I was planning to have my vehicle taken from the Florida dealership and trucked to the nearest border point. Taking it by carrier off the dealer lot would allow me to avoid, legally, the Florida sales tax. The unplated/unregistered vehicle would end up in a bonded custom secure warehouse. I called the Ontario DMV. They would issue a temp travel permit that would be valid for 10 days. Here's the rub. I have 6 days from date of purchase on the bill of sale, to get the vehicle to Ontario and apply for the temp 10 day travel permit. So, if the transport is late, I'm screwed. New York state issues 30 day temp permits. BUT would they give me one if I showed up with a vehicle purchased n Florida and going on to Ontario,? Does anyone have any realistic thoughts on this :confuse:
For those who have successfully imported a Honda or Acura, where were you able to purchase a 3rd party warranty? It appears that many of the REPUTABLE companies that sell these warranties are intentionally excluding imported vehicles, probably because they're in cahoots with the manufacturers. Anybody able to find a reputable company that will cover you? I also noticed that some of these companies have regional restrictions as well (i.e., Direct Warranty Canada doesn't operate in Alberta, but won't cover an imported vehicle anyway). Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks.
why not just leave it on the truck and ship it directly to your Cdn Tire store of choice? It won't be held at the border or even reomoved from the truck. Call a professional Broker such as Peninsula in Mississauga, and they will do all the paperwork for about $150. plus costs. Thats my plans for a 911 from Florida...second time!
Thanks to everyone for their tips and advice. I guess I am too much of a chicken/too busy to go through with the import. I got $3,500 off of a 2008 Limited V6 with A package at an Edmonton Toyota dealer, together with 3.9% financing, 5 years of free oil changes and 5% GST. This is still more than the US price but the difference - to me at least - is no longer worth the trip. I am paying less than $36,000 with GST so it is a price I can live with, plus I am getting the color the wife wants and I do not need to settle for used.
My Edmonton experience: Gateway Toyota - salespeople were nice, but were unable to get me a good price even when they knew exactly how much I would pay somewhere else. Kingsway Toyota - forget about these guys, they pretty much called me a liar when I told them the price I was offered elsewhere. My experience with the other two local Toyota dealers was pleasant, they were not trying to sell me stuff I did not want, and - for Canada - they were pretty flexible on price. On a related note, I would avoid Southtown Hyundai like the plague. The saleswoman was nice and competent, but the manager kept asking what it would take for us to buy a Santa Fe the same day, gave us a price that was insultingly high and then continued to waste our time. They also tried to rip off an aquiantance who ended up getting a Santa Fe at Northstar Hyundai earlier this year.
You don't need the actual car to get the 10 day permit. You can take the MSO (no photocopies)proof of insurance slip, and sales receipt to the DMV and get the 10 day permit within 6 days of purchase. Wait until the 6th day then get the permit. 16 days should be plenty of time to ship the car and get it plated.
Lucky you. Mine was rejected so I had to pay Vintage $250.00 for the very same info. I have to admit that the letter from the dealer didn't say "no outstanding recalls" but mentioned what recalls had been performed. I attached the printout too but was told to get the letter from GM. I kind of was 50/50 on that recall letter success so at the end I called Vintage and shed the $$. Hey, lost the skirmish but won the battle
I don't mean to rain on your parade, but the $3500 is a factory cash incentive, and it is good that you can combine it with low financing rate, but I would have expected the dealer to have been able to add to the factory cash with their "normal" negotiable discount.
Can you share your source for the info on the dealer incentive? This could still help me when I go in to finalize the deal. According to www.carcost.ca the factory incentive is only $2,000. My guess is if $3,500 was the factory incentive then the other two dealers would have matched this price also. So in short, I am not sure you are right.
Having said all this, I know it is not the greatest price compared to the US: I am just publishing it so that others can use it in their own comparison shopping.
That is correct. As stated, I took the MSO with me from the dealer, had it stamped on the American side, then crossed through the Canadian border and presented it there. I would check the RIV website to see what it says there.
The Toyota Canada web-site shows a discount of $2K on the Rav4.
Look, we've all got to examine what our individual situation and ability is when we decide to buy here or try to import (eg. can you afford to take a week off work?). Personally, my minimum cost differential was Can$5K. If I saved more than that by importing, then that's what I was going to do and that's what I did.
But please remember this:
1. I would be surprised if a dealer is going to be as flexible on the normally negotiable discount with all these manufacturer incentives going on. As Zack from Driving Television has mentioned, the dealers hands are tied. It is the manufacturers that set the base price (remember the M in MSRP !!). What they are now doing is taking the dealers' negotiating $$ and usurping that as "factory rebate".
2. US dealer rebates/incentives also abound. Just watch any US TV channel for an evening (or NFL games on Sunday). I know there may be some issues as to whether Canadians can qualify for these, but in the end, a dealer who wants your business will make sure he can work the factory incentives in to your deal.
As I said in a post a few weeks back, this is more smoke and mirrors from the manufacturers. At the end of the day, you will make the decision that's best for you but make sure you are fully informed.
You know, if they could, Canadian dealers would be screaming bloody murder at the business they have lost and potentially will lose because their manufacturers are so used to the gravy train, they can't get off it and they won't offer fair MSRPs to Canadians. They would scream but they are under gag orders.
In last Friday's Vancouver Sun, there was an ad put out by the Toyota BC Dealers, which read: "More strong Canadian dollar adjustments: Camry $2000 cash back; Rav4 $3,500 cash back; 4Runner $4,000 cash back; Sienna $4,000 cash back; FJ Cruiser $2,000 cash back." (These are all for 2007 models). And $4,000 cash back on 2008 Highlander. Now, whether they are lumping factory incentives with "negotiable" discounts, and just labelling it all as "cash back" , I don't know. But that's what the ad said.
Now, I have just re-read your post, and yours is an '08, so probably the incentive on the '08 is $2K.
Those type of cash backs are normally available to car companies for a long time now mostly close to the year-end to clear all those remaining cars from their lots. It's just another deception to look like they're adjusting to the dollar issues.
"I know it is not the greatest price compared to the US"
And it doesn't need to be. As hammatime said, there has to be a minimum savings before I would consider going south. $5K sounds like a reasonable threshold, if you consider your time, hassle, headache, stress, etc. Also, I've always placed a tangible value on establishing a relationship with your dealer, which is why I have never bought thru an auto broker just to save a few hundred $$. So I certainly don't disagree with your decision to buy locally (other than the fact that I don't like to further reward the greedy bastardly manufacturers who's been screwing us royally!)
Yes, I agree. When you see a couple of thousand or less on remaining '07s you have to be sceptible. But I think in some cases the incentives are legitimate (although not quite adequate) exchange adjustments. For example, the factory cash on some '08 Lexus, Infiniti, and Acura models.
Let me know when you want to do a story about importing a Mercedes Benz, they can be had relatively cheap in the US market but importing them is whole another story.
Aside from Taxes, Duty's MB dictates what must be done to convert the Car to Canadian standards, not what RIV Canada minimally wants.
As for Warranties only way to get any extended warranty is to have a US based address, Apperantly the Canadian roads are different than the US roads.
So keep reading this board and you will find many aspects of importing vehicles that would make a good story - you could make a series from the topic. The Mercedes Benz suggestion is indeed interesting. We here are all getting wiser about the functioning of Canada's auto industry. Keep us posted if you develop anything especially if it is available on-line.
I brought a Mercedes and a BMW from the US to Canada. I received both recall letters in the mail for free.
The Mercedes was 'converted' to Ca specs (simply turning factory DRL on in less than 15 minutes while I waited) at no charge, courtesy service to entice us to use the dealer for maintenance. Nice talk with the service manager who offered to help with locating a Canadian child seat that appealed to the wife's taste. By request they also switched on the front fog lights as they were disabled from the factory due to California DOT regulations. (I added two 55W bulbs at home).
At the BMW dealer I received a 10% off discount coupon for a future scheduled maintenance while DRL was turned on and the behavior of the electric windows was modified to comply to Canadian standards while I waited. Less than 30 minutes, but they did charge me .5 hr labor or something close to that.
That was in 2002. C$ was about 0.63 to the US$. I am a US citizen and was in Canada for work.
absolutely. it all boils down to numbers and, just maybe, nationality and a secondary US address (i am a dual citizen btw) as long as people are willing to pay more for the same product in canada vs the US, posts like ours are.. well, forget it . the recent posts... canadians now settling for '07 models for thousands more than the same, newer, '08 models in the US: shows just how very effective the smoke and mirrors marketing scheme by the canadian dealers is over the general population. for the manufacturers we either are a)very dumb, without access to internet and US automotive price literature; b)secondary second class annoyance-ridden market c) so rich that we do not care. let's face it, if they could, car manufacturers and dealers in canada would prohibit us from pointing our browsers to us dealers and manufacturers sites to check on prices, options and stock levels. they would say something on the lines of sorry, you can't have our NAFTA produced car and eat it too because, well, you just can afford to pay more.
I actually sent a quick email to Chris Olsen from CTV just explaining my situation with Mercedes Benz, and I'll send another to a friend at Global National. I don't expect anything from it but it was worth a shot.
Yes I 100% agree with Volvomax and Trilium1 a few posts a page ago regarding the manufactures, and how they are allowed to do what ever they want. It's business and they're given the freedom to do it from TC. But as a consumer we should have the option to do our repairs/modifications to canadian spec where ever we want to. I'm just questioning how transport canada managed this deal with Mercedes. I'm not pointing the finger at Mercedes Benz, more rather transport Canada for giving Mercedes Benz the upper hand.
I purchased a 2001 SL 600 with 8000 miles on it. The guy I bought it from was a collector, he was strapped for cash I had some but not that much. I had figured on paying the Duty (6.1 %) GST and PST. What I had not figured on that MB Canada wants to take a mint car and tear into it. This car has never seen snow or rain, it came from Boston. Now I walk into a MB dealership and they tell me that RIV Canada will not release the Form2 unless I present them with MB Canada's Compliance letter. Total cost to destroy a mint car $ 6000.00. In my business (electrical) we don't touch things that are working you fix things that don't work. I cannot believe that MB Canada wants invert the gauges KM on the top and the MPH on the inside. Another reason for tearing out the Instrument cluster: The Hand brake indicates BRAKE they want a symbol in Canada (0). Oh and the final reason the fuel consumption is based in MPG Mercedes wants to change that to metric as well, as if I care what a V12 consumes this was supposed to be a summer occasional car not a practical car but something i would never have thought I would own.
Anyway for anyone else that is reading this I have a statement that Mercedes made in 2001: " The SL is designed to meet or exceed all current and known future crash-safety standards of every country in the world" This came from the 2001 sales brocure, why do i have to modify the bumpers in 2007 things really don't add up here.
Like I said there is a story here not for the masses perhaps but I was wondering who is running this Country, a bunch of dictators or elected officials ?? it seams that MB Canada has somehow managed to write policy and RIV Canada has basically bent over to allow some sort of MB insertion. They are sending Conrad Black to Jail why is no one looking at some of these people, MB is definitely paying someone's back pocket.
Here is the final issue I have with MB taking the car apart. I am assuming I will get some kind of Warranty on the work they will perform. The Car will end up stored for 3-4 months. I figure in the 6 th month the car will have some major issue that will require the instrument cluster to be removed/ replaced, of course at my expense.
In case anyone is wondering what I paid for the car: In 2001 the MB Dealer sold the car for $ 135,000 the MB Dealer offered to buy the car from the collector for $ 30,000.00 I bought it for $ 33,000.00 +Duty+GST+PST+RIV+MB+?+?+?
Had I lived in the US we would be enjoying this car with a great big smile, instead I am wondering why anyone would buy a car from MB this is a company who apparently enjoys taking your money when they sell you the new car and then try to steal it back when you try to sell it.
Things should not be this difficult.
Maybe things will change but somehow I have resolved that I may as well get this done, I will take one last drive with my car before they change her over I doubt it will ever be the same.
I contacted BMW Canada and was advised the the Z4 coupe is NOT admissible to Canada due to bumper height and there are no known modifications which would make it admissible.
I can confirm the GM fees for recall letters. Just talked to the so-called Vintage Vehicle Services people in Oshawa and those Greedy Moochers charge 250 Canadian bucks (tax incl) for a simple printout. As of November 1, 2007. Call 1-888-467-6853 to be relieved of your cash.
Hi This is a sad chain of evnt and I am sure it will keep repeating it again till something is done. I have said it before and will say it again that we as consumers should bycot the BMW , MB and possibly all the makers and only buy the used cars for at least one month. It may or may not have any affect but it is worth trying. Also we should look into the possibility of starting a Calss Action Lawsuite against RIV, TC and dealers. Regards. sid11
Is there anyone who could tell me what to do in regards to changing US (mph/miles) on the speedo/odometer to km/h and km? I assume you can get a replacement instrument cluster for metric measurements for a reasonable price (maybe).
First of all, do I absolutely have to install a metric instrument cluster to register the car (ie. in Ontario), and secondly is it expensive to buy one and have someone install it? Any experiences or advice would be much appreciated.
try Zurich use your US address for warranty registration (same address you will use for buying the vehicle since Honda / Acura will not sell to "canadians"). The zurich plan will be cheaper this way but will still cover you in Canada. Zurich plan is transferable (fee) and can cancel for prorated refund at any time. I havent read through my plan but it was cheap. Usually the dealership can get you better rates on this plan. Mine was $907 USD for 2007 odyssey exl res. Same for 08 ridgeline.
I don't have direct knowledge of the fix to get metric compliance but it has never been flagged as a difficult issue in the forums. Someone else can tell us from experience.
So, my understanding is that when the speedo is marked with "mph" on the outer ring and "kph" on the inner, included in the RIV fee, Cdn Tire put a sticker beside the dial simply warning about the markings.
On the 2008 GM model I was interested in, the brochures show there are no units marked on the speedo dial - just one ring of numbers as well as two LCDs. The "mph" or "kph" is lit when the software selects the imperial or metric. On my ATV the units can be switched by the operator.
Similarly with digital speedos and odos, the changeover is done by software. I don't see any safety issue with an imperial odometer.
Couple of things. 1 The regs for importing a car are written by the Canadian Gov't, not Mercedes Benz. So, if the car needs to be modified, it needs to be modified. Next, a Mercedes dealer should be able to modify your car in a competent manner. I would have no qualms about them tearing into your car. As for the price, welcome to Mercedes ownership. NOTHING that is done to an SL is cheap. Esp the V12 versions. Finally, bumper requirements have ZERO to do w/ safety. A 2.5mph bumper or a 5 mph bumper won't make any difference to you in an accident. It does matter to the ins co if someone backs in to you. Different countries have different bumper requirements for this reason. Mercedes designed a car that could and did pass everyones crash test requirements but, even so there are still different standards in different countries for things unrelated to crash safety.
Quoting altaboy: try Zurich use your US address for warranty registration (same address you will use for buying the vehicle since Honda / Acura will not sell to "canadians"). The zurich plan will be cheaper this way but will still cover you in Canada. Zurich plan is transferable (fee) and can cancel for prorated refund at any time. I havent read through my plan but it was cheap. Usually the dealership can get you better rates on this plan. Mine was $907 USD for 2007 odyssey exl res. Same for 08 ridgeline.
I was hoping to go further south in the US to find a Honda dealer that will sell to me and avoid the US address thing. Although I have a friend in Arizona and I could use his address but I only want to use that as a last resort. I assume you used a US address for your purchase.....what did you do for proof of residency?
I'm confused about what you're recommending RE: the warranty. You're saying register for HONDA'S warranty using your US address? Doesn't this become void once you import the car anyway, so why bother? That's the reason for purchasing the replacement coverage through Zurich. Does Zurich have your Canadian address or the US one? Sorry but can you please explain further how you did it? I just want to make sure that Zurich knowingly agreed to cover your vehicle and is aware that it is a US vehicle that has been imported into Canada. Many of the companies I have looked at refuse to cover US imported vehicles.
I have no problems with the modifications at all. They have to be done regardless.
I just think that a lot of us MB owners are mad that we don't have the freedom to get the changes done wherever we want. A german specialized mechanic shop can do the modifications for me for more than half the price.
"Also we should look into the possibility of starting a Calss Action Lawsuite against RIV, TC and dealers. "
That's come across my mind but I'm in the I.T. sector for my career, not law or business so I would have no idea where to start.
I'm sure there would be support from the BMW importers too. I read on one of their message boards on how hard it's become for them... I feel their pain.
Has anyone successfully purchased a vehicle from a dealer in Massachusetts and driven it back to Canada? How did you do without a temporary plate? My dealer asked me to bring there the plate from my current vehicle and he put it in the paperwork for the new car. Any risk by doing so? Wondering Transpo Canada won't like that without their permission. Any advice will be much appreciated.
This will be long-winded, but will hopefully help some of you, and answer some questions. I am located near Toronto.
I decided several weeks ago to investigate buying a MB SL500 and included the US in my search. I found a car that suited my needs and began the process. I had already looked into this via BMW and MB forums, and through internet searches, so had a fleeting knowledge of the process.
Once I identified the car I wanted to buy, at a high-end used-car dealer across the border in Buffalo, I contacted MB Canada (as the RIV website indicated I should) to investigate the process. They advised me I would have to request a letter of admissibility from them by fax (now changed to online apparently). I did so, and received it back by fax the next day. Further, they advised that I must call a dealership service dept to request a quote for the modifications required to make the car 'Canada-compliant'. I called the local dealer, got a service advisor (SA) on the line and explained the reason for my call. He told me the charge for the estimate was $250 flat. After chatting for several minutes, and explaining I didn't want to pay without knowing the estimate, the SA asked for the VIN, and told me he would call me back. He di call back, the next day, and verbally gave me the estimate over the phone. He let me know that if I bought the car, the $250 charge would still apply, and would be added to my service invoice. Further, he explained that once the modifications had been completed, a Field Svc Rep from MB-Cda would have to inspect the car to ensure the mods were in fact done, and would issue a letter of Compliance, at an additional cost of $500. The cost for the mods, estimate and compliance letter was $3400. This amount would vary depending on which year and model of MB was bought. My mods included: 1. replacing the rear bumper strip in order to meet Cdn crash standards, 2. Installing a Daytime Light Module and 3. replacing the 'Brake' warning symbol in the cluster with the international brake symbol. So, before making the decision to buy and import the car, I clearly understood the additional costs I would incur. That doesn't mean I liked the costs, but at least I knew what I was getting into. (I understand the first 2 mods, but the 'Brake' symbol?! Please...
I called the dealer and firmed up the deal. (It was at this point I requested the letter of admissibility; received one day later.)
Next up was insurance. I called my broker, and discovered that, in Ontario, you can buy a car (anywhere) and automatically be covered under your existing policy for 14 days, even if you don't call the insurance broker. I did, however, require some sort of document indicating the specific vehicle I bought was covered, as the dealer was going to obtain a NY State 30-day temporary tag so I could drive the car home, and the DMV absolutely required proof of insurance. The insurance broker issued a 14-day (maximum available) insurance certificate, which sufficed for the NY DMV. The dealer faxed the title to US Customs 5 days before I bought the vehicle (3 days is minimum). I obtained a bank draft, and with wife in tow drove to Buffalo to complete the deal. (A side note - not every border crossing has teh Vehicle Export office - be sure to know which do.)
I exchanged bank draft for car, and headed to the border. First stop was US Customs where they married the original title to the faxed copy, stamped the original as being exported and bid me farewell.
Next stop Canada Customs, where I completed 'Form 1', as required for importing a vehicle into Canada. I proffered Form 1, the original title, bill of sale and driver's license to the CBSA agent who completed the bits I missed, and sent me to the cashier to pay GST and 6.1% duty, as the car was made outside of NA. The agent suggested I pay the RIV fee on-line as would speed the process up. CBSA submits this Form 1 to RIV on your behalf. The printed number at the top right of the page becomes your case number. I then drove home, enjoying the drive in my new-to-me car.
Next call was to MB-USA to request a Recall Clearance Letter. It arrived in about 3 days, though I did call 2 or 3 times to follow up. They were unperturbed by my calls, and in fact rushed for me as this was the week of US Thanksgiving. My first request was the prior Friday and I received the letter Wednesday. I faxed this to the RIV, indicating my case number.
Once home I called the SA, with whom I had chatted a number of times, and re-confirmed my appointment to get the mods done the next day. We had pre-set the appointment, as he already had the required parts in stock. The mods were completed in a day and a half, and the Field Service Rep visited the dealer the following day, inspected and approved the mods. His office sent the 'Letter of Compliance' to the SA the next day, and he faxed it to me. I faxed this to the RIV, indicating my case number. The dealer also arranged for the Emissions test and safety certificate for me.
Through all of this, I called the RIV daily, to be sure they were receiving my docs and to insure I didn't overlook anything. They were quite helpful, though I am glad I was persistent, as they all sounded new, and not entirely sure of the next steps.
Once the RIV had received all of my docs, it took another couple of days before I received my Form 2, otherwise known as the Inspection Form. This is specific to your vehicle and indicates any required mods. I took it, along with emissions certificate, safety cert, and invoice showing the mods had been done. My car did not require a child seat tether as it is a convertible. They were unconcerned about a bilingual airbag warning. My speedo reads in MPH over KPH so nothing had to be done. I was out in 1/2 and hour. Next stop, Ontario Ministry of Transport Licensing office. I paid my plate fee, PST and off I went.
Total elapsed time: 12 calendar days. Though a bit time-consuming, the process was not difficult. I have heard that the process is getting a bit slower, as MB is taking longer to get Admissibility letters and will no longer fax them, as apparently CBSA requires an original (which I think is bunk). MB-Cda is dragging their heels somewhat on getting the info to the dealers needed to prepare the estimate. It appears I was ahead of the curve (if only by a couple of weeks) and the process was a bit smoother.
Summary - do your homework, be patient and be persistent. I would not have brought the car into Canada without first contacting the manufacturer for details about any required mods. I hate surprises. Do I think the manufacturers are trying to make it difficult? Yes, of course. DO I think there are still great deals across the border? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
I hope this helps. I'll be happy to answer any questions - but a warning that I may only check this forum a couple of times a week. Cheers,
I don't think you should be thinking about class action against RIV, after all the don't make policy, they just administer it. You would be more likely able to go after the manufacturers who are setting discrimanatory prices in two similar regions. Until then, just keep import by the books, for free info I use ">Import Car Website
I just imported my car to Canada and I didnt pay any duties!!! The only fee I had to pay is called an RIV fee and it was $206, not bad considering I saved over $10,000 on the car import. I used the free website Importcar2canada and it proved to be pretty usefull!!!
NY State will issue a 30-day temporary tag, but you must supply them with proof of insurance on the spcific vehicle you're buying. (By specific, I mean your insurace certificate must show the VIN). Your Ontario insurance company will, on request, issue a 14-day insurance certificate - but you will need to move quickly once back in Ontario to get the car inspected and reigstered so you can get it plated and properly on your policy.
Just got a call from RIV asking to update my contact information because they think my vehicle (2008 Sienna, Oct. 07 manufacture date) could be released early next week. They want to be able to send me form 2 as quickly as possible. I never thought RIV would be calling me after everything that has transpired. The agent was in a good mood.
Can I cross the border using dealer plates?? that he has lent me? How would I get a brand new untitled vehicle across?? The dealer here in Florida says he'll lend me plates and I could drive across then replate in Ontario and fedex the plates back to him. Is this legal? Knowing my sh*tty luck I'd end up in the slammer and have my pix in the post office. Can anyone please help or direct me to someplace for help? I called Transport canada and they gave me a tremndous run-around with no answers at all.
Technically you have to have a temporary license form in the windshield/can't drive it off the lot without registration.
A trailer is a good way around this. If it doesn't touch the street it's just a hunk of metal as far as both governments are concerned.(note - leave it on the trailer when crossing)
Comments
I called the Ontario DMV. They would issue a temp travel permit that would be valid for 10 days. Here's the rub. I have 6 days from date of purchase on the bill of sale, to get the vehicle to Ontario and apply for the temp 10 day travel permit. So, if the transport is late, I'm screwed. New York state issues 30 day temp permits. BUT would they give me one if I showed up with a vehicle purchased n Florida and going on to Ontario,? Does anyone have any realistic thoughts on this :confuse:
I guess I am too much of a chicken/too busy to go through with the import. I got $3,500 off of a 2008 Limited V6 with A package at an Edmonton Toyota dealer, together with 3.9% financing, 5 years of free oil changes and 5% GST. This is still more than the US price but the difference - to me at least - is no longer worth the trip. I am paying less than $36,000 with GST so it is a price I can live with, plus I am getting the color the wife wants and I do not need to settle for used.
My Edmonton experience:
Gateway Toyota - salespeople were nice, but were unable to get me a good price even when they knew exactly how much I would pay somewhere else.
Kingsway Toyota - forget about these guys, they pretty much called me a liar when I told them the price I was offered elsewhere.
My experience with the other two local Toyota dealers was pleasant, they were not trying to sell me stuff I did not want, and - for Canada - they were pretty flexible on price.
On a related note, I would avoid Southtown Hyundai like the plague. The saleswoman was nice and competent, but the manager kept asking what it would take for us to buy a Santa Fe the same day, gave us a price that was insultingly high and then continued to waste our time. They also tried to rip off an aquiantance who ended up getting a Santa Fe at Northstar Hyundai earlier this year.
Wait until the 6th day then get the permit. 16 days should be plenty of time to ship the car and get it plated.
Just my 2 cents,
Shawn
Having said all this, I know it is not the greatest price compared to the US: I am just publishing it so that others can use it in their own comparison shopping.
Look, we've all got to examine what our individual situation and ability is when we decide to buy here or try to import (eg. can you afford to take a week off work?). Personally, my minimum cost differential was Can$5K. If I saved more than that by importing, then that's what I was going to do and that's what I did.
But please remember this:
1. I would be surprised if a dealer is going to be as flexible on the normally negotiable discount with all these manufacturer incentives going on. As Zack from Driving Television has mentioned, the dealers hands are tied. It is the manufacturers that set the base price (remember the M in MSRP !!). What they are now doing is taking the dealers' negotiating $$ and usurping that as "factory rebate".
2. US dealer rebates/incentives also abound. Just watch any US TV channel for an evening (or NFL games on Sunday). I know there may be some issues as to whether Canadians can qualify for these, but in the end, a dealer who wants your business will make sure he can work the factory incentives in to your deal.
As I said in a post a few weeks back, this is more smoke and mirrors from the manufacturers. At the end of the day, you will make the decision that's best for you but make sure you are fully informed.
You know, if they could, Canadian dealers would be screaming bloody murder at the business they have lost and potentially will lose because their manufacturers are so used to the gravy train, they can't get off it and they won't offer fair MSRPs to Canadians. They would scream but they are under gag orders.
For example I know someone who bought a Lexus through:
http://www.autosportint.com/
Now, I have just re-read your post, and yours is an '08, so probably the incentive on the '08 is $2K.
And it doesn't need to be. As hammatime said, there has to be a minimum savings before I would consider going south. $5K sounds like a reasonable threshold, if you consider your time, hassle, headache, stress, etc. Also, I've always placed a tangible value on establishing a relationship with your dealer, which is why I have never bought thru an auto broker just to save a few hundred $$. So I certainly don't disagree with your decision to buy locally (other than the fact that I don't like to further reward the greedy bastardly manufacturers who's been screwing us royally!)
Aside from Taxes, Duty's MB dictates what must be done to convert the Car to Canadian standards, not what RIV Canada minimally wants.
As for Warranties only way to get any extended warranty is to have a US based address, Apperantly the Canadian roads are different than the US roads.
The Mercedes was 'converted' to Ca specs (simply turning factory DRL on in less than 15 minutes while I waited) at no charge, courtesy service to entice us to use the dealer for maintenance. Nice talk with the service manager who offered to help with locating a Canadian child seat that appealed to the wife's taste. By request they also switched on the front fog lights as they were disabled from the factory due to California DOT regulations. (I added two 55W bulbs at home).
At the BMW dealer I received a 10% off discount coupon for a future scheduled maintenance while DRL was turned on and the behavior of the electric windows was modified to comply to Canadian standards while I waited. Less than 30 minutes, but they did charge me .5 hr labor or something close to that.
That was in 2002.
C$ was about 0.63 to the US$.
I am a US citizen and was in Canada for work.
"I am a US citizen...."
No doubt those were the reasons you got the VIP treatment.
There's no way in hell I'll be getting that from MB now. I'm set to bring my car in on Thursday to the local MB dealership, not looking forward to it.
it all boils down to numbers and, just maybe, nationality and a secondary US address (i am a dual citizen btw)
as long as people are willing to pay more for the same product in canada vs the US, posts like ours are.. well, forget it .
the recent posts... canadians now settling for '07 models for thousands more than the same, newer, '08 models in the US: shows just how very effective the smoke and mirrors marketing scheme by the canadian dealers is over the general population.
for the manufacturers we either are a)very dumb, without access to internet and US automotive price literature; b)secondary second class annoyance-ridden market c) so rich that we do not care.
let's face it, if they could, car manufacturers and dealers in canada would prohibit us from pointing our browsers to us dealers and manufacturers sites to check on prices, options and stock levels.
they would say something on the lines of sorry, you can't have our NAFTA produced car and eat it too because, well, you just can afford to pay more.
Yes I 100% agree with Volvomax and Trilium1 a few posts a page ago regarding the manufactures, and how they are allowed to do what ever they want. It's business and they're given the freedom to do it from TC. But as a consumer we should have the option to do our repairs/modifications to canadian spec where ever we want to. I'm just questioning how transport canada managed this deal with Mercedes. I'm not pointing the finger at Mercedes Benz, more rather transport Canada for giving Mercedes Benz the upper hand.
don't pay GM Canada $250 f or a recall letter -- get one from US Dealer for FREE ...
see ..
http://www.carburner.com/index.php?title=Paperwork_Required_To_Complete_Process
Call RIV -- they will tell you that a GM Vehicle Inquiry System Summary will do ...
Greg
I purchased a 2001 SL 600 with 8000 miles on it. The guy I bought it from was a collector, he was strapped for cash I had some but not that much. I had figured on paying the Duty (6.1 %) GST and PST. What I had not figured on that MB Canada wants to take a mint car and tear into it. This car has never seen snow or rain, it came from Boston. Now I walk into a MB dealership and they tell me that RIV Canada will not release the Form2 unless I present them with MB Canada's Compliance letter. Total cost to destroy a mint car $ 6000.00. In my business (electrical) we don't touch things that are working you fix things that don't work. I cannot believe that MB Canada wants invert the gauges KM on the top and the MPH on the inside. Another reason for tearing out the Instrument cluster: The Hand brake indicates BRAKE they want a symbol in Canada (0). Oh and the final reason the fuel consumption is based in MPG Mercedes wants to change that to metric as well, as if I care what a V12 consumes this was supposed to be a summer occasional car not a practical car but something i would never have thought I would own.
Anyway for anyone else that is reading this I have a statement that Mercedes made in 2001: " The SL is designed to meet or exceed all current and known future crash-safety standards of every country in the world" This came from the 2001 sales brocure, why do i have to modify the bumpers in 2007 things really don't add up here.
Like I said there is a story here not for the masses perhaps but I was wondering who is running this Country, a bunch of dictators or elected officials ?? it seams that MB Canada has somehow managed to write policy and RIV Canada has basically bent over to allow some sort of MB insertion. They are sending Conrad Black to Jail why is no one looking at some of these people, MB is definitely paying someone's back pocket.
Here is the final issue I have with MB taking the car apart. I am assuming I will get some kind of Warranty on the work they will perform. The Car will end up stored for 3-4 months. I figure in the 6 th month the car will have some major issue that will require the instrument cluster to be removed/ replaced, of course at my expense.
In case anyone is wondering what I paid for the car: In 2001 the MB Dealer sold the car for $ 135,000 the MB Dealer offered to buy the car from the collector for $ 30,000.00 I bought it for $ 33,000.00 +Duty+GST+PST+RIV+MB+?+?+?
Had I lived in the US we would be enjoying this car with a great big smile, instead I am wondering why anyone would buy a car from MB this is a company who apparently enjoys taking your money when they sell you the new car and then try to steal it back when you try to sell it.
Things should not be this difficult.
Maybe things will change but somehow I have resolved that I may as well get this done, I will take one last drive with my car before they change her over I doubt it will ever be the same.
You might consider joining the APA and using their legal staff (free to members) to help you?
God luck.
This is a sad chain of evnt and I am sure it will keep repeating it again till something is done.
I have said it before and will say it again that we as consumers should bycot the BMW , MB and possibly all the makers and only buy the used cars for at least one month. It may or may not have any affect but it is worth trying.
Also we should look into the possibility of starting a Calss Action Lawsuite against RIV, TC and dealers.
Regards.
sid11
First of all, do I absolutely have to install a metric instrument cluster to register the car (ie. in Ontario), and secondly is it expensive to buy one and have someone install it? Any experiences or advice would be much appreciated.
use your US address for warranty registration (same address you will use for buying the vehicle since Honda / Acura will not sell to "canadians"). The zurich plan will be cheaper this way but will still cover you in Canada. Zurich plan is transferable (fee) and can cancel for prorated refund at any time. I havent read through my plan but it was cheap. Usually the dealership can get you better rates on this plan. Mine was $907 USD for 2007 odyssey exl res. Same for 08 ridgeline.
So, my understanding is that when the speedo is marked with "mph" on the outer ring and "kph" on the inner, included in the RIV fee, Cdn Tire put a sticker beside the dial simply warning about the markings.
On the 2008 GM model I was interested in, the brochures show there are no units marked on the speedo dial - just one ring of numbers as well as two LCDs. The "mph" or "kph" is lit when the software selects the imperial or metric. On my ATV the units can be switched by the operator.
Similarly with digital speedos and odos, the changeover is done by software. I don't see any safety issue with an imperial odometer.
1 The regs for importing a car are written by the Canadian Gov't, not Mercedes Benz. So, if the car needs to be modified, it needs to be modified.
Next, a Mercedes dealer should be able to modify your car in a competent manner.
I would have no qualms about them tearing into your car.
As for the price, welcome to Mercedes ownership.
NOTHING that is done to an SL is cheap. Esp the V12 versions.
Finally, bumper requirements have ZERO to do w/ safety. A 2.5mph bumper or a 5 mph bumper won't make any difference to you in an accident.
It does matter to the ins co if someone backs in to you.
Different countries have different bumper requirements for this reason.
Mercedes designed a car that could and did pass everyones crash test requirements but, even so there are still different standards in different countries for things unrelated to crash safety.
try Zurich
use your US address for warranty registration (same address you will use for buying the vehicle since Honda / Acura will not sell to "canadians"). The zurich plan will be cheaper this way but will still cover you in Canada. Zurich plan is transferable (fee) and can cancel for prorated refund at any time. I havent read through my plan but it was cheap. Usually the dealership can get you better rates on this plan. Mine was $907 USD for 2007 odyssey exl res. Same for 08 ridgeline.
I was hoping to go further south in the US to find a Honda dealer that will sell to me and avoid the US address thing. Although I have a friend in Arizona and I could use his address but I only want to use that as a last resort. I assume you used a US address for your purchase.....what did you do for proof of residency?
I'm confused about what you're recommending RE: the warranty. You're saying register for HONDA'S warranty using your US address? Doesn't this become void once you import the car anyway, so why bother? That's the reason for purchasing the replacement coverage through Zurich. Does Zurich have your Canadian address or the US one? Sorry but can you please explain further how you did it? I just want to make sure that Zurich knowingly agreed to cover your vehicle and is aware that it is a US vehicle that has been imported into Canada. Many of the companies I have looked at refuse to cover US imported vehicles.
I just think that a lot of us MB owners are mad that we don't have the freedom to get the changes done wherever we want. A german specialized mechanic shop can do the modifications for me for more than half the price.
That's come across my mind but I'm in the I.T. sector for my career, not law or business so I would have no idea where to start.
I'm sure there would be support from the BMW importers too. I read on one of their message boards on how hard it's become for them... I feel their pain.
My dealer asked me to bring there the plate from my current vehicle and he put it in the paperwork for the new car. Any risk by doing so? Wondering Transpo Canada won't like that without their permission.
Any advice will be much appreciated.
I decided several weeks ago to investigate buying a MB SL500 and included the US in my search. I found a car that suited my needs and began the process. I had already looked into this via BMW and MB forums, and through internet searches, so had a fleeting knowledge of the process.
Once I identified the car I wanted to buy, at a high-end used-car dealer across the border in Buffalo, I contacted MB Canada (as the RIV website indicated I should) to investigate the process. They advised me I would have to request a letter of admissibility from them by fax (now changed to online apparently). I did so, and received it back by fax the next day. Further, they advised that I must call a dealership service dept to request a quote for the modifications required to make the car 'Canada-compliant'. I called the local dealer, got a service advisor (SA) on the line and explained the reason for my call. He told me the charge for the estimate was $250 flat. After chatting for several minutes, and explaining I didn't want to pay without knowing the estimate, the SA asked for the VIN, and told me he would call me back. He di call back, the next day, and verbally gave me the estimate over the phone. He let me know that if I bought the car, the $250 charge would still apply, and would be added to my service invoice. Further, he explained that once the modifications had been completed, a Field Svc Rep from MB-Cda would have to inspect the car to ensure the mods were in fact done, and would issue a letter of Compliance, at an additional cost of $500. The cost for the mods, estimate and compliance letter was $3400. This amount would vary depending on which year and model of MB was bought. My mods included: 1. replacing the rear bumper strip in order to meet Cdn crash standards, 2. Installing a Daytime Light Module and 3. replacing the 'Brake' warning symbol in the cluster with the international brake symbol. So, before making the decision to buy and import the car, I clearly understood the additional costs I would incur. That doesn't mean I liked the costs, but at least I knew what I was getting into. (I understand the first 2 mods, but the 'Brake' symbol?! Please...
I called the dealer and firmed up the deal. (It was at this point I requested the letter of admissibility; received one day later.)
Next up was insurance. I called my broker, and discovered that, in Ontario, you can buy a car (anywhere) and automatically be covered under your existing policy for 14 days, even if you don't call the insurance broker. I did, however, require some sort of document indicating the specific vehicle I bought was covered, as the dealer was going to obtain a NY State 30-day temporary tag so I could drive the car home, and the DMV absolutely required proof of insurance. The insurance broker issued a 14-day (maximum available) insurance certificate, which sufficed for the NY DMV. The dealer faxed the title to US Customs 5 days before I bought the vehicle (3 days is minimum). I obtained a bank draft, and with wife in tow drove to Buffalo to complete the deal. (A side note - not every border crossing has teh Vehicle Export office - be sure to know which do.)
I exchanged bank draft for car, and headed to the border. First stop was US Customs where they married the original title to the faxed copy, stamped the original as being exported and bid me farewell.
Next stop Canada Customs, where I completed 'Form 1', as required for importing a vehicle into Canada. I proffered Form 1, the original title, bill of sale and driver's license to the CBSA agent who completed the bits I missed, and sent me to the cashier to pay GST and 6.1% duty, as the car was made outside of NA. The agent suggested I pay the RIV fee on-line as would speed the process up. CBSA submits this Form 1 to RIV on your behalf. The printed number at the top right of the page becomes your case number. I then drove home, enjoying the drive in my new-to-me car.
Next call was to MB-USA to request a Recall Clearance Letter. It arrived in about 3 days, though I did call 2 or 3 times to follow up. They were unperturbed by my calls, and in fact rushed for me as this was the week of US Thanksgiving. My first request was the prior Friday and I received the letter Wednesday. I faxed this to the RIV, indicating my case number.
Once home I called the SA, with whom I had chatted a number of times, and re-confirmed my appointment to get the mods done the next day. We had pre-set the appointment, as he already had the required parts in stock. The mods were completed in a day and a half, and the Field Service Rep visited the dealer the following day, inspected and approved the mods. His office sent the 'Letter of Compliance' to the SA the next day, and he faxed it to me. I faxed this to the RIV, indicating my case number. The dealer also arranged for the Emissions test and safety certificate for me.
Through all of this, I called the RIV daily, to be sure they were receiving my docs and to insure I didn't overlook anything. They were quite helpful, though I am glad I was persistent, as they all sounded new, and not entirely sure of the next steps.
Once the RIV had received all of my docs, it took another couple of days before I received my Form 2, otherwise known as the Inspection Form. This is specific to your vehicle and indicates any required mods. I took it, along with emissions certificate, safety cert, and invoice showing the mods had been done. My car did not require a child seat tether as it is a convertible. They were unconcerned about a bilingual airbag warning. My speedo reads in MPH over KPH so nothing had to be done. I was out in 1/2 and hour. Next stop, Ontario Ministry of Transport Licensing office. I paid my plate fee, PST and off I went.
Total elapsed time: 12 calendar days. Though a bit time-consuming, the process was not difficult. I have heard that the process is getting a bit slower, as MB is taking longer to get Admissibility letters and will no longer fax them, as apparently CBSA requires an original (which I think is bunk). MB-Cda is dragging their heels somewhat on getting the info to the dealers needed to prepare the estimate. It appears I was ahead of the curve (if only by a couple of weeks) and the process was a bit smoother.
Summary - do your homework, be patient and be persistent. I would not have brought the car into Canada without first contacting the manufacturer for details about any required mods. I hate surprises. Do I think the manufacturers are trying to make it difficult? Yes, of course. DO I think there are still great deals across the border? Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
I hope this helps. I'll be happy to answer any questions - but a warning that I may only check this forum a couple of times a week. Cheers,
Sc00p
I just imported my car to Canada and I didnt pay any duties!!! The only fee I had to pay is called an RIV fee and it was $206, not bad considering I saved over $10,000 on the car import. I used the free website Importcar2canada and it proved to be pretty usefull!!!
See post #3021 for more info.
I called Transport canada and they gave me a tremndous run-around with no answers at all.
A trailer is a good way around this. If it doesn't touch the street it's just a hunk of metal as far as both governments are concerned.(note - leave it on the trailer when crossing)
also, I am pretty sure you cannot use the plate to cross into Canada.