Importing US car to Canada
Guest
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Importing US car to Canada
I'm looking into getting a 2.5RS coupe, probably between the years of 98-01. Finding a coupe where I live is quite an ordeal, and even when there is one available, it's usually overpriced because they are so rare. I live in Calgary, Alberta Canada by the way. There was one for sale in the classifieds here, but as I said, overpriced.
It looks like my best option would be to travel to the states to pick one up. There seems to be a lot more there, and for a much better price, also gotta love those new style bumpers that Canada was denied. For those in the know about importing cars, I have a few questions I'd like clarified.
1) What taxes are involved with buying a car from out of the country? I'm thinking I'm bound to get screwed by this the worst.
I'll most likely be driving the sucker back across the border, would they tell me to fork over the cash right there and then?
2) The kilometers and miles thing. How big of a problem is that? would I just be able to get a jdm gauge cluster and problem solved? Seems a bit too easy. What's involved with converting from the US measurement standards to Canada standards?
3) Where is the best place in the US to go for cheap cars? I'm probably going to stick with the northwestern part of the country only(less travelling), Seattle, LA, etc...
Are those two cities a good place to look? I know up in Canada, the east tends to have cheaper cars. Toronto and Montreal both have better prices and more selection than us Calgarians do(although I'm sure it has something to do with the greater population in those cities). Is there a similar trend in the US?
4) What's the average price for a stock or close to stock RS coupe? I'm seeing a bunch of RS's that have some pretty significant work done to them, which is bound to drive up the price, and I'd prefer to select the mods for the car myself.
5) What's a good site to search for used cars in the US? I keep coming up with sites that ask me for my zipcode...no idea what the zipcode of the places I'd like to go to are.
sorry for the super long post, but I am a total newbie trying to gain as much info as I can. Also, if I left anything out that you might think would be a potential problem for me, please let me know. Thank you all in advance!
It looks like my best option would be to travel to the states to pick one up. There seems to be a lot more there, and for a much better price, also gotta love those new style bumpers that Canada was denied. For those in the know about importing cars, I have a few questions I'd like clarified.
1) What taxes are involved with buying a car from out of the country? I'm thinking I'm bound to get screwed by this the worst.
I'll most likely be driving the sucker back across the border, would they tell me to fork over the cash right there and then?
2) The kilometers and miles thing. How big of a problem is that? would I just be able to get a jdm gauge cluster and problem solved? Seems a bit too easy. What's involved with converting from the US measurement standards to Canada standards?
3) Where is the best place in the US to go for cheap cars? I'm probably going to stick with the northwestern part of the country only(less travelling), Seattle, LA, etc...
Are those two cities a good place to look? I know up in Canada, the east tends to have cheaper cars. Toronto and Montreal both have better prices and more selection than us Calgarians do(although I'm sure it has something to do with the greater population in those cities). Is there a similar trend in the US?
4) What's the average price for a stock or close to stock RS coupe? I'm seeing a bunch of RS's that have some pretty significant work done to them, which is bound to drive up the price, and I'd prefer to select the mods for the car myself.
5) What's a good site to search for used cars in the US? I keep coming up with sites that ask me for my zipcode...no idea what the zipcode of the places I'd like to go to are.
sorry for the super long post, but I am a total newbie trying to gain as much info as I can. Also, if I left anything out that you might think would be a potential problem for me, please let me know. Thank you all in advance!
Guest
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Well, I got an answer for my second question. My brother told me he knows a bunch of people that drive with the exact same gauges they got from their stock US cars up in Canada. So, unless I decide to get a carbon fibre cluster or something, I can just leave all of that stuff stock. Very good news.
As for the other questions, I'm still pretty clueless....
As for the other questions, I'm still pretty clueless....
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 31
From: Portland OR
Your probably better off sticking with the Washington and Oregon as this is Subaru country (Portland I believe is one of the entry ports for imported cars). If you go to www.oregonlive.com you can check the car ads for the dealers and private sellers for the Portland area. I'm not sure for Seattle.
Your Customs Bureau should be able to tell what you need to do to bring a car over the border. If your able to find a car from a dealer just over the border in WA, they would also know what needs to be done I'd hope. Good luck.
Your Customs Bureau should be able to tell what you need to do to bring a car over the border. If your able to find a car from a dealer just over the border in WA, they would also know what needs to be done I'd hope. Good luck.
Guest
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Portland is an entry port for imports? sounds very promising....
thanks for the link, I'll definitely keep checking for the going rates on the subarus in the area. They seem to be going for around 11,000 and up...is this about what I should be expecting to pay, or do they get cheaper?....
There's not much detail about the cars though, I'd like to see more links still....
thanks for the link, I'll definitely keep checking for the going rates on the subarus in the area. They seem to be going for around 11,000 and up...is this about what I should be expecting to pay, or do they get cheaper?....
There's not much detail about the cars though, I'd like to see more links still....
Registered User
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 50
From: here and there
I really hate to **** on your parade but it's better you know now before you arrive at the border with one.
Canadian Import Laws strictly forbid the import of USDM MY99-01 RS2.5's in stock form. It all has to do with the front bumper assembly. That bumper that looks so cool did not pass Canadian crash test requirements, which are tougher than American crash standards.
Check out this document and website for more information.
http://www.riv.ca/english/_admis_list_may03_Eng.pdf
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html
I also asked someone at the office if it's ok to arrive at the border with a 99-01 RS with a USDM bumper, have them clear me into the country and then return some time later with paperwork saying that the switch to the CDM bumper was done.
The answer was sure but the document approving the work has to be signed by Subaru of Canada or one of their affiliates (ie. dealerships). In other words, that would be huge bucks getting that done at a dealership!
Hope this starts you off. I'd personally avoid all of this trouble and just get a older Impreza L and do a WRX engine swap into her.
It would run you about as much as a used RS but is tons more fun.
Canadian Import Laws strictly forbid the import of USDM MY99-01 RS2.5's in stock form. It all has to do with the front bumper assembly. That bumper that looks so cool did not pass Canadian crash test requirements, which are tougher than American crash standards.
Check out this document and website for more information.
http://www.riv.ca/english/_admis_list_may03_Eng.pdf
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html
I also asked someone at the office if it's ok to arrive at the border with a 99-01 RS with a USDM bumper, have them clear me into the country and then return some time later with paperwork saying that the switch to the CDM bumper was done.
The answer was sure but the document approving the work has to be signed by Subaru of Canada or one of their affiliates (ie. dealerships). In other words, that would be huge bucks getting that done at a dealership!
Hope this starts you off. I'd personally avoid all of this trouble and just get a older Impreza L and do a WRX engine swap into her.
It would run you about as much as a used RS but is tons more fun.
Guest
Posts: n/a
Damn, no wonder Canada doesn't have that bumper on any of their models. Thanks for the info though, I never would have imagined that importing a car would have been such a hassle.
Maybe I'll just stick with the Canadian models then. It's going to be impossible to find a coupe at a reasonable price though...
Maybe I'll just stick with the Canadian models then. It's going to be impossible to find a coupe at a reasonable price though...
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 42
From: Calgary
Car Info: 01 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS
Hey I live in Calgary, AB as well and I am selling my 01 RS! only 28,000km on it put about $3000 in stereo, alarm, cold air, and exhaust. I am asking 21,000 Let me know! The car is like brand new and extremely well taken care of...
e-mail me hoffman3@telusplanet.net for info if you like
e-mail me hoffman3@telusplanet.net for info if you like
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