dealership needs you to actually register the car in the state so this service will not work anyway. I went to a dealer on 6/16/07 and they said that if they sell a car that comes up as not registered in the US they lose 5 vehicles. I was going to just use my brother and do the same thing this person was going to do and then instead of actually driving to Florida and register, I would go to Ontario. Dealer wanted to register and collect taxes for me.

Anyway I looked at the cars and my wife and I decided that We truly want the Odyssey anyway so now I am looking into replacement warranties.

[shaolinmonk]

can i buy a car in full then somehow get a dealership to finance it in canada?

[yyz2hkg]

can i buy a car in full then somehow get a dealership to finance it in canada?

Nope, cash, or get your financial institution to finance it for you as a regular loan. LOC helps too. If you have a SSN, you can finance it down in the US.

[Schirmdog]

lol, if they register the car in utah, they have to pay the utah sales tax anyway. what's the point? and btw, their website is down.

This service will not be registering in Utah only titling it there. You might research the difference to make sure you fully understand before purchasing. I was trying to get a title in another state and get an intransit pass and I would "register" it. I would not have registered it so therefore no sales tax. Toyota dealers will not sell to you unless registered or they end up with a vehicle that goes unmatched and then they are penalized.

I am sure there are dealers out there that have not been hit with the penalty, so if you really want a Toyota I am sure they are out there. If someone lets you know where they got one here then it is too late because by the time you show up they will understand the wrath of TMS and won'r sell to you.

[scouzi]

I think if the salesman will do it free great. The problem I found is that the dealership needs you to actually register the car in the state so this service will not work anyway. I went to a dealer on 6/16/07 and they said that if they sell a car that comes up as not registered in the US they lose 5 vehicles. I was going to just use my brother and do the same thing this person was going to do and then instead of actually driving to Florida and register, I would go to Ontario. Dealer wanted to register and collect taxes for me.

Anyway I looked at the cars and my wife and I decided that We truly want the Odyssey anyway so now I am looking into replacement warranties.

Subaru will probably be the same soon as it is becoming part of the Toyota familiy.

[crisscross]

Toyota holds only about 8% of Subaru and is doing so in order to use the Lafayette Ind Subaru plant to make Camrys. Subaru is completely open to cross-border purchases and will remain so - they are a completely independent company. Toyota itself is also open to cross-border sales and warranties - it's the Canadian dealers who have agreements with border state dealers not to sell in each others territory to residents of the other's territory.

[chadw01]

For those who have already bought a vehicle down South..

Have you been able to negotiate even further on the US MSRP of a vehicle? I suppose as Canadians we're already starting at a disadvantage since the Yanks know in most cases their vehicles are around 5-10 grand cheaper (yes, even more), so they won't offer any cash rebates/incentives or budge on their sticker prices for Canucks - or, will/have they?

Interested in hearing whether any RFD'ers have negotiated under the US sticker price, and even so, whether you've been able to determine the US invoice and negotiate on that - as a Canadian bringing them the business, of course.

Thanks!

Chad

[michelb]

Nope, cash, or get your financial institution to finance it for you as a regular loan. LOC helps too. If you have a SSN, you can finance it down in the US.

Actually, technically you can probably finance in the US with or without a SSN (probably harder without SSN since it's one of the main things they use for credit check but it's not a requirement) HOWEVER you will not be able to export the car if it's financed because it will have a lien on it (that's one of the things they check when you send the title to US Customs before exporting it).

[shaolinmonk]

Actually, technically you can probably finance in the US with or without a SSN (probably harder without SSN since it's one of the main things they use for credit check but it's not a requirement) HOWEVER you will not be able to export the car if it's financed because it will have a lien on it (that's one of the things they check when you send the title to US Customs before exporting it).

so come up with the cash... or work out a loan for the cash and make sure the interest you pay works out mathematically so it's still worth your while?? hmmm.. guess this might not be a good option for my bro...

[johnsa]

Actually, technically you can probably finance in the US with or without a SSN (probably harder without SSN since it's one of the main things they use for credit check but it's not a requirement) HOWEVER you will not be able to export the car if it's financed because it will have a lien on it (that's one of the things they check when you send the title to US Customs before exporting it).

If you are not a US resident and do not have a Social Security no. you will not be able to obtain financing in the US, period. he same goes for a US resident/citizen wanting to finance in Canada...

[perfchris]

I have contacted a couple of Lexus dealers in the US and they have just sold a couple of cars to Canadians. These dealers are not near the border but close enough to major metropolitan areas that most of us could buy a one way plane ticket and drive back with the car.

Because Toyota and Lexus Canada are probably lurking at this forum and are probably subscribed I think that we should keep the names of these cooperative dealers as discreet as possible as to avoid any repercussions for them and consequently closing the door for others to save big money !

[holders]

I researched this cross border thing a bit. They need you to ship the vehicle to utah and ship it back to canada??? that's probably $2000 just for shipping... and probably 1 month of waiting?
I don't see how this service could work for me.
Anyway I'm concentrating on a used vehicle right now. The problem is I have to check out a used car personally before putting down a deposit, if it's new, I would only go there to pick it up.


This service will not be registering in Utah only titling it there. You might research the difference to make sure you fully understand before purchasing. I was trying to get a title in another state and get an intransit pass and I would "register" it. I would not have registered it so therefore no sales tax. Toyota dealers will not sell to you unless registered or they end up with a vehicle that goes unmatched and then they are penalized.

I am sure there are dealers out there that have not been hit with the penalty, so if you really want a Toyota I am sure they are out there. If someone lets you know where they got one here then it is too late because by the time you show up they will understand the wrath of TMS and won'r sell to you.

[Schirmdog]

I researched this cross border thing a bit. They need you to ship the vehicle to utah and ship it back to canada??? that's probably $2000 just for shipping... and probably 1 month of waiting?
I don't see how this service could work for me.
Anyway I'm concentrating on a used vehicle right now. The problem is I have to check out a used car personally before putting down a deposit, if it's new, I would only go there to pick it up.

They ship the paperwork to Utah and then ship the paperwork to you. I did not look into it further as we decided that Toyota was not what we really wanted. If you can find someone willing to buy and then sell you the vehicle in a no tax state then you would be able to get the car that way. You can also contact the email below. They charge USA MSRP + the associated import fees (approx. $550) + GST + PST + 100 Air Tax + 75 Gas Tax.

sales@autoexportcanada.com

[yyz2hkg]

If you are not a US resident and do not have a Social Security no. you will not be able to obtain financing in the US, period. he same goes for a US resident/citizen wanting to finance in Canada...

+1

Actually, technically you can probably finance in the US with or without a SSN (probably harder without SSN since it's one of the main things they use for credit check but it's not a requirement) HOWEVER you will not be able to export the car if it's financed because it will have a lien on it (that's one of the things they check when you send the title to US Customs before exporting it).

I asked many dealers before I purchased my vehicle last yr. to see if I was able in any way to finance a vehicle, and it was a point blank NO in all cases. Why would anyone let you finance anything with that large amount without first giving you a credit check. Even the cell phone companies excluding the prepaid ones in the US require a SSN/credit check.

[Beradon]

Because Toyota and Lexus Canada are probably lurking at this forum and are probably subscribed I think that we should keep the names of these cooperative dealers as discreet as possible as to avoid any repercussions for them and consequently closing the door for others to save big money !
How do you stop them from finding out? I'm sure they are posing as an RFD member and will just inquire about dealership names thru PM just like any other RFD member.

[Beradon]

anyone had any luck with GM dealerships anywhere in the USA??.........if so where ?????....BTW I'm looking for a Chevy Trailblazer SS....

thanks in advance
The MRSP price difference between US and Cdn dealers for most vehicles isn't big enough to make it worth your while. Unless you're talking about higher end vehicles like Corvettes, Escalades, etc..

[crasher]

The MRSP price difference between US and Cdn dealers for most vehicles isn't big enough to make it worth your while. Unless you're talking about higher end vehicles like Corvettes, Escalades, etc..

It all depends on individual. I will go for it even if I can save $500(I dont make $500 in a day). The difference is now about 30% as the Cad$ is much stronger. I saved around 11k for Camry and Sienna each, I even included the airfare and gas expense.

[abowodun]

It all depends on individual. I will go for it even if I can save $500(I dont make $500 in a day). .

How did u move ur cars/camry-sienna from NC to Canada (Trucking, Driving, mixture of Both).

11k is high

What does anyboth think of paying $24k USD for a New Camry LE V6 with Leather Interior?????
Is that a good deal???
Any better cost out there

[wildone]

just got back from importing my 07 F150 King Ranch and 07 Expedition EL Limited. Total Savings: 38KCAD. Had a hard time with the guy at Canada Customs, Portal, SK. He wanted me to pay the $6K Gas guzzler fee that Alberta has introduced. I knew I didn't have to pay it as it does not apply to Expeditions, checked before I went. After 30 minutes of arguing I won. Other than that, the process was a breeze. Now for DRL and inspections :)

[abowodun]

Actually, technically you can probably finance in the US with or without a SSN (probably harder without SSN since it's one of the main things they use for credit check but it's not a requirement)


u can export a car even when u still have loans on it.
u get a letter of release from the bank and show it at the boarder.

[Schirmdog]

How do you stop them from finding out? I'm sure they are posing as an RFD member and will just inquire about dealership names thru PM just like any other RFD member.

Toyota doesn't need to find out here. When a dealership sells a car the VIN goes into the TMS database. Then when it does not get registered in any state they know it was sold for export and then they whack the dealer by taking away 5 future cars. If you find a dealer that will sell to you then they just haven't been hit yet. Look into small towns to find your dealer.

[ecgz88]

Has anyone find some sort of Relaible third party warranty company?:razz:

[perfchris]

Toyota doesn't need to find out here. When a dealership sells a car the VIN goes into the TMS database. Then when it does not get registered in any state they know it was sold for export and then they whack the dealer by taking away 5 future cars. If you find a dealer that will sell to you then they just haven't been hit yet. Look into small towns to find your dealer.

Could you elaborate a little bit on your assertions ?

[michelb]

u can export a car even when u still have loans on it.
u get a letter of release from the bank and show it at the boarder.

I might be mistaken but I can't imagine any bank would ever give you a release unless you pay off the loan. The lien is their protection that you'll pay off the loan - if they release without the loan being paid they'd have no recourse if you defaulted.

I believe the release you are referring to is for when you pay out anything owing on the vehicle but the title still shows a lien on it - rather than having to get a title (without the lien on it) re-issued, they'll simply provide you a release letter indicating that the condition of the lien has been satisfied and it has been lifted.

As far as needing a SSN for a car loan, you can get a mortgage (tons of foreign investors and snowbirds have mortgages in FL and AZ without having a SSN), credit card, etc without having a SSN so why would you need one for a car loan. I'm sure it's a whole lot easier to get a loan with one but I don't believe you actually need it.

[crasher]

How did u move ur cars/camry-sienna from NC to Canada (Trucking, Driving, mixture of Both).

11k is high

What does anyboth think of paying $24k USD for a New Camry LE V6 with Leather Interior?????
Is that a good deal???
Any better cost out there

I drove all the way back:D
Its a good price for V6, leather. I settled for 4cyl. XLE with fabric and less $$ too.:cheesygri

[Beradon]

Toyota doesn't need to find out here. When a dealership sells a car the VIN goes into the TMS database. Then when it does not get registered in any state they know it was sold for export and then they whack the dealer by taking away 5 future cars. If you find a dealer that will sell to you then they just haven't been hit yet. Look into small towns to find your dealer.

Oh I see. I guess we as Canadian consumers need to whack Toyota by not buying their cars. I hope news organizations would do some investigative reporting and expose these tactics out in the open.

[mmonro]

Toyota doesn't need to find out here. When a dealership sells a car the VIN goes into the TMS database. Then when it does not get registered in any state they know it was sold for export and then they whack the dealer by taking away 5 future cars. If you find a dealer that will sell to you then they just haven't been hit yet. Look into small towns to find your dealer.

I spoke to a sales manager at at one of the large Toyota dealers in Washington state and their factory allocation will get dinged for every car they sell to Canadians.Most don't want to risk it and are shying away from CAnadian business. If want a Toyota you are going to have to get away from the border states.

[scouzi]

Oh I see. I guess we as Canadian consumers need to whack Toyota by not buying their cars. I hope news organizations would do some investigative reporting and expose these tactics out in the open.

It seems that Toyota may not be the only ones with that tactic.

[elmst200]

A lawsuit with one of these companies (toyota will be the best pick at this time since we have gathered a lot of evidence that toyota usa does manipulate sales, obstruct free-trade and perform discriminatory sales practices etc.) will best solve the disgusting situation canadians are facing now.

It seems that Toyota may not be the only ones with that tactic.

[scouzi]

I spoke to a sales manager at at one of the large Toyota dealers in Washington state and their factory allocation will get dinged for every car they sell to Canadians.Most don't want to risk it and are shying away from CAnadian business. If want a Toyota you are going to have to get away from the border states.

I doubt Toyota has access to registration information from all the DMV offices in the U.S.! They know if the US dealer enters the correct address at purchase time. They probably will know also if the car show up for warranty work somewhere in Canada with a canadian address of the owner.

[yyz2hkg]

I doubt Toyota has access to registration information from all the DMV offices in the U.S.! They know if the US dealer enters the correct address at purchase time. They probably will know also if the car show up for warranty work somewhere in Canada with a canadian address of the owner.

They do know...once the VIN is entered into the system, ownership/address are all stated, and all work done to the vehicle is noted.

[leafsrule06]

Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!

[perfchris]

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !
Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!

[RRKnight]

Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!

Darcars.com sells Lexus to Canadians... and this is free from me :D

Also if you want second hand Lexus, carsourceusa.com will also sell to Canadians.....another freebie from me.

Maybe I should start charging too and make some money....Hahahahaha

[leafsrule06]

Darcars.com sells Lexus to Canadians... and this is free from me :D

Also if you want second hand Lexus, carsourceusa.com will also sell to Canadians.....another freebie from me.

Maybe I should start charging too and make some money....Hahahahaha

So they'll sell brand new lexus to Canadians? What's the best way to contact them?

[RRKnight]

So they'll sell brand new lexus to Canadians? What's the best way to contact them?

Log on to the website and call them.

[TorontoEh]

Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!

wow! i could serioulsy make some moola here..lol.

my buddy recent bought a benz from texas, pm me and i'll forward you info :) free of charge

[johnsa]

[
As far as needing a SSN for a car loan, you can get a mortgage (tons of foreign investors and snowbirds have mortgages in FL and AZ without having a SSN), credit card, etc without having a SSN so why would you need one for a car loan. I'm sure it's a whole lot easier to get a loan with one but I don't believe you actually need it.[/QUOTE]

Please provide some specific examples of a US Bank or Mortgage company trhat provides mortgages and or loans to Cdn citizens without Social Sec number.....I have no doubt you could get a PRIVATE mortgage through a broker but that is very different from a conventional mortgage or car loan......

[Monsieurmaggot]

For those who have already bought a vehicle down South..

Have you been able to negotiate even further on the US MSRP of a vehicle? I suppose as Canadians we're already starting at a disadvantage since the Yanks know in most cases their vehicles are around 5-10 grand cheaper (yes, even more), so they won't offer any cash rebates/incentives or budge on their sticker prices for Canucks - or, will/have they?

Interested in hearing whether any RFD'ers have negotiated under the US sticker price, and even so, whether you've been able to determine the US invoice and negotiate on that - as a Canadian bringing them the business, of course.

Thanks!

Chad

Who on earth pays MSRP? Uninformed Canadians maybe. In the US, the invoice price is clearly available. If you dig a bit, you can also find the current manufacturer to dealer incentives, where the manufacturer gives away free moonroofs, leather, etc... in order to move inventory. Most dealers keep that quiet and pocket the difference. Almost all US vehicles have rebates applicable to them.

With rebates and incentives, heck a Subaru Tribeca has $6000 - $8000 incentives associated with them. In Canada? Low financing for one or two years. C'mon now, even with 0% Canadian financing, why would you want to pay $25,000 more?

It's not a level playing field, in the US they give you invoice pricing, in Canada, that's a closely guarded secret. Some dealers give you some "fictitious price" that doesn't come close to their true cost.

In Canada, you can't get true invoice pricing. You can join organizations like the APA and get a small discount (some folks call it fleet purchasing). You can figure out the approximately cost of Canadian invoice by looking at the US price then adding about $500. The rest is PURE PROFIT..

Why on earth would a car cost upwards of $10,000 more in Canada? Some folks actually believe the lame "market size" or "the dealers in Canada can't do the volume" argument.

Granted our market is tiny (about 1.5 million cars per year). I just read that some former Soviet States actually sell more cars than in Canada. That's because we're all buying in the US!

[Superstar1]

A friend of mine got a miata from the states. He had nothing but headaches as soon as it crossed the boarder. He couldn't register the car until he installed daytime lights, had to change the bumper as a result, and i believe there was another issue he had to overcome before being able to use the car here. I think Canada's regulations are stricter than those in the states.. be careful and do your due diligence before buying a car and bringing it over.

[Anessa]

A friend of mine got a miata from the states. He had nothing but headaches as soon as it crossed the boarder. He couldn't register the car until he installed daytime lights, had to change the bumper as a result, and i believe there was another issue he had to overcome before being able to use the car here. I think Canada's regulations are stricter than those in the states.. be careful and do your due diligence before buying a car and bringing it over.

That's what this thread is for...clearing up misinformation and guiding fellow savers to the resources to make a smooth cross border purchase!

[michelb]

As far as needing a SSN for a car loan, you can get a mortgage (tons of foreign investors and snowbirds have mortgages in FL and AZ without having a SSN), credit card, etc without having a SSN so why would you need one for a car loan. I'm sure it's a whole lot easier to get a loan with one but I don't believe you actually need it.

Please provide some specific examples of a US Bank or Mortgage company trhat provides mortgages and or loans to Cdn citizens without Social Sec number.....I have no doubt you could get a PRIVATE mortgage through a broker but that is very different from a conventional mortgage or car loan......

BankOfAmerica provides mortgages with only ITINs and no SSN (when I opened a bank account and Visa card there several years ago, I used my Canadian SIN so they might not even require ITINs but even if they do, I believe anyone can apply for them). That being said, it looks like there may be changes in the LendingLaws by US Congress to require SSN in an effort to prevent illegal aliens (who can't have a SSN but may be able to get an ITIN) from getting mortgages (basically they are trying to make it harder for illegal aliens to stay in the US).

[michelb]

A friend of mine got a miata from the states. He had nothing but headaches as soon as it crossed the boarder. He couldn't register the car until he installed daytime lights, had to change the bumper as a result, and i believe there was another issue he had to overcome before being able to use the car here. I think Canada's regulations are stricter than those in the states.. be careful and do your due diligence before buying a car and bringing it over.

That's what this thread is for...clearing up misinformation and guiding fellow savers to the resources to make a smooth cross border purchase!

A few years ago, I decided to sell my US Miata (1993) in Florida rather than import it to Canada when I returned because a Canadian dealership had told me it would be $1k-$2k for the bumper modification. I later found out that the replacement bumper is only about $250 and is very easy to change.

DRLs can be installed with a $25 module from CT. Or anyone with a little bit of mechanical ability, can wire driving lights or parking lights to come on with the ignition switch so this should never be a real issue (although it's true that doing the 'real' DRL conversion can cost several hundred dollars depending on the vehicle) (technically, I don't believe wiring them to the ignition like this is correct (I think DRLs are not suppose to be on if the parking brake is enabled and are suppose to turn off when you switch to high beams)) but it will pass CT's inspection (when they did my inspection, they only *asked* me if I had them - they didn't actually even check)).

Other issues can be a pain: e.g. early Miatas had some issues with airbag sensors and I believe you cannot import a vehicle with a non-functioning airbag (or ABS) if the vehicle originally came with it but that's not so much an issue with difficulty of importing and more of an issue where cars being imported have to be in proper functional condition.

If you look at Miata forums, you'll find message about how a lot of people have had no problem importing Miatas of various years from the US.

[shopper-X]

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !

Maybe Perfchris should pay Monsieurmaggot and everyone that posted useful information a fee for using the information in this thread.

I thought this forum was about helping others and help save money, not make money from the information used. I know Perfchris found the dealer, but everyone else found and posted the process.

[DSTU]

A friend of mine got a miata from the states. He had nothing but headaches as soon as it crossed the boarder. He couldn't register the car until he installed daytime lights, had to change the bumper as a result, and i believe there was another issue he had to overcome before being able to use the car here. I think Canada's regulations are stricter than those in the states.. be careful and do your due diligence before buying a car and bringing it over.

riv.ca tells you everything you need to know on which cars are allowed in and what modifications are necessary.

[dealzuser]

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !

Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!


This is actually quite funny. :)

Maybe RFD should become a Pay-per-view forum. :D

[kingrukus]

Hi All:
I havent had a chance to completely read this thread, however I noticed that NY doesn't charge any sales tax. I thought sales taxes would only be charged if the car is being registered in that particular state? Or is this incorrect? I am looking at buying a 350z from Ohio and importing it to Canada. I was under the impression that I would only need to pay GST + PST + DUTY + RIV fee + A/C Tax. Is there any other hidden taxes or fees I should know of?

Also, when declaring the value of the vehicle at customs, do they go by KBB, the receipt value that you paid, or what? I would assume they would take the higher of the receipt value or KBB?

Thanks

[j27lee]

I'm wondering if I can turn bringing cars up from the states into a business? Anyone want a Subaru but doesn't want to deal with the hassel of going down, and bringing it up? I'd take a portion of the CAD/USD price difference.

Thoughts?

[George K]

Hi All:
I was under the impression that I would only need to pay GST + PST + DUTY + RIV fee + A/C Tax. Is there any other hidden taxes or fees I should know of?
...

I don't know about the Z but there were reports of people being charged the new "gas guzzler" tax at the border. There has been also a change in the EPA MPG sticker which for the Z now reads 12.4L/100km combined (from 11.2L). Since the government refuses to provide the rebate for fuel efficient cars they shouldn't be charging this either, but it brings them mula so they like it.

Your formula also excludes the exchange rate. I had a simple one to get an approx. CAD price: USD price x1.3 for non-NAFTA vehicles (RIV, A/C, fuel tax, modifications and travel expenses are extra).

About base price for tax purposes, for cars bought from a dealer, customs have been using the sale price from the invoice x exchange rate. This is based on the posts I've seen here.

[George K]

this x1.3 factor is for Ontario

non-NAFTA
ON x1.3 , AB x1.21

NAFTA
ON x1.23 , AB x1.15

[sandman804]

I think its kind of ridiculous another member is trying to charge people for thier information. RFD is about sharing information, and trying to help fellow members out regardless of if you put work into researching something or not which you were going to do anyway. My personal opinion is I wouldnt pay him a nickel.

This is actually quite funny. :)

Maybe RFD should become a Pay-per-view forum. :D

Can you believe this? He wants a finders fee for the name of a Lexus dealer selling to Canadians....$500. So I tihink I'll email Lexus dealers until I find one then I'll only charge $200 finders fee!!! Not....I'd share with others as the RFD forums are meant to work. What a joke!

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !

[bb]

can someone provide the link to the post that shows which manufacturers honor their warranties (whether on used or new cars) in Canada and the US? i really don't want to click through 66 pages...

[michelb]

can someone provide the link to the post that shows which manufacturers honor their warranties (whether on used or new cars) in Canada and the US? i really don't want to click through 66 pages...

Rehan compiled a list in this thread

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1089211&postcount=22

It's a bit old but I believe it's still accurate although you probably want to confirm with whichever you choose. Unfortunately, I hadn't even noticed but it's not complete so if anyone has a link with most manufacturers, let us know (missing Subaru (warranty valid), Nissan/Infinity (warranty appears to be valid), VW, Mazda, etc)

[scouzi]

Rehan compiled a list in this thread

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1089211&postcount=22

It's a bit old but I believe it's still accurate although you probably want to confirm with whichever you choose. Unfortunately, I hadn't even noticed but it's not complete so if anyone has a link with most manufacturers, let us know (missing Subaru (warranty valid), Nissan/Infinity (warranty appears to be valid), VW, Mazda, etc)

Another response from Mazda.

Thank you for contacting Mazda. I apologize for the delay in response to your contact.

Yes, US Mazda dealerships per their dealer agreement are not allowed to sell vehicles that will not be registered in the US first. If the dealership knows a vehicle is being sold to export to another country then they will not sell the vehicle. Exactly what penalties they suffer I could not say.

[Jeff146]

Anyone know anything about bringing Mitsubishi cars from the US to Canada?

[Pseudo Nim]

Anyone know anything about bringing Mitsubishi cars from the US to Canada?

Hopefully you're not considering bringing the LanEvo, as I don't think those are street legal in Canada. ;)

[Jeff146]

Hopefully you're not considering bringing the LanEvo, as I don't think those are street legal in Canada. ;)

No looking to get the 2008 Lancer GTS

[sphinxx]

Log on to the website and call them.

DARCARS.COM called me 24 hours later. But I told them to keep an eye out because my buying timeframe is before end of august (no rush).

I have a contact looking for me right now in the states, there are some great deals at the AUCTIONS (he is registered over there).
The reason for that is that as soon as you win the auction YOU HAVE TO COME DOWN WITH THE WHOLE amount 48 hours later.
And not everybody has $20,000 sitting at their bank account, so a lot of these cars end up being purchased by companies for like 10-15K and they resell them for 25K on the open market.

Anyways, I open an AUTOCHECK account for my research, it is unlimited...so if you need to check a VIN number just PM me.
I'll check for you for FREE...(unless I get way too many requests).

spx

[sphinxx]

I'm wondering if I can turn bringing cars up from the states into a business? Anyone want a Subaru but doesn't want to deal with the hassel of going down, and bringing it up? I'd take a portion of the CAD/USD price difference.

Thoughts?

As a 2nd source of income, it's a great idea. But the positive correlation with the economy in general and the force of the CAD $ makes it very unstable for full time job.
My 2 cents!

spx

P.S. Someone I know is actually doing that. Needless to says that business is booming right now for him.

[canabiz]

Time to shop for a new car ;-)

[kingrukus]

Hey guys, how do I check to see if the vehicle has any lien against it? It would be a nightmare to deal with such a scenerio after purchasing it.

[yyz2hkg]

Hey guys, how do I check to see if the vehicle has any lien against it? It would be a nightmare to deal with such a scenerio after purchasing it.

carfax and or vehicle information package in Ontario are a few I can think of.

[kingrukus]

carfax and or vehicle information package in Ontario are a few I can think of.

I do not trust carfax at all. I have seen way too many inaccuracies with it. And I can run the used vehicle package on an American car in Ontario before purchasing it??

[abs3]

I called my insurance company about buying a new car from US. After a few phone calls and talking to different reps and supervisors they said they would provide a 10-day liability coverage instead of Full coverage. This is not good as if someone hits into my new car I may not be covered. I currently have 2 policies with them both have comprehensive/collision/liability coverage.

I called BelAirDirect and they said they could insure the new car for 30 days before it is registered only if I have an existing policy with them but I don't.

Does anybody know which insurance companies would provide full coverage without requiring an existing policy with them ? I want to activate Full coverage as soon as I take posession of the new car.

[chadw01]

Who on earth pays MSRP? Uninformed Canadians maybe. In the US, the invoice price is clearly available. If you dig a bit, you can also find the current manufacturer to dealer incentives, where the manufacturer gives away free moonroofs, leather, etc... in order to move inventory. Most dealers keep that quiet and pocket the difference. Almost all US vehicles have rebates applicable to them.

With rebates and incentives, heck a Subaru Tribeca has $6000 - $8000 incentives associated with them. In Canada? Low financing for one or two years. C'mon now, even with 0% Canadian financing, why would you want to pay $25,000 more?

It's not a level playing field, in the US they give you invoice pricing, in Canada, that's a closely guarded secret. Some dealers give you some "fictitious price" that doesn't come close to their true cost.

In Canada, you can't get true invoice pricing. You can join organizations like the APA and get a small discount (some folks call it fleet purchasing). You can figure out the approximately cost of Canadian invoice by looking at the US price then adding about $500. The rest is PURE PROFIT..

Why on earth would a car cost upwards of $10,000 more in Canada? Some folks actually believe the lame "market size" or "the dealers in Canada can't do the volume" argument.

Granted our market is tiny (about 1.5 million cars per year). I just read that some former Soviet States actually sell more cars than in Canada. That's because we're all buying in the US!

I guess there's some misunderstanding here - I know not to pay MSRP for new vehicles in Canada... what I was asking was how many Canadians have gotten below US MSRP when purchasing their vehicle in the States?

The dealers already know you're buying down South because you're saving upwards of $5-10k, so we're already at a disadvantage as far as bargaining on their MSRP..

[highwind7777]

I guess there's some misunderstanding here - I know not to pay MSRP for new vehicles in Canada... what I was asking was how many Canadians have gotten below US MSRP when purchasing their vehicle in the States?

The dealers already know you're buying down South because you're saving upwards of $5-10k, so we're already at a disadvantage as far as bargaining on their MSRP..

the dealers still have to compete with each other. just cuz you're a canadian who is "already" saving $10k doesn't mean you don't have bargaining power. they STILL want your business, and to get it, they're gonna need to compete with the other dealerships

[CHIA]

I guess there's some misunderstanding here - I know not to pay MSRP for new vehicles in Canada... what I was asking was how many Canadians have gotten below US MSRP when purchasing their vehicle in the States?

The dealers already know you're buying down South because you're saving upwards of $5-10k, so we're already at a disadvantage as far as bargaining on their MSRP..

NO way, cash is king....those with money have the upper hand. These are massed produced North American marketed cars, trucks, & minivans, not rare one-off exotics.

You have every bit as much leverage as the next person, and there's always another dealer around the corner who will fight a bit harder to get your money from his competitor.

Your ability to get competent due diligence completed well, and educate yourself, is going to be the deciding factor as to what kind of deal you get.

Do not go into a deal with an attitude like that, or you'll get walked on. If you are not a confident negotiate, take a friend who is....he/she may save you money and headaches/stress.

[Draug]

Who on earth pays MSRP? Uninformed Canadians maybe. In the US, the invoice price is clearly available. If you dig a bit, you can also find the current manufacturer to dealer incentives, where the manufacturer gives away free moonroofs, leather, etc... in order to move inventory. Most dealers keep that quiet and pocket the difference. Almost all US vehicles have rebates applicable to them.

It's not a level playing field, in the US they give you invoice pricing, in Canada, that's a closely guarded secret. Some dealers give you some "fictitious price" that doesn't come close to their true cost.



Hmmm.... makes me wonder if I could have negotiated a better deal.

Last week, I purchased a new '07 Subaru Legacy GT Ltd Wagon from a dealer in NC. Mostly, I can thank this thread for arming with enough information to purchase from the US.

The best price I seemed to be able to get was $30731 Usd, including a $1000 factory rebate and a $289 'Dealer Customer Service Fee' (that they wouldnt take off). MSN.Auto reports the Invoice price to be $28807. The MSRP right off the Subaru.com was $30895. :cry:

I tried to haggle over the phone, but two things went against me. First, it was pretty obvious that I wanted the car because I sought them out. Second, the US no longer has the wagon for the '08 model year, and the '07's were basically gone. Dealers in Montana and Washington were unable to find any inventory across the whole US. I managed to find 7 of them in stock across the US using the Autotrader.com, but only one had the dark interior (the beige interior was a deal breaker for me). So, like I said, it was obvious I wanted the car. The salesman even went as far to say that if I didnt buy it, he had dealers from DC and Virginia wanting it.

Do you think I should have called his bluff, and tried harder to negotiate? I didnt really want to risk losing the last 07 GT Wagon in the US.

How much cheaper did other people get GT Wagons for earlier in the year?

For the record, I had no idea that '08 models arrived on US dealer lots so soon. If so, I would have bought my '07 a number of months earlier when there were still some around.

Oh well, with every conceivable cost, I'll still come out $11000 Cdn better than the best deal I could negotiate at a local Subaru dealership.

[HotDeal]

Do I need the car to be titled or what they call something of origin on a new car. Rif mentioned title documents, registration, sales receipts, statement of complance and recall letter. How can you have registration if you are not paying sales tax on a new car. Do the temp tags is what they consider registration.

Please some one who purchased a new car from the dealer please clarify on what documents by name I need to request from my dealer.

Thank you.

[stock_junkie]

Perfchris, you're giving newbies a bad name! Did monsieurmaggot ask for a finders fee from you for looking at this thread which is probably the only reason you even knew about the huge savings to be had by buying your car in the US? Pretty low.

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !

[scouzi]

Hmmm.... makes me wonder if I could have negotiated a better deal.

Last week, I purchased a new '07 Subaru Legacy GT Ltd Wagon from a dealer in NC. Mostly, I can thank this thread for arming with enough information to purchase from the US.

The best price I seemed to be able to get was $30731 Usd, including a $1000 factory rebate and a $289 'Dealer Customer Service Fee' (that they wouldnt take off). MSN.Auto reports the Invoice price to be $28807. The MSRP right off the Subaru.com was $30895. :cry:

I tried to haggle over the phone, but two things went against me. First, it was pretty obvious that I wanted the car because I sought them out. Second, the US no longer has the wagon for the '08 model year, and the '07's were basically gone. Dealers in Montana and Washington were unable to find any inventory across the whole US. I managed to find 7 of them in stock across the US using the Autotrader.com, but only one had the dark interior (the beige interior was a deal breaker for me). So, like I said, it was obvious I wanted the car. The salesman even went as far to say that if I didnt buy it, he had dealers from DC and Virginia wanting it.

Do you think I should have called his bluff, and tried harder to negotiate? I didnt really want to risk losing the last 07 GT Wagon in the US.

How much cheaper did other people get GT Wagons for earlier in the year?

For the record, I had no idea that '08 models arrived on US dealer lots so soon. If so, I would have bought my '07 a number of months earlier when there were still some around.

Oh well, with every conceivable cost, I'll still come out $11000 Cdn better than the best deal I could negotiate at a local Subaru dealership.

Don't torment yourself if you've already bought it! You saved 11k and you've got the last one in the USA!

Congratulations!

[scouzi]

I called my insurance company about buying a new car from US. After a few phone calls and talking to different reps and supervisors they said they would provide a 10-day liability coverage instead of Full coverage. This is not good as if someone hits into my new car I may not be covered. I currently have 2 policies with them both have comprehensive/collision/liability coverage.

I called BelAirDirect and they said they could insure the new car for 30 days before it is registered only if I have an existing policy with them but I don't.

Does anybody know which insurance companies would provide full coverage without requiring an existing policy with them ? I want to activate Full coverage as soon as I take posession of the new car.

As for myself, to get the temporary insurance, they made me buy the post-registration coverage right away.

I use Meloche-Monnex.

[Eyeman]

I do not trust carfax at all. I have seen way too many inaccuracies with it. And I can run the used vehicle package on an American car in Ontario before purchasing it??

I second this. Carfax is useless. I checked a car with them and the report didn't even show that ithad been owned by a rental car agency.

[DSTU]

Hmmm.... makes me wonder if I could have negotiated a better deal.

Last week, I purchased a new '07 Subaru Legacy GT Ltd Wagon from a dealer in NC. Mostly, I can thank this thread for arming with enough information to purchase from the US.

The best price I seemed to be able to get was $30731 Usd, including a $1000 factory rebate and a $289 'Dealer Customer Service Fee' (that they wouldnt take off). MSN.Auto reports the Invoice price to be $28807. The MSRP right off the Subaru.com was $30895. :cry:

I tried to haggle over the phone, but two things went against me. First, it was pretty obvious that I wanted the car because I sought them out. Second, the US no longer has the wagon for the '08 model year, and the '07's were basically gone. Dealers in Montana and Washington were unable to find any inventory across the whole US. I managed to find 7 of them in stock across the US using the Autotrader.com, but only one had the dark interior (the beige interior was a deal breaker for me). So, like I said, it was obvious I wanted the car. The salesman even went as far to say that if I didnt buy it, he had dealers from DC and Virginia wanting it.

Do you think I should have called his bluff, and tried harder to negotiate? I didnt really want to risk losing the last 07 GT Wagon in the US.

How much cheaper did other people get GT Wagons for earlier in the year?

For the record, I had no idea that '08 models arrived on US dealer lots so soon. If so, I would have bought my '07 a number of months earlier when there were still some around.

Oh well, with every conceivable cost, I'll still come out $11000 Cdn better than the best deal I could negotiate at a local Subaru dealership.

You got Hosed, you should only pay no more than $500 over invoice.

Cars101.com has it for $28,807

[yyz2hkg]

You got Hosed, you should only pay no more than $500 over invoice.

Cars101.com has it for $28,807

HOSED where? YOU can't buy the same vehicle here in Canada for that price can you. Would you consider that being hosed.

[sphinxx]

I do not trust carfax at all. I have seen way too many inaccuracies with it. And I can run the used vehicle package on an American car in Ontario before purchasing it??

AUTOCHECK.COM
Gave me a bit more info than CARFAX, including if it has a lien on it.
spx

[crasher]

Nobody forced you to accept my terms. I spent my time contacting dealers. If you do not like the terms then move on !

SHAME ON YOU, perfchris

[michelb]

Hey guys, how do I check to see if the vehicle has any lien against it? It would be a nightmare to deal with such a scenerio after purchasing it.

I believe at least Florida and Arizona show liens on the title itself (maybe all states???). If nothing else, you should be able to simply call the State DMV and, with the VIN, they'll be able to check it.

[CHIA]

Hmmm.... makes me wonder if I could have negotiated a better deal.

Last week, I purchased a new '07 Subaru Legacy GT Ltd Wagon from a dealer in NC. Mostly, I can thank this thread for arming with enough information to purchase from the US.

The best price I seemed to be able to get was $30731 Usd, including a $1000 factory rebate and a $289 'Dealer Customer Service Fee' (that they wouldnt take off). MSN.Auto reports the Invoice price to be $28807. The MSRP right off the Subaru.com was $30895. :cry:

I tried to haggle over the phone, but two things went against me. First, it was pretty obvious that I wanted the car because I sought them out. Second, the US no longer has the wagon for the '08 model year, and the '07's were basically gone. Dealers in Montana and Washington were unable to find any inventory across the whole US. I managed to find 7 of them in stock across the US using the Autotrader.com, but only one had the dark interior (the beige interior was a deal breaker for me). So, like I said, it was obvious I wanted the car. The salesman even went as far to say that if I didnt buy it, he had dealers from DC and Virginia wanting it.

Do you think I should have called his bluff, and tried harder to negotiate? I didnt really want to risk losing the last 07 GT Wagon in the US.

How much cheaper did other people get GT Wagons for earlier in the year?

For the record, I had no idea that '08 models arrived on US dealer lots so soon. If so, I would have bought my '07 a number of months earlier when there were still some around.

Oh well, with every conceivable cost, I'll still come out $11000 Cdn better than the best deal I could negotiate at a local Subaru dealership.

Your biggest leverage loser was dealing over the phone...face to face is always better. I realize it is not always an option, but dealers in particular, tend to take people more seriously when they are in the store, cash in hand.

That said, it does sound like your options may have been slightly limited if you wanted a specific model that was in short supply....either way, appears you saved a fair bit of $$$, so enjoy your new wheels and don't look back.....it can be painful :)

[ryehigh17]

I am thinking of picking up a 7 passenger LTD and want to clear up one point before making my decision:

On cars101.com it says that the 3rd row has (2) anchors (NOTE: this is not the tether latch). However the model I test drove here in Canada did not have it - and the Buffalo dealers I called confirmed that they do not have it.

Anyone can shed some light on this? I would really like to buy a vehicle with the anchors in the third row. Any other models with the anchors in the third row?

Thanks for the info!

[Monsieurmaggot]

The easiest method by far to price a Subaru that I found was online at Van Bortel in Rochester.

They give you the ability to pick the model and options you want.

You can compare this pricing with the invoice pricing on the 'net.

With an actual Van Bortel Internet price, other NY State Subaru dealers were quick to compete with the price since it was "local".

Depending on the vehicle, Van Bortel usually offer a $75 Internet discount, a $500 instant dealer discount, and apply the factory rebate. On some occasions they even offer an extra $500 dealer to customer incentive.

In my case the dealer discounted $1825 off INVOICE (Not MSRP) plus had a bunch of accessories thrown in. At the time my Subaru came with a $750 cash rebate. Now they come with $1500 cash rebates which take you closer to $2575 off INVOICE.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Does anybody know which insurance companies would provide full coverage without requiring an existing policy with them ? I want to activate Full coverage as soon as I take posession of the new car.

While not necessarily your case, I've been with State Farm for almost 30 years. I told them I was buying in the US. They were quite aware of US car purchasing. They provided me an insurance binder letter for my NY dealer and provided me immediate coverage just as if I had purchased in Canada.

I actually had 30 days of dual coverage. They gave me time to sell my old car and fully covered both. The best part is I wasn't billed for my new car until the renewal came in about a month later. Talk about service.

They did insist that I have both NY State and Ontario temporary plates during my transit and insisted I not drive my new car until it was properly licenced in Ontario. In my case it took two days.

[Monsieurmaggot]

I'm wondering if I can turn bringing cars up from the states into a business? Anyone want a Subaru but doesn't want to deal with the hassel of going down, and bringing it up? I'd take a portion of the CAD/USD price difference.

Thoughts?

Revenue Canada only permits two personal imports per year. After that they want you to have an importer permit.

I'm guessing with an importer permit, you can avoid paying the GST and PST since the car isn't really yours.

[abs3]

While not necessarily your case, I've been with State Farm for almost 30 years. I told them I was buying in the US. They were quite aware of US car purchasing. They provided me an insurance binder letter for my NY dealer and provided me immediate coverage just as if I had purchased in Canada.

I actually had 30 days of dual coverage. They gave me time to sell my old car and fully covered both. The best part is I wasn't billed for my new car until the renewal came in about a month later. Talk about service.

They did insist that I have both NY State and Ontario temporary plates during my transit and insisted I not drive my new car until it was properly licenced in Ontario. In my case it took two days.

Thanks. I will give State Farm a call. I called Melloche Monnex as suggested in an earlier post but they said they would not do it (to insure an US bought vehicle before it is registered). Also called PC Fianncial and after checking with different groups they kindly said they could not provide full coverage and suggested me to go back and talk to my existing insurance company to get full coverage.

I thought insurance was the easy part in the process.

[scouzi]

I am thinking of picking up a 7 passenger LTD and want to clear up one point before making my decision:

On cars101.com it says that the 3rd row has (2) anchors (NOTE: this is not the tether latch). However the model I test drove here in Canada did not have it - and the Buffalo dealers I called confirmed that they do not have it.

Anyone can shed some light on this? I would really like to buy a vehicle with the anchors in the third row. Any other models with the anchors in the third row?

Thanks for the info!

I just checked mine (2007 7 px limited Tribeca) and there are 2 seat thethers . They are on the plastic moulding near the edge of the door opening. They are under 2 plastic caps with child seat logos on them.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/tribeca/tribeca2007photos.html

If you look at the photo labelled "B9 Tribeca, all seats up" you can see 2 little square caps for the anchors.

[Slant]

I called my insurance company about buying a new car from US. After a few phone calls and talking to different reps and supervisors they said they would provide a 10-day liability coverage instead of Full coverage. This is not good as if someone hits into my new car I may not be covered. I currently have 2 policies with them both have comprehensive/collision/liability coverage.

I called BelAirDirect and they said they could insure the new car for 30 days before it is registered only if I have an existing policy with them but I don't.

Does anybody know which insurance companies would provide full coverage without requiring an existing policy with them ? I want to activate Full coverage as soon as I take posession of the new car.

If you're in Ontario, you should call back your insurance company & ask them to read over Section 2.2.1 "Newly Acquired Automobiles" in the Ontario Auto Policy 1 (OAP 1) which states:

"A newly acquired automobile is an automobile or trailer that you acquire as owner and that is not covered under any other policy. It can be either a replacement or an additional automobile. The replacement automobile will have the same coverage as the described automobile it replaces. We will cover an additional automobile as long as:
- we insure all automobiles you own, and
- any claim you make for the additional automobile is made against a coverage we provide for all your other automobiles.
Your newly acquired automobile(s) will be insured as long as you inform us within 14 days from the time of delivery and pay any additional premium required."

Look here (http://fsco.ca/english/forms/autoforms/endorsement/OAP1_23-10-2006.pdf) for the OAP 1 wordings.

Your new car will have FULL COVERAGE if all your cars are insured with the same company & all carry liability & collision & comprehensive. Nowhere in the government approved wordings does it specifically exclude vehicles purchased from the U.S.

If they still give you hassles, ask to have a chat with their Ombudsperson...

[abs3]

If you're in Ontario, you should call back your insurance company & ask them to read over Section 2.2.1 "Newly Acquired Automobiles" in the Ontario Auto Policy 1 (OAP 1) which states: .......


Slant, Thanks so much for the valuable information and the link. The OAP 1 clearly states that the new vehicle will have the same coverage as the existing insured vehicle(s).

The rep from BelAirdirect told me about the replacement automobile coverage right away and the PC financial lady also told me to look at the first couple sections of the Auto policy. I just did not realize it was written so clearly in the policy and I am not sure why the supervisor from my insurance company - Motors Insurance, a GMAC company, would say something different.

I am thinking about switching insurance company now as the policies will be renewed in couple of weeks. Not sure if the timing is good though if I switch and immediately buy a new vehicle in US.

[bpp]

Thanks. I will give State Farm a call. I called Melloche Monnex as suggested in an earlier post but they said they would not do it (to insure an US bought vehicle before it is registered). Also called PC Fianncial and after checking with different groups they kindly said they could not provide full coverage and suggested me to go back and talk to my existing insurance company to get full coverage.

I thought insurance was the easy part in the process.

When I spoke to Meloche, I was told that they will provide coverage as long as you have an existing policy with them.

[ryehigh17]

I just checked mine (2007 7 px limited Tribeca) and there are 2 seat thethers . They are on the plastic moulding near the edge of the door opening. They are under 2 plastic caps with child seat logos on them.

http://www.cars101.com/subaru/tribeca/tribeca2007photos.html

If you look at the photo labelled "B9 Tribeca, all seats up" you can see 2 little square caps for the anchors.

Thanks Scouzi - your information was helpful.

I checked out the link to "B9 Tribeca, all seats up" and it looks like those caps are for the tethers and not the anchors. I emailed Joe Spitz (cars101.com) about this and he confirmed that there are no anchors in the third row. (Note that the anchors can be located by finding the round dot near the bottom of the seat where your back touches. The anchor is located directly below the round dot, hidden between the back cusion and the bum cusion - just insert your fingers at that point and you will find it.

Here is my email and his reply:



Hi Joe,

Thanks for the excellent web site.

I am looking at purchasing a 2007 Tribeca and came across your web site while researching.

Where I live in Canada, the 7 passenger model does not have the 3rd row safety anchors (it does have the tether latch) as indicated on your web site.

My question is:
Is the 3rd row safety anchors only available in your state? Can I get this as an option?

Thanks and take care,
Matt





Jun 19 (13 hours ago)
That was an error, it has been corrected.

Thanks
Joe

Subaru research http://www.cars101.com

Used bookstore directory http://www.usedbooks101.com
******************************

[scouzi]

Thanks Scouzi - your information was helpful.

I checked out the link to "B9 Tribeca, all seats up" and it looks like those caps are for the tethers and not the anchors. I emailed Joe Spitz (cars101.com) about this and he confirmed that there are no anchors in the third row. (Note that the anchors can be located by finding the round dot near the bottom of the seat where your back touches. The anchor is located directly below the round dot, hidden between the back cusion and the bum cusion - just insert your fingers at that point and you will find it.

Here is my email and his reply:



Hi Joe,

Thanks for the excellent web site.

I am looking at purchasing a 2007 Tribeca and came across your web site while researching.

Where I live in Canada, the 7 passenger model does not have the 3rd row safety anchors (it does have the tether latch) as indicated on your web site.

My question is:
Is the 3rd row safety anchors only available in your state? Can I get this as an option?

Thanks and take care,
Matt





Jun 19 (13 hours ago)
That was an error, it has been corrected.

Thanks
Joe

Subaru research http://www.cars101.com

Used bookstore directory http://www.usedbooks101.com
******************************


Sorry about that!

My kids are all grown up so I don't know the difference betwen tethers, amchors etc.

In my days, we used to strap the car seat with the seat belt. I guess things have changed since then!

[michelb]

Thanks Scouzi - your information was helpful.

I checked out the link to "B9 Tribeca, all seats up" and it looks like those caps are for the tethers and not the anchors. I emailed Joe Spitz (cars101.com) about this and he confirmed that there are no anchors in the third row. (Note that the anchors can be located by finding the round dot near the bottom of the seat where your back touches. The anchor is located directly below the round dot, hidden between the back cusion and the bum cusion - just insert your fingers at that point and you will find it.

Here is my email and his reply:



Hi Joe,

Thanks for the excellent web site.

I am looking at purchasing a 2007 Tribeca and came across your web site while researching.

Where I live in Canada, the 7 passenger model does not have the 3rd row safety anchors (it does have the tether latch) as indicated on your web site.

My question is:
Is the 3rd row safety anchors only available in your state? Can I get this as an option?

...

I think part of the problem is the terms you are using - if I understand correctly, you want to have the 'LATCH / ISOFIX / UAS / whatever they are called' child seat lower anchorage bar in the 3rd row seats (in Canada they're usually referred to as LATCH (although I think technically that refers to the top and bottom attachments (not just bottom) but in the US it's called 'UAS'). I think for most people the 'child seat anchors' are the 'tether anchors' (e.g. at the RIV site, when they refer to child seat anchors, they are referring to the tether anchors). If the models in Canada don't have it, I suspect the models in the US will not either - I'm not quite sure what the law is regarding UAS/LATCH but I'm not sure it's required for the 3rd row seats (they seem to have weird requirement laws; recently Toyota was required to do a recall and REMOVE all the front passenger airbag disconnects (basically making it so that you CANNOT turn the airbag off) because they didn't have the UAS on the front seat (the law states that although you don't have to have UAS, if you have a airbag disconnect, you need to have UAS (which is pretty stupid since the airbag disconnect is useful for children 0-13 and smaller adults while the UAS is really only used for childseats for 0-4 or something like that (most booster seats do not use the UAS since they require use of the regular seatbelts (some do use it but just to hold the booster seat in place)).

Good luck.


--- update ---

Looking at the regulation for child seat anchors on Transport Canada's website (http://www.tc.gc.ca/acts-regulations/GENERAL/m/mvsa/regulations/mvsrg/210/mvs210_2.html), it looks like by law they are only required to have 2 seats with the anchors and if there is more than 2 rows of seats, at least one much be in the second row but other than that, it doesn't appear that by law they need to have the LATCH on all rows / seats. That being said, I'm not a lawyer so might have missed something.

[seadog83]

So I've been reading this thread with great interest studying the trends, potential cars, and the ins and outs quite intently. I actually had friends who've successfully imported cars at a profit. I have lots of cash and no job so it seems like a great opportunity as a side business, especially with the as of late huge increase in the Can $.

The one thing that doesn't make sense to me though, is if you are importing spcifically for resale, why you still need to pay tax. Essentially the Canadian consumer who ulitmately ends up with it is paying the same tax twice which doesn't make sense to me simply because its an import. It almost amounts to a duty it seems (ie imported cars vs non imports are subject to extra fees).

I've only looked at this from the surface, and 6% certainly isn't prohibitive, but is there anyway to avoid this? In my mind consumer goods should be subject to tax once, and that is on their final value and paid for by the ultimate consumer. Like for a car engine between the mine, ore mill, smelter, refiner, block caster, engine assembler, car assembler the same metal might go through 7 owners. Is 6% being paid 7 times each time theirs a change in ownership? That would result in nearly half the price being tax. To me that sounds rediculous. Extreme case but in my mind thats the same thing happening here.

I read about import permits a few threads up but in my searching found nothign about waving GST.

[Inno]

So I've been reading this thread with great interest studying the trends, potential cars, and the ins and outs quite intently. I actually had friends who've successfully imported cars at a profit. I have lots of cash and no job so it seems like a great opportunity as a side business, especially with the as of late huge increase in the Can $.

The one thing that doesn't make sense to me though, is if you are importing spcifically for resale, why you still need to pay tax. Essentially the Canadian consumer who ulitmately ends up with it is paying the same tax twice which doesn't make sense to me simply because its an import. It almost amounts to a duty it seems (ie imported cars vs non imports are subject to extra fees).

I've only looked at this from the surface, and 6% certainly isn't prohibitive, but is there anyway to avoid this? In my mind consumer goods should be subject to tax once, and that is on their final value and paid for by the ultimate consumer. Like for a car engine between the mine, ore mill, smelter, refiner, block caster, engine assembler, car assembler the same metal might go through 7 owners. Is 6% being paid 7 times each time theirs a change in ownership? That would result in nearly half the price being tax. To me that sounds rediculous. Extreme case but in my mind thats the same thing happening here.

I read about import permits a few threads up but in my searching found nothign about waving GST.

If you are doing this informally, i.e. not as a bonafide dealer, I don't think that the person you sell to has to pay GST since they are buying a "used" car. AFAIK second-hand sales between private buyer and seller are not subject to GST, just PST. At least in Ontario I think that is how it is.

If you buy a used vehicle from a dealer then you pay GST and PST.

Not sure how it works in your province (NS).

[CHIA]

So I've been reading this thread with great interest studying the trends, potential cars, and the ins and outs quite intently. I actually had friends who've successfully imported cars at a profit. I have lots of cash and no job so it seems like a great opportunity as a side business, especially with the as of late huge increase in the Can $.

The one thing that doesn't make sense to me though, is if you are importing spcifically for resale, why you still need to pay tax. Essentially the Canadian consumer who ulitmately ends up with it is paying the same tax twice which doesn't make sense to me simply because its an import. It almost amounts to a duty it seems (ie imported cars vs non imports are subject to extra fees).

I've only looked at this from the surface, and 6% certainly isn't prohibitive, but is there anyway to avoid this? In my mind consumer goods should be subject to tax once, and that is on their final value and paid for by the ultimate consumer. Like for a car engine between the mine, ore mill, smelter, refiner, block caster, engine assembler, car assembler the same metal might go through 7 owners. Is 6% being paid 7 times each time theirs a change in ownership? That would result in nearly half the price being tax. To me that sounds rediculous. Extreme case but in my mind thats the same thing happening here.

I read about import permits a few threads up but in my searching found nothign about waving GST.

At the expense of siting the standard cliche about death & taxes, this is far from uncommon.

When a new car is purchased here in BC, you pay both taxes (PST & GST). When that owner sells that car privately, the new owner pays PST, then when he sells it, the next owner pays PST....over & over for the life of the car. Every time is changes hands, the gov gets its taxes on taxes on taxes......been like this for as long as I know.

I think the only way to avoid this, is to become a dealer, but even that I'm not well versed in.....welcome to Canada.

[whampoa]

Welcome to Canada indeed!

Land of the bountiful and home of the tax from craddle to death, and more!

[johnsa]

Another great example of being hosed in Canada! I have been watching Corvette prices in the USA (new and used ) and came accross a great deal for a Brand New 2007 (8 miles) from a Chev dealer in Missouri...$39999 + 200 doc fee. That's it...Red, 6 speed, black interior (not Z51) thats about 43k Cdn ........considering the MSRP with freight in Canada is 70k..wow! Not in my budget but if anyone is interested I will post the dealership info of PM me...Perhaps my 649 will be a winner today!

[johnsa]

Kawasaki Canada....nice try...I have been awaiting the release of pricing on the new Kawasaki Concours 14 which is being released this summer as an early 2008 release. Brand new model with much hype, blah, blah...

Kawasaki USA has announced pricing of 12,899 on the non ABS model or about 13,800 Cdn..

Another individual in BC who has been awaiting pricing info, like myself, saw one at his dealership in BC and guess what the price is??

19,800!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is a 43% premium for Kawa Canada....I can't wait to make a deal on one this fall south of the border!!

P.S For any Goldwing lovers out there. the fully equiped Wing with Nav, ABS, Heated seat, etc that lists for 30k plus freight here can currently be had in the USA at many dealers for about $20k USD.(no airbag) and guess what...you have to go south about 700-1000 miles to find a dealer that Honda USA will permit to sell to Canada.

Surprise!

[bigbug]

Is it doable that you let your friend buy a Toyota, register it in his home state, and sell it to you in a few days or weeks? The only catch I can think of is the State tax, registration fee and the insurance for the first month. when you have a friend in 0 tax states like NH you can save the tax as well. In this way you can even lower your purchase price ON PAPER to save the GST/PST.

Any input?

[pgcanred]

Is it doable that you let your friend buy a Toyota, register it in his home state, and sell it to you in a few days or weeks? The only catch I can think of is the State tax, registration fee and the insurance for the first month. when you have a friend in 0 tax states like NH you can save the tax as well. In this way you can even lower your purchase price ON PAPER to save the GST/PST.

Any input?

Just buy a slightly used vehicle. So much easier and cleaner.

[johnsa]

Another great example of being hosed in Canada! I have been watching Corvette prices in the USA (new and used ) and came accross a great deal for a Brand New 2007 (8 miles) from a Chev dealer in Missouri...$39999 + 200 doc fee. That's it...Red, 6 speed, black interior (not Z51) thats about 43k Cdn ........considering the MSRP with freight in Canada is 70k..wow! Not in my budget but if anyone is interested I will post the dealership info of PM me...Perhaps my 649 will be a winner today!


Reliable chev olds Springfield Missouri
Phone: 417-887-5800
Email: webleads@reliablechevy.com

[boci]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

[michelb]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

That's kind of a drag although not the end of the world since you do still get coverage ... Anyone with a US Subaru that gets warranty work done in the near future, let us know if they make you pay for it (I'd be kind of surprised if they only do this for Subarus purchased as of today so I'm guessing that this will affect existing owners as well)

[shopper-X]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

That's kind of a drag although not the end of the world since you do still get coverage ... Anyone with a US Subaru that gets warranty work done in the near future, let us know if they make you pay for it (I'd be kind of surprised if they only do this for Subarus purchased as of today so I'm guessing that this will affect existing owners as well)

Looks like a bit of a drag, but a used car may still be an option.

If a Canadian citizen purchases a Subaru vehicle in the US with the intention of immediately registering the vehicle in Canada
Or am I wrong and this is a wording game? Do they mean I have to live in the USA first and then move to Canada for SCI to hounor the warranty?

What I find the best in the true nature of screwing Canadian's is SCI changed the rules and SoA did not change the rules and and will not make ANY customer pay for warranty work.

SoA has agreed to perform warranty repairs on all Canadian Subaru vehicles under terms of the Canadian warranty regardless of the customer's residency without requesting payment directly from the customer.

[wildone]

Alberta Update: Had my RIV inspection done no problem and went to register yesterday. I have all the required paperwork and everything is stamped and approved. They wouldn't register me. First, the said I need OOP inspection, I argued as it's a new vehicle. Ok they said, then we need to see the vehicle at our office to verify the VIN. I argued, saying it had already been verified with the RIV inspection and that it is illegal to drive the vehicle until I get registration for the vehicle, so how could I bring it over?? Finally, she said that as of today "Government Transportation" must have the MSO or Title faxed to them for approval so they can do the required searches on the vehicle, and this could take one day or three weeks (their words). Sounds like total BS to me, I've already passed the inspection so why would "Government Transportation" need to now start digging?? Vehicle 2007 Ford Expedition (new).

[Alexo]

A lawsuit with one of these companies (toyota will be the best pick at this time since we have gathered a lot of evidence that toyota usa does manipulate sales, obstruct free-trade and perform discriminatory sales practices etc.) will best solve the disgusting situation canadians are facing now.
There's been a lot of talk about lawsuits and class action on this forum.
Yet nobody actually contacted a lawyer.

[silverspec]

Reliable chev olds Springfield Missouri
Phone: 417-887-5800
Email: webleads@reliablechevy.com

I have been in the process of sourcing a 1999-2004 C5 and came across your post. The price you posted for the C6 is a great deal and I would be tempted to put in a couple of extra grand pick it up instead. I checked their online inventory and couldn't find one for 39995. The cheapest one listed was retailing for 44995. Was this quote given to you on the phone or is the listing online somewhere?

[whampoa]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

At least it cleared up some ambiguity by some Canadian Subaru dealer who are reluctance to do warranty repair to US purchase vehicle.

You basically have two options if you purchase the vehicle in the US and want the warranty done.

1) Bring the vehicle to the US, or 2) pay for the warranty in Canada and sent a request to SOA for reimbursement.

[yyz2hkg]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

A Warranty is a Warranty, why can't dealers understand that. It doesn't change. Why all of the sudden does Subaru apply these "option" on warranties for new cars?

[Alexo]

At the expense of siting the standard cliche about death & taxes, this is far from uncommon.

When a new car is purchased here in BC, you pay both taxes (PST & GST). When that owner sells that car privately, the new owner pays PST, then when he sells it, the next owner pays PST....over & over for the life of the car. Every time is changes hands, the gov gets its taxes on taxes on taxes......been like this for as long as I know.

I think the only way to avoid this, is to become a dealer, but even that I'm not well versed in.....welcome to Canada.
Is the seller responsible for collecting the PST?

[bionicbadger]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

Honestly, I think thats a good thing. Its in writing, its an easy process to follow, you get the money back. I don't see how you can view this as "screwing canadians"

I wonder how this affects the extended warranty though. Previously the extended warranty stated you could get work done in the US or Canada.

[whampoa]

The Subaru warranty coverage for both countries are basically the same, except for 2007MY Federal and California Specification Vehicles, including New York.

They have this 10 years warranty for emissions thing that supposedly reduce pollution. And if the vehicles fail an emission test, SOA will reimburse for the repair (see owner brochure).

SOA will pay the cost of having your car towed to the nearest Authorized SUBARU Dealer if it cannot be driven due to a defect covered by these warranties.

If our warranty are base on the SOA, than I would say we have a slightly better deal, unless you don't feel paying for the repair first.

[michelb]

A Warranty is a Warranty, why can't dealers understand that. It doesn't change. Why all of the sudden does Subaru apply these "option" on warranties for new cars?

Actually, that's the problem; "a warranty isn't a warranty". As mentioned before in the forum, when you buy a Subaru in the US, you are buying from 'Subaru of America' and when you buy in Canada, you are buying from 'Subaru Canada, Inc'. Each is a separate company, with separate warranties and each is free to have whatever limitations on the warranty. There's no law that requires Subaru Canada (or Canadian Dealerships which operate under Subaru Canada's policies and guideline) to honour Subaru of America's warranty (basically this is exactly what's happening; SCI is no longer honouring the SOA warranty but SOA will allow you to pay out of pocket and submit a claim for a refund).

It's actually still good that Subaru of America will continue to honour the warranty of exported vehicles (they could easily do like Chrysler and offer no warranty in Canada for exported vehicles or like Honda who will only honour it for owners that move countries or even Nissan (I think it's Nissan), which while technically appear to honor the warranty, from my interpretation of their warranty manual, require the vehicle normally be operated and registered in the US for coverage in Canada to apply).

[shopper-X]

Honestly, I think thats a good thing. Its in writing, its an easy process to follow, you get the money back. I don't see how you can view this as "screwing canadians"


I guess I feel as if as Canadian's we have to do all the work in this case and not SCI while SoA will do all the work for American's and Canadian's.
While we do get our money back after submitting the bills and waiting and possibly following up several times, but we are savings 10's of thousands of dollars, so I guess it all works out in the end.

Also this will discourage more people from buying US models and keep the resale value higher down the road.

[kingrukus]

Anyone know how to check if there is a lien against a used vehicle in the USA before buying it? And I do not want to use carfax, they have proven to me to be very inaccurate.

Thanks

[Luckster]

Have you try a different registry place? I went to Riverbend Registry and had zero problem, they registered my car with the RIV paperwork and the certificate of origin.

Alberta Update: Had my RIV inspection done no problem and went to register yesterday. I have all the required paperwork and everything is stamped and approved. They wouldn't register me. First, the said I need OOP inspection, I argued as it's a new vehicle. Ok they said, then we need to see the vehicle at our office to verify the VIN. I argued, saying it had already been verified with the RIV inspection and that it is illegal to drive the vehicle until I get registration for the vehicle, so how could I bring it over?? Finally, she said that as of today "Government Transportation" must have the MSO or Title faxed to them for approval so they can do the required searches on the vehicle, and this could take one day or three weeks (their words). Sounds like total BS to me, I've already passed the inspection so why would "Government Transportation" need to now start digging?? Vehicle 2007 Ford Expedition (new).

[scouzi]

A Warranty is a Warranty, why can't dealers understand that. It doesn't change. Why all of the sudden does Subaru apply these "option" on warranties for new cars?

I wonder if this applies only to cars after the 21st. I have a letter from SOA stating otherwise. I made my purchase decision based on this.

[wildone]

Have you try a different registry place? I went to Riverbend Registry and had zero problem, they registered my car with the RIV paperwork and the certificate of origin.

nope but I will. This registry says it's a new rule and now they all have to contact "Government Transportation" first. Now they say they must physically inspect the vehicle also...

[whampoa]

nope but I will. This registry says it's a new rule and now they all have to contact "Government Transportation" first. Now they say they must physically inspect the vehicle also...

You better off finding another registry, some agent have a chip on their shoulder, probably their spouse own/work in a dealership.

I even found that even in the same registry a different agent may interprete the rule differently. Try that first, it might help you expedite the process.

[scouzi]

Have you try a different registry place? I went to Riverbend Registry and had zero problem, they registered my car with the RIV paperwork and the certificate of origin.

The Quebec (SAAQ) did the same thing to me.

Luckiliy, I had the word NEW written on the Bill of sale. So they grudgingly accepted that.

I had to come back a few hours later because they wanted to do a search by VIN. It didn't bother me that much since I had forgotten my cheques to pay the taxes. - No CC accepted.

[stock_junkie]

http://www.subaru.ca/NewsDetail02.asp?ArticleID=3920&OwnerID=&WebPageID=4998&WebSiteID=282

2008 SUBARU TRIBECA GREAT NEW MODEL AT NO INCREASE IN PRICE
June 22, 2007

(MISSISSAUGA, Ontario) – Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI) today announced that it will not increase pricing for the 2008 Tribeca flagship crossover utility vehicle, even though Tribeca has undergone dramatic changes that will broaden its appeal.


The extra features add great value to the new Tribeca which will make the new model more competitive in the automotive marketplace. Here is just some of what’s new for 2008:



Completely new exterior styling

New 3.6-litre engine that delivers 23% more low to mid range torque, improved fuel economy and is designed to run on regular gas

New 5-speed automatic transmission that is smoother, faster shifting and more responsive

Improved visibility thanks to its larger side-view mirrors and rear quarter window design

Improved rear suspension system that improves ride comfort and driving stability

Xenon High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlights on all models

Roof rails that strengthen Tribeca’s SUV look and provide added functionality and versatility

Tribeca with Premier Package now includes:



Improved access to the 3rd row seats

Standard XM satellite radio



Pricing for the 2008 Tribeca starts as follows:

Tribeca 5-passenger $41,995

Tribeca Limited Package $45,195

Tribeca 7-passenger Premier Package w/ Navigation and DVD entertainment $52,495




To make the new model even more attractive to prospective customers, all 2008 Tribecas will come with an outstanding 36-month/60,000 km no-charge scheduled maintenance plan.
The 2008 Tribeca goes on sale today in Canada.

[Monsieurmaggot]

http://www.subaru.ca/NewsDetail02.asp?ArticleID=3920&OwnerID=&WebPageID=4998&WebSiteID=282

2008 SUBARU TRIBECA GREAT NEW MODEL AT NO INCREASE IN PRICE
June 22, 2007


WTF?

Sure it has. The Canadian dollar's risen over 10% in the last year. If they're holding the price, then technically it's gone up 10%.

Get my drift?

The MSRP on the 2008 should be at least 10% lower than last year's model just to maintain the price spread. Factoring in the exchange (just comparing the MSRPs) the 2007s were cheaper.

Do the math.

[Monsieurmaggot]

For Subaru owners, warranty change...finally something official:
http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

It's obvious Subaru Canada can't stop the practice of buying in the US and most likely complained to Fuji "the mother corp."

To get the sale, I'm guessing that Fuji told SoA to honour the warranty.

Tie this in with holding the prices firm, Subaru Canada isn't gaining any respect of the RFDers.

Mind you, based on what I've read here, overall Subaru is gaining some market share (albeit not Subaru Canada). There are almost 2 dozen Subaru buyers on RFD.

[satoshi]

Previously, some posters have mentioned that for Nissan/Infiniti warranty to be valid when a vehicle is exported, the vehicle has to be registered in the US for => 6 months first.

However, the Applicability section in the 2007 Warranty Information Booklet gives a different claim- Canada is included as one of the regions where warranty coverage is valid.

2007 Warranty Information Booklet (http://www.infiniti.com/pdf/ownership/INFINITI_sample_warranty_2007.pdf)

"... originally sold by a Nissan authorized Infiniti dealership in the United States and which is registered and normally operated in the US.... and Canada."

Has the policy changed for 2007 then?

This could add incentive for anyone looking to import a G35, or even better, the G37... :cheesygri

[tomw]

I've been reading this thread for a few days now(started at the very beginning) and I just wanted to share my recent experience. I went to a Toyota dealership last night looking for a Prius. They told me that it will take about 3 months to get one. Then the salesman wanted to give me some pricing. He pulled up the toyota website, selected the prius and told me flat out that msrp price is non-negotiable. I said, thank you and left.
This just gives me more reason to drive accross the border and buy in the US.
Screw the greedy Canadian dealers!

[st7860]

I've been reading this thread for a few days now(started at the very beginning) and I just wanted to share my recent experience. I went to a Toyota dealership last night looking for a Prius. They told me that it will take about 3 months to get one. Then the salesman wanted to give me some pricing. He pulled up the toyota website, selected the prius and told me flat out that msrp price is non-negotiable. I said, thank you and left.
This just gives me more reason to drive accross the border and buy in the US.
Screw the greedy Canadian dealers!

The toyota prius is one of the few cars under $35,000MSRP in Canada that have such a huge price differential with the US. (around $8,000)

[whampoa]

The toyota prius is one of the few cars under $35,000MSRP in Canada that have such a huge price differential with the US. (around $8,000)

Ah no, that's the average price differential between us and them. A huge price differential is 15K and up.

[michelb]

Previously, some posters have mentioned that for Nissan/Infiniti warranty to be valid when a vehicle is exported, the vehicle has to be registered in the US for => 6 months first.

However, the Applicability section in the 2007 Warranty Information Booklet gives a different claim- Canada is included as one of the regions where warranty coverage is valid.

2007 Warranty Information Booklet (http://www.infiniti.com/pdf/ownership/INFINITI_sample_warranty_2007.pdf)

"... originally sold by a Nissan authorized Infiniti dealership in the United States and which is registered and normally operated in the US.... and Canada."

Has the policy changed for 2007 then?

This could add incentive for anyone looking to import a G35, or even better, the G37... :cheesygri

Actually, I thought I had seen somewhere that Nissan required export to Canada by ORIGINAL OWNER ONLY if less than 6 months or anyone if more than 6 months old (i.e. basically preventing used cars dealers in Canada from buying new in USA and selling as nearly new in Canada but this manual says nothing about it.

From the looks of that, it looks like there is no restrictions but I'm fairly certain that I had seen a Nissan manual elsewhere that had some restrictions. I also noticed that this says 'sample warranty manual', I wonder how it differs from the 'actual warranty manuals'.

--- update ---

Nissan has the restriction, Infinity doesn't. Here's the text from Nissan's warranty booklet:

...
This warranty is generally transferable from the original
‘owner other than a Nissan dealer’ (OWNER) to
subsequent owners of the vehicle at any time ownership of
the vehicle is transferred, without any action on your part;
except that this warranty is not transferable but is instead
void if during the fi rst six months after delivery to the original
OWNER: (1) ownership of the vehicle is transferred from
the original OWNER, and (2) the vehicle is registered
outside of the United States.
...

Also I checked specific vehicles (350Z in my case) and the warranty manual is the same as the 'sample' so that's not an issue.

The only this doesn't say is whether or not Nissan/Infinity of Canada will honour the warranty or if they'll do like Subaru Canada and require payment up front and re-imbursement from Nissan USA.

[mmonro]

The toyota prius is one of the few cars under $35,000MSRP in Canada that have such a huge price differential with the US. (around $8,000)

Just picked up at toyota Sienna and saved about $7K.Although it was difficult getttng a dealership to to sell me one. I just kept calling around until I found one that would deal.

[97gst]

Revenue Canada only permits two personal imports per year. After that they want you to have an importer permit.

Can you tell me where you heard that? I've never come across somebody being limited by the number of personal vehicles they could buy out of country - only the limited in how many they can sell within 1 year without a used car dealers license. If you have any first hand experience or have a reference document, please share.

For example, in Ontario you can only sell 3 cars before you get a letter from the government warning you that curbsiding is illegal and if you are reselling cars for a profit you'd better knock it off. So much for living in a free country...

Even if a two car import limit exists, you can get around that by having your mother/father buy it, pay the taxes, and then go through the process to bring it back. Once it is back, they can gift it to you tax free. No tax paid when gifting vehicles up or down the direct family tree. Ie mother giving to daughter, grandmother giving to son, etc.

But be warned you can't gift tax free from sibling to sibling!

I have personally bought 4 used cars from the states over the years, and the savings have always been 20%-40% over the equivalent car in Canada. There is an article on the front page of the Ottawa Citizen today about the recent rapid increase in cross-boarder shopping, but no mention of vehicles.

[Pseudo Nim]

But be warned you can't gift tax free from sibling to sibling!


But you could gift to your parent/grandparent, and then they would gift down to the sibling, right?

[kingrukus]

Anyone know how to check if there is a lien against a used vehicle in the USA before buying it? And I do not want to use carfax, they have proven to me to be very inaccurate.

Thanks

Anyone?

[rf134a]

WTF?

Sure it has. The Canadian dollar's risen over 10% in the last year. If they're holding the price, then technically it's gone up 10%.

Get my drift?

The MSRP on the 2008 should be at least 10% lower than last year's model just to maintain the price spread. Factoring in the exchange (just comparing the MSRPs) the 2007s were cheaper.

Do the math.

While this is technically true, you have to look at the psychological that lowering the price has on previous buyers. Even though the exchange rate has gone up, if the price went down $1000, it will appear to prospective buyers that the car has been devalued, options taken out or corners have been cut when the opposite has actually occurred.

It's the same psychological impact that a price of $99.95 is cheaper than $100. Studies have shown that sales are higher at $99.95 than at $100 even though the difference is only 5c and we all know it's $100 anyways. Humans are strange animals...

[whampoa]

While this is technically true, you have to look at the psychological that lowering the price has on previous buyers. ...

So are you saying us, Canadian should just bend down and let those jokers ram up from the rear and say thank you afterward.

Basically, that's what they are doing to us right now. Maybe you will pay whatever they demand, but I am taking my business elsewhere patriotic or not.

[inspire]

This debate whether car manufacturers should lower the price of cars in comparison to the exchange rate is difficult to say who's right. Sure, logic says that all things being equal, there should be some 'discount' on next year's MSRP on cars sold in Canada, if it is equivalently equipped as its American counterpart.

But on a such a large purchase, it's not easy for a manufacturer to do that. Car prices are not as elastic as say, gasoline. Big ticket items are generally inelastic in pricing schedule since many more variables outside of 'profits' fit into the equation. What happens if there's a recession? What happens when certain raw materials shoot up in cost? Labour dispute? The car manufacturer has to report its financial standing to its shareholders every quarter and that's important to its credit rating, etc. The whole concept of the 'opportunity cost'.

An argument in favour for the manufacturers -- back in 2001 when US$1 = C$1.60 (approx), did the manufacturers raise the price to 'match' the exchange rate? Should we have demanded 'in fairness' they do that? No -- we laughed at the savings in comparison to our US counterparts and the manufacturers sucked it up and sold it at the price they did. So it's "fair" for them to sell at the price they do now. Give and take.

I am not a car manufacturer exec but a plain old consumer who has taken some economics in university. I will advise everyone to buy the lowest priced equivalent item and leave it at that. Class action lawsuits won't do a thing in this case since manufacturers aren't colluding to inflate prices -- it only makes lawyers richer. Just like the pen is mightier than the sword -- your hard earned dollars speak loudly so use our power as a consumer to tell the auto industry to smarten up! Import!

[97gst]

An argument in favour for the manufacturers -- back in 2001 when US$1 = C$1.60 (approx), did the manufacturers raise the price to 'match' the exchange rate? Should we have demanded 'in fairness' they do that? No -- we laughed at the savings in comparison to our US counterparts and the manufacturers sucked it up and sold it at the price they did.

Yes, they did raise their prices, every year by a few percent, as the dollars made its accent.

Now they aren't doing the opposite. I mean I don't blame them, they aren't in the business of making cars as a charity organization.

What does truly shock me is that new car sales in Canada aren't down 30-40%. Most of the population lives within a few hours of the border. The good old financing/leasing numbers game is keeping the lemmings signing up.

[whampoa]

I will advise everyone to buy the lowest priced equivalent item and leave it at that. Class action lawsuits won't do a thing in this case since manufacturers aren't colluding to inflate prices -- it only makes lawyers richer. Just like the pen is mightier than the sword -- your hard earned dollars speak loudly so use our power as a consumer to tell the auto industry to smarten up! Import!

That's fine and dandy, except some automaker in Canada are forcing American dealership not to sell it to Canadian, or playing fast and loose with the warranty.

Did you see the American just leave it at that when the American dollar was higher than our?

[baileyr]

Or am I wrong and this is a wording game? Do they mean I have to live in the USA first and then move to Canada for SCI to hounor the warranty?


I don't read it like that at all. I think it's pretty clear that this is to cover exported vehicles. A bit of a hassle - but quite a bit better than no warranty coverage at all...

[Anessa]

So are you saying us, Canadian should just bend down and let those jokers ram up from the rear and say thank you afterward.

Basically, that's what they are doing to us right now. Maybe you will pay whatever they demand, but I am taking my business elsewhere patriotic or not.

It's not what our country can do for us. It's what another country's price can do for us. :cheesygri
I'm in complete agreement. Shopping in America gives me what I want and for a better price. I'm willing to do the legwork.

[bigbug]

Can someone post a link of the POE info here? Most people cross Lewiston bridge, but I am wondering if the port at Thousand Islands can do the samething? Thanks.

[George K]

many are looking at Legacy. i saw one on eBay that looks not too bad to me (except maybe the color)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=150135227367
i'm not a buyer so if you are interested ...

[eliteblaze]

anyone bought a new lexus from usa yet?
I'd be happy to pay $500 if I can get a 2007 AWD Is 250 from a US dealership for invoice or less (usually they got invoice -300).

[Luckster]

For all those looking at a 2007 Toyota Camry, I came across this ad in the Seattle Craigslist, may be worth checking out.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/car/359182081.html

[abowodun]

Anyone know how I can get a cheap TRUCKING Company to truck an aut from NorthCarolina to Montana or Calgary.

Plan is to truck car from NC to Montana and then take it from there!

any ideas out there

NC-Montana drive is 2000miles......quite a lot

[boci]

Anyone know how I can get a cheap TRUCKING Company to truck an aut from NorthCarolina to Montana or Calgary.

Plan is to truck car from NC to Montana and then take it from there!

any ideas out there

NC-Montana drive is 2000miles......quite a lot

Give this guy a call:

Jeff Lam
Business Development Specialist
Phone: 1-888-365-9759
Email: jeff.lam@shipead.com
Check us out on line at www.expressautodelivery.com
Express Auto Delivery
222 Third Avenue SE, Suite 272
Cedar Rapids, IA 5240

I' did not use them myself (decided to drive) but the quote was very good and Jeff is a great guy to deal with. They do not go to Canada but had no problems meeting in Great Falls MT for the delivery.

Hope that helps.

[CHIA]

For all those looking at a 2007 Toyota Camry, I came across this ad in the Seattle Craigslist, may be worth checking out.

http://seattle.craigslist.org/est/car/359182081.html

scam

[Monsieurmaggot]

Can you tell me where you heard that?

I got that information directly from Canada Customs.

I'm sure it's also been covered on this site numerous times.

Importation for personal use is limited to two vehicles per year per licenced driver.

I'm sure there are those on this site who can post a link...

[Monsieurmaggot]

Can someone post a link of the POE info here? Most people cross Lewiston bridge, but I am wondering if the port at Thousand Islands can do the samething? Thanks.
The Port of Entries are listed at the RIV.ca site.

Looks like there are a few sites along the St. Lawrence that can import cars.

Interestingly Fort Erie Ontario is listed as an auto import site but there's no formal US export office on the US side. In my case my dealer was a few miles from Fort Erie but I needed to travel to Lewiston to get to US Customs.

[eastsidesubaru]

Hey - hopefully this is allowed - don't see why it wouldn't be, since it is actually a better deal for anyone who chooses to take advantage and there's already a ton of advertising going on for Carter Subaru going on in this thread.. but basically anyone giving Carter Subaru a call, let me know as well since we can most likely beat whatever deal they offer... and we also have experience shipping cars up to Canada for import. So yeah, even if you are already saving thousands importing a subie, you still ought to price shop a little bit :cheesygrin:

PM me or call 800-923-5621 and ask for Zach and I can give you a competitive price if you mention redflagdeals.

[whampoa]

Actually what we need is more Toyota, Honda and most German imports to put an ad here. :cheesygri

[shaolinmonk]

guys... i'm sure this may have been said before.. but i can't find half the things in this thread anymore...

what is the closest dealer to Toronto in the US.. that gives the best price on a subie legacy?

van bortel?

[Da Mango]

Hey - hopefully this is allowed - don't see why it wouldn't be, since it is actually a better deal for anyone who chooses to take advantage and there's already a ton of advertising going on for Carter Subaru going on in this thread.. but basically anyone giving Carter Subaru a call, let me know as well since we can most likely beat whatever deal they offer... and we also have experience shipping cars up to Canada for import. So yeah, even if you are already saving thousands importing a subie, you still ought to price shop a little bit :cheesygrin:

PM me or call 800-923-5621 and ask for Zach and I can give you a competitive price if you mention redflagdeals.

We need more dealers like this.... Lexus dealers, where you at?

[eastsidesubaru]

guys... i'm sure this may have been said before.. but i can't find half the things in this thread anymore...

what is the closest dealer to Toronto in the US.. that gives the best price on a subie legacy?

van bortel?

pssch, just buy your legacy from us.. what's a little road trip if you're saving money? :) I'll even pick you up at the airport...

We need more dealers like this.... Lexus dealers, where you at?

They're out driving their lexuses, presumably.. lexus'? what's the plural of lexus.. i give up. subaru is easier to spell and pluralize.

[KillaB]

Found a Toyota dealer where I'm staying on business who will sell to me but only on the condition that I title it in this particular state (5% sales tax).

So.....by titling it here, will that make it a used car when I cross the boarder (meaning no GST)? Or would it have to be under someone else's name for that? I don't want to get into anything fraudulent here since I'd be lying about my address on the title.

It's not so bad if I only have to pay the 5% state tax and PST. Slightly better actually than GST+PST. Or am I wrong on this?

[crasher]

Found a Toyota dealer where I'm staying on business who will sell to me but only on the condition that I title it in this particular state (5% sales tax).

So.....by titling it here, will that make it a used car when I cross the boarder (meaning no GST)? Or would it have to be under someone else's name for that? I don't want to get into anything fraudulent here since I'd be lying about my address on the title.

It's not so bad if I only have to pay the 5% state tax and PST. Slightly better actually than GST+PST. Or am I wrong on this?

You have to pay both GST & PST when you come here.:(

[KillaB]

You have to pay both GST & PST when you come here.:(

What if someone else buys it and titles it then "sells it to me" (ie. used).
Do I still have to pay both GST & PST?

[crasher]

What if someone else buys it and titles it then "sells it to me" (ie. used).
Do I still have to pay both GST & PST?

Yes, I called CBSA @ 1-800-461-9999 to confirm it, You can get it titled to tax free state, and then import it.

[eastsidesubaru]

Found a Toyota dealer where I'm staying on business who will sell to me but only on the condition that I title it in this particular state (5% sales tax).

So.....by titling it here, will that make it a used car when I cross the boarder (meaning no GST)? Or would it have to be under someone else's name for that? I don't want to get into anything fraudulent here since I'd be lying about my address on the title.

It's not so bad if I only have to pay the 5% state tax and PST. Slightly better actually than GST+PST. Or am I wrong on this?

I would keep shopping - here in Washington when we sell Subaru's to canadian residents, they do not have to pay any washington state sales tax. I don't know why it would be different for any other state...

[Monsieurmaggot]

guys... i'm sure this may have been said before.. but i can't find half the things in this thread anymore...

what is the closest dealer to Toronto in the US.. that gives the best price on a subie legacy?

van bortel?

West Herr is in Orchard Park. It's about 10 minutes from the Fort Erie crossing.

Northtown is in Amherst, NY.

Both sell to Canayjians eh.

[KillaB]

I would keep shopping - here in Washington when we sell Subaru's to canadian residents, they do not have to pay any washington state sales tax. I don't know why it would be different for any other state...

It's not because of the state but rather Toyota USA threatening dealers not to sell to Canadians. To get around this Dealers claim they need it titled in the US.

The closest no tax areas to me at present would be D.C. or Delaware. D.C. being closer.

How do I go about titling it in one of these areas without commiting fraud? Anyone know of a service provider in any of these areas?

[Monsieurmaggot]

Took my new Outback in for it's first oil change and inspection on Saturday.

I've put just over 3000 miles on the car since late March.

Since it was my first visit, the service rep. asked where I had bought the car. I told him it was a US car and he commented that he sees a lot of them lately (go figure). He didn't seem to mind where I bought the car but appreciated that I brought it to them for service.

They washed the car, topped the fluids greased the doors and hinges.

While I was there I took a look at the new 2008s. I noticed they still don't have the tire pressure monitoring system on the Canadian versions and the high end 3.0R Premier Edition didn't have the perforated leather seats like the LLBean. The price tag was oddly missing from the car.

The Special Edition model was there stickered for about $34,000+++. That's more than I paid for my 3.0R LLBean. When I sat down and looked at Car and Driver, there a few pages in was a US ad showing the new 2008 Subaru Outback FROM 21,995! I just smiled and wondered what the others who were there for service paid for their car.

[swiler]

After all the discussions here I'm ready to purchase a 3.0 Outback but no 2007 left anywhere. So I gotta get a 2008 but its not on the approved list yet. I'm a little impatient so I call RIV. They said maybe by the end of the summer but I could import right away with a letter from the manufacturer (SOC). I'm wondering if anyone has done this yet? Do I just call SOC and request a letter?

Inquiring minds would like to know ....

[bilzebub]

Just released from RIV
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
SUBARU 1992 TO 1996 JUSTY
1992 TO 1996 LEGACY
1992 TO 1994 LOYALE
1992 TO 1996 SVX
1993 TO 1996 IMPREZA
1999 IMPREZA 2DR RS**
2000 & 2001 IMPREZA RS 2 & 4 DR**
ALL OTHER 1997 TO 2008 MODELS EXCEPT
THOSE LISTED IN THE INADMISSIBLE
COLUMN.

gonna call about the legacy 3.0R right now!!

[eastsidesubaru]

Just released from RIV
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
SUBARU 1992 TO 1996 JUSTY
1992 TO 1996 LEGACY
1992 TO 1994 LOYALE
1992 TO 1996 SVX
1993 TO 1996 IMPREZA
1999 IMPREZA 2DR RS**
2000 & 2001 IMPREZA RS 2 & 4 DR**
ALL OTHER 1997 TO 2008 MODELS EXCEPT
THOSE LISTED IN THE INADMISSIBLE
COLUMN.

gonna call about the legacy 3.0R right now!!


yup it looks like all the 2008s except the forester (??) are OK now.
so give me a call =)

[swiler]

Just released from RIV
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
SUBARU 1992 TO 1996 JUSTY
1992 TO 1996 LEGACY
1992 TO 1994 LOYALE
1992 TO 1996 SVX
1993 TO 1996 IMPREZA
1999 IMPREZA 2DR RS**
2000 & 2001 IMPREZA RS 2 & 4 DR**
ALL OTHER 1997 TO 2008 MODELS EXCEPT
THOSE LISTED IN THE INADMISSIBLE
COLUMN.

gonna call about the legacy 3.0R right now!!

Geez thats funny I was talking with RIV today and they said end of summer. Time to go south of the border and do some purchasing. Just need to negotiate a good deal.

[darock_sayz]

I just looked at the list and going through this thread there are lots of discussions about new cars (subura/Toyota)

However, it looks like lots of used cars from the 90's BMW's/ Honda's/ Nissan Maxima would be eligible as well. Has anyone imported a second hand used car, ...what are the challenges...could always use a nice Beamer! Also, looking at a Maxima maybe! Is there something that I am missing as to why people are not doing it ?

[eastsidesubaru]

I just looked at the list and going through this thread there are lots of discussions about new cars (subura/Toyota)

However, it looks like lots of used cars from the 90's BMW's/ Honda's/ Nissan Maxima would be eligible as well. Has anyone imported a second hand used car, ...what are the challenges...could always use a nice Beamer! Also, looking at a Maxima maybe! Is there something that I am missing as to why people are not doing it ?

do you really want to import a used car from the 90s you've never seen or driven? besides, I would imagine that once they are a couple years old, the prices in canada are roughly the same as in the US for used cars, no? isn't it mostly the manufacturers who are price gouging on new cars in canada?

[scouzi]

It's obvious Subaru Canada can't stop the practice of buying in the US and most likely complained to Fuji "the mother corp."

To get the sale, I'm guessing that Fuji told SoA to honour the warranty.

Tie this in with holding the prices firm, Subaru Canada isn't gaining any respect of the RFDers.

Mind you, based on what I've read here, overall Subaru is gaining some market share (albeit not Subaru Canada). There are almost 2 dozen Subaru buyers on RFD.

I don't understand why Subaru Canada doesn't break the ranks and sell their Tribeca 10K less in Canada. They would outsell the competition. Almost looks like collusion here. We know they have a lot of margin.

The Canadian Subaru dealers should complain to Subaru Canada about pricing rather than complaining about having to service imported cars. There is quite a lot of elasticity in pricing for cars.

[shopper-X]

I don't understand why Subaru Canada doesn't break the ranks and sell their Tribeca 10K less in Canada. They would outsell the competition. Almost looks like collusion here. We know they have a lot of margin.

The Canadian Subaru dealers should complain to Subaru Canada about pricing rather than complaining about having to service imported cars. There is quite a lot of elasticity in pricing for cars.

Who would buy a car that the MSRP dropped $10K in one year?
I mean most people know that cars depreciate in value as soon as you drive it off the lot, but in two to three years you might not want to see a extra $10K hit to the value.

[scouzi]

Who would buy a car that the MSRP dropped $10K in one year?
I mean most people know that cars depreciate in value as soon as you drive it off the lot, but in two to three years you might not want to see a extra $10K hit to the value.

I would!

They sold so little of them in Canada that they could bite the bullet and compensate the existing owners.

Rgardless, Subaru Canada will get hit when the leases start coming back. Their buyback was set to high and they will take a loss at auction houses when used car wholesalers import the US used models instead.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Who would buy a car that the MSRP dropped $10K in one year?

Only the original Canadian buyers would actually suffer.

As scouzi points out, there are very little of them.

MARKET SHARE vs. perception. Subaru Canada's hung up on the old world thinking.

"If I price my car cheap, people will think it is" Totally the opposite attitude that Henry Ford had. Last I heard, he died very rich selling PARTS and after sales SERVICE


I remember a Subaru Canada head office rep. telling me they're marketing their cars to a higher-end demographic in Canada. HUH? I guess they don't want to be considered like the average Toyota or Hondas. They'd hate to see one on every street corner. If I was a Subaru/Fuji shareholder, I'd be fuming over SCI's antics. Goofy.

[gocolts]

Is there a way to register a used vehicle in the US so as to avoid paying PST in Ontario? I have been told by MTO that if I do this, I don't have to pay PST when registering the vehicle in Ontario.

[michelb]

Is there a way to register a used vehicle in the US so as to avoid paying PST in Ontario? I have been told by MTO that if I do this, I don't have to pay PST when registering the vehicle in Ontario.

Search the forum for exact details but you need to be out of the Canada for an extended period of time (I believe the car must be registered in the US for at least 6 months). It's something about 'Canadian citizens returning to Canada'

Also I was recently told that there was a $10k max on the exemption so that if you import a car worth more than $10k, you still pay the tax on the balance (I was told this from someone who lived in the US for several years and then returned to Canada - they didn't have to pay anything since their car was just under the $10k).

Update:
If you look here: http://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/E/pub/cp/rc4105/rc4105-e.html, you'll notice that near the top it states that the exemption on taxe and duties is only for the first $10k - anything above is still taxed fully. The article also states that you must be out of Canada for at least 1 year (or resident of another country for at least 1 year).

[bilzebub]

just ordered my 3.0R legacy in obsidian black from the awesome Karl Lindemuth at Van Bortel, near Rochester NY... so maggot, i'll be on your list in a couple o' weeks...

but i want to cross at thousand islands, as I am east of Peterborough, and Karl has never dealt with them - anyone have contact information? can't seem to google it...

bilz

[scouzi]

just ordered my 3.0R legacy in obsidian black from the awesome Karl Lindemuth at Van Bortel, near Rochester NY... so maggot, i'll be on your list in a couple o' weeks...

but i want to cross at thousand islands, as I am east of Peterborough, and Karl has never dealt with them - anyone have contact information? can't seem to google it...

bilz

Do you mean A-BAY?

I had it in my bookmarks:

http://www.customs.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ny/0708.xml

[bilzebub]

thanks! but is not the canadian side, on the thousand islands bridge called "Landsdowne" or something? I assume i don't need to give them 72h like the yank office... and i assume they have a 24/7 cashier - anyone cross there with a car?

[whampoa]

thanks! but is not the canadian side, on the thousand islands bridge called "Landsdowne" or something? I assume i don't need to give them 72h like the yank office... and i assume they have a 24/7 cashier - anyone cross there with a car?

IIRC, someone already mentioned there's no US vehicle export office in the thousand islands border crossing area.

You have to go through Lewiston or Buffalo to export your vehicle.

Yeah, Karl is amazing, I would have bought it at Buffalo but his deal is too good to pass up.

The price difference more than made up for the travel cost to Victor, NY. :)

[yyz2hkg]

IIRC, someone already mentioned there's no US vehicle export office in the thousand islands border crossing area.

You have to go through Lewiston or Buffalo to export your vehicle.

Yeah, Karl is amazing, I would have bought it at Buffalo but his deal is too good to pass up.

The price difference more than made up for the travel cost to Victor, NY. :)

Just checked the site...states that they're able to process the exportation of vehicles. I will call tomorrow and confirm, i'll post and let you all know.

Supplemental Information
Contact Information: Vehicle Exports, 0800-1600 hrs. Mon.-Fri., call 315-482-2261.

[crasher]

IIRC, someone already mentioned there's no US vehicle export office in the thousand islands border crossing area.

You have to go through Lewiston or Buffalo to export your vehicle.

Yeah, Karl is amazing, I would have bought it at Buffalo but his deal is too good to pass up.

The price difference more than made up for the travel cost to Victor, NY. :)

When I called Buffalo office, they told me that, for new vehicle, I have to go through Lewiston.

[bilzebub]

when i declared and paid for a couple of cases of wine back in March at canadian customs @ Thousand Islands, I asked informally about cars and they told me then that they did do cars... thanks for the phone number, I'll pass it along to Karl

[swiler]

when i declared and paid for a couple of cases of wine back in March at canadian customs @ Thousand Islands, I asked informally about cars and they told me then that they did do cars... thanks for the phone number, I'll pass it along to Karl

When you find something out please post as I'm negotiating with Karl now and also want to use the Thousand Island crossing. If the deal goes through looks like I will go down early next week to bring back a 3.0R outback. Please let us know how things work out ....

[whrlwndz]

Just picked up at toyota Sienna and saved about $7K.Although it was difficult getttng a dealership to to sell me one. I just kept calling around until I found one that would deal.

I'm very curious about which dealer this is? mind sharing? im sure you can get some referral credits too. :cheesygri

[a4toronto]

someone find me a porsche dealer!

[KillaB]

I've personally been to two Toyota dealers where others in this thread have been successfull and even though they're still willing to sell me the vehicle they don't quite grasp the tax thing.

First, both dealerships wanted me to provide a US address and have it titled here. I told them I didn't feel confortable committing fraud in their state or a no-tax state....sorry, but I'm not titling it here.

Second, since I won't do the above and they won't sell it to me without charging tax, they want me to pay them (the dealer) the PST and then they will write a cheque made payable to the Ontario MOT so that I don't have to pay when I get here. It doesn't seem right, but it's at least a way get it from them without paying their state tax on top of GST and PST.

Shady I know, but what are my other options besides dealing with yet another dealer who may or may not have been instructed not to sell to Canadians?
Is there a document I can direct the dealer to to convince them I shouldn't be paying any state/provincial taxes until I arrive in Canada?

[eastsidesubaru]

I've personally been to two Toyota dealers where others in this thread have been successfull and even though they're still willing to sell me the vehicle they don't quite grasp the tax thing.

First, both dealerships wanted me to provide a US address and have it titled here. I told them I didn't feel confortable committing fraud in their state or a no-tax state....sorry, but I'm not titling it here.

Second, since I won't do the above and they won't sell it to me without charging tax, they want me to pay them (the dealer) the PST and then they will write a cheque made payable to the Ontario MOT so that I don't have to pay when I get here. It doesn't seem right, but it's at least a way get it from them without paying their state tax on top of GST and PST.

Shady I know, but what are my other options besides dealing with yet another dealer who may or may not have been instructed not to sell to Canadians?
Is there a document I can direct the dealer to to convince them I shouldn't be paying any state/provincial taxes until I arrive in Canada?

It sounds like you need to find a Toyota dealership that's used to dealing with Canadians... It's the dealership's job to do the work and find a way to sell you the car. You can tell them that there is a Subaru dealership that DOES NOT do it that way - and if they can't figure it out then maybe you'll just go to a Subaru dealership. That should get their attention. :lol:

In WA there is just a form called out of state buyer something or other and that deals with the tax issue, AFAIK.

[scouzi]

someone find me a porsche dealer!

Don't US Porshe dealers sell to Canadians?

The warranty IS transferable though.

[scouzi]

It sounds like you need to find a Toyota dealership that's used to dealing with Canadians... It's the dealership's job to do the work and find a way to sell you the car. You can tell them that there is a Subaru dealership that DOES NOT do it that way - and if they can't figure it out then maybe you'll just go to a Subaru dealership. That should get their attention. :lol:

In WA there is just a form called out of state buyer something or other and that deals with the tax issue, AFAIK.

I agree. Let Toyota know that they are not the ONLY option. With their attitude, I would not buy a Toyota in Canada OR the US.

[wildone]

when I had my new fords inspected last week there were 3 Porsche lined up awaiting their import inspection.

[michelb]

Don't US Porshe dealers sell to Canadians?

The warranty IS transferable though.

I'd double check that before buying. The Porsche warranty WAS transferable but there was talk in Porsche forums about a month ago that it would no longer be honoured by Canadian Dealerships (not sure exactly the terms but it's worth mentioning that unlike Subaru and others, Porsche has 'Porsche Cars of North America' (not a Porsche USA and Porsche Canada)).

[whampoa]

Second, since I won't do the above and they won't sell it to me without charging tax, they want me to pay them (the dealer) the PST and then they will write a cheque made payable to the Ontario MOT so that I don't have to pay when I get here. It doesn't seem right, but it's at least a way get it from them without paying their state tax on top of GST and PST.

Tell them, "buddy, it doesn't work that way."

If they write a cheque under the Toyota name, and sent or give it to you to pay for the PST.

The registry will tell you to get lost. It has to be under your name.

[michelb]

I've personally been to two Toyota dealers where others in this thread have been successfull and even though they're still willing to sell me the vehicle they don't quite grasp the tax thing.

First, both dealerships wanted me to provide a US address and have it titled here. I told them I didn't feel confortable committing fraud in their state or a no-tax state....sorry, but I'm not titling it here.

Second, since I won't do the above and they won't sell it to me without charging tax, they want me to pay them (the dealer) the PST and then they will write a cheque made payable to the Ontario MOT so that I don't have to pay when I get here. It doesn't seem right, but it's at least a way get it from them without paying their state tax on top of GST and PST.

Shady I know, but what are my other options besides dealing with yet another dealer who may or may not have been instructed not to sell to Canadians?
Is there a document I can direct the dealer to to convince them I shouldn't be paying any state/provincial taxes until I arrive in Canada?

Tell them, "buddy, it doesn't work that way."

If they write a cheque under the Toyota name, and sent or give it to you to pay for the PST.

The registry will tell you to get lost. It has to be under your name.

Personnaly, I wouldn't have a problem with this; looks like they are just trying to work with you to get the sale (and going above and beyond what most dealerships would do) (without violating Toyota policy not to sell to Canadians).

IMO, registering it in the US is not fraud so you don't have to worry about that - I don't believe you are breaking the law by registering a vehicle at a temporary address. As far as the MTO, I don't think they could care less who the cheque is from as long as it covers the amount and is made out to them (but it's not very hard to just call your local licensing office and ask them).

[james-007]

It sounds like you need to find a Toyota dealership that's used to dealing with Canadians... It's the dealership's job to do the work and find a way to sell you the car. You can tell them that there is a Subaru dealership that DOES NOT do it that way - and if they can't figure it out then maybe you'll just go to a Subaru dealership. That should get their attention. :lol:

In WA there is just a form called out of state buyer something or other and that deals with the tax issue, AFAIK.

If you want to buy a Toyota in state of WA, pm me and I know a dealer that is more than willing to sell to Canadians. I don't want to mention dealer name in the forums because you know sooner or later Toyota will put an end to them. I bought my Toyota from them no sales tax for Canadians and great service.

[scouzi]

I'd double check that before buying. The Porsche warranty WAS transferable but there was talk in Porsche forums about a month ago that it would no longer be honoured by Canadian Dealerships (not sure exactly the terms but it's worth mentioning that unlike Subaru and others, Porsche has 'Porsche Cars of North America' (not a Porsche USA and Porsche Canada)).

There's always some chatter but like Subaru the US arm probably has more clout than the smaller Canadian arm.


I got this response last week:

Hello xxxxx,
You warranty is covered thru Porsche North America. This covers US and Canada. The same terms of warranty apply to a CPO between countries as well. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact us.
Regards,
xxxxx
Porsche General Response Team
(800) Porsche, Option 5

[CatDog]

Does anyone know of any Porsche dealerships in the states that are near the boarder?

Also, eastsidesubaru ..

What about leasing? Is this available, and if so would it be worth our while?

We're deciding in-between the2.5 GT spec.B and 3.0R Limited. What's the difference and pros and cons of each model beyond the $3k price difference?

[KAN]

An argument in favour for the manufacturers -- back in 2001 when US$1 = C$1.60 (approx), did the manufacturers raise the price to 'match' the exchange rate? Should we have demanded 'in fairness' they do that? No -- we laughed at the savings in comparison to our US counterparts and the manufacturers sucked it up and sold it at the price they did. So it's "fair" for them to sell at the price they do now. Give and take.



They were not losing anything since their cost price would still be lower than what they charge us. The only winner is probably the manufacturer (it cost them less to make them). The dealer pays x amount then charge y percent more when they sell, no matter the exchange rate or price in the US.

[ecgz88]

Anyone bought extend warranty for import car?:cheesygri

[bionicbadger]

Anyone bought extend warranty for import car?:cheesygri

I emailed subaru asking about the extended warranty (Subaru Added Service) and they said its the same as regular warranty now. Canadians pay and then send the bill to Subaru of America to get reimbursed.

[bilzebub]

Van Bortel Subaru in Rochester NY said they weren't allowed to sell me the extended warranty - anyone else?

[scouzi]

Van Bortel Subaru in Rochester NY said they weren't allowed to sell me the extended warranty - anyone else?

I was offered one but I declined - but that is before things changed on the June 21st.

[crasher]

I think extended warranty can be bought later time also through canadian dealer, before the original warranty expires. I will ask the dealer, when I will take my car in for first service.
From past experience, I wont buy extended warranty. If nothing goes wrong during regular warranty, you wont have anything going wrong in extended period either. If you have problems during during warranty period, then you dont want to keep that car;)

[wordscount]

Not a hot deal...warranty will not be recognized in Canada.

:confused:

[michelb]

I think extended warranty can be bought later time also through canadian dealer, before the original warranty expires. I will ask the dealer, when I will take my car in for first service.
From past experience, I wont buy extended warranty. If nothing goes wrong during regular warranty, you wont have anything going wrong in extended period either. If you have problems during during warranty period, then you dont want to keep that car;)

Extended warranties are a matter of personal choice. On pretty much everything else, we never buy them but we've bought them on our last 3 cars (VW, Chrysler and Volvo) and I think they easily paid for themselves and they also give you piece of mind.

I would certainly shop around in the US to see if it's an option there; for Toyota's at least (the only one I looked into recently), I believe you save at least 50% if you buy it in the US (that being said, I'm not sure if you need one for a Toyota).

That is correct though, you can buy them at any time (although you lose some options if you wait until the original manufacturers warranty is done). Also if you buy them later, they may insist on doing an inspection (which is no big deal if it's still under original factory warranty).

[scouzi]

I think extended warranty can be bought later time also through canadian dealer, before the original warranty expires. I will ask the dealer, when I will take my car in for first service.
From past experience, I wont buy extended warranty. If nothing goes wrong during regular warranty, you wont have anything going wrong in extended period either. If you have problems during during warranty period, then you dont want to keep that car;)

Don't forget the Quaker State warranty. It's good in Canada also.

http://www.quakerstate.com/pages/programs/warranty.asp

[swiler]

So I phoned the Alexandria Bridge crossing with regards to exporting a vehicle. I was told that it is no problem and that I do not need to have documentation sent 72 hours in advanced. This makes me nervous as everything I read mentions the 72 hours. I even inquired about faxing the doc. but they do not accept faxes only originals. I even phoned on two different occasions and got the same answer.

So do I go for it and maybe get delayed three days at the border ....

[69Stang]

I've personally been to two Toyota dealers where others in this thread have been successfull and even though they're still willing to sell me the vehicle they don't quite grasp the tax thing.

First, both dealerships wanted me to provide a US address and have it titled here. I told them I didn't feel confortable committing fraud in their state or a no-tax state....sorry, but I'm not titling it here.

Second, since I won't do the above and they won't sell it to me without charging tax, they want me to pay them (the dealer) the PST and then they will write a cheque made payable to the Ontario MOT so that I don't have to pay when I get here. It doesn't seem right, but it's at least a way get it from them without paying their state tax on top of GST and PST.

Shady I know, but what are my other options besides dealing with yet another dealer who may or may not have been instructed not to sell to Canadians?
Is there a document I can direct the dealer to to convince them I shouldn't be paying any state/provincial taxes until I arrive in Canada?.

I bought my 2007 Camry at Performace Toyota in Wooster Ohio, it had 1400 miles and was previously titled, any dealer will sell a titled vehicle to a Canadian. Regarding the tax all states are different, Ohio and New York are tax exempt for out of state sales. A lot less hassles if you can find a slightly used car.

[joe friday]

I agree. Let Toyota know that they are not the ONLY option. With their attitude, I would not buy a Toyota in Canada OR the US.

+1

[joe friday]

So I phoned the Alexandria Bridge crossing with regards to exporting a vehicle. I was told that it is no problem and that I do not need to have documentation sent 72 hours in advanced. This makes me nervous as everything I read mentions the 72 hours. I even inquired about faxing the doc. but they do not accept faxes only originals. I even phoned on two different occasions and got the same answer.

So do I go for it and maybe get delayed three days at the border ....

Did you get a person's name or badge number? Personally, if two different people told you the same thing, I would probably trust it, but it always adds a bit of piece of mind if you can tell them who gave you the information if you do run into a snag.

[wildone]

they need the three days to do background/lien checks on the vehicle, I wouldn't risk it...

[canadianguy_001]

So I phoned the Alexandria Bridge crossing with regards to exporting a vehicle. I was told that it is no problem and that I do not need to have documentation sent 72 hours in advanced. This makes me nervous as everything I read mentions the 72 hours. I even inquired about faxing the doc. but they do not accept faxes only originals. I even phoned on two different occasions and got the same answer.

So do I go for it and maybe get delayed three days at the border ....

So, they don't require documentation, but if you do, they will only accept the original, not a fax? that's f'ed.. lol.

I personally would just go with the standard procedure and send it in anyway, and make sure you let them know that you did so... It won't hurt, plus you'll know that they'll have nothing against you when you get there. For me, this was a very critical step every time and I'm quite surprised that your border crossing doesn't care more about this..

[jrvic]

I am close completing a purchase of an RX350. OTD is about 42K US, a saving of about 17K CAD from MSRP. I will have to register it first in the US because it's a brand new car.
The only thing is that 2008 Toyota is not on the RIV list yet, so I may have to drive the vehicle in Canada with a US plate until the list is updated. I am not sure if my canadian insurance will give it coverage once I drive it to Toronto?

[whampoa]

The only thing is that 2008 Toyota is not on the RIV list yet, so I may have to drive the vehicle in Canada with a US plate until the list is updated. I am not sure if my canadian insurance will give it coverage once I drive it to Toronto?

Are you an American, do you have a US address and insurance?

Otherwise, I'll be very surprise if they ever let you cross the border, purchase any insurance and register the vehicle in Canada.

You're taking alot of chances with this purchase, hope nothing untoward circumstances happen in the meantime.

[swiler]

Apparently, because this is a brand new car the 72 hours notice is not required. What I think I'm going to do is once at the dealership and about to head out I will phone the crossing and speak with an agent. Verify whether doc. needs to be their ahead of time. If not get name of agent and proceed. Otherwise go to lewiston and have an extra three hour worth of driving ....

Of course have doc. sent to Lewiston ahead of time in preparation for plan B

[jrvic]

Whampoa,
I am canadian, but I have valid address, US license and insurance ( these are must have in order to buy new Lex vehicles).
There should be nothing wrong with me driving a car legally registered in the US in Ontario. I just want to get additional insurance in Canada just in case US insurance is not enough for here.

Now you may have a point with the second Lexus that a friend has asked me to bring back. The car will be in my name and US registration until the import can be done. When the RIV list is updated for 2008 Toyotas, I will officially "sell" the car to my friend, then she would bring it back to Buffalo and import it in her name.

[whampoa]

Apparently, because this is a brand new car the 72 hours notice is not required. What I think I'm going to do is once at the dealership and about to head out I will phone the crossing and speak with an agent. Verify whether doc. needs to be their ahead of time. If not get name of agent and proceed. Otherwise go to lewiston and have an extra three hour worth of driving ....

Of course have doc. sent to Lewiston ahead of time in preparation for plan B

While you at it, you might as well book a motel for 3 business day.

Alot of us also bought brand new vehicle are required 72 business hours notice.

I don't know why yours are any different unless you're feed by BS.

If I am in your shoes, try to make contingency plan just in case it doesn't work out.

[wildone]

yup. just brought back two brand new fords...they told me 72hrs notice or enjoy the local sleezy motel for a few days.

[dealzuser]

I am close completing a purchase of an RX350. OTD is about 42K US, a saving of about 17K CAD from MSRP. I will have to register it first in the US because it's a brand new car.
The only thing is that 2008 Toyota is not on the RIV list yet, so I may have to drive the vehicle in Canada with a US plate until the list is updated. I am not sure if my canadian insurance will give it coverage once I drive it to Toronto?


I've only been a reader of this thread. (Very enticed to buy a Subaru also. :) ) But an open word of advice to JRVIC. If I were you, I would follow the accepted procedures (i.e. fax paperwork to border 72 hr ahead, follow the RIV.CA list.)

This is a car you're buying, not a computer. Don't try anything funny and follow the rules.

Just my 2 cents.

[AEmgee]

Whampoa,
I am canadian, but I have valid address, US license and insurance ( these are must have in order to buy new Lex vehicles).
There should be nothing wrong with me driving a car legally registered in the US in Ontario. I just want to get additional insurance in Canada just in case US insurance is not enough for here.

Now you may have a point with the second Lexus that a friend has asked me to bring back. The car will be in my name and US registration until the import can be done. When the RIV list is updated for 2008 Toyotas, I will officially "sell" the car to my friend, then she would bring it back to Buffalo and import it in her name.

If you have to register it in the US, do you have to pay state tax then?

[whampoa]

If you have to register it in the US, do you have to pay state tax then?

JRVIC is not making the process any easier by registering the car in the States first and then Ontario.

He's paying double taxes, US and Canada, and on top of that the vehicle is not even in the RIV list.

Don't think you don't have to pay any taxes because you have a US address, there are stringent rule regarding this matter.

Even then, if you want to sell the vehicle the buyer is required to pay the PST, no matter what the circumstance are.

[Gromit]

Apparently, because this is a brand new car the 72 hours notice is not required. What I think I'm going to do is once at the dealership and about to head out I will phone the crossing and speak with an agent. Verify whether doc. needs to be their ahead of time. If not get name of agent and proceed. Otherwise go to lewiston and have an extra three hour worth of driving ....

Yeah, Alexandria is weird that way. They seem to think that the 72 hours isn't needed. They're wrong of course. :) It's very clear in the US laws.

I posted my experience there already, they insisted no fax needed, wouldn't give me the number, but when I arrived, the newbie on duty (who actually knew the rules) insisted that the *original* had to be there 72 hours prior. He was right, but luckily an old vet overruled him.

I highly recommend faxing the docs elsewhere, as you've planned.

[ecgz88]

Thinking of buy Acura MDX for long time, 10K+ saving......

cannot find how to get a reliable third party warranty:confused:

[jrvic]

JRVIC is not making the process any easier by registering the car in the States first and then Ontario.

He's paying double taxes, US and Canada, and on top of that the vehicle is not even in the RIV list.

Don't think you don't have to pay any taxes because you have a US address, there are stringent rule regarding this matter.

Even then, if you want to sell the vehicle the buyer is required to pay the PST, no matter what the circumstance are.

Whampoa to your points
Registering the car in the US is a must in order to buy new Lexus. This is to conform with Lexus's rule not allowing dealers to sell new cars for export.
I will be double taxed no question about it. Once in the US state and then GST and PST when importing to Ontario.
If I sold the US registered car to my friend before importing it, the PST would have to be paid when my friend imported the car (which should be a 72 business hours after we signed the paperwork ). US state won't require state sales tax this time because the car is exported.

Now if a person is legally allowed to have residences on both sides of the border, there should be no problem with driving vehicles registered at one place to the other. I don't think the border people care about this. However, the local traffic police may have an issue if they see the out of province plate months after months.

[crasher]

Whampoa to your points
Registering the car in the US is a must in order to buy new Lexus. This is to conform with Lexus's rule not allowing dealers to sell new cars for export.


That is BS I got 3 brand new toyotas for family this month without paying any taxes in US. All you have to do is look (keep looking)for dealer. I even posted the dealer in this thread, who sell to Canadians. There are lots of them ;)

[whampoa]

That is BS I got 3 brand new toyotas for family this month without paying any taxes in US. All you have to do is look (keep looking)for dealer. I even posted the dealer in this thread, who sell to Canadians. There are lots of them ;)

Damn right, seriously why would anyone put up with that!

I am expecting more from US Lexus dealers than to be jerk around.

There are so many more dealers in the US, you should bound to find one willing to sell to Canadian without paying the sales tax.

[jrvic]

That is BS I got 3 brand new toyotas for family this month without paying any taxes in US. All you have to do is look (keep looking)for dealer. I even posted the dealer in this thread, who sell to Canadians. There are lots of them ;)

I've tried 1 in Buffalo, 3 in TX and 1 in CA, and the answers were the same. I am sure there is a US Lexus dealer willing to break the rules (or unaware of one) out there, but considering the existing deal on the RX, I am going with what I have found:D :D . :cheesygri

[michelb]

Whampoa to your points
...

Now if a person is legally allowed to have residences on both sides of the border, there should be no problem with driving vehicles registered at one place to the other. I don't think the border people care about this. However, the local traffic police may have an issue if they see the out of province plate months after months.

Actually I believe that the Ministry of Transport does not allow you to drive a US registered vehicle registered in your name if you are a Canadian resident (it's not a matter of having residences, it's a matter of closer ties and which country is your actual country of residence). Similarly, you are required to register vehicles in Ontario within X number of days when you move from a different province.

As far as your drivers license, again, unless one is a special 'non-resident' or 'temporary resident' drivers license (FL has those because they have so many seasonal residents), I believe you are breaking the law by having both (you said that you had a US drivers license, I'm assuming you have a Canadian one as well).

[jrvic]

Actually I believe that the Ministry of Transport does not allow you to drive a US registered vehicle registered in your name if you are a Canadian resident (it's not a matter of having residences, it's a matter of closer ties and which country is your actual country of residence). Similarly, you are required to register vehicles in Ontario within X number of days when you move from a different province.

As far as your drivers license, again, unless one is a special 'non-resident' or 'temporary resident' drivers license (FL has those because they have so many seasonal residents), I believe you are breaking the law by having both (you said that you had a US drivers license, I'm assuming you have a Canadian one as well).

You are probably 100% correct, but I don't believe border people would try enforce provincial rules... Also I would register the car in Ontario as soon as it is on the RIV list. In the mean times I would take my chances with the local cops when that X number of days expired.

[spdztr]

yup. just brought back two brand new fords...they told me 72hrs notice or enjoy the local sleezy motel for a few days.

Care to share some information about what you brought back and what kind of deals you got? I know Ford right now is having a big "sale" offering 0% financing and $2007 instant rebate on all their 2007 models. I know the financing part would only apply in the US, but the rebate may help.

[michelb]

Actually I believe that the Ministry of Transport does not allow you to drive a US registered vehicle registered in your name if you are a Canadian resident (it's not a matter of having residences, it's a matter of closer ties and which country is your actual country of residence). Similarly, you are required to register vehicles in Ontario within X number of days when you move from a different province.

As far as your drivers license, again, unless one is a special 'non-resident' or 'temporary resident' drivers license (FL has those because they have so many seasonal residents), I believe you are breaking the law by having both (you said that you had a US drivers license, I'm assuming you have a Canadian one as well).

You are probably 100% correct, but I don't believe border people would try enforce provincial rules... Also I would register the car in Ontario as soon as it is on the RIV list. In the mean times I would take my chances with the local cops when that X number of days expired.

If it was me, I would certainly call ahead and check before; they might not but what if they do? Might be that 99% of the agents let you through but you only need 1 that doesn't. What do you do then? Leave the car in the US and walk home? What if they seize the car (they could easily argue that you didn't declare it crossing the border (since you're not - you aren't declaring it for import) and say that you are committing tax evasion.

If nothing else, make sure you have a good reason for doing it as I'm sure they'll ask you who's car it is, where you live - if you tell them Canada, they'll ask you why your car has US plates on it ... Actually, if you really want to do this, you should get someone else to drive it across the border - they could say that they borrowed a US friends car and will be returning it soon. That will work as long as they buy the story (they might have a hard time believing that someone would lend out a brand new $50k car for an extended period of time though) - not sure what they'd do if they don't believe your friend (I wouldn't want to be your friend's shoes in this case ...)

[wildone]

Care to share some information about what you brought back and what kind of deals you got? I know Ford right now is having a big "sale" offering 0% financing and $2007 instant rebate on all their 2007 models. I know the financing part would only apply in the US, but the rebate may help.

stated in previous posts. 2007 F150 King Ranch 4x4 saved 17K. 2007 Expedition EL Limited 4x4 loaded with every possible option, saved 20K.

[jrvic]

If it was me, I would certainly call ahead and check before; they might not but what if they do? Might be that 99% of the agents let you through but you only need 1 that doesn't. What do you do then? Leave the car in the US and walk home? What if they seize the car (they could easily argue that you didn't declare it crossing the border (since you're not - you aren't declaring it for import) and say that you are committing tax evasion.

If nothing else, make sure you have a good reason for doing it as I'm sure they'll ask you who's car it is, where you live - if you tell them Canada, they'll ask you why your car has US plates on it ... Actually, if you really want to do this, you should get someone else to drive it across the border - they could say that they borrowed a US friends car and will be returning it soon. That will work as long as they buy the story (they might have a hard time believing that someone would lend out a brand new $50k car for an extended period of time though) - not sure what they'd do if they don't believe your friend (I wouldn't want to be your friend's shoes in this case ...)


Again, you are correct, but fortunately (unfortunate for family members) my friend and I do go back and forth US-Canada a good number of times every year for work. It just that my friend does not meet the criteria to buy the new car. Our travel records probably show up on their computer frequent travellers...

[spdztr]

stated in previous posts. 2007 F150 King Ranch 4x4 saved 17K. 2007 Expedition EL Limited 4x4 loaded with every possible option, saved 20K.

Sorry, missed those.. too many posts to read through!
Thanks!!

[eastsidesubaru]

Does anyone know of any Porsche dealerships in the states that are near the boarder?

Also, eastsidesubaru ..

What about leasing? Is this available, and if so would it be worth our while?

We're deciding in-between the2.5 GT spec.B and 3.0R Limited. What's the difference and pros and cons of each model beyond the $3k price difference?

I will check for you if leasing is available. The 3.0R limited really is not so available yet. The 2.5GT spec.B is. So it depends when you want to buy. If you are willing to wait, the 3.0R will be available.

[eastsidesubaru]

OK i just checked with our finance guy about a couple of FAQ's:

1. Can I lease a subaru from a north american dealership?
Not through Subaru of America.. they don't allow it for Canadians. :(

2. Does the 100,000 mile extended warranty you get for free from my dealership work in Canada?
Yup!!!

3. Can you buy the subaru genuine extended warranty?
Yup and it's good in Canada. No idea if you have to prepay and get reimbursed, but it is good at Canadian dealerships...

[leafsrule06]

Just got a call from Darcars.com and they will sell me a new Toyota but I'll have to pay the state tax of 5%. Anyone else heard of this? Maybe I'll just end of going with a Subaru and not worry about tax or duties.

[bigbug]

Actually I believe that the Ministry of Transport does not allow you to drive a US registered vehicle registered in your name if you are a Canadian resident (it's not a matter of having residences, it's a matter of closer ties and which country is your actual country of residence). Similarly, you are required to register vehicles in Ontario within X number of days when you move from a different province.

As far as your drivers license, again, unless one is a special 'non-resident' or 'temporary resident' drivers license (FL has those because they have so many seasonal residents), I believe you are breaking the law by having both (you said that you had a US drivers license, I'm assuming you have a Canadian one as well).

I can tell by my real life experience that you are wrong. I have a working permit in US, and travel by car back and forth many times. Once when I crossed the border, I was stopped by Canadian Custom and they asked me why I was driving a US plated car while holding an Ontario license. I showed them the TN visa, and they let me go without any hassle.

As long as you have a valid residence in US, you can drive a US plated car regardless what driver's license you are holding. As to dual license, the validity depends on states. Some require you exchange for a state license, some allow you to have both Canadian and US license.

[ryehigh17]

That is BS I got 3 brand new toyotas for family this month without paying any taxes in US. All you have to do is look (keep looking)for dealer. I even posted the dealer in this thread, who sell to Canadians. There are lots of them ;)

Crasher, thanks for your helpful info. Just called the toyota from your link and seems like they no longer sell to CDN, so looks like you did well with them.

[schnee]

Hello all, been watching this thread for a long time, I'm happy to finally have signed up to the forum.

Here's my issue, I've imported through RIV before and am familiar with the process, now I'm considering buying a brand new GM vehicle. The paper and titleship part seems confusing, has anyone does this? What do you get from the dealer (bill of origin or something?), since the vehicle will be yet to be titled, what exactly do I need for customs (US and CDN)?

Any direction or related info you can share would do me well, thanks.

[whampoa]

Here's my issue, I've imported through RIV before and am familiar with the process, now I'm considering buying a brand new GM vehicle. The paper and titleship part seems confusing, has anyone does this? What do you get from the dealer (bill of origin or something?), since the vehicle will be yet to be titled, what exactly do I need for customs (US and CDN)?

Any direction or related info you can share would do me well, thanks.

If you said, you "have imported through RIV before and familiar with the process", why are you still asking the question?

Did I miss something in deciphering your question?

[schnee]

When importing a used vehicle it was always just a simple vehicle title with some form of a bill of sale, but when buying a new car there is different paperwork since there is no previous owner. GM dealers say some of the paperwork needs to be mailed out to a US address, although many will gladly sell to a Canadian.

Im not sure exactly what question I am asking, just looking for someone with experience buying a new GM vehicle to go over what I can expect, or at least shed some help...

whampoa i hope i wrote it clear enough for you to understand

[Cough]

Has anyone imported a Jaguar (from US) to Canada? If so do you have any suggested dealers along the border (preferably in Western US). I understand that Jaguar really put pressure on their dealers to not allow sales to Canada. And how tough are Jaguar in providing the recall letter?

Please pm me if you have any other suggestions or advice.

[abowodun]

That is BS I got 3 brand new toyotas for family this month without paying any taxes in US. All you have to do is look (keep looking)for dealer. I even posted the dealer in this thread, who sell to Canadians. There are lots of them ;)

Crasher
I am in the process of receiving my new Toyota Camry. Pls indicate if MSO will have my name OR the dealers name. Will my name be printed later by dealer? Did u have MSO mail to Canada? Did u pickup MSO @ dealership?

Driving from NC to Calgary is long....any important attarction on the way u will subscribe. Any police stops on the way while driving? Plan is to drive at night and avoid traffic spots.
Did u use Dealer 30-day tag to drive cars to Canada? Did u switch back to Canada temporary plates at the border?
Did u use USA insurance all the way OR a Canadian insurance all the way...
was it a 30-day type insurance and how much

[crasher]

Crasher
I am in the process of receiving my new Toyota Camry. Pls indicate if MSO will have my name OR the dealers name. Will my name be printed later by dealer? Did u have MSO mail to Canada? Did u pickup MSO @ dealership?

Driving from NC to Calgary is long....any important attarction on the way u will subscribe. Any police stops on the way while driving? Plan is to drive at night and avoid traffic spots.
Did u use Dealer 30-day tag to drive cars to Canada? Did u switch back to Canada temporary plates at the border?
Did u use USA insurance all the way OR a Canadian insurance all the way...
was it a 30-day type insurance and how much

Wow! I was thinking I had to drive a long way, But you beat me.
MSO had the dealer's name, and I picked it along with car. There is no change made, still have dealer's name and address. Dealer got MSO in about a week from Toyota after he got the car, and then faxed to border, and me. You need the original MSO with car when you cross the border, they will stamp (engrave) exported on it.
I drove during day, it was not as long as you are planning, and did not stopped, as I wanted to cross before 3PM to be safe.
I did not switch any plates, and drove with US temporary permit (tag).
Ontario insurance covers for 14 days for any new car purchase, still I called my insurance before travelling, and gave them the VIN, so I had the pink slip with me.
Have a safe and enjoyable trip.

[nighthawk26]

bigbug

Sorry to hijack the thread but could you email me, I have a question re: an old post you made. Would love to get some info from you before the end of the long weekend. mikezuliani@hotmail.com. Greatly appreciated.

CARRY ON :)

[CatDog]

eastsidesurbaru: what are the differences between Legacy 2.5 GT Spec B and the 3.0 R limited.

The car is for a single mom, with 1 son who's 16 (me).

Basically just looking for a reliable everyday car, that can relay on.

Does the navigation system work fine in Canada?

Are these cars built in Japan or NA?

Eastsidesabaru: not to harass you about other dealers, but do you have any Porsche dealerships around? Dad is looking for a new one :)

[bilzebub]

eastsidesurbaru: what are the differences between Legacy 2.5 GT Spec B and the 3.0 R limited.

The car is for a single mom, with 1 son who's 16 (me).

Basically just looking for a reliable everyday car, that can relay on.

Does the navigation system work fine in Canada?

Are these cars built in Japan or NA?

Eastsidesabaru: not to harass you about other dealers, but do you have any Porsche dealerships around? Dad is looking for a new one :)

all the info you'll ever want and more at legacygt.com

but essentially: the 3.0R has significantly less torque but a flatter power curve than the 4 cyl turbo GT, and the 3.0 is available only in 5spd auto albeit with paddle shifters. The spec B has only a 6 speed manual. The 3.0 R gets some of the suspension bits of the spec B as well, and is thus perhaps the better 'value'. It comes down to wheher you want that torque and/or can live/without a manual transmission

[bionicbadger]

all the info you'll ever want and more at legacygt.com

but essentially: the 3.0R has significantly less torque but a flatter power curve than the 4 cyl turbo GT, and the 3.0 is available only in 5spd auto albeit with paddle shifters. The spec B has only a 6 speed manual. The 3.0 R gets some of the suspension bits of the spec B as well, and is thus perhaps the better 'value'. It comes down to wheher you want that torque and/or can live/without a manual transmission

You missed a big difference....
the GT can only use premium fuel and the 6 cylinder can use regular.

[CatDog]

guess than the limited would be a better idea...

I wonder if either have a remote starter..

Malibu Maxx LT 04 has one (current car) and it's pretty handy.

[jasonz]

Hi, Ferkel,

Congratulations,

I would like to buy a Honda CRV in USA too. Could you tell me the dealer's name, address and telephone number?


Thanks a lot!

Jason

[eastsidesubaru]

You missed a big difference....
the GT can only use premium fuel and the 6 cylinder can use regular.

I have bad news for you buddy.. the 6 cylinder takes premium as well.
Sorry i've been away from this thread a bit, month end gets CRAZY.
There is a remote engine starter option available on the automatic transmission only.
Nav system works in canada.
I am pretty sure the legacies are built in the US. I believe only the impreza and forester are built in japan.

[Coolers]

bionicbadger is correct. If you check the detailed specs off the Subaru website, you'll see that the Spec B (http://www.subaru.com/shop/specifications.jsp?year=2008&model=LEGACY&trim=25GTSPECB&command=features) requires premium fuel, whereas it's only recommended on the 3.0R (http://www.subaru.com/shop/specifications.jsp?year=2008&model=LEGACY&trim=30RLIMITED&command=features). Presumably this is because of the lack of the turbocharger.

[Monsieurmaggot]

all the info you'll ever want and more at legacygt.com

but essentially: the 3.0R has significantly less torque but a flatter power curve than the 4 cyl turbo GT, and the 3.0 is available only in 5spd auto albeit with paddle shifters. The spec B has only a 6 speed manual. The 3.0 R gets some of the suspension bits of the spec B as well, and is thus perhaps the better 'value'. It comes down to wheher you want that torque and/or can live/without a manual transmission

Hey I've been away for a while but I'm back now.

You also forgot to mention the Turbocharger is a much more complicated engine and should "maintenance" be done, the costs are considerable.

If the buyer's an average mom driving around town, the turbocharger is complete overkill. That's a sports car. I doubt she needs 18" performance rims and bilstein suspension parts to drive the kid around. Having only a MANUAL transmission should give it away. The 3.0R is a regularly aspirated engine and contrary to what eastsidesubaru is telling you will run on any fuel grade.

Eastsidesubaru: If you want to sell to Canadians, you need to do your homework like Carter, West Herr, Northtown and Van Bortel did.

The sales reps. at those dealerships know the import details in their sleep and KNOW the Legacys and Outbacks are assembled in Lafayette Indiana so no duty is applicable.

Canadians can't qualify for loans or leases in the US unless the hold a valid US Social Security Card. Three dealers told me if I could present a SSN I would get a lease. Also, if the buyer's looking for a Legacy Wagon, FHI decided not to make them available in the US in 2008 but (oddly) are still assembled in Lafayette. I'm guessing that could change.

I would recommend that she go with a 2.5i regularly aspirated engine (which runs on regular). She can load it up with all kinds of toys and still save thousands over the Spec. B.

BTW: I've been running my 3.0R for four months exclusively on regular fuel.

The Subaru Navigation system SUCKS. It's made by Kenwood and retreives data off a DVD player. For less than $500 you can get a Garmin or Magellan unit that is so much better. Even with the new maps, the information is outdated. It's fine if you live in an established community but in expanding areas it's useless. The only positive trait is that it would be built-in.

I got EVERY option on my Subaru minus the navigation system for that reason.

One last thing, due to the increase cost for aluminum, the 2008 Legacys and Outbacks now use sheet metal hoods, trunks, lids and other side components. The 2007s have aluminum hoods, lids and trunks. Try lifting the hood and comparing the two.

I can tell you there are a few "oddities" with the Subaru that kind of irk me. My 10-year old Taurus has a chime if the headlights were left on, it also chimed when the hand brake was applied. Those aren't in the top-of-the-line Outback. The Outback has a prop. rod to hold up the hood. (WTF?). With the extended moonroof, the interior lighting is horrible. There's no wheel well lighting, no lights in the glove compartment. When you open the door at night, the only light that comes on are the puddle lights (lights on the door that light the ground) and a single entry light BEHIND the rear passenger. There are map lights above the driver, they should come on when the door opens but they don't.

[CatDog]

well her first car was a RX7 :p

But, yeah I understand. 3.0R makes more sense, plus it has the remote on ^_^.

Thanks guys

I'd love an WRX STi Limited for my first car... but oh well. haha

[eastsidesubaru]

bionicbadger is correct. If you check the detailed specs off the Subaru website, you'll see that the Spec B (http://www.subaru.com/shop/specifications.jsp?year=2008&model=LEGACY&trim=25GTSPECB&command=features) requires premium fuel, whereas it's only recommended on the 3.0R (http://www.subaru.com/shop/specifications.jsp?year=2008&model=LEGACY&trim=30RLIMITED&command=features). Presumably this is because of the lack of the turbocharger.

Well, exactly. But if I were going to spend all the money to get the 3.0R, I'd put premium in it so I'm getting all the performance out of the engine I paid for. And Subaru *does* recommend it. Obviously I can't tell you to go against the recommendation. But it shouldn't hurt it to put in a lower octane, the computer will just adjust the timing if it gets knock.

Hey I've been away for a while but I'm back now.

You also forgot to mention the Turbocharger is a much more complicated engine and should "maintenance" be done, the costs are considerable.

If the buyer's an average mom driving around town, the turbocharger is complete overkill. That's a sports car. I doubt she needs 18" performance rims and bilstein suspension parts to drive the kid around. Having only a MANUAL transmission should give it away. The 3.0R is a regularly aspirated engine and contrary to what eastsidesubaru is telling you will run on any fuel grade.

Eastsidesubaru: If you want to sell to Canadians, you need to do your homework like Carter, West Herr, Northtown and Van Bortel did.

The sales reps. at those dealerships know the import details in their sleep and KNOW the Legacys and Outbacks are assembled in Lafayette Indiana so no duty is applicable.

Canadians can't qualify for loans or leases in the US unless the hold a valid US Social Security Card. Three dealers told me if I could present a SSN I would get a lease. Also, if the buyer's looking for a Legacy Wagon, FHI decided not to make them available in the US in 2008 but (oddly) are still assembled in Lafayette. I'm guessing that could change.

I would recommend that she go with a 2.5i regularly aspirated engine (which runs on regular). She can load it up with all kinds of toys and still save thousands over the Spec. B.

BTW: I've been running my 3.0R for four months exclusively on regular fuel.

The Subaru Navigation system SUCKS. It's made by Kenwood and retreives data off a DVD player. For less than $500 you can get a Garmin or Magellan unit that is so much better. Even with the new maps, the information is outdated. It's fine if you live in an established community but in expanding areas it's useless. The only positive trait is that it would be built-in.

I got EVERY option on my Subaru minus the navigation system for that reason.

One last thing, due to the increase cost for aluminum, the 2008 Legacys and Outbacks now use sheet metal hoods, trunks, lids and other side components. The 2007s have aluminum hoods, lids and trunks. Try lifting the hood and comparing the two.

I can tell you there are a few "oddities" with the Subaru that kind of irk me. My 10-year old Taurus has a chime if the headlights were left on, it also chimed when the hand brake was applied. Those aren't in the top-of-the-line Outback. The Outback has a prop. rod to hold up the hood. (WTF?). With the extended moonroof, the interior lighting is horrible. There's no wheel well lighting, no lights in the glove compartment. When you open the door at night, the only light that comes on are the puddle lights (lights on the door that light the ground) and a single entry light BEHIND the rear passenger. There are map lights above the driver, they should come on when the door opens but they don't.

I'm just the /assistant/ for the internet manager - I'm newer to the Canada stuff, so I generally ask her when I need help. I did say that I was pretty sure the legacies were assembled in Indiana, did I not? I posted that late last night from home, and I would rather double check on something (since I'm newer) than say something for sure and be wrong :P
I don't think the turbo is /that much more complicated, but in the long run I guess your maintenance will likely run higher if the turbo goes out. Sorry, I didn't quite think about that.
I don't think the Subie nav system is terrible but it's certainly not the best one I've ever used.. personally I use a mio c310x. A lot of people just like having navigation built in, though. (The odd thing is I haven't been super impressed with the double din NAV units I've checked out, either. Like the pioneer AVIC-D2 I looked at seemed.. not worth the gigantic pricetag.) Yeah, subie does have a couple of weird things... I know what you mean, haha. Such as, how come my WRX has no trunk open button? It drives me INSANE, and I'm thinking about modding it to add that option. But I live with it cause I love the car. :cheesygri


I'd love an WRX STi Limited for my first car... but oh well. haha
Funny you mention that. I keep getting phone calls about the sti limited constantly.. and they are long gone and I have to break the bad news. All we can really do is take the wing off, put the STI limited one on, paint it to match if needed, add aftermarket leather, heated seats and a sunroof. Probably cheaper to buy an STI and do all of that yourself, though. Or I just tell people to keep checking ebay...

[shopper-X]

...I don't think the Subie nav system is terrible but it's certainly not the best one I've ever used.. personally I use a mio c310x. A lot of people just like having navigation built in, though. (The odd thing is I haven't been super impressed with the double din NAV units ...

Does the Subaru NAV do more then just give directions? For example, does it have information like MPG, distance to empty, ODB-II, etc?

[Monsieurmaggot]

Does the Subaru NAV do more then just give directions? For example, does it have information like MPG, distance to empty, ODB-II, etc?

I don't have navigation but do have computer displays such as outside temperature, two trip odometers with average miles per gallon, an instant consumption display, distance to empty and elapsed time. The elapsed time overrides the display every hour to remind you to stop as does the "miles to empty" it comes on when you have 50 miles left on the tank.

The outside temperature guage also flashes in the 32-35 oF range to remind you of the possibility of black ice.

Don't know what else you'd need.

Sure the Subaru navigation gives you maintenance warnings, but for I can pick up a dozen window decals at the dollar store to remind me to change my oil and other maintenance. I would only consider the Subie navigation system if it was on flash memory and costs less than $300. If anything, why don't they let you load the DVD in the music carousel insted of installing a separate drive under the seat?

[eastsidesubaru]

Yup, it gives you mpg and distance to empty, outside temp, maitenance reminders... I don't think it lets you view OBD-II codes though but that would be pretty nice if it did!! I've played around with it and haven't seen that option anywhere.

edit: ok, the official description is:
Multifunction screen displaying trip computer (fuel economy, driving range, digital clock, journey time, birthday/anniversary reminder, ambient temperature, road surface freeze warning) and selected SI-DRIVE system mode (Intelligent, Sport or Sport Sharp)
S
Multifunction screen displaying navigation system information, trip computer functions, maintenance intervals, controls for various vehicle settings, calendar, calculator and memo-taking function

So there you have it.

[shopper-X]

I don't have navigation but do have computer displays such as outside temperature, two trip odometers with average miles per gallon, an instant consumption display, distance to empty and elapsed time. The elapsed time overrides the display every hour to remind you to stop as does the "miles to empty" it comes on when you have 50 miles left on the tank.

The outside temperature guage also flashes in the 32-35 oF range to remind you of the possibility of black ice.

Don't know what else you'd need.

Sure the Subaru navigation gives you maintenance warnings, but for I can pick up a dozen window decals at the dollar store to remind me to change my oil and other maintenance. I would only consider the Subie navigation system if it was on flash memory and costs less than $300. If anything, why don't they let you load the DVD in the music carousel insted of installing a separate drive under the seat?

Thanks.
I found a step-by-step guide (http://quarantinemail.com/files/GPS_Installation_Instructions.pdf) for the Magellan RoadMate 300 GPS written in 2005 on the LegacyGT (http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7146&highlight=navigation) site.
It looks like the 2005 and 2008 Navigation location is in the same spot, so this should still work.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5441/legacynavba1.png

[eastsidesubaru]

Thanks.
I found a step-by-step guide (http://quarantinemail.com/files/GPS_Installation_Instructions.pdf) for the Magellan RoadMate 300 GPS written in 2005 on the LegacyGT (http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7146&highlight=navigation) site.
It looks like the 2005 and 2008 Navigation location is in the same spot, so this should still work.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5441/legacynavba1.png

Whoa.. that's a sweet setup! I'm digging that. :cheesygri

[crasher]

Thanks.
I found a step-by-step guide (http://quarantinemail.com/files/GPS_Installation_Instructions.pdf) for the Magellan RoadMate 300 GPS written in 2005 on the LegacyGT (http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7146&highlight=navigation) site.
It looks like the 2005 and 2008 Navigation location is in the same spot, so this should still work.
http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/5441/legacynavba1.png

Thats cool, and food for thought:D

[shopper-X]

Whoa.. that's a sweet setup! I'm digging that. :cheesygri

Thats cool, and food for thought:D

I think it looks hot too. We can thank "arnox" from LegacyGT.com for step-by-step write up.
That unit is from 2005 and I hoping to find a bluetooth version that looks that good.
FYI: The Magellan RoadMate 300 North America Size: 6.18" W x 3.11" H x 1.18" D (W 157 mm x H 79 mm x D 30 mm)

[chadw01]

Nice setup.. but that has "come break into my vehicle" all over it..

[KillaB]

Just got a call from Darcars.com and they will sell me a new Toyota but I'll have to pay the state tax of 5%. Anyone else heard of this? Maybe I'll just end of going with a Subaru and not worry about tax or duties.

You can read of my fun on pages 182 and 184. I didn't mention Darcars name because I still wanted to deal with them, but after the runaround in the dealerships I've given up on them. Online dealings only from now on!

Basically Darcars will still sell to us, but they just don't understand our taxes and/or where told to collect it.

[Draug]

One last thing, due to the increase cost for aluminum, the 2008 Legacys and Outbacks now use sheet metal hoods, trunks, lids and other side components.



Ouch! That is a nice tidbit to know.

I just got back with my 07 Lecagy GT Ltd Wagon on Saturday. You can add me to your list of successful importers (although I still have inspections to pass).


The Outback has a prop. rod to hold up the hood. (WTF?). With the extended moonroof, the interior lighting is horrible. There's no wheel well lighting, no lights in the glove compartment. When you open the door at night, the only light that comes on are the puddle lights (lights on the door that light the ground) and a single entry light BEHIND the rear passenger. There are map lights above the driver, they should come on when the door opens but they don't.

Yep, my Legacy has the hood rod too. Didnt really mind until you mentioned it.

The lack of interior lighting when opening the doors also drives me crazy. I was hoping I just hadnt set the front map lights to turn on - but they cant be set that way. That dome light is a LONG ways back there and doesnt illuminate the front at all!

How about not being able to open the back hatch from inside the car? There seems to be no 'open' button anywhere, and the key fob button doesnt work while the car is running. I might have to install my own opener - it drives me crazy.

I also miss the darkness sensor of my Grand Am which automatically turned the headlights on and off when it was too dark. Way better than having to remember doing it yourself. At least the Subaru turns them off when you turn off the car. If you could see the climate and radio controls during daylight with the headlights on I would just leave the lights on all the time.

[bilzebub]

I doubt she needs 18" performance rims and bilstein suspension parts to drive the kid around. Having only a MANUAL transmission should give it away. The 3.0R is a regularly aspirated engine

Monsieurmaggot, the reason I thought that the 3.0R Legacy was a good "value" was that it has those Bilsteins and 18" rims. Now if I could only figure out why everyone on Legacygt.com hates the tires (Bridgestone RE92s). [I doubt the dealer would let me trade them anyway]

[develop]

Finally, I picked up my 2007 Toyota 4Runner yesterday.Yeh, I am on that list too!
Very good experience and lots of savings.
Now I just need to wait for the inspection and registering the car.

[tkyoshi]

Ouch! That is a nice tidbit to know.

I just got back with my 07 Lecagy GT Ltd Wagon on Saturday. You can add me to your list of successful importers (although I still have inspections to pass).



Yep, my Legacy has the hood rod too. Didnt really mind until you mentioned it.

The lack of interior lighting when opening the doors also drives me crazy. I was hoping I just hadnt set the front map lights to turn on - but they cant be set that way. That dome light is a LONG ways back there and doesnt illuminate the front at all!

How about not being able to open the back hatch from inside the car? There seems to be no 'open' button anywhere, and the key fob button doesnt work while the car is running. I might have to install my own opener - it drives me crazy.

I also miss the darkness sensor of my Grand Am which automatically turned the headlights on and off when it was too dark. Way better than having to remember doing it yourself. At least the Subaru turns them off when you turn off the car. If you could see the climate and radio controls during daylight with the headlights on I would just leave the lights on all the time.


You mean there's no daytime parade mode brightness setting?

[Draug]

You mean there's no daytime parade mode brightness setting?

I am not exactly sure what you mean.

On the my Legacy GT wagon, although the DRL's are always on, the main lowbeams dont automatically come on when it gets dark. You have to turn the switch on. When you turn on the lights, the instrument panel lights dim because it is assumed to be night time when you would dimmer interior lighting. If you turn on the headlights in the daylight, the dimmer interior lighting is too hard to see - you cant read the radio display or HVAC displays if it is sunny. If you could, then one could leave the headlights switched on all the time, since they turn off automatically with the car.

All I was saying was it would be nice to have the lights automatically turn on and off when it was dark/light outside. My '99 Grand Am does it, so I had sort of assumed the Subaru would too.

[eastsidesubaru]

I am not exactly sure what you mean.

On the my Legacy GT wagon, although the DRL's are always on, the main lowbeams dont automatically come on when it gets dark. You have to turn the switch on. When you turn on the lights, the instrument panel lights dim because it is assumed to be night time when you would dimmer interior lighting. If you turn on the headlights in the daylight, the dimmer interior lighting is too hard to see - you cant read the radio display or HVAC displays if it is sunny. If you could, then one could leave the headlights switched on all the time, since they turn off automatically with the car.

All I was saying was it would be nice to have the lights automatically turn on and off when it was dark/light outside. My '99 Grand Am does it, so I had sort of assumed the Subaru would too.

? There is a little turning thingy on the left stalk that should let you adjust the dash brightness... In my subie and most of the subie owners I know we just leave the headlights on all the time. And there's a little thing you can turn to adjust the brightness (and I have no problems at all)... if that doesnt make sense I can try to take a picture or something :) give that a try though.

(also, WHERE DID YOU FIND A 07 LEGACY GT WAGON??? There's none left in WA.. I see one in Alaska and one in California... two in new york..and one in colorado.. and that's it... they are pretty much sold out!!) :(

[dave1945]

Subaru 2008 is on the list. I am ready for outback 2.5i, anyone interest to buy it together from buffalo?

[johnsa]

I am looking at a GM vehicle with "Manufacturer Re-purchased" on the title...Has anyone ever seen this..apparently it has to due with the Lemon Laws in the US...The mfr (in this case GM) had to buy back the car from the original owner due to some defects that the dealer could not rectify. I am wondering if this has any impact on registering in Ontario..I can not think of any..it is not the usual title defect such as rebuilt, etc. Still carries GM warranty, as well even if not valid up here....just curious if anyone has had any experience with this...

[bigbug]

Finally, I picked up my 2007 Toyota 4Runner yesterday.Yeh, I am on that list too!
Very good experience and lots of savings.
Now I just need to wait for the inspection and registering the car.

New or used? Which dealer would sell you if new? thanks.

[eastsidesubaru]

I am looking at a GM vehicle with "Manufacturer Re-purchased" on the title...Has anyone ever seen this..apparently it has to due with the Lemon Laws in the US...The mfr (in this case GM) had to buy back the car from the original owner due to some defects that the dealer could not rectify. I am wondering if this has any impact on registering in Ontario..I can not think of any..it is not the usual title defect such as rebuilt, etc. Still carries GM warranty, as well even if not valid up here....just curious if anyone has had any experience with this...

whoa... STEER CLEAR. i would rather have something rebuilt than something thats already known to be a lemon!!

[Draug]

? There is a little turning thingy on the left stalk that should let you adjust the dash brightness... In my subie and most of the subie owners I know we just leave the headlights on all the time. And there's a little thing you can turn to adjust the brightness (and I have no problems at all)... if that doesnt make sense I can try to take a picture or something :) give that a try though.

(also, WHERE DID YOU FIND A 07 LEGACY GT WAGON??? There's none left in WA.. I see one in Alaska and one in California... two in new york..and one in colorado.. and that's it... they are pretty much sold out!!) :(

The problem with the dash brightness adjuster is how dim I like the interior lighting at night. I like it at the lowest level. In the daytime, you cant see that setting if the lights are on. So, it comes down to either manually adjusting the dimmer with day and night or manually turning the headlights on and off with day and night.

I found the car in NC.

At the beginning of June, Carter Subaru couldnt find me any either. I had waited so long because I had decided to get an 08, until I found out that the GT Wagon is only available in Canada. So, I resorted to the Autotrader, searching for dealer adds of new cars. There were about 15 wagons listed, and about 7 actually still left. I dont know where they all were now because I threw the list away. Colorado, Arizona, NY, and NC forsure, but there were others on there.

All of them were colors that dictated the (yucky, IMO) beige interior, except for the one in NC. It was black, but I wanted Silver. But, black was a way better choice than a beige interior. Off I went to NC; a little holiday and a LONG road trip home. :) It is sort of depressing to have a new car and 4000 miles on it!

Do any of the ones you see happen to be silver?

[Alexo]

I agree. Let Toyota know that they are not the ONLY option. With their attitude, I would not buy a Toyota in Canada OR the US.

When you're buying a minivan, Toyota is not the only option but still a very strong one.

And Subaru is not an option at all.

.

[bb]

hi guys, i need your collective help.

i am in san francisco right now, and have been looking at new s2000s and bmw 328s. and the dealers that i went to and called ALL said that if i wanted to drive it back to vancouver, that i would have to pay the CA sales tax unless i put the car on a flatbed and transported it back to vancouver (i was planning to drive the car up instead). has anyone ever encountered this? if this is so, i may just pick up a car in washington state instead. i thought that if you weren't registering a car in a state, that you would not have to pay sales tax? anyone have any experience with this? is there a difference between used and new cars with respect to the required taxes? to those of you that purchased your subarus from seattle, what was your experience?

[shopper-X]

hi guys, i need your collective help.

i am in san francisco right now, and have been looking at new s2000s and bmw 328s. and the dealers that i went to and called ALL said that if i wanted to drive it back to vancouver, that i would have to pay the CA sales tax unless i put the car on a flatbed and transported it back to vancouver (i was planning to drive the car up instead). has anyone ever encountered this? if this is so, i may just pick up a car in washington state instead. i thought that if you weren't registering a car in a state, that you would not have to pay sales tax? anyone have any experience with this? is there a difference between used and new cars with respect to the required taxes? to those of you that purchased your subarus from seattle, what was your experience?

Since you're down there, visit a state or city office and ask them the rules and if there is a form the dealer needs to fillout.

[perfchris]

Go to vtec.net. There is a dealer called Gunn Honda who has a huge inventory of s2000s. Gunn Honda is in Texas.

Good Luck !

[MMMM]

Just helped my neighbour import a 2007 Toyota Sienna LE. Saved approximately $12000.00. Finding a dealer who would sell took a few calls.
Both of the following are selling to Canadians. Downtown Toyota is in Spokane and Magic is in Seattle.

http://www.dttoyota.com/

http://www.magictoyota.com/

[khtm]

Probably a stupid question, but I assume the 6.1% import duty is applicable to both NEW and USED vehicles (that don't have a VIN that starts with a #)?

:?:

[Symcrapico]

Just helped my neighbour import a 2007 Toyota Sienna LE. Saved approximately $12000.00.

So if I understand correctly, you guys are still buying from Toyota even if the waranty is not valid in Canada?

Im not saying it isnt right, im just trying to figure out whats your reasoning. Im thinking something along this : Like your taking the risk to have a major break and return the car to the US and if its a minor thing, you would assume the repair cost?

Please correct me if im wrong

[shopper-X]

So if I understand correctly, you guys are still buying from Toyota even if the waranty is not valid in Canada?

Im not saying it isnt right, im just trying to figure out whats your reasoning. Im thinking something along this : Like your taking the risk to have a major break and return the car to the US and if its a minor thing, you would assume the repair cost?

Please correct me if im wrong

leafsrule06 posted his email from Toyota on June 13, 2007 and Toyota says the waranty is valid. The only thing against Toyota is they are playing dirty and not allowing their dealers to sell to Canadians (openly).

So I'm planning to forward this to a few Toyota dealers.....

Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize you have not been able to purchase a Toyota in New York.
Because our dealership are independently owned and operated, they have the right to set up their dealership policies. This in no way reflects Toyota's position in the matter. Toyota U.S.A. and Toyota Canada have an agreement to honor each other's warranty therefore we are not opposed to Canadian customers purchasing their vehicles in the U.S.A. only to take them to Canada. We are sorry you may need to call several dealership in the area closest to you to determine their policies in this matter.
http://www.toyota.com/toyotaApp/dealers/index.jsp?s_van=GM_STN_DEALERS_ADV Your email has been documented at our National Headquarters under file #200706121211. If we can be of further assistance, please feel free to contact us.

This was my email to them.....

Hi, I am a Canadian who wishes to purchase a new Toyota in the US to export from the US into Canada. I am not able to find a dealer that will sell to me and am not sure why. The reason I ask is that I know there have been some recent sales to Candadians that I have read about and don't know whether a policy has been put in place to prohibit sales to Candadians? If you could provide information as to whether I can purchase in the US and then possibly recommend a dealer close to the the Canada/US border in Niagara Falls that would be great. Thanks

[khtm]

Just spitballing here, but I was interested in some expert opinions.

Unless I'm failing to read between the lines, I've read through this entire thread and it seems for the most part that people are purchasing vehicles for their personal use, and not to sell for profit.

For those of you that would like to import a car to make some extra money, it sounds like the general consensus is that it's better to purchase a used vehicle (say 1 year old), then a new vehicle.

But why couldn't someone just purchase a new vehicle over the phone/internet from a US dealer, have it shipped up here to your doorstep and sell it for $20K more? That way it still has no mileage and could be sold as "new"...right? Are there any flaws in that logic? Wouldn't the potential gain be greater than purchasing a used vehicle? You also wouldn't have to worry about inspections and whatnot or if the previous owner was rough on it, so it should be super easy to sell.

Please let me know your thoughts. :cheesygri

[Prof]

For those looking at Subaru, rebates are now available on 08's as well: $750 - $1000 for most models.

[flaming homer]

Just spitballing here, but I was interested in some expert opinions.

Unless I'm failing to read between the lines, I've read through this entire thread and it seems for the most part that people are purchasing vehicles for their personal use, and not to sell for profit.

For those of you that would like to import a car to make some extra money, it sounds like the general consensus is that it's better to purchase a used vehicle (say 1 year old), then a new vehicle.

But why couldn't someone just purchase a new vehicle over the phone/internet from a US dealer, have it shipped up here to your doorstep and sell it for $20K more? That way it still has no mileage and could be sold as "new"...right? Are there any flaws in that logic? Wouldn't the potential gain be greater than purchasing a used vehicle? You also wouldn't have to worry about inspections and whatnot or if the previous owner was rough on it, so it should be super easy to sell.

Please let me know your thoughts. :cheesygri
How much are you offering to pay for our thoughts ? If you're going to make a profit off the information here, shouldn't you share the wealth ?

[Abstract_Thought]

But why couldn't someone just purchase a new vehicle over the phone/internet from a US dealer, have it shipped up here to your doorstep and sell it for $20K more? That way it still has no mileage and could be sold as "new"...right? Are there any flaws in that logic?

That would still be considered used.

[Flex69]

+1



I asked many dealers before I purchased my vehicle last yr. to see if I was able in any way to finance a vehicle, and it was a point blank NO in all cases. Why would anyone let you finance anything with that large amount without first giving you a credit check. Even the cell phone companies excluding the prepaid ones in the US require a SSN/credit check.

sorry, but can anyone confirm the following?

1) is an SSN the same as a SIN(social insurance number)?
2) is it, or is it NOT possible to finance in the states??

there's just soo much feed going on that i might have missed it. Thanks!

[superwell]

sorry, but can anyone confirm the following?

1) is an SSN the same as a SIN(social insurance number)?
2) is it, or is it NOT possible to finance in the states??

there's just soo much feed going on that i might have missed it. Thanks!

Not sure about the SSN but the financing is a no if your not a US resident

[inspire]

SIN is not SSN... if you looked at a "real" social security card, it's made of paper, like the Ontario birth certificate. It looks like anyone could use an inkjet printer and make one. It's ridiculous. At least the SIN card is made of plastic ... :rolleyes:

And no ... you need a real social security number to be able to obtain leasing deals with a US dealership (and most likely a US mailing address).

[mmonro]

Just helped my neighbour import a 2007 Toyota Sienna LE. Saved approximately $12000.00. Finding a dealer who would sell took a few calls.
Both of the following are selling to Canadians. Downtown Toyota is in Spokane and Magic is in Seattle.

http://www.dttoyota.com/

http://www.magictoyota.com/

I saved about $8000 on a 07 Sienna CE from Seattle dealer The car is at Canadian Tire getting the federal and provincial inspection and I should have it insured later today. Importing went smooth and worth the effort. One tip on I can offer is email your MSO and recall letter to the RIV and they will process your application and email form 2 the same day if you call them.

[loplop]

Hello everyone, I had posted on this thread earlier with regards to purchase of subaru's from alberta, in particular a group buy. I had quite a few requests to keep those interested updated so here goes. I had contacted Joe from Carter and seriously now is a veryyyyy good time for an excellent deal. Exchange rate is awesome and even $750-$1000 rebate on legacy/outbacks. Now, because I was simply inquring for info, I couldn't get exact figures but definitely if we can group buy 4-5 at the same time, "it would be worth our while". So the last question is...anybody in for a GROUP BUY from ALBERTA? I'm looking at a Legacy 2.5i Limited and got an honest price from Joe so whether we group buy or not, I'm still going to purchase but of course if you are looking for a subaru and was wondering if you wanted to make that jump, now (group buy) is a very sweet time......:D

[dealcatcher]

I saved about $8000 on a 07 Sienna CE from Seattle dealer The car is at Canadian Tire getting the federal and provincial inspection and I should have it insured later today. Importing went smooth and worth the effort. One tip on I can offer is email your MSO and recall letter to the RIV and they will process your application and email form 2 the same day if you call them.

could you explain what is MSO ? how much did you pay for the 07 Sienna CE in USD$ ?

[khtm]

Hello everyone, I had posted on this thread earlier with regards to purchase of subaru's from alberta, in particular a group buy. I had quite a few requests to keep those interested updated so here goes. I had contacted Joe from Carter and seriously now is a veryyyyy good time for an excellent deal. Exchange rate is awesome and even $750-$1000 rebate on legacy/outbacks. Now, because I was simply inquring for info, I couldn't get exact figures but definitely if we can group buy 4-5 at the same time, "it would be worth our while". So the last question is...anybody in for a GROUP BUY from ALBERTA? I'm looking at a Legacy 2.5i Limited and got an honest price from Joe so whether we group buy or not, I'm still going to purchase but of course if you are looking for a subaru and was wondering if you wanted to make that jump, now (group buy) is a very sweet time......:D
I'm interested, but in a used Suby (live in Calgary).

[KillaB]

could you explain what is MSO ?

I had the same question and found my answer in this excellent thread/writeup:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416

[james-007]

could you explain what is MSO ? how much did you pay for the 07 Sienna CE in USD$ ?

MSO stands for "Manufacture State of Origin" certificate. You get this in Canada also but you don't get to see it because after you purchase the vehicle the dealer send it out to the appropriate authority. Same thing happens in States but because you are exporting the vehicle they have no use this certificate and it's given to the owner. Here in BC you'll need the original MSO to get your car insured with ICBC. At that time they'll ask for it and you'll never see it again.
PS MSO is provided only with new vehicles...

[inspire]

MSO stands for "Manufacture State of Origin" certificate.

Hmmm ... this "MSO" is sometimes called "COO" (certificate of origin) that I have read in other parts of this thread. At least ... that's what I remember when I imported my Acura TSX in December. :confused:

Over here in Ontario, once you cross the border, Canada Customs agent makes sure it has the stamp from the US Border Agency side (it's embossed like how a notary notarizes a document) and then collects GST + RIV fee.

[mmonro]

Hmmm ... this "MSO" is sometimes called "COO" (certificate of origin) that I have read in other parts of this thread. At least ... that's what I remember when I imported my Acura TSX in December. :confused:

Over here in Ontario, once you cross the border, Canada Customs agent makes sure it has the stamp from the US Border Agency side (it's embossed like how a notary notarizes a document) and then collects GST + RIV fee.

Alll new vehicle will have MSO or COO. Customs just need to know where the car was manufactured so they can apply the appropriate duty. North American made vehicle have no duty. The dealer will give you this certificate which you present at US and CAnada customs.

[yyz2hkg]

I had the same question and found my answer in this excellent thread/writeup:
http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416

thx KillaB...wanna nominate me for some RFD awards?:cheesygri

[stunaz]

anyone know of any US Dealers closest to Toronto that would sell to canadians?

i'm looking for a Honda Ridgeline or Toyota Tundra

[slothy@cutey]

Back in the news again...

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/07/06/cars-consumer.html

[golden]

Am I missing something here? I think this thread is about importing from US, and you're starting a group buy from Alberta? Wouldn't the saving be a lot less than buying from US?

Hello everyone, I had posted on this thread earlier with regards to purchase of subaru's from alberta, in particular a group buy. I had quite a few requests to keep those interested updated so here goes. I had contacted Joe from Carter and seriously now is a veryyyyy good time for an excellent deal. Exchange rate is awesome and even $750-$1000 rebate on legacy/outbacks. Now, because I was simply inquring for info, I couldn't get exact figures but definitely if we can group buy 4-5 at the same time, "it would be worth our while". So the last question is...anybody in for a GROUP BUY from ALBERTA? I'm looking at a Legacy 2.5i Limited and got an honest price from Joe so whether we group buy or not, I'm still going to purchase but of course if you are looking for a subaru and was wondering if you wanted to make that jump, now (group buy) is a very sweet time......:D

[shopper-X]

Am I missing something here? I think this thread is about importing from US, and you're starting a group buy from Alberta? Wouldn't the saving be a lot less than buying from US?

Yes you are.
loplop is looking at organizing a group buy from a US Dealer for people in the Alberta area. So people from Alberta are going to buying from the US.

[slothy@cutey]

anyone know of any US Dealers closest to Toronto that would sell to canadians?

i'm looking for a Honda Ridgeline or Toyota Tundra

Read the thread - I know it's long, but there's A LOT of useful info including tips/info on buying a Honda in the US through Queenston-Lewiston.

[golden]

Ops, thanks. I read about half of this entire thread, but not every single post. I'm interested in importing a car from US late 07 or early 08.

Yes you are.
loplop is looking at organizing a group buy from a US Dealer for people in the Alberta area. So people from Alberta are going to buying from the US.

[Draug]

Back in the news again...

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/07/06/cars-consumer.html

I wish they would quit putting this in the news! :mad:

Generally, I dont believe in buying brand new cars for daily drivers. The first two years of depreciation is terrible. But, with the $11,000 I saved on my 07 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon, I went for it. My general plan was to drive it for 1-1.5 yrs, or until the equivalent Cdn car depreciated from the purchase price of $47K-49K Cdn to the $35K Cdn I paid (including all taxes). Then, I was planning to sell my '07 at the break even point and buy a new model. By doing that, I could be continually driving new vehicles depreciation free. It was worth the shot.

But, with all the publicity that importing vehicles is getting, I am afraid the resale value of used imports (or even all used Cdn cars) will be driven too far down. If the resale value drops, my plan wont work at all. I'll be keeping the wagon for the longterm.

I guess I will wait and see...

[schnee]

I wish they would quit putting this in the news! :mad:

Generally, I dont believe in buying brand new cars for daily drivers. The first two years of depreciation is terrible. But, with the $11,000 I saved on my 07 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon, I went for it. My general plan was to drive it for 1-1.5 yrs, or until the equivalent Cdn car depreciated from the purchase price of $47K-49K Cdn to the $35K Cdn I paid (including all taxes). Then, I was planning to sell my '07 at the break even point and buy a new model. By doing that, I could be continually driving new vehicles depreciation free. It was worth the shot.

But, with all the publicity that importing vehicles is getting, I am afraid the resale value of used imports (or even all used Cdn cars) will be driven too far down. If the resale value drops, my plan wont work at all. I'll be keeping the wagon for the longterm.

I guess I will wait and see...


SO true, I was planning to import a new corvette for myself, thinking the same idea, until I looked in the autotrader and saw pages and pages of them for sale. Called almost all of them, no surprise, its a bunch of guys trying to make money on these cars they've owned a month or two and bought in the US. Figured I'd wait and see how the value is affected, NONE of them have sold and I hear the sellers getting more and more desperate to sell (price plumeting) each time I call.

[Draug]

SO true, I was planning to import a new corvette for myself, thinking the same idea, until I looked in the autotrader and saw pages and pages of them for sale. Called almost all of them, no surprise, its a bunch of guys trying to make money on these cars they've owned a month or two and bought in the US. Figured I'd wait and see how the value is affected, hardly any of them have sold and I hear the sellers getting more and more desperate to sell (price plumeting) each time I call.

Are you talking about BRAND new vettes? I was thinking of doing this with a newer used Vette - probably a 03/04. Outside chance of an '06 Z06. Afterall, if you get stuck keeping it for years, it better be one you like :)

[schnee]

Yep, brand new, or perhaps one with just a few miles on it, the 05 and newer style really gets me. But the dreams kind of crushed ala the very topic at hand.

[patrickmychan]

Just wanted to add my thanks to the OP for bringing this to everyone's attention.

I just imported a brand-new 2007 Audi A4. Saved about $8000. Too bad about the duties, but it's still worth it.

[kevin01]

Just wanted to add my thanks to the OP for bringing this to everyone's attention.

I just imported a brand-new 2007 Audi A4. Saved about $8000. Too bad about the duties, but it's still worth it.

How much did you pay??

And how would I go with financing for the car? Would I be able to get it before i imported it? Im thinking about getting a TL because i found a pretty good deal on a 05 model.

[scouzi]

Back in the news again...

http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2007/07/06/cars-consumer.html

People don`t realize that buying an over-priced vehicle locally does not stimulate the economy.

The extra profit ,excluding the small dealer margin leaves the county. The only thing that stays in Canada is the small dealer profit.

If you save $15000 by importing, that $15 000 will most likey be spent locally.

[torpdude]

I didn't feel like looking through all the pages to this thread so this may have been mentioned before. It's not just individuals importing cars from the US, dealers are doing it as well and you may be able to save yourself the hassle by having them do the work.
I just bought a 2006 Kia Sorento from the local Kia dealership that they bought from auction in the US. I got it for less than Canadian blackbook value. I even checked with Kia Canada to confirm that the warranty would honoured and all is good.

[eastsidesubaru]

Hey, if anyone else has any other questions for me, I'm logged on AIM under 'eastsidesubaru'. Think this might be a good way to communicate.

[loplop]

Hello everyone, I'm back again and has some new info. One of the main questions i got through pm's is 'availability' and 'specific options'. The answer I got was the 'group buy' transaction can more easily be done with 'existing' stock. Same thing with colour. I understand what Joe means because if eveyone orders or wants a specific car with specifc colours and options, then it's more of a pre-order or individual sale because then each vehicle will be sold at different times (unless it's all paid in advance which i personally wouldnt do). The group buy is more like 4-5 vehicles bought within a 1-2 week time frame, all paid and delivered (driven off the lot). This is where the potential savings/deal is because we are getting rid of 4-5 vehicles off his lot within a short period of time. I also understand that we are not buying a loaf of bread here so it's important to get exactly what eveyone wants and might not want to just 'pick' a vehicle. I also got a lot of inquries about price. Price is going to be determined by the vehicle and existing rebates and the 'potential amount of group buyers'. What I mean is that i could be looking at a 2.5i legacy but you want a 7pass limited tribeca, savings you have on the tribeca will be more than me because the tribeca is priced higher. In the end, the vehicles are still individually priced BUT because we are group buying 4-5 vehicles, we'll get more savings (hopefully even some accesories...hehe). I hope this clears things up a bit. My plan is to purchase during the second or last week of July so we keep you all updated.

[sucker4adeal]

Noticed most of the people on here are/were dealing with a US Dealer directly... so what about private sales? What is the proper procedure for that?

Please share your experiences.... thanks! :)

[Draug]

Noticed most of the people on here are/were dealing with a US Dealer directly... so what about private sales? What is the proper procedure for that?

Please share your experiences.... thanks! :)

I havent done it, but I think it is the same process, as long as the vehicle is under 15 years old, and on the RIV allowable list. Instead of a Statement of Origin, you have a private Bill of Sale to show customs and the Canadian border officials.

[ziploc]

I just noticed this on the http://www.cars101.com/canada.html page:

NOTE: NEW WARRANTY STATEMENT, June 21, 2007

from Subaru or America (SoA) and Subaru Canada Inc (SCI).

The statement basically says the US warranty is now officially honored for Canadians purchasing US models, and simply that warranty work on 2008 and newer has to be done at either a US dealer OR if at a Canadian Subaru dealer, paid for by the customer and then reimbursement comes to the customer from SoA. This is not retroactive and 2007s and previous years are billed by the Canadian dealer and the customer does not pay.

This is effective June 21, 2007 and applies to any year new 2008 U.S. spec Subaru purchased by a Canadian resident and immediately registered in Canada. It is not retroative. Previous models will continue to be serviced as they have been with no change,

That's bad....I think it's better to get a 07 model before none of them will remain on the market

[bionicbadger]

That's bad....I think it's better to get a 07 model before none of them will remain on the market

The news is 2 weeks old, but whats bad about it? The warranty work still doesn't cost you anything except a stamp or a fax call in the end.

Actually if you do need warranty work, you can probably rack up some credit card rewards pretty much for free with this...

[patrickmychan]

How much did you pay??

And how would I go with financing for the car? Would I be able to get it before i imported it? Im thinking about getting a TL because i found a pretty good deal on a 05 model.

I paid $32450, but that I also sold my old car to them. I would say you could probably get it for about $35000 give or take. They might be getting a little more desperate to get rid of their existing stock as long as you're not concerned with a lot of extra options.

I'm not sure what you mean about getting it before importing it. Do you mean do you take possession before importing it? Well, I went to the dealership to pick it up and then drove it back, so I did get a chance to look at it and test drive it before I imported it.

You need to read the rest of this thread, I believe some people mentioned that it's possible to get financing from Canadian banks to purchase US vehicles. However, in my case, I paid for it in full, so I'm not sure about that.

[fiendy]

I paid $32450, but that I also sold my old car to them. I would say you could probably get it for about $35000 give or take. They might be getting a little more desperate to get rid of their existing stock as long as you're not concerned with a lot of extra options.

I'm not sure what you mean about getting it before importing it. Do you mean do you take possession before importing it? Well, I went to the dealership to pick it up and then drove it back, so I did get a chance to look at it and test drive it before I imported it.

You need to read the rest of this thread, I believe some people mentioned that it's possible to get financing from Canadian banks to purchase US vehicles. However, in my case, I paid for it in full, so I'm not sure about that.

Do you mind me asking which dealership you dealt with and where you brought it back across the border? Did you feel that the whole process was worth it?

[patrickmychan]

Do you mind me asking which dealership you dealt with and where you brought it back across the border? Did you feel that the whole process was worth it?

Sure, I'm not sure I should mention the dealership in the main thread. I'll PM to you the name and location. It was the first time that they apparently conducted a cross-border sale, so either they haven't gotten threatened by Audi yet or they don't care :)

I came back through the Queenston/Lewiston bridge. It was a fairly simple process. It only took one day after coming back to get everything done (RIV, inspection, licensing, new plates). A couple of days later, I got the compliance sticker.

You need to make sure that the car you're buying should have a minimum of modifications necessary to bring it up to Canadian standards. In my case, there were no extra modifications, but I can see how that would be a pain.

[eastsidesubaru]

Hello everyone, I'm back again and has some new info. One of the main questions i got through pm's is 'availability' and 'specific options'. The answer I got was the 'group buy' transaction can more easily be done with 'existing' stock. Same thing with colour. I understand what Joe means because if eveyone orders or wants a specific car with specifc colours and options, then it's more of a pre-order or individual sale because then each vehicle will be sold at different times (unless it's all paid in advance which i personally wouldnt do). The group buy is more like 4-5 vehicles bought within a 1-2 week time frame, all paid and delivered (driven off the lot). This is where the potential savings/deal is because we are getting rid of 4-5 vehicles off his lot within a short period of time. I also understand that we are not buying a loaf of bread here so it's important to get exactly what eveyone wants and might not want to just 'pick' a vehicle. I also got a lot of inquries about price. Price is going to be determined by the vehicle and existing rebates and the 'potential amount of group buyers'. What I mean is that i could be looking at a 2.5i legacy but you want a 7pass limited tribeca, savings you have on the tribeca will be more than me because the tribeca is priced higher. In the end, the vehicles are still individually priced BUT because we are group buying 4-5 vehicles, we'll get more savings (hopefully even some accesories...hehe). I hope this clears things up a bit. My plan is to purchase during the second or last week of July so we keep you all updated.


Hey Lop. Please run whatever you get by me... I won't hassle you if you choose to go with him, but if I could beat whatever price you get, then it will save you money. And if nobody goes in on you with the group buy, then I could still get you a great deal. The biggest problem is trying to combine factory orders with 'on the lot' orders is that on the lot orders get recorded in our monthly total immediately which affects our bonuses. Factory orders get recorded when the car comes in, in 4-8 weeks usually. So lets say you buy 3 cars off the lot and 3 cars factory... that would be 3 cars sold for july and 3 cars sold for august or september. if you buy 6 on the lot.. then that's 6 all at one time for july.. so much better. But regardless, on any car sale individual or not, we are going to try to price aggressively.

[Tuppin]

The news is 2 weeks old, but whats bad about it? The warranty work still doesn't cost you anything except a stamp or a fax call in the end.

Actually if you do need warranty work, you can probably rack up some credit card rewards pretty much for free with this...


Actually this Subaru change in warranty is not good. It puts the paperwork burden on the consumer. I would not really want to be paying for a large $$$ repair and waiting for my cheque to come from Subaru of the USA.

This opens the door to all kinds of stuff. What if you get your repair done and Subaru of the US decides that the Canadian dealer charged too much for the work....so they only reimburse you for the amount they think it should have cost.....so you then could be left on the hook for the rest of the cost?!?

The savings still make it worthwhile but it causes me some concern.

[shopper-X]

Actually this Subaru change in warranty is not good. It puts the paperwork burden on the consumer. I would not really want to be paying for a large $$$ repair and waiting for my cheque to come from Subaru of the USA.

This opens the door to all kinds of stuff. What if you get your repair done and Subaru of the US decides that the Canadian dealer charged too much for the work....so they only reimburse you for the amount they think it should have cost.....so you then could be left on the hook for the rest of the cost?!?

The savings still make it worthwhile but it causes me some concern.

You could always put it on a Credit Card and hope the cheque comes before the payment is due, it's worth a shot.

[eastsidesubaru]

This opens the door to all kinds of stuff. What if you get your repair done and Subaru of the US decides that the Canadian dealer charged too much for the work....so they only reimburse you for the amount they think it should have cost.....so you then could be left on the hook for the rest of the cost?!?

The savings still make it worthwhile but it causes me some concern.

If you don't feel comfortable with it, then absolutely you should purchase in Canada. There are certainly drawbacks to importing from the US, I'll be the first to admit that. The temp display is in Fahrenheit. The odometer shows miles, not KM. However, in some cases you can save a ridiculous amount of money, so it's worth it to some.
As for the warranty, personally I think it is a good thing - at least now the policy is set in stone, and it is no longer unclear, and you will not be turned down for warranty work. As long as you have your repairs done at a Canadian SUBARU dealership, you should be covered and will not be left with an extra bill. And I would suggest just paying with a credit card so you are covered and can dispute the charge if needed (ie if Canadian subaru dealership charges more than they are allowed to by warranty for repairs). How often are you really expecting the Subie to be in the shop for warranty work, anyhow?

[glonq]

I think I'll zip down to the seattle area soon (from Vancouver) and pick up a new or used Subaru Legacy GT.

If I import a used car into BC, it seems that I still pay PST. Do I still pay GST too? Is there any way to avoid paying either (or both) of those?

[michelb]

I think I'll zip down to the seattle area soon (from Vancouver) and pick up a new or used Subaru Legacy GT.

If I import a used car into BC, it seems that I still pay PST. Do I still pay GST too? Is there any way to avoid paying either (or both) of those?

When you import, you are responsible for GST & DUTY, when you register you pay PST so you end up having to pay all taxes on it.

If you are a CND citizen living in the US as a the time and can register the car in the US for sufficient amount of time (might be 6 months, might be one year), when you return and import the car in Canada you can qualify for a tax exemption on the first $10k CND value for the car - anything past $10k is still taxable. Also keep in mind that at this point, the value of the car will probably be determined by the CND Red Book value, which might actually be more then the 'new US price' so you might end up paying the same amount of tax or more anyway (i.e. buy the car for $29k US, when you import it 6 months later, the Red Book Value is $42k CND so you are taxed on $32k CND).

[ziploc]

The news is 2 weeks old, but whats bad about it? The warranty work still doesn't cost you anything except a stamp or a fax call in the end.

Actually if you do need warranty work, you can probably rack up some credit card rewards pretty much for free with this...

You know...paying for it up front...(before refund from SoA) might be sometimes a difficult thing.....
I know someone who had to change 2 engines under warranty on his Forester...
few grand bill each....
and if You have a ''luck'' to get a lemon you will not find the end....

[bionicbadger]

You know...paying for it up front...(before refund from SoA) might be sometimes a difficult thing.....
I know someone who had to change 2 engines under warranty on his Forester...
few grand bill each....
and if You have a ''luck'' to get a lemon you will not find the end....

If you can afford to buy a new car, you should be able to afford a few thousand in repair bills until reimbursement. If you can't then, you are buying a car that is too expensive for you at the moment anyway and shouldn't be buying the car in the first place. And as pointed out, if things work out good, you could pay via credit card and hopefully get reimbursed before payment is due.

[ziploc]

If you can afford to buy a new car, you should be able to afford a few thousand in repair bills until reimbursement. If you can't then, you are buying a car that is too expensive for you at the moment anyway and shouldn't be buying the car in the first place. And as pointed out, if things work out good, you could pay via credit card and hopefully get reimbursed before payment is due.

That's not the point if someone can or not afford it....

As someone said it's a good thing that Subaru of America clarified the warranty status on Canadian imported cars.....but i think it's an actually downgrade to have to pay it up front before reimbursement. It might bring a whole new problems....
Why SoA won't let Canadian dealers do the paperwork and repairs for the consumer if they trust them for the repairs..?

Imo it's just another way to discourage Canadians to buy in US....but not clairly saying; we do not want You to import our cars....

You know todays cars and they repairs may jump quite fast in price specialy with all the electronic components, if someone get a lemon, he will have to pay for the repairs, but he will be without a car or will have to rent one,
but will that expense be payed by SoA ???

Too many things like that or delay in traitement are unclear which as I said,
aren't a better situation for the consumer...that's it

[shopper-X]

That's not the point if someone can or not afford it....

As someone said it's a good thing that Subaru of America clarified the warranty status on Canadian imported cars.....but i think it's an actually downgrade to have to pay it up front before reimbursement. It might bring a whole new problems....
Why SoA won't let Canadian dealers do the paperwork and repairs for the consumer if they trust them for the repairs..?

Imo it's just another way to discourage Canadians to buy in US....but not clairly saying; we do not want You to import our cars....

You know todays cars and they repairs may jump quite fast in price specialy with all the electronic components, if someone get a lemon, he will have to pay for the repairs, but he will be without a car or will have to rent one,
but will that expense be payed by SoA ???

Too many things like that or delay in traitement are unclear which as I said,
aren't a better situation for the consumer...that's it

Not the most ethical approach but...
Dealerships make their money off warranty work and if they (Canadian dealerships) were smart, they could add a few hundred bucks on the bill and claim it for you. Make friends ;)

[whampoa]

I see some poster prefer to pay 15K upfront to a Canadian dealer in order to have the warranty done for free in Canada.

Hey by all means Jack, go for it.

But in my case, I prefer to have my 15K sitting where it belongs accumulating compound interest, and not someone else bank account.

And talking about warranty work, there's this little trade secret where if the dealer have to do any warranty on your vehicle,

they will try their darndest to deny it or in case of a recall, find something else to fix.

In any case, just like the gas company, money will be siphon off your left pocket one way or another.

[whrlwndz]

Ok so I have a few questions after purchasing a 2007 Toyota Tacoma.

After re-reading the thread:
1. Looks like I have to declare the electronic money transfer. How and where would I do this?
2. How do I go about buying insurance for the one day that I drive the vehicle back from the US?
Do I a) buy a 1 day temp policy from a Washington insurance company?
b) buy temp insurance through BC's insurance ICBC?

I think it would be more expensive/hassle to buy in BC as the vehicle would NOT YET be registered in BC.

thoughts/comments?

[scouzi]

Ok so I have a few questions after purchasing a 2007 Toyota Tacoma.

After re-reading the thread:
1. Looks like I have to declare the electronic money transfer. How and where would I do this?
2. How do I go about buying insurance for the one day that I drive the vehicle back from the US?
Do I a) buy a 1 day temp policy from a Washington insurance company?
b) buy temp insurance through BC's insurance ICBC?

I think it would be more expensive/hassle to buy in BC as the vehicle would NOT YET be registered in BC.

thoughts/comments?

You don't have to declare a money transfer. It is declared by the bank automatically.

Get you own inusrance company to give you a 10 day insurance binder off you existing policy. You just have to tell them the exact date that you will be picking it up.

Get the dealer to install a temp permit when you pick it up.

[mmonro]

You don't have to declare a money transfer. It is declared by the bank automatically.

Get you own inusrance company to give you a 10 day insurance binder off you existing policy. You just have to tell them the exact date that you will be picking it up.

Get the dealer to install a temp permit when you pick it up.

ICBC will provide temporary coverage while you transport the vehicle to BC. I paid about $60 for full third party lability. Once in BC you will need to get storage permit from ICBC which cost about $30 until you receive form 2 from the RIV.( this took about 3 business days) Then you purchase a 1 way permit to get the vehicle to Canadian Tire for inspection( take it early in the morning and then you can get it back by the afternoon. Once it has passes you then drive the vehicle to your insurance agent to get the vehicle registered and insured.

[mmonro]

You don't have to declare a money transfer. It is declared by the bank automatically.

Get you own inusrance company to give you a 10 day insurance binder off you existing policy. You just have to tell them the exact date that you will be picking it up.

Get the dealer to install a temp permit when you pick it up.

I thought would post the process of getting insurance coverage for those buyers from BC.
1. Dealer will provide temporary trip permit from what ever state you purchase the vehicle in
2. Go to ICBC agent and purhcase insurance to cover you while the vehicle is in transit to you home( full third party, comprehensive, theft, fire). This cost about $60 and will only cover you till you to your destination.
3. ONce at your destination, your insurance coverage ends and you will need to purchase a storage policy that covers the vehicle while on your property. This will only cover the vehicle while stored on your property. Cost was $30 for 20 days.
4. Once you recieve form 2 from the RIV, you go back to the ICBC agent and purchase a 1 way permit that allows you to take the vehicle to Canadian Tire for the federal and BC safety inspection. The permit only covers you for the day and cost $30 so make sure you have time to get the inspection done and drive to the ICBC agent to get your plate or transfer your insurance to your new vehicle.
5. When you arrive at the ICBC agent they will ask for form 1 and form 2, MSO and bill of sale and begin the process of registering the car in BC and applying the insurance you want and paying the PST.

Looks complicated but its not. Your ICBC agent should be able to help you through the process. Good Luck to all importers

[yyz2hkg]

Was listening to 680 news today, kept on repeating how much you can save on importing and the amount of Canadians importing this year due to the Loonie's rise in value. They stress how some warranties are not "covered" by Chrysler, Honda and others...

[mmonro]

Was listening to 680 news today, kept on repeating how much you can save on importing and the amount of Canadians importing this year due to the Looney rise. They stress how some warranties are not "covered" by Chrysler, Honda and others...

I got a Toyota because it was covered in Canada I really wanted a Honda but would have meant driving to Bellingham, Washington for dealer service.

[Monsieurmaggot]

I noticed that Subaru US now offering rebates for the 2008 models!

Holy cow.

I'm looking forward to when my local Canadian Subaru dealer will start offering the $1500 rebates - NOT!

Thanks to those who nominated my thread as the most useful one on the site.

Might not win in popularity but those who've already followed my advice already know, they have already won in sheer $$$ saved!

In the long-haul, it's thanks to sites like this that the information can get out to the masses.

[flaming homer]

Thanks to those who nominated my thread as the most useful one on the site.

Might not win in popularity but those who've already followed my advice already know, they have already won in sheer $$$ saved!
Yes, by usefulness I must say the Memberworks thread works for everyone, but on a total $ saved, will need a ton of Memberworks memberships to save $8K like I did here...

[shopper-X]

I noticed that Subaru US now offering rebates for the 2008 models!

Holy cow.

I'm looking forward to when my local Canadian Subaru dealer will start offering the $1500 rebates - NOT!
...

I'm looking forward to when the 2008's come out here so I can test drive one.:D

[Monsieurmaggot]

I noticed that the 2008 Legacys and Outbacks are in Canadian dealerships now. No sign of the new Tribeca. I'm curious to take a closer look at that truck.

I'm not sure if I like the new cosmetic changes to the exterior of the Outback. Something not quite right for me.

IMHO the Legacy's new look is okay.

The interiors are identical with some minor changes to the instrument panel.

The biggest change is the addition of paddle shifters on some models and a re-location of the cruise controls.

The Canadian versions still don't have the tire pressure monitoring system which is standard across all but the base Legacy and Outback lines in the US. The TPMS is available on the Tribeca.

[eastsidesubaru]

Monsieur: It's probably because they're distributing the Tribeca amongst the US first, and there are still 06 tribecas left in canada I think.. the Tribecas have not exactly been a hot seller before the redesign... I think the 08s will do a lot better, it's a lot superior to the 07 in my opinion, having driven both.

[Beradon]

I noticed that Subaru US now offering rebates for the 2008 models!

Holy cow.

I'm looking forward to when my local Canadian Subaru dealer will start offering the $1500 rebates - NOT!

Thanks to those who nominated my thread as the most useful one on the site.

Might not win in popularity but those who've already followed my advice already know, they have already won in sheer $$$ saved!

In the long-haul, it's thanks to sites like this that the information can get out to the masses.

Would be nice if you could post up a list of car manufacturers that honor warranties in Canada for vehicles purchased in the US. You could list it in the very first post of this thread and it would help cut down the questions on warranty that keep popping up.

[whampoa]

Was listening to 680 news today, kept on repeating how much you can save on importing and the amount of Canadians importing this year due to the Loonie's rise in value. They stress how some warranties are not "covered" by Chrysler, Honda and others...

Are you sure confuse 680 News with 640 AM?

Because I heard the same thing from 640 AM, after work around 5:30 PM today.

I swear some of the information they talked about come straight out of this thread.

Like for example, when John Downs ask the "used" car importer why some carmarker won't honour the warranty on imported vehicle even with NAFTA.

The importer hesitate for a bit and say the manufacturer can do whatever they want with their vehicles, even not honouring their own warranty.

What a total BS and copout.

[perfchris]

Is it really that easy?


Does anyone know how they bargain pricing in the states? How much will they drop?

My family is thinking of bringing a Lincoln Aviator across from the states. Also we have a relative who owns a car dealership in the states, is there anyway he can help us?

Also is the warranty transferable? Can't you just take it back to the states if there is a small problem?

Edmunds.com forums have prices paid and buying experiences for lincoln aviator

[ecgz88]

I thought would post the process of getting insurance coverage for those buyers from BC.
1. Dealer will provide temporary trip permit from what ever state you purchase the vehicle in
2. Go to ICBC agent and purhcase insurance to cover you while the vehicle is in transit to you home( full third party, comprehensive, theft, fire). This cost about $60 and will only cover you till you to your destination.
3. ONce at your destination, your insurance coverage ends and you will need to purchase a storage policy that covers the vehicle while on your property. This will only cover the vehicle while stored on your property. Cost was $30 for 20 days.
4. Once you recieve form 2 from the RIV, you go back to the ICBC agent and purchase a 1 way permit that allows you to take the vehicle to Canadian Tire for the federal and BC safety inspection. The permit only covers you for the day and cost $30 so make sure you have time to get the inspection done and drive to the ICBC agent to get your plate or transfer your insurance to your new vehicle.
5. When you arrive at the ICBC agent they will ask for form 1 and form 2, MSO and bill of sale and begin the process of registering the car in BC and applying the insurance you want and paying the PST.

Looks complicated but its not. Your ICBC agent should be able to help you through the process. Good Luck to all importers


What happen if you do not have your own property? like me I'm renting now:D

[yyz2hkg]

Are you sure confuse 680 News with 640 AM?

Because I heard the same thing from 640 AM, after work around 5:30 PM today.

I swear some of the information they talked about come straight out of this thread.

Like for example, when John Downs ask the "used" car importer why some carmarker won't honour the warranty on imported vehicle even with NAFTA.

The importer hesitate for a bit and say the manufacturer can do whatever they want with their vehicles, even not honouring their own warranty.

What a total BS and copout.


Positive it wasn't 640AM, but 680 NEWS...LOL, 640 isn't even on my presets on my car...but here it is guys/gals...This is still a VERY HOT topic since it's still being discussed so often. As I said before guys, DO IT NOW BEFORE IT MAY ALL COME TO AN END!

"Canadians crossing the border to buy cars, soaring loonie to blame"

Toronto - Canadians have been flocking to the U.S. to buy cars, due to the soaring loonie.

Canadian Auto Associates Ltd. in Guelph, which specializes in cross border car sales, said the jump is about 55 per cent.

Company co-owner, Stephen Bulyovsky, told 680news he found the Lexus SC-430 Sport Coupe - that sells for about $94,000 in Canada - costs less across the border.

"We've been selling them for $70,000 each, so there's $20,000 savings if you're going to buy a brand new car. It's a lot of money to save on a purchase."

He said you can also save up to $5,000 on used vehicles and many have never seen salt or snow.

But, he also warned Canadians may be out of luck when it comes warranties.

Manufacturers like Honda, Acura and Chrysler won't honour them if the vehicles have been purchased south of the border."

LINKY (http://www.680news.com/news/local/article.jsp?content=20070709_145940_2992)

[MMMM]

The Globeandmail has a article today on buying a vehicle in the states.

There are already posters directing readers to this thread. (me included:cheesygri )

Post your thoughts on purchasing and how easy the process is on the globeandmail site.

http://www.reportonbusiness.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070709.wautos0709/BNStory/Business/home/

[mmonro]

What happen if you do not have your own property? like me I'm renting now:D

I believe its has be on someone's private proterty, but I would check with ICBC to be certain. You just can't park it on the street with the storage policy

[Monsieurmaggot]

Positive it wasn't 640AM, but 680 NEWS...LOL, 640 isn't even on my presets on my IMPORTED SUBIE...but here it is guys/gals...This is still a VERY HOT topic since it's still being discussed so often. As I said before guys, DO IT NOW BEFORE IT MAY ALL COME TO AN END!



I spoke to a reporter last night from 680News. I set the record straight since I found their report a bit skewed toward "warranty" coverage and relying on "third-party" importers.

The reporter was amazed that you can save over $20,000 importing a Subaru on your own. He didn't realize you could do if for $200.

He mentioned they might revise their report to include how easy it is for "do it yourselfers" like most of us here on RFD.

I'm spreading the word.

Someone PM'd me asking why I just don't move to the US since I'm promoting their products. My public reply is like this "as a dealer, why don't you push SCI to bring their pricing in line"?

From the Report on Business link listed a few lines back

http://www.reportonbusiness.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070709.wautos0709/BNStory/Business/home/, car imports from the US are up 50% from last year.

[elmst200]

Look at what Toyota Canada formally says about the price disparity between the border. The following is taken from "alex just a canadian from montreal, Canada" in discussion of ReportonBusiness.
http://www.reportonbusiness.ca/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070709.wautos0709/CommentStory/Business/home/
------
Thank you for your inquiry. Toyota Canada Inc. is the exclusive distributor of Toyota vehicles in Canada. Each Toyota distributor (there are hundreds around the world) works with the manufacturer in Japan to set its own prices for the products it distributes in its territory. Pricing for Toyota vehicles, therefore, does vary from country to country. Many business factors influence our vehicle pricing, such as: volume of units sold in this country, the value of our dollar (in comparison to foreign currencies), and the state of the Canadian economy. For the past few years, when the U.S. dollar was stronger than it is now, American residents were asking the very same question: they noticed that Canadian Toyota products seemed to cost less. That situation has now been somewhat reversed, but to a lesser degree. Although there are similarities between U.S. and Canadian market vehicles, there are also differences in features and options which must be taken into account for the differences in pricing. You will find that Toyota vehicles are very competitively priced if you compare them to other brands sold in Canada. We sincerely appreciate your having taken the time to write to us, thereby allowing us to respond to your concerns. We hope this information will be useful.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Maheu
Toyota Canada Inc.

[whampoa]

Someone PM'd me asking why I just don't move to the US since I'm promoting their products. My publice reply is like this "as a dealer, why don't you push SCI to bring their pricing in line"

Monsieur, it's so sad the day when someone PM that kind of question. What kind of idiotic rhetoric is that?

However, you can just answer back by saying you do promote Canadian made product, you're just not buying here but across the border.

You my comrade are more patriotic than some who just buy only import.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Actually you touched on something interesting Whampoa.

By saving tens of thousands of dollars on a US car purchase, this extra cash stays in my pocket which means I'm free to spend it over a few dozen vendors. Everyone gets their turn at the trough. If I bought my Subaru here, only a select few folks would benefit (and pocket a larger share).

Following that logic, if a couple of dozen people buy cars in the US and each save $10,000 then there would be an extra quarter of a million dollars available to be spent on the Canadian economy. If 100 people buy cars in the US, over ONE MILLION DOLLARS will be pocketed by the savy RFD consumer.

Everyone from coast to coast would benefit. The economy would flourish. Your local restaurants, stores and service industries would get a piece of the pie.

So really the motto should be <as Canadian anthem plays in background> "HELP THE CANADIAN ECONOMY, BUY A CAR IN THE US"

[Da Mango]

I've tried reading through several of the pages and finally decided to post a reply. If anyone has dealt with a Subaru dealer closer to the GTA ie. Buffalo and got a great deal, can they let me know? I think the West coast is covered, but not much mention here on the East side... thx.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Van Bortel Subaru, Northtown Subaru, West Herr (I bought from them) are just those near the GTA.

These folks are SUPER dealers. If memory serves me, I believe West Herr sells more cars in a week that most GTA dealers sell in a month. www.westherr.com or www.northtownauto.com

From the 'net I read that Northtown and West Herr have buyers from all over the Northeastern US shopping at their dealerships.

In and out, these folks don't use gimmicks and give you the bottom line in the first few minutes. Try that with ANY Canadian dealer. Since the Canadian dealers don't have anywhere near the volume, most of the reps. stand around like sharks waiting for a sucker (sorry I meant customer). They have nothing but time to chat it up with you.

[DarkCat]

Great thread; kinda nice to summarize the process.
Although the details are here somewhere (!), it'd be nice to have one
updated) summary in one place. Based on a summary in the mentioned
Globe/Mail article, I extracted the following summary (as per Henk Sluis).

If the pros could actually confirm all the steps are here, and if possible,
update it where required, it'll probably answer a lot of repetitive questions,
and cut down on the need to read 200 pages.

This process is based on importing to Ontario.

1. There is no duty if car is assembled in the USA.
Verify that the car is importable: www.riv.ca (http://www.riv.ca)

2. Verify that the car has the required Canadian Safety Standards.
See http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm

3. Check that warranty is valid in Canada.

4. Verify for a label stating that it meets all US Federal Standard.

5. Verify if state taxes are required.

6. Have the dealership fax a "Certificate of Origin" to US Customs (USC).
72 hours before your arrival at the border crossing.

7. Inspect the car - check dealer modification (e.g. block heater, etc.).

8. Obtain a letter from the manufacturer
stating this car (include VIN) does not have a Recall Pending.

9. Dealership provides a temporary plate sticker.

10. Call your insurance company and
provide the VIN number to arrange coverage.

11. At USC will verify that the VIN matches the doc,
this document must be presented at Canadian Customs.

12. At Canada Customs, present the
a) Bill of Sale,
b) Certificate of Origin and drivers license;
customs will verify that the VIN matches the doc.

13. You must pay the $206.70 at CC to Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV),
this covers the cost of inspection at Cdn Tire and Federal Registration.

14. Pay the GST at the Canada Customs.
There is a $100.00 charge if you have A/C.
They will provide a Form 1.

15. At home, fax the Recall Letter and file number to RIV;
they will then mail/email you a Inspection Form.

16. Go to Canadian Tire with your doc package.
Canadian Tire will provide Form 2.

17. A provincial safety maybe required even if its brand new.
This can be done at Cdn Tire or other certified station.
A Safety Standards Certificate will be provided.

18. Obtain proof of Insurance.

19. Go to Driver Licensing and take your Documentation package,
Pay the PST and registration fee.

20. RIV will send you a sticker to place on the car.
You're done.

[sphinxx]

Actually you touched on something interesting Whampoa.

By saving tens of thousands of dollars on a US car purchase, this extra cash stays in my pocket which means I'm free to spend it over a few dozen vendors. Everyone gets their turn at the trough. If I bought my Subaru here, only a select few folks would benefit (and pocket a larger share).

Following that logic, if a couple of dozen people buy cars in the US and each save $10,000 then there would be an extra quarter of a million dollars available to be spent on the Canadian economy. If 100 people buy cars in the US, over ONE MILLION DOLLARS will be pocketed by the savy RFD consumer.

Everyone from coast to coast would benefit. The economy would flourish. Your local restaurants, stores and service industries would get a piece of the pie.

So really the motto should be <as Canadian anthem plays in background> "HELP THE CANADIAN ECONOMY, BUY A CAR IN THE US"

LOL

[sphinxx]

Great thread; kinda nice to summarize the process.
Although the details are here somewhere (!), it'd be nice to have one
updated) summary in one place. Based on a summary in the mentioned
Globe/Mail article, I extracted the following summary (as per Henk Sluis).

If the pros could actually confirm all the steps are here, and if possible,
update it where required, it'll probably answer a lot of repetitive questions,
and cut down on the need to read 200 pages.

This process is based on importing to Ontario.

1. There is no duty if car is assembled in the USA.
Verify that the car is importable: www.riv.ca (http://www.riv.ca)

2. Verify that the car has the required Canadian Safety Standards.
See http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm

3. Check that warranty is valid in Canada.

4. Verify for a label stating that it meets all US Federal Standard.

5. Verify if state taxes are required.

6. Have the dealership fax a "Certificate of Origin" to US Customs (USC).
72 hours before your arrival at the border crossing.

7. Inspect the car - check dealer modification (e.g. block heater, etc.).

8. Obtain a letter from the manufacturer
stating this car (include VIN) does not have a Recall Pending.

9. Dealership provides a temporary plate sticker.

10. Call your insurance company and
provide the VIN number to arrange coverage.

11. At USC will verify that the VIN matches the doc,
this document must be presented at Canadian Customs.

12. At Canada Customs, present the
a) Bill of Sale,
b) Certificate of Origin and drivers license;
customs will verify that the VIN matches the doc.

13. You must pay the $206.70 at CC to Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV),
this covers the cost of inspection at Cdn Tire and Federal Registration.

14. Pay the GST at the Canada Customs.
There is a $100.00 charge if you have A/C.
They will provide a Form 1.

15. At home, fax the Recall Letter and file number to RIV;
they will then mail/email you a Inspection Form.

16. Go to Canadian Tire with your doc package.
Canadian Tire will provide Form 2.

17. A provincial safety maybe required even if its brand new.
This can be done at Cdn Tire or other certified station.
A Safety Standards Certificate will be provided.

18. Obtain proof of Insurance.

19. Go to Driver Licensing and take your Documentation package,
Pay the PST and registration fee.

20. RIV will send you a sticker to place on the car.
You're done.


PROPS! Nicely done DarkCat.

[whampoa]

This process is based on importing to Ontario.

1. There is no duty if car is assembled in the USA.
Verify that the car is importable: www.riv.ca (http://www.riv.ca)

Including Canada and Mexico. NAFTA is North America, not Made in USA only.

3. Check that warranty is valid in Canada.

Don't worry if some manufacturer refuse warranty. Purchase first if you can save upward of 10K or more, have a class action lawsuit later.

4. Verify for a label stating that it meets all US Federal Standard.

They don't sell any vehicle without meeting US safety standard. I think you mean Canadian safety standard, like daytime running light, child safety harness and French labels.

[bigbug]

Is there any restriction on reselling an imported vehicle, particularly in Ontario? Someone told me you have to wait for a year to resell it, but I can't find any official link.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Don't worry if some manufacturer refuse warranty. Purchase first if you can save upward of 10K or more, have a class action lawsuit later.

Some people just don't get that part Whampoa.

They're worried about warranty repairs and would rather spend the extra $10,000 - $20,000 in Canada for piece of mind.

Those folks are hypnotised and under the Canadian dealers' control.

Let them go, they need to learn on their own!!!!

If they want to lose out saving TENS of THOUSANDs for the sake of a $1000 repair bill (that might not be warrantied) let them.

Over the past 20 years or so, the only time I had any of my cars returned for warranty work was due to a failed spark plug. It failed in the first month. Can't think of any other warranty claim. Unless I bring up the days when I owned a Fiero (that's a whole different story).

Here's what I propose: Those who are worried about buying in the US, take half your expected savings. Put it in a GIC and use it ONLY for warranty repairs. I would guarantee you'll never empty the pot.

Even with extended warranties. Remember, those warranty companies make HUGE profits. That's why they offer them. Consumer reports had an article indicating that overall, it made no sense.

There are literally hundreds of articles on the 'net showing just how much warranty work is actually performed on vehicles. Lemons are typically the result of a service shop not knowing how to properly diagnose a vehicle and compounding the problem.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Is there any restriction on reselling an imported vehicle, particularly in Ontario? Someone told me you have to wait for a year to resell it, but I can't find any official link.

Check out Auto Trader. Lots of "curbsiding" going on. Lots of folks are doing it. I could sell my loaded 2007 for about $40k. That's about $4000 cheaper than the curbsiders. Thanks to the Canadian dollars' value, I would still pocket $6000! Two a year gives me a $12,000 profit and a new car every six months. Problem is it's a CASH business that only a few individuals can do.

There's a few dealers in the Oakville area flipping BMWs and Subarus. They mark them up by $10,000 and have no problem selling them.

My US dealer told me he was approached by one particular Canadian dealer offering to buy his entire stock of higher-end Subarus.

I do remember reading somewhere that Revenue Canada limits a private individual to two imports per year (per licensed driver) without intervention. Anything over that requires an importer permit.

[Pseudo Nim]

I would still be careful with that statement. Take my case, for instance. I drive an Impreza. I've taken it to the dealer about 3-4 times so far for various noises - as a result, they've replaced my rear differential, my front differential, my transmission and (after I complained they didn't put on the muffler properly after the transmission swap) they replaced my muffler too. I'm not sure if this would be worth saving $10k over. I wouldn't say I got a lemon, as nothing actually _broke_ in the car, but I don't like excess noise, and my dealer was happy enough to make $ on the warranty to just replace things for me.

I'm not sure if that's a common occurrence, but my total for all that work has been $0 so far.

Some people just don't get that part Whampoa.

They're worried about warranty repairs and would rather spend the extra $10,000 - $20,000 in Canada for piece of mind.

Those folks are hypnotised and under the Canadian dealers' control.

Let them go, they need to learn on their own!!!!

If they want to lose out saving TENS of THOUSANDs for the sake of a $1000 repair bill (that might not be warrantied) let them.

Over the past 20 years or so, the only time I had any of my cars returned for warranty work was due to a failed spark plug. It failed in the first month. Can't think of any other warranty claim. Unless I bring up the days when I owned a Fiero (that's a whole different story).

Here's what I propose: Those who are worried about buying in the US, take half your expected savings. Put it in a GIC and use it ONLY for warranty repairs. I would guarantee you'll never empty the pot.

Even with extended warranties. Remember, those warranty companies make HUGE profits. That's why they offer them. Consumer reports had an article indicating that overall, it made no sense.

There are literally hundreds of articles on the 'net showing just how much warranty work is actually performed on vehicles. Lemons are typically the result of a service shop not knowing how to properly diagnose a vehicle and compounding the problem.

[shopper-X]

I would still be careful with that statement. Take my case, for instance. I drive an Impreza. I've taken it to the dealer about 3-4 times so far for various noises - as a result, they've replaced my rear differential, my front differential, my transmission and (after I complained they didn't put on the muffler properly after the transmission swap) they replaced my muffler too. I'm not sure if this would be worth saving $10k over. I wouldn't say I got a lemon, as nothing actually _broke_ in the car, but I don't like excess noise, and my dealer was happy enough to make $ on the warranty to just replace things for me.

I'm not sure if that's a common occurrence, but my total for all that work has been $0 so far.

Your case really sounds like Monsieurmaggot point that:

There are literally hundreds of articles on the 'net showing just how much warranty work is actually performed on vehicles. Lemons are typically the result of a service shop not knowing how to properly diagnose a vehicle and compounding the problem.

Your dealer is the problem not the car. Dealers make thier money off of repairs not selling cars just like printer ink and razor refills.

[DSTU]

1. There is no duty if car is assembled in the USA.
Verify that the car is importable: www.riv.ca[/url

Incorrect - no duty if it meets NAFTA content.

2. Verify that the car has the required Canadian Safety Standards.
See [url]http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm

No need - RIV has this information

3. Check that warranty is valid in Canada.

If Canadian dealer won't warranty it make sure the US dealers will - short trip over the border to get it done, some manufacturers Honda will not warranty it in any country. Get a 3rd party warranty then

4. Verify for a label stating that it meets all US Federal Standard.

No need - this is already on the car.

5. Verify if state taxes are required.

No taxes since its for export.

6. Have the dealership fax a "Certificate of Origin" to US Customs (USC).
72 hours before your arrival at the border crossing.

7. Inspect the car - check dealer modification (e.g. block heater, etc.).

8. Obtain a letter from the manufacturer
stating this car (include VIN) does not have a Recall Pending.

9. Dealership provides a temporary plate sticker.

10. Call your insurance company and
provide the VIN number to arrange coverage.

11. At USC will verify that the VIN matches the doc,
this document must be presented at Canadian Customs.

12. At Canada Customs, present the
a) Bill of Sale,
b) Certificate of Origin and drivers license;
customs will verify that the VIN matches the doc.

13. You must pay the $206.70 at CC to Registrar of Imported Vehicles (RIV),
this covers the cost of inspection at Cdn Tire and Federal Registration.

14. Pay the GST at the Canada Customs.
There is a $100.00 charge if you have A/C.
They will provide a Form 1.

15. At home, fax the Recall Letter and file number to RIV;
they will then mail/email you a Inspection Form.

16. Go to Canadian Tire with your doc package.
Canadian Tire will provide Form 2.

17. A provincial safety maybe required even if its brand new.
This can be done at Cdn Tire or other certified station.
A Safety Standards Certificate will be provided.

18. Obtain proof of Insurance.

19. Go to Driver Licensing and take your Documentation package,
Pay the PST and registration fee.

20. RIV will send you a sticker to place on the car.
You're done.

[flaming homer]

Your dealer is the problem not the car. Dealers make thier money off of repairs not selling cars just like printer ink and razor refills.That's BS. If true:

- Dealers in the US will not be selling cars to Canadians like there's no tomorrow, considering they know we wouldn't be driving it back for service (specially Subaru)
- Dealers in Canada will not be reluctant to service US vehicles under warranty (or not). Hell, Canadian Subaru dealers in that case will go out of it's way to tell people to buy from the US and take it to them for all services, I know if my Subaru dealer told me that from the start I would appreciate them for saving me $$$

BTW: GTA Downtown Subaru services my Forester under US warranty w/o issues or attitude, FYI.

[lins_canada]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.

[shopper-X]

That's BS. If true:

- Dealers in the US will not be selling cars to Canadians like there's no tomorrow, considering they know we wouldn't be driving it back for service (specially Subaru)
- Dealers in Canada will not be reluctant to service US vehicles under warranty (or not). Hell, Canadian Subaru dealers in that case will go out of it's way to tell people to buy from the US and take it to them for all services, I know if my Subaru dealer told me that from the start I would appreciate them for saving me $$$

BTW: GTA Downtown Subaru services my Forester under US warranty w/o issues or attitude, FYI.

The US dealers have different incentive programs for volume selling. They are making money on the back-end and on hold-backs. They do not have to tie up their service department because you are not coming back (in most cases) to service it. They can then turn over more service dollars in a shorter time servicing US drivers.

The new 2008 models are the ones that you have to file for reimbursement, so if you drive a 2007 or older the Canadian dealer has to handle all the paperwork.

[flaming homer]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.Were you the one that PM Monsieurmaggot and asked him why he didn't move to the US ?

Cars101 disagrees, still shows business as usual http://www.cars101.com/canada.html

[flaming homer]

The US dealers have different incentive programs for volume selling. They are making money on the back-end and on hold-backs. They do not have to tie up their service department because you are not coming back (in most cases) to service it. They can then turn over more service dollars in a shorter time servicing US drivers.

The new 2008 models are the ones that you have to file for reimbursement, so if you drive a 2007 or older the Canadian dealer has to handle all the paperwork.yeah, my point exactly, it's BS to think that "Dealers make thier money off of repairs not selling cars just like printer ink and razor refills", thanks ?

[shopper-X]

yeah, my point exactly, it's BS to think that "Dealers make thier money off of repairs not selling cars just like printer ink and razor refills", thanks ?

Sorry, I was talking about Canadian dealers make money off the repairs. The US dealers do also but they also get better volume rebates and incentives to sell their cars.

[whampoa]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.

Care to share your email, we are dying to know who that dealership is.

[tzcnd]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.

Obviously the poster is a disgruntled Canadian Subaru dealer who is looking out the front window of the dealership wondering why he has so many cars on the lot and why no one is coming in to buy from him.

[tzcnd]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.

You're absolutely right they will no longer sell to Canadians. You should rush out immediately and buy a car from a Canadian Subaru dealer. If you're really nice to them they might throw in a touch up paint to seal the deal.

[Monsieurmaggot]

Won't sell to Canadians anymore? That's silly.

The US dealers I dealt with said Fuji Heavy Industries is well aware of the cross-border practice and has no plans to stop the practice since they're making a Subaru Sale.

One US Sales rep. told me "they would rather sell you a cross-border Subaru than lose the sale on ethical grounds to the competition".

Sure a division suffers while another reaps the benefits but at the end of the day, they're all part of the same food chain. FHI still gets their cut.

[eastsidesubaru]

LOL I can confirm we are selling more Subarus to Canadians than ever. Nice try, though.

[UTSC]

17. A provincial safety maybe required even if its brand new.
This can be done at Cdn Tire or other certified station.
A Safety Standards Certificate will be provided.


You're done.

I am buying a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it it does NOT have a Day Time Running Light,

I asked the Hyundai Dealer in NY and he told me they don't install day time running light as it is not required in the US. Where do I get a day time running lights installed.

[m4gician]

I am buying a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it it does NOT have a Day Time Running Light,

I asked the Hyundai Dealer in NY and he told me they don't install day time running light as it is not required in the US. Where do I get a day time running lights installed.

don't be silly, it doesn't have DRLs because it has projectors, I'm sure they're only halogens, but in anycase, just turn your FOGs on the whole day :).

[TDGTA]

I want to buy Toyota Camry 2006 from Detroit. My insurance company ( TD Auto) told me that I am covered for any new vehicle purchased for 14 days on my existing policy.

My dealer in Detroit ask me copy of insurance paper reflecting VIN # , so that he can manage temporary permit for me to drive down to custom border.

Can any one guide me how’s things work? Do I need to by temporary insurance to have temporary permit? If yes do you know who provides it? I tried state farm, CAA, AAA and all has to say same thing, that I am covered for 14 days.

[Vitulla]

Ok a buddy of mine bought a car and we want to go pick it up in NY this weekend. The thing is that the title for teh car is not in the owners hands...The car was stored so when it came time to sell, he went to the DMV and they told him it would come in 14 business days. Problem is, we want to get the car ASAP, my buddy leaving for 3 weeks next week, so this weekend is our only option. He called up the RIV to ask what was needed to cross into Canada, and she said a bill of sale and an original title, and we wouldnt be allowed to cross back in without a title or else we would scam the fees, but were not planning on doing that, just getting across. Now the seller has offered that we take the car and drive it back home with his plates and insurance until he received the title, which would then overnight the title to me, and I would send him his plates back. What can we do?
Thanks

[AEmgee]

For those dealerships that have issues with selling to Canadians, would it be possible to sell the vehicle to a local US resident and then immediately transfer the title to the Canadian buyer? Or does it then become a "secondhand" vehicle and result in tax consequences?

[yyz2hkg]

Just got a email from a dealer in US, the Subaru dealerships no longer sell new car to Canadian buyer.

Edited...I'd like to know which Subie dealership also. When I was doing my research, I probably called almost all the dealerships within a 1000km radius around Toronto looking for the right subie dealer.

[dudestr]

I was at the Blaine truck xing border today and there was two new lexus convertables waiting to be exported. The plates were cali so I wonder if there are dealers down there that are willing to sell to us?? There also was a rig full of used vehicle too. I may need to get another vehicle down there since our cad$ is going up again...

Good luck to all who is actually trying to import a vehicle! It is so easy to import and look at all the money you save. The only downfall is that we are helping the US economy but then ours is doing quite well so we can afford to help them out. Globalization

[whampoa]

I want to buy Toyota Camry 2006 from Detroit. My insurance company ( TD Auto) told me that I am covered for any new vehicle purchased for 14 days on my existing policy.

Do you mean you get 14 days coverage on your existing vehicle?

How's that possible, don't you have to give your insurance company the VIN number, make and model of your 2006 Toyota Camry, before you can even get the coverage.

Let say you did get the coverage, however you will have a hard time convincing the dealership, Canadian custom and the licensing office of that.

[spawnr]

Do you mean you get 14 days coverage on your existing vehicle?

How's that possible, don't you have to give your insurance company the VIN number, make and model of your 2006 Toyota Camry, before you can even get the coverage.

Let say you did get the coverage, however you will have a hard time convincing the dealership, Canadian custom and the licensing office of that.

Canada Customs don't check insurance. The dealership will take a policy number written on paper, so will the MTO.

[TDGTA]

Canada Customs don't check insurance. The dealership will take a policy number written on paper, so will the MTO.

so it menas you buy the car, fax / mail ownership paper to customs 72 Hrs before and drive down without worring for insurance.

what about temporary permit to drive down to customs?

under ontario automobile policy 2.2.1 Newly Acquired Automobiles it's mentioned that you are covered on any new automobile purchased for 14 days from date of purchase. ....

[shin]

Hi All,

If my friend ( US Citizen ) purchase car from buffalo, he only need to pay buffalo tax. Since he is us citizen, he doesn't need to pay any tax or duty when he pass the US custom from State to Canada. When he sell the car to me by private in Toronto, I only need to pay 1 tax ( I forgot PST or GST ). So basically, I only pay unit price + 1 buffalo tax + 1 PST or GST ( Again, I forgot which one ), right?

[cuto]

I've tried to search through this thread regarding financing but it's like way too long. LOL. So if I were to go down and buy the car, how would a CDN (me) go about financing a car down there? There must be a way unless most of you are paying in 1 lump sum? ;)

I agree, we need a page to summarize the process of importing car. This is very important information that can help you ease through this process.

[john_rt]

Re: Insurance
- If you give the insurance company the VIN # of the car you're going to buy, you can ask them to send you a fax of the insurance form so you have proof that you have insurance. If you do not do this and you get stopped by police, you will at the least get a fine for driving without insurance. TD Auto will insure your new car no problem but you have to tell them the VIN I believe before you just buy and drive.

Re: Financing
- Everyone I've heard about has purchased the car directly. (Lump sum payment.) There should be no way that an American company will give you a loan and Cdn. banks will not give you a loan to buy an american car (from what I've heard though I don't see why not). I just got a general purpose loan/line of credit that i bought my car with. Savings more than offset increased cost of financing.

[john_rt]

Can someone please post a summary like this for BC? PLEASE

Dude,
Its the same rules for BC...
The only difference might be the Provincial tax rate. Everything else is Cda. wide.

[john_rt]

Hi All,

If my friend ( US Citizen ) purchase car from buffalo, he only need to pay buffalo tax. Since he is us citizen, he doesn't need to pay any tax or duty when he pass the US custom from State to Canada. When he sell the car to me by private in Toronto, I only need to pay 1 tax ( I forgot PST or GST ). So basically, I only pay unit price + 1 buffalo tax + 1 PST or GST ( Again, I forgot which one ), right?

I don't think thats right. First of all, if your friend is importing the car to Toronto, then he has to go through an exporting process (which I assume is similar to the importing process for us)..., and then register it in some province here first. I think it ATLEAST has to be a legal Cdn. car before he can sell it to you. So your friend (assuming that MTO would even let you) would have to pay PST here. Then after you buy it, would have to pay PST again.

Don't know for sure, just some logical guessing but good luck

[DSTU]

I am buying a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe and it it does NOT have a Day Time Running Light,

I asked the Hyundai Dealer in NY and he told me they don't install day time running light as it is not required in the US. Where do I get a day time running lights installed.

Google.

[yyz2hkg]

I've tried to search through this thread regarding financing but it's like way too long. LOL. So if I were to go down and buy the car, how would a CDN (me) go about financing a car down there? There must be a way unless most of you are paying in 1 lump sum? ;)

I agree, we need a page to summarize the process of importing car. This is very important information that can help you ease through this process.

This may help a bit.

LINKYPOO (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416)

[DSTU]

Ok a buddy of mine bought a car and we want to go pick it up in NY this weekend. The thing is that the title for teh car is not in the owners hands...The car was stored so when it came time to sell, he went to the DMV and they told him it would come in 14 business days. Problem is, we want to get the car ASAP, my buddy leaving for 3 weeks next week, so this weekend is our only option. He called up the RIV to ask what was needed to cross into Canada, and she said a bill of sale and an original title, and we wouldnt be allowed to cross back in without a title or else we would scam the fees, but were not planning on doing that, just getting across. Now the seller has offered that we take the car and drive it back home with his plates and insurance until he received the title, which would then overnight the title to me, and I would send him his plates back. What can we do?
Thanks

US Customs will not let you export it without title. PERIOD!.

[DSTU]

Can someone please post a summary like this for BC? PLEASE

Its the same procedure, the only thing different is getting your plates from the provincial gov't and paying PST.

[yyz2hkg]

Hi All,

If my friend ( US Citizen ) purchase car from buffalo, he only need to pay buffalo tax. Since he is us citizen, he doesn't need to pay any tax or duty when he pass the US custom from State to Canada. When he sell the car to me by private in Toronto, I only need to pay 1 tax ( I forgot PST or GST ). So basically, I only pay unit price + 1 buffalo tax + 1 PST or GST ( Again, I forgot which one ), right?

It doesn't matter who sells the car to whom. In the end, you'll end up paying all the fees as if you're importing the vehicle into Canada. Depending where the vehicle was made, an import tax of 6.1% is added. GST and PST is still applicable. If he drives it up to sell to you, you're still going to have to drive it back to the border, so it makes no difference.

Here's the link again on vehicle importation:

LINKYPOOPOO (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416)

[DSTU]

This may help a bit.

LINKYPOO (http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=363416)

US Dealers only take cash - NO FINANCING availabe to Canadians.

[DSTU]

I've tried to search through this thread regarding financing but it's like way too long. LOL. So if I were to go down and buy the car, how would a CDN (me) go about financing a car down there? There must be a way unless most of you are paying in 1 lump sum? ;)

I agree, we need a page to summarize the process of importing car. This is very important information that can help you ease through this process.

A good business would be to import high end cars, BMW's Corvettes and flip them.

I've heard of people doing this already.

[yyz2hkg]

US Dealers only take cash - NO FINANCING availabe to Canadians.

Nowhere in my thread did I state FINANCING was available to Canadians in the US to Canadians, but you can finance a CAR from the US in Canada with BANKS in Canada...

Yes, there are financing options...be creative, unlike others.

[jrvic]

I can tell by my real life experience that you are wrong. I have a working permit in US, and travel by car back and forth many times. Once when I crossed the border, I was stopped by Canadian Custom and they asked me why I was driving a US plated car while holding an Ontario license. I showed them the TN visa, and they let me go without any hassle.

As long as you have a valid residence in US, you can drive a US plated car regardless what driver's license you are holding. As to dual license, the validity depends on states. Some require you exchange for a state license, some allow you to have both Canadian and US license.

One: This make sense since we, TN holders, generally get paid in USD by US businesses, so we should be allowed to spend some of it over there.
Two:
If Bigbug were right, then I would not even try to import my US purchased car. I will drive it for a few months (less than 12), sell it to any Canadian whom would then import it. I would save on the sales taxes which I would not have to try to recoup when reselling.
The idea of driving a new car every few months sounds for almost free sounds exiciting....

[yyz2hkg]

SO true, I was planning to import a new corvette for myself, thinking the same idea, until I looked in the autotrader and saw pages and pages of them for sale. Called almost all of them, no surprise, its a bunch of guys trying to make money on these cars they've owned a month or two and bought in the US. Figured I'd wait and see how the value is affected, NONE of them have sold and I hear the sellers getting more and more desperate to sell (price plumeting) each time I call.

A good business would be to import high end cars, BMW's Corvettes and flip them.

I've heard of people doing this already.


Not just higher end vehicles, people were making money selling Subarus and they have valid warranties too.

[impronto]

anyone know of any dealers near the Cornwall/Ottawa area?

[lins_canada]

How about the warranty for used car (1 or 2 year old)?

[shopper-X]

How about the warranty for used car (1 or 2 year old)?

Depends on the MFG.
What dealer told you they will not sell to Canadians?

[dudestr]

US Customs will not let you export it without title. PERIOD!.

The US website does allow export of untitled vehicles!

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/export/export_docs/motor_vehicle.xml

section 192.2, 3

[whampoa]

Re: Insurance
- If you give the insurance company the VIN # of the car you're going to buy, you can ask them to send you a fax of the insurance form so you have proof that you have insurance. If you do not do this and you get stopped by police, you will at the least get a fine for driving without insurance. TD Auto will insure your new car no problem but you have to tell them the VIN I believe before you just buy and drive.

My point exactly, I believe the original poster of this question is asking if he can use his existing insurance policy as insurance to buy a 2006 Toyota Camry.

Don't he have to give the insurance company the VIN number, make and model before they can insure it?

How about the warranty for used car (1 or 2 year old)?

I think you're better off emailing your US dealer the same question. If that don't work out, you should pack it up and move to Buffalo.

[KillaB]

Back to the subject of paying via Credit card....I opened a Bank of America checking account the last time I was in the US.

So, if I also wanted to also obtain a 1% Cash back Mastercard from BofA would I be able to put a positive balance on my card (transfer from checking to credit) then buy the vehicle and pocket the 1% (in true RFD style)??

[lins_canada]

Barstow Subaru.

http://www.barstow.subarusdc.com/en_US/

Depends on the MFG.
What dealer told you they will not sell to Canadians?

[shopper-X]

Barstow Subaru.

http://www.barstow.subarusdc.com/en_US/

Thanks

[brendonp]

My point exactly, I believe the original poster of this question is asking if he can use his existing insurance policy as insurance to buy a 2006 Toyota Camry.

Don't he have to give the insurance company the VIN number, make and model before they can insure it?

I think you're better off emailing your US dealer the same question. If that don't work out, you should pack it up and move to Buffalo.

Depends on the insurance company. I spoke with my agent (State Farm) and I'm insured for the first 5 days of ownership without having to report the vehicle to them - when I asked for a binder, they said I didn't really need it, but I wanted something when I crossed the border. After providing a VIN, they were ready to fax me the documents within a half hour (deal fell through last minute; private seller found a different buy who offered more, or at least that was the story)...

I'm hoping to pick up our next car in two weeks - figuring on a 10k+ savings!

[brendonp]

Nowhere in my thread did I state FINANCING was available to Canadians in the US to Canadians, but you can finance a CAR from the US in Canada with BANKS in Canada...

Yes, there are financing options...be creative, unlike others.

Yep, financing seems pretty easy - I spoke to my bank manager and he suggested a bank draft in US funds was the easiest way to handle this (and he could have one to me in very short order!), though a certified cheque would probably work as well. This was with CIBC and the funds would be drawn on their headoffice bank in New York City (not that it should matter), so I'm pretty sure any dealer would accept it... I'm not quite sure what you'd do if you wanted seperate cheques to cover duties/fees/taxes as applicable, but I'm sure you could work something out.

Brendon

[Monsieurmaggot]

Re: Insurance
- If you give the insurance company the VIN # of the car you're going to buy, you can ask them to send you a fax of the insurance form so you have proof that you have insurance. If you do not do this and you get stopped by police, you will at the least get a fine for driving without insurance. TD Auto will insure your new car no problem but you have to tell them the VIN I believe before you just buy and drive.

Re: Financing
- Everyone I've heard about has purchased the car directly. (Lump sum payment.) There should be no way that an American company will give you a loan and Cdn. banks will not give you a loan to buy an american car (from what I've heard though I don't see why not). I just got a general purpose loan/line of credit that i bought my car with. Savings more than offset increased cost of financing.

Once I provided my insurance company the VIN, they provided me an insurance binder letter (required by NY State) and a pink "inter-provincial" insurance slip on the spot. My car was insured the day I picked up the car PERMANENTLY. There was no 14-day period or waiting period. My insurance provider is State Farm. They are very familiar with the cross-border process.

As far as financing goes, I read a few threads back that TD and Royal are offering US car loans now. Can't be sure but people are getting car loans for US purchases.

[flaming homer]

Once I provided my insurance company the VIN, they provided me an insurance binder letter (required by NY State) and a pink "inter-provincial" insurance slip on the spot. My car was insured the day I picked up the car PERMANENTLY. There was no 14-day period or waiting period. My insurance provider is State Farm. They are very familiar with the cross-border process.
My insurer, Belairdirect, has a stipulation that any car I purchase is covered as long as I report it to them within 30 days of purchase. I suspect this really only works with used cars as with new vehicles the Dealer always wants to see proof of insurance before releasing the car to you.

[flaming homer]

My math right?

Van Bortel Estimate 20,077.00
Rebate (1,000.00)
Total USD 19,077.00
Convert to CAD 1.07 20,412.39
GST 21,637.13
Misc (RIV, travel etc..) 1,000.00
Total 22,637.13

RIV and travel @ 1000 ? That's a lot...
Where's the PST ?

[shaolinmonk]

My math right for a Legacy? (+/- a few hundred)

Van Bortel Estimate---- 20,077.00
Rebate----------------(1,000.00)
Total USD-------------19,077.00
Convert to CAD 1.07----20,412.39
GST--------------------1,224.74
PST--------------------1,428.87
Misc (RIV, travel etc.. )--1,000.00

Total CAD----------------24,066.00

Also, does the new warranty policy apply to only 08 and onward cars or all cars as at June 25 will have to be reimbursed?

never mind

The statement basically says the US warranty is now officially honored for Canadians purchasing US models, and simply that warranty work on 2008 and newer has to be done at either a US dealer OR if at a Canadian Subaru dealer, paid for by the customer and then reimbursement comes to the customer from SoA. This is not retroactive and 2007s and previous years are billed by the Canadian dealer and the customer does not pay.

This is effective June 21, 2007 and applies to any year new 2008 U.S. spec Subaru purchased by a Canadian resident and immediately registered in Canada. It is not retroative. Previous models will continue to be serviced as they have been with no change,

[Monsieurmaggot]

My math right for a Legacy? (+/- a few hundred)

Van Bortel Estimate---- 20,077.00
Rebate----------------(1,000.00)
Total USD-------------19,077.00
Convert to CAD 1.07----20,412.39
GST--------------------1,224.74
PST--------------------1,428.87
Misc (RIV, travel etc.. )--1,000.00

Total CAD----------------24,066.00




That math doesn't work in Ontario.

PST is 8% so the amount owing would be $1632.99.

Also, don't forget to subtract the $75 Van Bortel Internet discount and the usual $500 Van Bortel instant dealer discount. Occasionally Van Bortel also offers a $500 "Kitty Van Bortel" discount.

So the price (without the Ktty discount) would be closer to $18502.00US or $19,797.14 Canadian.

Add the tax and the $1000 extras you're at $23,568.74.

In my case, West Herr matched those extra discounts (including the Kitty discount) no questions asked.

[shaolinmonk]

That math doesn't work in Ontario.

PST is 8% so the amount owing would be $1632.99.

Also, don't forget to subtract the $75 Van Bortel Internet discount and the usual $500 Van Bortel instant dealer discount. Occasionally Van Bortel also offers a $500 "Kitty Van Bortel" discount.

So the price (without the Ktty discount) would be closer to $18502.00US or $19,797.14 Canadian.

Add the tax and the $1000 extras you're at $23,568.74.

In my case, West Herr matched those extra discounts (including the Kitty discount) no questions asked.

sounds good lol... i used wrong tax rate... now to see if they can find me a car..

[ggweci]

That math doesn't work in Ontario.

PST is 8% so the amount owing would be $1632.99.

Also, don't forget to subtract the $75 Van Bortel Internet discount and the usual $500 Van Bortel instant dealer discount. Occasionally Van Bortel also offers a $500 "Kitty Van Bortel" discount.

So the price (without the Ktty discount) would be closer to $18502.00US or $19,797.14 Canadian.

Add the tax and the $1000 extras you're at $23,568.74.

In my case, West Herr matched those extra discounts (including the Kitty discount) no questions asked.

What model Legacy did you buy? 2.5i?

[Vitulla]

Is there any place where I could park my used car till I get the title and import it. Freeportforwarding wants 10$ a day. It needs to sit there for 1 month since Im leaving on vacation. Anywhere else near the lacolle border or alexandria, of course on the US side, since I dont have the title yet.

[dealcatcher]

Which BMW or LEXUS is made in Mexico or USA? Is the warranty valid in Canada?

[Luckster]

Which BMW or LEXUS is made in Mexico or USA? Is the warranty valid in Canada?

No Lexus is made in the USA or Mexico, as for BMW the X5 and Z4 are made in the USA. And the warranty is valid Canada if you can find a dealer to sell to you.

[spender]

No Lexus is made in the USA or Mexico, as for BMW the X5 and Z4 are made in the USA. And the warranty is valid Canada if you can find a dealer to sell to you.

Lexus RX350 is made in Ontario, only Lexus made out of Japan.

[dealcatcher]

No Lexus is made in the USA or Mexico, as for BMW the X5 and Z4 are made in the USA. And the warranty is valid Canada if you can find a dealer to sell to you.

So US BMW will not sell to Canadian?

[Da Mango]

Hey... did anyone have success bringing a new Lexus over into the GTA? If so, can they please provide some info on the dealer? PM is fine if it can't be posted here. Thanks.

[mondex]

Someone posted a letter they received from Toyota US saying that Canadians can buy cars from US dealers. I asked the same question to Toyota Motors USA and got this reply:

"
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. only handles inquiries for vehicles sold and normally operated in the United States.

If you are interested in purchasing a Toyota vehicle to operate outside of the U.S., Toyota recommends you contact the Toyota authorized distributor in the country in which you intend to operate the vehicle to assist you in locating a local dealer. Toyota dealerships in the U.S. and Alaska are not authorized to sell Toyota Motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.

Please contact Toyota Canada, Inc. for further assistance with your inquiry.
"

So it seems Toyota USA is giving different answers. Has anyone else got written confirmation from Toyota USA saying that this is fine? I would like something written before I buy so I know the warranty will be honoured.

Also, has anyone from the Ottawa/Hull region purchased a Toyota from the US? Can anyone recommend any dealers who will sell to Canadians.

[chadw01]

Someone posted a letter they received from Toyota US saying that Canadians can buy cars from US dealers. I asked the same question to Toyota Motors USA and got this reply:

"
Thank you for contacting Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
We apologize; Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. only handles inquiries for vehicles sold and normally operated in the United States.

If you are interested in purchasing a Toyota vehicle to operate outside of the U.S., Toyota recommends you contact the Toyota authorized distributor in the country in which you intend to operate the vehicle to assist you in locating a local dealer. Toyota dealerships in the U.S. and Alaska are not authorized to sell Toyota Motor vehicles for resale or use outside the United States.

Please contact Toyota Canada, Inc. for further assistance with your inquiry.
"

So it seems Toyota USA is giving different answers. Has anyone else got written confirmation from Toyota USA saying that this is fine? I would like something written before I buy so I know the warranty will be honoured.

Also, has anyone from the Ottawa/Hull region purchased a Toyota from the US? Can anyone recommend any dealers who will sell to Canadians.


There are a few folks here who have purchased Toyotas from the US - and yes, the warranty is transferable for Toyotas.

The hard part is finding a dealer who is willing to work with you to get it up here. A lot of dealerships on the East coast refuse to work with Canadians - however, it seems folks on the West coast are a lot luckier than we are since they are able to purchase with relatively little hassle.

If you do find a Toyota dealer willing to sell to you, your second problem will be whether they will let you get away without registering (titling) the vehicle in their state. Most want you to have a US address.

Good luck finding a dealer..

[Monsieurmaggot]

Shameless yes, but be sure you vote that this is the most helpful thread on RFD.

Voting takes place starting on Monday. Voting information is the first thread in the "Forums" section.

While other thread boast over 500,000 reads, this one has the most dramatic impact to the user.

Thanks everyone for you kind words.

Thanks to all the Canadian dealers sending me email messages and PMs indicating that I don't know what I'm talking about.

I'm glad you have the time to write to me. It indicates business is bad for you.

[regrus]

I've posted this information once before but I'm not sure if it was on this thread so I'll state it again. I've been sucessful in purchasing a Toyota in the USA. I bought a new 2006 Toyota Land Cruiser last fall shortly after the introduction of the 2007 models. I looked online all over the USA for the best deal. Here is what I learned.

Unlike Canada the USA has more than one authorized Toyota importer. Toyota USA is a Toyota company, parent owned and the dealers that get their vehicles from them would not sell to me being I am a Canadian. They supply the largest part of the USA market.

Now going back many years to when Toyota first came to North America a few private firms were appointed Toyota importers by Toyota Japan. Some still exist today.

The southwest United States has its own importer to states like Texas etc. They would sell to me but they wanted $2000.00 to $3000.00 over what I eventually found.

The southeast USA has there own importer, South Carolina, Georgia, etc. I don't want to devulge exactly where I purchased my vehicle in case someone from Toyota Canada is reading this and could cause a problem, BUT my recommedation is you will find the best deals at large multi store franchises such as Penske owned franchises in and around Atlanta Georgia. You may even find an internet sales manager at a Toyota dealership in that area of the country that is from Toronto Canada and knows what to do.:)

[crasher]

There are a few folks here who have purchased Toyotas from the US - and yes, the warranty is transferable for Toyotas.

The hard part is finding a dealer who is willing to work with you to get it up here. A lot of dealerships on the East coast refuse to work with Canadians - however, it seems folks on the West coast are a lot luckier than we are since they are able to purchase with relatively little hassle.

If you do find a Toyota dealer willing to sell to you, your second problem will be whether they will let you get away without registering (titling) the vehicle in their state. Most want you to have a US address.

Good luck finding a dealer..

I am regretting now after buying new Camry XLE. Already have few problems and not even done 1k miles. The moonroof is malfunctioning, airbag warning sign is lit, car pulls to right.>:( My 10+ yrs. old Intrepid still drives, handles better than it, and have never broken down ever.

[cobretti]

I'm starting my quest to get a 2008 Tribeca 7 pass as I was about to buy the Hyundai SF locally. But after going over this thread for 6+ hrs :D if one can have the Subaru for the same money I think it would be a much better buy?

I really like the new front end of the 08 model therefore not looking at 07. Will there be any incentives coming for the 08 Tribeca? Don't see any just yet

I'll definitely be giving my vote to this thread - thank you Monsieurmaggot and others for all the work put into this.

[mondex]

I'm starting my quest to get a 2008 Tribeca 7 pass as I was about to buy the Hyundai SF locally. But after going over this thread for 6+ hrs :D if one can have the Subaru for the same money I think it would be a much better buy?

I really like the new front end of the 08 model therefore not looking at 07. Will there be any incentives coming for the 08 Tribeca? Don't see any just yet

I'll definitely be giving my vote to this thread - thank you Monsieurmaggot and others for all the work put into this.

Here is a dealer in NY that has current incentives as a link on their page:
http://www.vanbortelsubaru.com/

Look like the 2007s have a $2750 US incentive, but none on 2008.

[tkyoshi]

I am regretting now after buying new Camry XLE. Already have few problems and not even done 1k miles. The moonroof is malfunctioning, airbag warning sign is lit, car pulls to right.>:( My 10+ yrs. old Intrepid still drives, handles better than it, and have never broken down ever.

Are you able to get Warranty service up here?

[kuqdew]

woot! saving money

[inspire]

I am regretting now after buying new Camry XLE.

My 10+ yrs. old Intrepid still drives, handles better than it, and have never broken down ever.
Seems as if the quality control of the all-mighty Toyota has gone downhill since production has been done primarily out of Kentucky. The hybrid (as all Toyota hybrids) are still manufactured in Japan and the 'quality' of these models is quite high. I'm not going to make this a Japanese-made model vs American-made model debate ... but I do have this perception that the average Toyota model from the US doesn't have quite the build-quality as its Japanese counterpart (of the exact same car).

Secondly, I find it ironic that your Intrepid (10+ yrs old) has never broken down or handles better than a brand new Camry. My uncle's Intrepid has gone through 4 transmissions, numerous part failures in the 7 years of ownership. When he calculated the cost of a tune-up and brake job (ie the service exceeded the entire value of the car), he traded it in for $750 and now drives a Camry hybrid. He calculated a shade over 40 miles per (US) gallon with the A/C blasting! That's ridiculous!

[tkyoshi]

Seems as if the quality control of the all-mighty Toyota has gone downhill since production has been done primarily out of Kentucky. The hybrid (as all Toyota hybrids) are still manufactured in Japan and the 'quality' of these models is quite high. I'm not going to make this a Japanese-made model vs American-made model debate ... but I do have this perception that the average Toyota model from the US doesn't have quite the build-quality as its Japanese counterpart (of the exact same car).

Secondly, I find it ironic that your Intrepid (10+ yrs old) has never broken down or handles better than a brand new Camry. My uncle's Intrepid has gone through 4 transmissions, numerous part failures in the 7 years of ownership. When he calculated the cost of a tune-up and brake job (ie the service exceeded the entire value of the car), he traded it in for $750 and now drives a Camry hybrid. He calculated a shade over 40 miles per (US) gallon with the A/C blasting! That's ridiculous!

You can't really compare the MPG with the A/C blasting as the Hybrid uses an electric air conditioner so technically it has no effect on gas milage.

The quality could also be attributed to the mass growth of Toyota, now they are churning out cars faster than ever the quality control may have slipped.

For the American Built vs. Japanese Built, it can make some difference but Japanese isn't always better. A few of the Recent Honda recalls affected Japanese built models only for things like transmissions. On the other hand Canadian built cars seem to have better quality than the American versions. For example Chrysler builds it's higher end minivans in Canada for that reason. GM's Canadian plants have also been voted to have better quality than it's american counterparts.

[DrXenon]

You can't really compare the MPG with the A/C blasting as the Hybrid uses an electric air conditioner so technically it has no effect on gas milage.

Dude, where do you think the electrical power comes from? It comes from burning gasoline! Running the A/C has a direct effect on gas mileage. You may be able to store the energy in a battery for a while, but you're not getting it for free.

[crasher]

Are you able to get Warranty service up here?

I ll go tomorrow to the dealer here, should not be a problem, but you never know.

[yayaya]

Anyone had a USA autocarrier deliver a vehicle from USA to your CDN doorstep?

...........If so, I would be interested in hearing what YOU have to do vs. what the autocarrier does.

I ask as I am in Winnipeg and am interested in a vehicle (Toyota) in Florida. Thats a loooong drive and wondering if it would be better to simply pay a company to have it transported.

Ron