New owner - import to Canada

[DocMagoo]

Hi all....have lurked for awhile, but now it looks like I have a legitimate reason for joining your forum. We've just purchased and are going through the paces of importing a 2006 GT to Canada from Washington State. We looked high and low for a used 2006 or 2007 in BC but couldn't find one within our price range. We paid $12,950 (CDN....has 28,000 miles and the remainder of the warranty) before import fees, excise tax etc., but we've figured that it will come in well below the $18,000 for the same vehicle up here, as no one was willing to budge from the $17,500-$18000 range.

Right now we've picked it up and it's a stones throw away from the border as we have to wait 72 hours before going through the inspection and bringing it over into Canada.

Looking forward to checking out the forum on a more consistent basis and I might post more about the import as it progresses.

 

[skyhawk]

Welcome. Do you have to reconfig the car? Like adding DRL (daytime running lights), Speedometer mph to kmph?

 

[DocMagoo]

Welcome. Do you have to reconfig the car? Like adding DRL (daytime running lights), Speedometer mph to kmph?

According to the Registrar of Imported Vehicles we will need to have the DRL module installed, but converting to the metric dashboard I believe is optional.

 

[perfecto]

Just be careful about warranty considerations, as I believe you are SOL if you bring it across the border.

 

[DocMagoo]

Just be careful about warranty considerations, as I believe you are SOL if you bring it across the border.

Yeah, it was one of the first questions I had and inquired to Mazda both in the US and Canada. I was assured that the warranty "travels with the car"...just need to submit change of registry info.

 

[DocMagoo]

M5 now in BC

Well, 5 minutes at US Customs and 20 at the Canadian Customs and the Vehicle Import Form 1 was submitted. The Mazda now sits beside the Toyota Echo in the garage and cannot be driven until the Form 2 comes from the Registry of Imported Vehicles and the car passes inspection....

So far, here's a rundown on the cost:
Vehicle purchase 12950.00
Buyers inspection 105.73
Binders Insurance 60.00
GST/Duty/Excise Tax 1621.10
R.I.V Fee 204.75

Anticipated costs for the federal inspection/requirements:
Inspection 101.69
Daytime Running Lights module/inst. 169.50

ESTIMATED TOTAL 15212.77

A similar 2006 GT was going for 17,999 through a dealer here and he turned down our offer of 15,000 before taxes. So hopefully we've saved close to 4000. Hopefully we can get the car inspected soon and get it on the road!

 

[AIMWO4]

I think Canadian merchants are still living in 2004. Back then, $18K CAD would have been about $13K US.(bang)

 

[Mazda3]

I think Canadian merchants are still living in 2004. Back then, $18K CAD would have been about $13K US.(bang)

No, the dealer turned down the offer of $15k because they will have absolutely no problem selling that Mazda 5 for $17K plus tax. Why would the dealer throw $2k away?

 

[AIMWO4]

No, the dealer turned down the offer of $15k because they will have absolutely no problem selling that Mazda 5 for $17K plus tax. Why would the dealer throw $2k away?

Yes. (I don't appreciate your emphatic dismissal of my opinion. Your comment doesn't even directly address mine. (doh) I'm talking about economics, not a dealership's decision. I'm sure the dealer turned down the offer for the reason that you state.)

If the Canadian economy was on a par with the US economy, The price would be about the same. In 2004, the Canadian economy could have inflated prices based on the fact that the CAD was only worth 75 US cents.

The dealer has the right to not "throw away" $2K. If everyone followed Magoo (in theory), the dealer will have to come down.

 

[Mazda3]

Yes. (I don't appreciate your emphatic dismissal of my opinion. Your comment doesn't even directly address mine. (doh) I'm talking about economics, not a dealership's decision. I'm sure the dealer turned down the offer for the reason that you state.)

If the Canadian economy was on a par with the US economy, The price would be about the same. In 2004, the Canadian economy could have inflated prices based on the fact that the CAD was only worth 75 US cents.

The dealer has the right to not "throw away" $2K. If everyone followed Magoo (in theory), the dealer will have to come down.

I fully understand what you are saying and wasn't dismissing your opinion. I noticed you were from the US and might not understand how strong the Mazda name is in Canada and the outstanding resale value. Although the Mazda name is picking up some respect in the US its still considered a weaker brand. In Canada Mazda is huge they can't build 5's and 3's fast enough. They have the number one resale value of any car in Canada. All I was saying is that the dealers hold all the cards right now with these vehicles and it doesn't suprise me the dismissed the offer with little consideration.

You are of course right that if nobody would pay the price it would have to come down, but that also means whoever traded it in would have got alot less as well. The economy is strong here right now and I don't have a problem with strong resale value it works for the buyer and seller, everyones happy.

 

[AIMWO4]

I fully understand what you are saying and wasn't dismissing your opinion. I noticed you were from the US and might not understand how strong the Mazda name is in Canada and the outstanding resale value. Although the Mazda name is picking up some respect in the US its still considered a weaker brand. In Canada Mazda is huge they can't build 5's and 3's fast enough. They have the number one resale value of any car in Canada. All I was saying is that the dealers hold all the cards right now with these vehicles and it doesn't suprise me the dismissed the offer with little consideration.

You are of course right that if nobody would pay the price it would have to come down, but that also means whoever traded it in would have got alot less as well. The economy is strong here right now and I don't have a problem with strong resale value it works for the buyer and seller, everyones happy.

(thumb)T hat can happen in these threads. I am in the US, but I am from Canada.

My Mom is actually thinking about a 5. She's on Vancouver Island. So, I've been thinking she may want to import one if prices stay high in Canada.

 

[DocMagoo]

Anyways....aside from the debate on inflated Canadian prices.....importing the M5 isn't the "headache" that dealers up here would have the consumer think (and I think that dealers play-up the stress factor as well as the "hoops that you have to jump through"). We fully expected the dealer to turn down our offer as even private sales up here don't fall below $17500, but hey, we had to try and maximize our gain and minimize the amount of ca$h leaving our pocketbook. We're just surprised at finding the ideal M5 for so much lower stateside.

The car went through customs on Tuesday and then the completed forms were faxed into the Registry of Imported Vehicles same day. Today we received the necessary Form 2 via email from RIV (they state that this would take possibly up to 10 days after submitting Form 1 to them). We could realistically take the car in for the federal and provincial inspection tomorrow, but will have to wait until Friday due to work schedule.

The only downsides so far have been wiring a money transfer down to the US financial institution (had to put a trace on it), and due to Motor Vehicle Laws we had to scrape the tint film and adhesive off of the driver side window and front passenger side window or we'd fail the inspection on Friday.

 

[AIMWO4]

Excellent. Thanks for all the updates. It will help if my Mom decides to go this route.

Anyways....aside from the debate on inflated Canadian prices.....importing the M5 isn't the "headache" that dealers up here would have the consumer think (and I think that dealers play-up the stress factor as well as the "hoops that you have to jump through"). We fully expected the dealer to turn down our offer as even private sales up here don't fall below $17500, but hey, we had to try and maximize our gain and minimize the amount of ca$h leaving our pocketbook. We're just surprised at finding the ideal M5 for so much lower stateside.

The car went through customs on Tuesday and then the completed forms were faxed into the Registry of Imported Vehicles same day. Today we received the necessary Form 2 via email from RIV (they state that this would take possibly up to 10 days after submitting Form 1 to them). We could realistically take the car in for the federal and provincial inspection tomorrow, but will have to wait until Friday due to work schedule.

The only downsides so far have been wiring a money transfer down to the US financial institution (had to put a trace on it), and due to Motor Vehicle Laws we had to scrape the tint film and adhesive off of the driver side window and front passenger side window or we'd fail the inspection on Friday.

 

[themagni]

(thumb)T hat can happen in these threads. I am in the US, but I am from Canada.

My Mom is actually thinking about a 5. She's on Vancouver Island. So, I've been thinking she may want to import one if prices stay high in Canada.

I'm from Vancouver Island as well. I went to a dealer in Vancouver to get my Mazda5. Here's why:

Victoria / Nanaimo:
$19,990
used 2007 GS model
15k - 22k or more.
"We're the only Mazda dealer in Victoria. *smug smug smug*"
My response: "You realize I can get a online quote from any dealer in NA, right?" Vocalized as, "We really like it. Can we take an extended test drive?"

Vancouver:
$20,353
new 2007 GT model
25 km at delivery (not 25,000 - It had been shuffled around the lot and that's it.)
no freight, PDI, etc. $100 for A/C and $25 for tires.
"Yes, we'll pick you up at the ferry!"
OTD @ $23000
The kicker - I get $500 MIR because of the Grad Rebate program on new Mazdas.

There's another 2007 GT at Freeway in Vancouver for $20,353:
http://tinyurl.com/6osj3o

It's listed as "used" because they can't figure out how to list a non-2008 model as "new".

You'd be out the door for the same price I paid. They will call an autoplan agent to come and do the insurance at the dealer.

Note that there's no 0% financing on the 2007 models. If you do go there, I suggest packing a lunch as they make you wait for a loooong time. You could also try leaving and going to the mall that's nearby. They wouldn't give me anything else, not even a quarter for the vending machine so I could get some candy. (nuts)

I had been looking at a US import, but it was going to be a pain in the ass. Note that you can NEVER replace the speedometer / odometer. Those must remain as miles to show that it was originally a US car. (Well, okay, you can, but then you get the "insured out of BC" and "odometer replaced / broken" dings when you go to sell it, as it's now a replaced unit.) I was concerned about the resale value, which is why I went with the car I got instead of the US import.

Since they're made in Japan, they aren't part of NAFTA, so you'll have to pay 5% GST, 7% PST, and 6.1% duty. (Total of 18.1% tax) In the case of a 15k car, the duty alone is about $900. You're still saving a substantial amount of money, though.

 

[AIMWO4]

Interesting. It appears that the 2007 Can GT model is the same as my 2007 US spec Sport except I don't have a sunroof (which I didn't want) or DRL (which I can do myself).

I'm from Vancouver Island as well. I went to a dealer in Vancouver to get my Mazda5. Here's why:

Victoria / Nanaimo:
$19,990
used 2007 GS model
15k - 22k or more.
"We're the only Mazda dealer in Victoria. *smug smug smug*"
My response: "You realize I can get a online quote from any dealer in NA, right?" Vocalized as, "We really like it. Can we take an extended test drive?"

Vancouver:
$20,353
new 2007 GT model
25 km at delivery (not 25,000 - It had been shuffled around the lot and that's it.)
no freight, PDI, etc. $100 for A/C and $25 for tires.
"Yes, we'll pick you up at the ferry!"
OTD @ $23000
The kicker - I get $500 MIR because of the Grad Rebate program on new Mazdas.

There's another 2007 GT at Freeway in Vancouver for $20,353:
http://tinyurl.com/6osj3o

It's listed as "used" because they can't figure out how to list a non-2008 model as "new".

You'd be out the door for the same price I paid. They will call an autoplan agent to come and do the insurance at the dealer.

Note that there's no 0% financing on the 2007 models. If you do go there, I suggest packing a lunch as they make you wait for a loooong time. You could also try leaving and going to the mall that's nearby. They wouldn't give me anything else, not even a quarter for the vending machine so I could get some candy. (nuts)

I had been looking at a US import, but it was going to be a pain in the ass. Note that you can NEVER replace the speedometer / odometer. Those must remain as miles to show that it was originally a US car. (Well, okay, you can, but then you get the "insured out of BC" and "odometer replaced / broken" dings when you go to sell it, as it's now a replaced unit.) I was concerned about the resale value, which is why I went with the car I got instead of the US import.

Since they're made in Japan, they aren't part of NAFTA, so you'll have to pay 5% GST, 7% PST, and 6.1% duty. (Total of 18.1% tax) In the case of a 15k car, the duty alone is about $900. You're still saving a substantial amount of money, though.

 

[DocMagoo]

Today we received the necessary Form 2 via email from RIV (they state that this would take possibly up to 10 days after submitting Form 1 to them). We could realistically take the car in for the federal and provincial inspection tomorrow, but will have to wait until Friday due to work schedule.

UPDATE: Seems like my wife couldn't wait for Friday to come and she rescheduled today. The car has now passed inspection and she gets to experience the "Zoom-Zoom" factor tonight!! LOL Not bad...approved within 48 hours of coming through the border.

 

[Mazda3]

I prefer to purchse my vehicles in the economy that I earn my money in, because if all Canadians purchsed all their products and services in other countries we'd all be out of work and have no money to buy a car.

 

[randyl]

I prefer to purchse my vehicles in the economy that I earn my money in, because if all Canadians purchsed all their products and services in other countries we'd all be out of work and have no money to buy a car.

In normal circumstances that's what I do. I bought a 5 here in March and got it a month ago. If I'd known it was this easy I might not have done so though. It's not I don't support the local economy, if they can explain why I have to pay 6000 more just because I want to support the local economy then I might be a bit happier now. Haven't they noticed the exchange rate is different from 4 years ago? I bet you if we go back to the 1:1.5, they will raise the price in a heart beat. Oh well... it's a free country and they get to set whatever price they can get for what they sell, consumers get to choose however they want to get the products.

 

[Mazda3]

In normal circumstances that's what I do. I bought a 5 here in March and got it a month ago. If I'd known it was this easy I might not have done so though. It's not I don't support the local economy, if they can explain why I have to pay 6000 more just because I want to support the local economy then I might be a bit happier now. Haven't they noticed the exchange rate is different from 4 years ago? I bet you if we go back to the 1:1.5, they will raise the price in a heart beat. Oh well... it's a free country and they get to set whatever price they can get for what they sell, consumers get to choose however they want to get the products.

The 0% financing Mazda is offering is worth about $4k-$5k for the 95% that don't have their own real cash to buy a car with. I don't think the actual real savings add up to more than $2k when the smoke clears. What is good service worth? Even if the local dealer is forced to honor the warranty the service will most likely be crappy and a constant hassle. They will look after their own customers first, they won't squeeze the US buyer in on a busy day and offer that grade "A" service the preferred customers get.

If we are talking about high end luxury vehicles where some people are saving $30K on a car I can kind of understand, but at the same time the people who can afford those are making alot of money in our economy and should spend it here. I realise this all a matter of opinion, but I still pose the question to the cross-border shoppers: What if everyone purchased the products/services that your employment is related to in the US and you lose your source of income? Eventually the whole countries economy would collaspe.

 

[fam]

Forget about the economic effect, me and my buddies MORE than make up for it when they goto Windsor periodically (gambling and nicer\cheaper gentlemen's clubs).

Plus, we are buying a japanese car remember?