A Question for our Canadian Members.

Because it is a major PITA, and the dealer will say, cannot service under warranty.

- DRL (daytime running lights)
- permits
- special taxes
- financing

There's a class action suit going on out of a lawyer's office in Toronto to rectify this somewhat.

If you buy a used car, it's another story, but brand new = hassle.

I looked into it, and ended up leasing 4 years. I have 10k buyback, which will be easy to pay.

 

Also, Toyota has told the dealers not to sell to Canadians, so you have to find one who's willing to sell.

In practice, the savings aren't quite $10k any more (the federal rebate appears to apply only to cars bought in Canada, there will be some cost associated with travelling, importing, and modifying the car, and one should be able to get a discount off MSRP when buying domestically, but not necessarily from a US dealer, though that might depend on an individual's negotiating prowess, etc.). But it's still a heck of a tempting return for a day spent driving it up...

 

One other reason for me besides the hassles of importing a car etc., we try to spend our money close to home. My wages (I am an electrician) come from local people who use my services and I in turn try as much as possible to support those businesses around us as long as they provide good value for the money I spend.

Rob

 

One question that occurs to me that I have never seen an answer to is this: What will these grey market cars/trucks be worth at trade-in time? Given that each grey market car imported into Canada is taking bread out of the mouths of Canadian dealers, will they be keen to take such cars as future trade-ins? Not to mention recalls or product updates which may or may not have been applied. Of course none of this matters much if you intend to keep your car "until the wheels fall off".

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(kenmce @ Oct 19 2007, 06:57 PM) [snapback]527943[/snapback]</div>

I seriously considered it with the CDN$ worth MORE than the US$ right now.... Now if you are looking for a new car, you are SOL, since most states within driving distance have residency requirements. You can find a private broker, but your warranty would be at issue and you must pay the state taxes too. Used cars are another issue.

There are no used car residency requirements. MFG warranties are valid, but CDN dealers will give you low priority.... Then there are the issues of importing:

If it's a private sale, you MUST make sure the bill of sale is okay. You must go to the DMV to make sure the sale is okay. Even if it's a dealer sale, you need to go to the state DMV to obtain a trip permit. Only then can you drive it to the border. It is strongly recommended that you have another person drive you down to buy the car.

At the border, you need to declare the car as an import. From what I understand; since it is NOT made in North America, NAFTA doesn't apply. So you will need to pay a tarrif for import. You will need to pay the GST for sure... Then you need to get the car certified provincial driving rules. (Day time running lights, km ODO and Speedo, etc...) Now, if you can't get it done at the border (and who can) you may need a provincial ministry of transport trip permit, depending on province.

Once the modifications are done, the car needs to be safetied. Only then can it be plated and you then pay the retail sales tax for your province. Only then are you done...

You can save yourself much headache but not dollars, by hiring a broker.

While it's okay to drive a US prius with a label stating the ODO is in miles and just toggle to km/hr, it will still display fuel consumption in MPG rather than litres/100km....

The truth is a used Prius in Canada is not that far off from US used cars. Depending on where you get the car. They are cheap in remote places in Quebec... Logistically it might be more complicated to get to than the US, but you don't need to "import" the car as long as the PQ doesn't get their way...

Ironically I bought my Prius from a dealer in Sarnia, a border town across from Port Huron Michigan. (Sarnia is noted for Michael Moore invading people's unlocked doored homes in Bowling for Colombine.) I think I might have saved $2000 by crossing the border. But really much of it would have been eaten up in transportation costs and taxes.

 

That surprises me that they are so much more expensive than those in the US. I was in Victoria, BC last week and was amazed at the many prii on the road. Most of the taxicabs were prii. Many of the police cars were prii, and many service-type vehicles. were prii. I also saw LOTS of the Smart. Teeny, tiny cars due to be on sale here in early 08.

susan

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Evilshin @ Oct 21 2007, 08:43 AM) [snapback]528426[/snapback]</div>

Your estimate of the potential saving now that the Loonie is above par are way low: I just bought a 2007 Prius in Pennsylvania for about $10,000 less than the best offer I could find from an Ontario dealer. Taxes, fees, duty, federal/provincial rebates, and modification costs are netting out to about $3,000, so I am clearing around $7,000.

The Canadian dealers are taking a hit on their inventories, but they were raking in money five years ago, when the Loonie got as low as US$0.63, Canadian car prices were below US levels, and American buyers were coming north. If the dealers have a beef now, it's with Toyota (and the European manufacturers) who are still keeping their prices high in Canada for as long as they can get away with it.

As others have pointed out, there are a lot of hurdles to get over, but everyone -- the US dealer, US Customs, Canadian Customs, Toyota Canada, and even the Toronto dealer I called for service information -- has been very friendly and helpful. And, needless to say, we're delighted with the car!

 

For people looking to import a car into Canada, it's actually not very difficult if you're willing to do a bit of work. If it saves you 10 grand, it's likely money well-spent.

There's a full guide here:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=477998

Canadian dealerships better adjust their pricing soon. There was a guy on the radio the other day saying that they expect over 120,000 cars to be imported into the country this year - up nearly 20% from last year, and the pace is accelerating as the dollar remains high.

Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Nov 10 2007, 07:39 PM) [snapback]537848[/snapback]</div>

I sent the RIV a question about the Prius - I'll post if I get a reply from them.

Odd, because the smart-key system IS an engine immobilizer.

Dave

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark Derail @ Oct 19 2007, 07:32 PM) [snapback]527963[/snapback]</div>

Toyota will honour the warranty (may take a little longer to process the paperwork). I have this in writing and acknowledged by the local dealer. The only pain was to find a dealer who'll sell to a Canadian - getting harder and harder.

Gabe

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Nov 16 2007, 12:19 AM) [snapback]540438[/snapback]</div>

No, I think you are confused. The engine immobilizer is separate from the SKS. For example, you can buy a "base" Prius without SKS, but it still has the immobilizer.
SKS is just the ability to enter the car with the fob in your pocket, and start the car with the fob in your pocket.

The immobilizer ensures the car will not run without seeing the wireless device with the correct code near the "key slot" (actually near the immobilizer module, but it is mounted near the fob slot). It ensures the ECU will not run the engine.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(HolyPotato @ Oct 19 2007, 08:14 PM) [snapback]527980[/snapback]</div>

When the CDN$ was at 0.88 cents US$ I saved $9,579. If the feds did not renege on their rebate the savings would have been $11,579. I do believe buying CDN, but not at these price differentials.

In fact you can much better negotiate in the US (basic supply and demand principle) I got ~$1.2K off MSRP after an already reduced price of $2K (eco-rebate). Also found the salesman much more knowledgeable about the Prius than in Canada.

Gabe, C.P.P.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Grand Total @ Oct 21 2007, 08:52 AM) [snapback]528416[/snapback]</div>

I see no difference in selling a US based car or Canadian. Market forces and the condition of the car will dictate the value. In fact you have a much better chance of selling closer to your original US based price than someone who bought their car in Canada.

Gabe

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Evilshin @ Oct 21 2007, 09:43 AM) [snapback]528426[/snapback]</div>

Since the car is made in Japan duty is applied at the border at 6.1% and they also charge the GST there. You have to pay taxes GST and PST in Canada so I don't know why people keep bringing this up. In fact the GST amount paid is less on the import since the base price is lower than if you purchased it in Canada.

A broker will skim most of the savings and it is not that hard to do it yourself.

To me those "issues" are red herring. Don't drink the Koolade that the industry is dishing out.

$9,579 when the CDN$ was at 88cents ... oh take away the tolls (otherwise all costs are included).

Gabe C.P.P.; CGA

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveG @ Nov 10 2007, 07:29 PM) [snapback]537803[/snapback]</div>

www.riv.ca
is an excellent site for info and great help if you contact them.

Gabe

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Mark Derail @ Oct 19 2007, 06:32 PM) [snapback]527963[/snapback]</div>

Well for $10K I would have taken that route anytime. However I've looked at local Prius for sale and I've found a demo Prius with full warranty for $23k cnd.

Otherwise I would have bought in the U.S for sure.

On a side note, with canadian dollars so high, I think dealers will have no choice to adjust their prices. Nissan is promoting something like Fair deal. I don't know if it really means something. One thing is for sure that we are paying way to much money for cars according to our money value. :angry:

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SyCo @ Nov 16 2007, 02:56 PM) [snapback]540690[/snapback]</div>

Hi: I haven't bought a Prius yet, but I'm on the verge. Wanted to import one from the US, but apparently the engine immobilizer on US Priuses built after September 1, 2007 is on the wrong side of the firewall. (Want to bet Toyota hasn't done that on purpose?) The Registrar of Import Vehicles website, www.riv.ca, has been updated, and now states that any 2007 Prius built after September 1, 2007 is inadmissible, as well as all 2008 models.

I've been trying to find a 2007 in the US that was built prior to September 1, but I think I've left it too late - nothing available, as far as I can tell.

I guess I will buy in Canada. Basic 2008 Prius in BC is $29,500. Deducting $4,000 green rebates (federal and provincial $2000 each), takes it down to $25,500. By the time I pay the US price, which is $20,950, plus duty, and figure in the exchange rate which presently favours Cdn dollars, the hassle doesn't seem to be worth the savings.

But I'm mad at Toyota (and Honda) for their "my way or the highway" attitude. Fortunately, the product is terrific.