VTEC_Thunder

"Loonie's rise fails to cut car sticker price:

A typical new vehicle now costs 17% more in Canada than in the United
States because automakers have not changed their prices to reflect a
stronger loonie, a new study concludes.

"It appears that, to date, automakers have not adjusted their
[suggested retail prices] to reflect our dollar's new-found strength,"
DesRosiers Automotive Consultants says. "Canadian vehicle buyers have
not reaped the benefits resultant from a strong currency."

The 17% difference represents $5,842 for a typical vehicle, says DesRosiers.

"Vehicle prices in the U.S. haven't changed. Vehicle prices in Canada
haven't changed. But the exchange rate has moved ... up to US90 cents.
And so the U.S. pricing, when converted to Canadian dollars, creates
this differential," said Dennis DesRosiers, the consultancy's
president.

Few people are more aware of the price differential than Subaru
Impreza WRX owners, who are paying about 20% more for their
performance sedans in Canada than across the border.

Canadians hungry for the highest-end Impreza model, the STi, have
begun shopping for them in the United States, even if they have to
jump through regulatory hoops and pay import fees, said Robin Emard,
president of the Ottawa Subaru Club, a group of enthusiasts.

"I've definitely seen a trend, from our club to people in Toronto to
people in Vancouver and Calgary and all across Canada that are
importing cars constantly now," Mr. Emard said. "It's much more
inviting."

Price differentials ranged from 6.3% for compact cars to 18.4% for
luxury sport cars, the consultancy determined, with higher-volume
vehicles being more evenly priced. Contrary to findings in previous
years, only five 2006 models in its study were more affordable in
Canada: the Pontiac Montana SV6, the Toyota Corolla, Hyundai's Elantra
and Accent models, and the Chrysler PT Cruiser convertible.

On the flip side, the Chevrolet Corvette and Lexus LS430 were among
the cars with the highest price differential between the two
countries. Both cost 25% more in Canada, DesRosiers found. The study
measured base and fully loaded models to get a more accurate picture.

The loonie has jumped 5% so far this year against the U.S. dollar
following dramatic gains in the past three years. Statistics Canada
said in its 2005 review that every Canadian household has saved the
equivalent of $294 since the loonie began to rise on durable and
semi-durable goods such as electronics. But there is little evidence
new-car buyers have enjoyed the same savings.

Some of the price discrepancy is already being resolved as Canadian
consumers negotiate better deals, said Mr. DesRosiers.

"The markets are working very well on this," he said.

Mr. DesRosiers said it is unlikely individual customers will turn to
the United States in high numbers because it's simply too complex to
bother and because new-vehicle dealers are often bound by franchise
agreements that prohibit cross-border selling.

He said it is far more probable an active arbitrage market in used
vehicles may be taking place as dealers and wholesalers shop at U.S.
auctions to bring late-model vehicles into the Canadian market at
cut-rate prices.

That's exactly what happened in the early 1990s, when free trade
opened the door to importing larger and luxury vehicles from the U.S.
automakers adjusted their pricing over a year or two and the price
differential disappeared, Mr. DesRosiers said.

THE 24% MAPLE LEAF MARKUP:

Rising buck must mean lower prices on imports, right? Study says no

Price in U.S., (in Canadian dollars) for Subaru Impreza WRX sedan: $28,524

Price in Canada for the same car: $35,495

Based on a listed price of US$24,995 and converted to Canadian dollars
using an average exchange rate from January to June."

Xscorpio

what cars are already expensive here then states.

imported_t_dot_SiR

that's why its still relatively cheaper to drive down to states to buy autoparts or order them online or by phone.........

our affiliates are doing so well to keep the price worthy for us not to order from the states

1quickmr2

still autoparts should still be cheaper than they are, and also the prices of new cars wont come down untill the loonie beats the us dollar

97SiR

I have always bougth parts online from the US and found it less expensive than buying parts here in Toronto.

cibs

most of my parts now i'm ordering up from the states, or driving down to pick 'em up...

OEM skirt kit for '06 TSX $910 US from a dealer in NY (slightly over 1000 CAN)

OEM skirt kit for '06 TSX $2000 CAN from a dealer around here...

now you tell me which price i'm gonna pay?

imported_BlazeInEk

Wow, thats nuts. I know where I am getting my next set of tires from. I can get a set of ES100's for $150cnd cheaper if I get them from the States. I was also playing around looking at S2000's. If you could import one from the States you can get one for thousands cheaper. I see Canadian used car dealerships are now doing this with the S2000's and especially with the Pontiac Soltices. Larger profit for them buying from the States and selling in Canada.

tazB

How much is the shipping usually?

Xscorpio

shipping is not that bad actually. but it al depends on what you order.

imported_t_dot_SiR

has anyone here actually done the whole process of importing a used car from the states? i'm considering buying a used s2000 from the states and bringing it over to canada..

the only thing i'm seeing as a difficult for used cars are the safety standards... this is one reason why scion are sold in states not yet in canada... coz the scion isn't meeting upto the canadian standards yet and they ain't purposely building one for our standards yet....

97SiR

Exactly! I think I never paid more than 30-40 bucks U.S.

imported_truluder

okay buying a honda is much cheaper from the states...but did u know that the warrnty for the car is gone....even if its a brand new car...reason being why i know is cuz the honda dealer i work for...i asked the owner to see if he could get me 06 white Si...he's like i can if u want but the cut off the warrty...and it goes the same if u buy a car from canada and take it down to the states.

Tego

I'm ordering everything from the US as well. I have two items coming in this week.

97SiR

I did hear the thing about voiding the warranty if a car is purchased in the States and brought to Canada. When I was in FL this January I was asking around about the possibility of buying a white sedan and bringing it to Canada and the salesperson told me that if I do that I won't take advantage of the warranty on the car. I thought he was just joking.

imported_truluder

yea i know...when i hread that i was like damnit no more white si until 08-09 minor design

imported_mikepasini

common. these are hondas. who needs a warranty

97SiR

That's true too, but then what if there is a recall on something and you need to have it fixed? I don't wanna drive to the States only to fix a recall problem.

imported_Torrey

This is old news. It's been like this for the past few months...

Just buy the car in Buffalo, oh right, most of you are from the GTA... that must suck.