Importing from US

LMBmikeZ · 03-09-2012, 11:43 AM

why didn't you do it? you probably would've saved at least a few G's? I was going to get a 2010 nismo from the states but loved the fully loaded canadian 40th once I saw it!

Gurps · 03-09-2012, 12:16 PM

As for the warranty issue:

1. I bought my car in Bellingham which is just a short drive across the border. I did buy it new. The Dealership in Bellingham put it in writing that they would honour my warranty full. Further, if there was any warranty issue where I could not drive it, all I had to do was get it towed to the border and they handle it from there.

2.Per my discussion with the salesman I bought the car from who deals with many Canadian. Nissan North America's offical policy is to not honour warrnty in Canada on a new car bought in the US. However, on his experience, CDN customers have had some success with the Nissan dealers up here honouring the warranty.

I have gotten my car serviced in Canada since I bought it. I talked my Nissan Service advisor here in Vancouver and he basically stated that they do there best to not turn down warranty work even if it is a US car bought brand new, In other words, if I do have a warranty issue that I don't want to take the car to Bellingham, they do work with Nissan to get the work done up here for free. They have done it in the past as well with others.

So offically the policy is to not honour the warranty, but when it comes down to it, it depends on the CDN dealer and what they can do as they do not want to lose the waork.

If you buy the car new in the US, and you live in Vancouver, worst case is you have to go to Bellingham to get the warranty work done, which is not a big deal at all.

LMBmikeZ · 03-09-2012, 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurps

......

So officially the policy is to not honour the warranty, but when it comes down to it, it depends on the CDN dealer and what they can do as they do not want to lose the work.

just have to hope the people at your dealership aren't d!cks I guess!

Sibze · 03-09-2012, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMBmikeZ

why didn't you do it? you probably would've saved at least a few G's? I was going to get a 2010 nismo from the states but loved the fully loaded canadian 40th once I saw it!

Well, I was looking at getting a new one. I got one of the first Z's in Canada so there was no used one. Second, the warranty issue. I understand the post above but as you said, if the motor goes and a dealership wants to give you a hard time about it, you going to ship the car to the US?

The other issue was that it's illegal to have a US car in Canada (owned by a Canadian citizen) for a long period of time. I understand this would be very hard to prove but for the money I would have saved... I just bought it here not to have an issue later.

And really, good thing I did, because I already sold the car. I would have had issues selling it if it was a US car and the warranty was iffy

Gurps · 03-09-2012, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibze

The other issue was that it's illegal to have a US car in Canada (owned by a Canadian citizen) for a long period of time. I understand this would be very hard to prove but for the money I would have saved... I just bought it here not to have an issue later.

And really, good thing I did, because I already sold the car. I would have had issues selling it if it was a US car and the warranty was iffy

If you plan on keeping the car more than the warranty period, the warranty issue for selling doesn't become much of an issue. But if you plan on selling it before the warranty is up, it would become a possible issue to sell.

As for the warranty and a motor blwoing, like I said, it all depends where you live. I live real close to the US border, and if for some reason my engine died within the warranty period, I would only have to get it towed 20 mins to the border. So not an issue. I would have to get it towed that far to another cdn dealership anyways in Vancouver. However, for someone who lives pretty far from the border, I could see it being an issue.

LMBmikeZ · 03-09-2012, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibze

Well, I was looking at getting a new one. I got one of the first Z's in Canada so there was no used one. Second, the warranty issue. I understand the post above but as you said, if the motor goes and a dealership wants to give you a hard time about it, you going to ship the car to the US?

The other issue was that it's illegal to have a US car in Canada (owned by a Canadian citizen) for a long period of time. I understand this would be very hard to prove but for the money I would have saved... I just bought it here not to have an issue later.

And really, good thing I did, because I already sold the car. I would have had issues selling it if it was a US car and the warranty was iffy

I also bought new, and the potential Nismo was going to be new to that is not an issue??? At last I don't see one?

Also what are you talking about illegal to have an American car in Canada? This I have never herd of! There's dealerships up here that even specialize in bringing cars up from the states.

Sibze · 03-09-2012, 07:16 PM

Not the actual car. Have a US plate on the car and not registering it in Canada.

If you are a Canadian citizen and you bring in a vehicle into Canada you have a certain time frame to register that vehicle in the province you live in. Not sure the time frame, it was a while ago

Sibze · 03-09-2012, 07:19 PM

And as far as being new. I see a huge issue. As said before if the car is not registered for at least 6 months in the US the new car warranty is void in Canada unless you get a deal like the guy above did. I personally see that as an issue...

LMBmikeZ · 03-09-2012, 07:32 PM

The plate issue makes sense.

Sibze · 03-09-2012, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LMBmikeZ

The plate issue makes sense.

Ya, I really wanted to leave a Florida plate on it. Only need one! Would have been great

sparky · 03-09-2012, 08:19 PM

Safe to say the car makers know there is a huge price difference between US and Canada and they often put in official restrictions to discourage cross border shopping.
Such it is with many things, often for no apparent reason.
Books and magazines are apparently another item which has created much controversy of late. I think they rely on most people just not bothering to go through the hassle and just buy local.

GaleForce · 03-09-2012, 08:58 PM

Saving $8000 - $10000 is worth the hassle.

sparky · 03-09-2012, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaleForce

Saving $8000 - $10000 is worth the hassle.

What would be the best OTD price of a 2012 with sport, nav and auto in the US right now? Hard to believe it would be 8 to 10K less.
I paid $45K for this plus tax here in Vancouver.

IDZRVIT · 03-10-2012, 09:35 AM

Came across this in my files. Read the two conditions to get warranty coverage in Canada. If you knew someone in the US who you could trust, just register the car in their name and then "buy" it back from them six months later. Not that practical really or else just buy a used Z just over six months old.

LMBmikeZ · 03-10-2012, 09:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sibze

Ya, I really wanted to leave a Florida plate on it. Only need one! Would have been great

Ya like some of the other states.

I think this year or next I will be taking my front off it drives me nuts! The car is also not driven a lot, 3-4 days a week for not even the 6 good months of the year. My old JDM z32 when it came over never had a front one on it for the 3-1/2 years I owned it I never put it on just kept it in the back. I know I run the chance of a ticket but it's unlikely where I live cause I'm not in the GTA, where the cops like to be dicks!

03-09-2012, 11:43 AM	#16 (permalink)
LMBmikeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,237 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 10350	why didn't you do it? you probably would've saved at least a few G's? I was going to get a 2010 nismo from the states but loved the fully loaded canadian 40th once I saw it! __________________ CUSTOM NISMO \| BERK \| H&R \| STANCE \| SPL everything \| EVO-R \| 34 Setrab \| WHITELINE \| Redline \| Carkitcompany \| Zspeed \| UpRev \| SEIBON

03-09-2012, 12:16 PM	#17 (permalink)
Gurps Base Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Vancouver Posts: 93 Drives: Nissan Rep Power: 13	As for the warranty issue: 1. I bought my car in Bellingham which is just a short drive across the border. I did buy it new. The Dealership in Bellingham put it in writing that they would honour my warranty full. Further, if there was any warranty issue where I could not drive it, all I had to do was get it towed to the border and they handle it from there. 2.Per my discussion with the salesman I bought the car from who deals with many Canadian. Nissan North America's offical policy is to not honour warrnty in Canada on a new car bought in the US. However, on his experience, CDN customers have had some success with the Nissan dealers up here honouring the warranty. I have gotten my car serviced in Canada since I bought it. I talked my Nissan Service advisor here in Vancouver and he basically stated that they do there best to not turn down warranty work even if it is a US car bought brand new, In other words, if I do have a warranty issue that I don't want to take the car to Bellingham, they do work with Nissan to get the work done up here for free. They have done it in the past as well with others. So offically the policy is to not honour the warranty, but when it comes down to it, it depends on the CDN dealer and what they can do as they do not want to lose the waork. If you buy the car new in the US, and you live in Vancouver, worst case is you have to go to Bellingham to get the warranty work done, which is not a big deal at all. Last edited by Gurps; 03-09-2012 at 12:19 PM.

03-09-2012, 07:16 PM	#22 (permalink)
Sibze A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 16,202 Drives: In your way Rep Power: 63	Not the actual car. Have a US plate on the car and not registering it in Canada. If you are a Canadian citizen and you bring in a vehicle into Canada you have a certain time frame to register that vehicle in the province you live in. Not sure the time frame, it was a while ago Last edited by Sibze; 03-09-2012 at 07:18 PM.

03-09-2012, 07:32 PM	#24 (permalink)
LMBmikeZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 12,237 Drives: 40th Rep Power: 10350	The plate issue makes sense. __________________ CUSTOM NISMO \| BERK \| H&R \| STANCE \| SPL everything \| EVO-R \| 34 Setrab \| WHITELINE \| Redline \| Carkitcompany \| Zspeed \| UpRev \| SEIBON

03-09-2012, 08:58 PM	#27 (permalink)
GaleForce A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 21,749 Drives: Varis Arising II Rep Power: 51864	Saving $8000 - $10000 is worth the hassle. __________________ >>>GaleForce's Build<<< >>>FaceBook @3GsCustoms<<<>>>Instagram @GaleForce370z<<< Varis Kamikaze-Z

03-09-2012, 07:19 PM	#23 (permalink)
Sibze A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 16,202 Drives: In your way Rep Power: 63	And as far as being new. I see a huge issue. As said before if the car is not registered for at least 6 months in the US the new car warranty is void in Canada unless you get a deal like the guy above did. I personally see that as an issue...

03-09-2012, 08:19 PM	#26 (permalink)
sparky Track Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 642 Drives: 12 370Z GM AT Rep Power: 14	Safe to say the car makers know there is a huge price difference between US and Canada and they often put in official restrictions to discourage cross border shopping. Such it is with many things, often for no apparent reason. Books and magazines are apparently another item which has created much controversy of late. I think they rely on most people just not bothering to go through the hassle and just buy local.

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