[s-cars] Re: Importing an Audi S2...questions

Mon Jul 28 08:51:10 EDT 2003

Movement of vehichles between Canada and the USA is no problem, but the same
rules apply.  A VIN sticker or a letter from the manufacturer is still
required.  Since cars manufactured for Canada also meet US regs for the most
part this is easy.  European vehicles are a different matter however..

Since the Canadian $ was so depressed up til last fall, it was very
profitable to bring vehicles into the US from Canada.  The government had no
issue with it, but the car manufacturers sure did.  Honda forced Canadian
purchasers of the S2000 to sign an agreement that these cars would not be
imported into the US for at least one year.

chris chambers writes:

> Just rambling here.....
>
> But.
>
> How hard is it to import into Canada?
>
> Could you import the car to Canada, and then drive it across the
> border, potentially transfering your vin to it and using the documents
> for your US Car?
>
> Like I said ...just rambling here!  :- )
>
> Chris
>
> --- Keith Maddock <Keith.Maddock at TRW.COM> wrote:
>>
>> I've done a bit of research on this subject on my own, concerning
>> importing my 95 968CS back to the states, and have also talked to a
>> lister who did a LOT of research on bringing a RS2 into the states.
>>
>> To start off, you *can not physically get a vehicle  through customs*
>> until  you've done one of the following:
>>
>> A1) The vehicle has a sticker on the car from EPA stating that it
>> meets US emissions requirements.
>> A2) The vehicle +  VIN  is on NHTSA's list of cars that meet the
>> crash requirements
>>
>> *or*
>>
>> B) You have a letter from the manufacturer's North American
>> representative (Audi USA) stating that the vehicle meets EPA
>> emissions and NHTSA's crash requirements.   (99.99999% sure this is
>> impossible for S2 or RS2)
>>
>> *or*
>>
>> C)  The car can be released to a bonded and certified ICI
>> (Independent Certified Importer), who will perform the necessary
>> modifications to make the vehicle meet crash regulations, and perform
>> an extensive amount of emissions testing to certify that the vehicle
>> meets EPA regulations.   The crash modifications are then heavily
>> documented and submitted to NHTSA for approval.  Once NHTSA and EPA
>> have signed off that the work has been done, only then can the ICI
>> release the car to your possession.
>>   I was quoted $8000 for this work to be done on my 968CS a ICI that
>> had done this to a 968CS already.  They also informed me of duty and
>> customs fees around $2200 based on their assumed vehicle value of
>> $26k.
>>
>> *or*
>>
>> D) The car is more than 21 years old (EPA) and more than 25 years old
>> (NHTSA)......  (in a few years, UrQ's will be 25 years old.....)
>>
>> So to import a S2 or RS2 *legally*, you're looking at around $10k or
>> even more over the cost of purchasing and shipping the vehicle.  For
>> reference, used S2's run about 5000-8000 EUR, and RS2's about
>> 12,000-18,000 EUR.    www.mobile.de if you want more up-to-date-info.
>>
>> However, there are no such restrictions on importing motor vehicle
>> parts.  You could probably manage to break down the vehicle in
>> Europe, and ship it over in 2-4 "shipments" and you'd have the parts
>> in hand.  Regardless, this is a bit of labor cost on both ends to
>> dismantle and re-assemble the vehicle.  And in the end, you have a
>> vehicle which you cannot register, short of tricks with VIN plates
>> from salvage titles, etc etc etc, which may or may not be of dubious
>> legality.
>>
>> Then ask yourself, how am I going to insure it?
>>
>> Anyway, I don't claim to be the expert on this, but all of the above
>> is my understanding on the issue.  Some relevant websites to visit
>> are:
>>
>> EPA: http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/
>> NHTSA: http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Keith "Thinking about pre-79 cars...." Maddock
>>
>>
>>
>> Keith Maddock, TRW Automotive,  Koblenz, Germany
>> Slip Control Systems, Systems Design, Traction Control
>> +49 (0)261/ 895 2474    -   -   keith.maddock at trw.com
>>
>>
>> >>> "Tim Radbourne" <tr0910 at softhome.net> 14:12:45 27.07.2003 >>>
>> Do you mean transfer the VIN too?  Is that legal?
>>
>> If that's not what you mean, you will have to get a document from
>> Audi
>> for the S2 you are importing that shows it meets US emission
>> requirements.
>>
>> Tim in MI
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: s-car-list-admin at audifans.com
>> [mailto:s-car-list-admin at audifans.com] On Behalf Of
>> Paul.Park at colorado.edu
>> Sent: Sunday, July 27, 2003 4:12 AM
>> To: s-car-list at audifans.com
>> Subject: [s-cars] Importing an Audi S2...questions
>>
>>
>> I don't know about you guys, but I think the costs of converting a
>> 90CS
>> to a S2 is pretty cost prohibitive for a car that is subject to all
>> the
>> teething problems of a conversion. Tom Vanderhoort has spent how much
>> on
>> his ersatz S2?
>>
>> So why does this seem so simple to me? Why couldn't I purchase the
>> cheapest CLEAN title B3 Audi 90 20V, and purchase a LHD S2, and
>> transfer
>> all the required registration info to the S2? Some of you guys might
>> say, "because you have no money." This is true...but speaking as if I
>> will have money some day...why isn't this feasible?
>>
>> I'm sure this has been done...right guys?
>>
>> Paul
>> -Daydreaming of rare cars that never made it here
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>
>
> =====
> 93 Audi S4 silver, 93 Audi S4 black, 85 VW Scirocco 2.0 not stock :-)
> 73 Porsche 914 2.0 (67,000 original miles, stock), 67 GMC Long Step pickup 95% complete frame off restoration, 86 VW Scirocco Wolfsburg
>
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> Mario Andretti"
>
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Tim Radbourne
93 S4 @ 140K