Importing Mazdaspeed from US

[spicytuna]

Hi,

New member to the forum.

I'm just wondering if anyone here has imported a car into Canada recently. I'm planning on importing either a Mazdaspeed6 or a Subaru Legacy GT Limited within the next few weeks from the US West coast.

I'm very familiar with the Legacy GT and it's compliance in terms of importing but was wondering if there were anything I should know about when it comes to the Mazdaspeed6. It's listed as acceptable under the RIV and I believe it comes with DRL's and a speedometer with km/h but I'm not sure about the child safety anchors or other small things. (Airbag safety labels in French perhaps?)

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

I believe they sell the Mazdaspeed 6 in Canada, so why would you need to import one?

 

[Kona Bear]

With the value of the Canadian dollar right now, Canadians can buy one much cheaper in the US. Even after taxes, duties and customs the amount saved is too large to ignore.

I believe they sell the Mazdaspeed 6 in Canada, so why would you need to import one?

 

[evilmonkeyMSP]

ah, i see.

 

[Kona Bear]

More info:

http://www.redflagdeals.com/forums/showthread.php?t=307601

Kona

 

[Mazda3]

I believe they sell the Mazdaspeed 6 in Canada, so why would you need to import one?

 

[99 Pro]

If he can do it, and it is cheaper.....why not?

 

[Captain KRM P5]

how much exactly is the difference in terms of $?

 

[03promaz]

Yeah it would have to be a big difference.

 

[Rally Ninja]

kinda harse and uncalled for, I thought u were all supppose to be nice people and stuff(boom01)

 

[MyZmZm]

how much exactly is the difference in terms of $?

not the spee6, but to give you an idea... the STi is around $55k here in Canada, whereas it's about $35k (iirc) in the US. obviously not every vehicle would have that large a price difference, but like Kona said, it's big enough to be worth the $.

 

[Kaldonis]

Sorry to revive a dead topic but I feel obligated to chime in here. I'm not sure if you understand how badly we as Canadians are being ripped off when it comes to new cars. Especially now, with our dollar basically at par with the US, you would expect the sticker price on new cars to be roughly the same, right? Well do some browsing on some Canadian dealer websites vs. US dealer websites and you will see the differences... Some examples:

Mazdaspeed 6 in the US starts at $28,590
Mazdaspeed 6 in Canada starts at $35,995

Toyota Camry in the US starts at $18,570
Toyota Camry in Canada starts at $25,900

It gets even worse when you start looking at more expensive vehicles...

Chevrolet Corvette in the US starts at $45,075
Chevrolet Corvette in Canada starts at $68,565

And it only gets worse from there...

The reason for the huge gap in price? Because they can. As long as people are paying these ridiculously higher prices for vehicles, they're going to continue to gouge us. If they start losing a large portion of their market to the US I'm sure we will see prices start to drop. I heard that Porsche recently lowered their prices by about 10% in Canada.

Also, you bring up the point about warranty. Quite a few of the manufacturers warranties are valid in Canada (Subaru, Toyota, BMW...). But even if they weren't... imagine your local dealer telling you they would knock 25% off the price if you decided to opt out of the warranty? I know I'd be all over that.

The bottom line here... don't be mad at people for being smart enough to realize Canadian dealerships are ripping us off.

 

[02p5]

Automakers to face $2B class-action for Canadian price discrepancies

[Source: Canada.com]

The fact that cars cost more in Canada is hardly new information, and many Canadians simply cross the border and buy their new cars in the U.S. The class-action lawsuit, however, also charges that automakers conspired to inhibit this practice by making consumers sign "no-export clauses" preventing them from returning to Canada with their cars, as well as refusing to perform warranty work on cars purchased in the United States. Even dealers have gotten caught up in the mix, with U.S. dealerships allegedly being penalized for selling cars that were later exported and Canadian dealers threatened with termination if they didn't comply with these practices.

The lawsuit also names the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association and the National Automobile Dealers Association in the U.S as defendants. Cases like this have been brought up before apparently, but have been long, drawn out affairs with little ultimate effect on the issue at hand. With the Loonie and US dollar at hovering around parity, however, the discrepancies are now shockingly apparent.

 

[99 Pro]

Sorry to revive a dead topic but I feel obligated to chime in here. I'm not sure if you understand how badly we as Canadians are being ripped off when it comes to new cars. Especially now, with our dollar basically at par with the US, you would expect the sticker price on new cars to be roughly the same, right? Well do some browsing on some Canadian dealer websites vs. US dealer websites and you will see the differences... Some examples:

Mazdaspeed 6 in the US starts at $28,590
Mazdaspeed 6 in Canada starts at $35,995

Toyota Camry in the US starts at $18,570
Toyota Camry in Canada starts at $25,900

It gets even worse when you start looking at more expensive vehicles...

Chevrolet Corvette in the US starts at $45,075
Chevrolet Corvette in Canada starts at $68,565

And it only gets worse from there...

The reason for the huge gap in price? Because they can. As long as people are paying these ridiculously higher prices for vehicles, they're going to continue to gouge us. If they start losing a large portion of their market to the US I'm sure we will see prices start to drop. I heard that Porsche recently lowered their prices by about 10% in Canada.

Also, you bring up the point about warranty. Quite a few of the manufacturers warranties are valid in Canada (Subaru, Toyota, BMW...). But even if they weren't... imagine your local dealer telling you they would knock 25% off the price if you decided to opt out of the warranty? I know I'd be all over that.

The bottom line here... don't be mad at people for being smart enough to realize Canadian dealerships are ripping us off.

Great post. I made one very, very simular on a local car forum here. I am tired of getting ripped off in both new and used car prices. Makes no sense since all the cars in the US and Canada all come from the same factories. Yes, when our dollar was at 60 cents to the US dollar it made sense, but not anymore.

 

[thood]

You think that jacking the price by 20 - 30% "just because they can" isn't BS? Price used to be about even when you took exchange into the equation, but with currency about par, the higher prices are nothing more than a cash grab plus shoring up the used prices.
Tom

 

[bvanderhaar]

worth the extra effort

Since bringing in my '04 mazda 6 from the states i have brought in 2 bikes, a truck, a Mazda tribute, and rare '05 alitma SE-R. The extra time and efford is well worth the trouble.

I advise importing a vehicle to everyone.

 

[muchdutch]

I would be willing to pay a nominal amount more as we do pay higher taxes in Canada, but the discrepancy is much more than 'nominal'. Yes, I agree they are ripping us off.
I know of 2 people - one on this forum and one on a different one, who have imported Speed3's from the states in the last 6 months and they saved a bundle. If you're going to do it, make sure you do your research regarding the papers you need to cross the border or that could be quite a headache. Also know which mods you'll need to do and roughly how much they would cost before inspection. For example: you need daytime running lights here which a dealer will tell you will cost a ridiculous amount, but you can go to Canadian tire and get a DRL kit for under $50.

 

[rapter]

Yo, i usually dont say much on this subject, but i feel like i want too.
I have imported cars from the states in the last 4 years.
ITS Worth it.
my last car was for a buddy, the 2008 subaru wrx.
In canada about 36 grand.
We bought one in Utah Salt Lake city, for 25 grand.
crossing the border you usually pay around 3 grand or less on a 25 thousand dollar car. so you still saved 8 thousand. which is i think well worth it.
and it doesnt take that long. and actually just to warn people out there, SUBARU NO LONGER ISSUES WARRANTIES for USA cars to Canada.
Same thing with Mitsubshi.
As far as i know MAZDA STILL OFFERS WARRANTY.
But even if they didnt give warranty i would still buy just cause think about it.
Warranty=about $3,000. lasts what 3 to 5 years. some 7.
Japanese cars are built well enough to last much more than 7 years.
And the Subaru i brought for my buddy, he even said "even if something happens to the car in the next 3 years,(worst thing probably would be AWD) would cost under $2,000 to fix. Thats still less then the warranty.
You Can tho still buy warranty from the Canadian dealerships. FOR EXTRA $$.