Importing Car to Canada

When we moved to Canada we imported our cars with us from the U.S. My brother-in-law was so intrigued by this that I later helped him import a used car to Canada from the U.S. At this time the savings was a few thousand dollars on a $15,000 car.  Now with the strength of the Canadian dollar the price difference has become ridiculous. I was looking (just for fun) at an Audi S4.  The list price in Canada is $71,000cdn.  The list price in the U.S. is $49,000usd.  A $22,000 price difference!!  Now if you factor in the exchange rate that price difference is getting close to $25,000.  The exchange rate almost makes it possible to buy the car at par and have the exchange rate pay your taxes.  It is amazing though that as much as I have looked at importing a car to Canada the hassle and time involved really makes me think twice.  I know that some manufacturers will cancel a warranty if the car is exported from the U.S.  And some manufacturers are offering incentives like no charge maintenance for four years that most likely would not transfer.  Still it is hard to ignore the price difference.  Many in Canada are really starting to question the Canadian pricing and why it does not come down.  One problem in the car business is all the leases in place with residual values in the contract. What happens if you have leased a car for four years and want to buy it for the residual value at the end of the lease and the car manufacturer has decreased prices by 10% on new models of the car you have.  Good luck negotiating that one.  Has anyone else had experience importing cars to Canada?

Comments

[tom]

Wow, that is amazing that the cost is that much different for an Audi. I calculated it out using this:

http://www.crossbordershopping.ca/savingscaculator/

It says you would save 34% or $26654.51 after taxes.

That is just warped. I don't really get why the price isn't the same when the dollar pretty much is.