[s-cars] importing problem

[Keith Maddock]

Bob Frizzell <bobfrizzell at shaw.ca> wrote:
> Elijah,
> What if a Canadian owns the car, moves to the US and sells you the car? Is
> that possible?
> We've got to figure something out for you.
> There must be a way to get an airbag in there without spending the big
> bucks.

I don't know much about any specific rule differences for Canada to US
imports vs Rest-of-world to US imports.

However if you can't get a letter from Audi, you won't be able to
import the car.  Going through an ICI (independent certified importer)
or RI (registered Importer)  will not help as that will cost a lot of
money and in the end you would have to have the airbag fully installed
and the bumpers would be a problem and the engine would have to be
fully emissions certified.   I don't think its easy to find an ICI or
RI that will help bend rules enough in this case. YMMV.

The vehicle age at which this is all can be bypassed is 25 years for
DOT  requirements and 21 years old for EPA requirements.

Digest these two pages :

http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/factmtop.htm
specifically 
http://www.epa.gov/otaq/imports/factmnb.htm

and 

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/
specifically 
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/VIG_Canada07032.html
and

http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/Racing/Racing.html


As you can see in the links above, you won't be able to bring it in as
a track or off-road vehicle either, unless you make some pretty
non-reversable mods which would truly make it non-streetable.  However
there seems to be a lot of gray area - researching the regulations you
might find a easily reversible loophole mod.

Another lister who extensively looked at bringing an RS2 in came to
the following conclusion after extensive discussions with the feds:

Remove the drivetrain from the  vehicle.  
Ship each "half" separately as parts.
Reassemble
Buy a US Spec car and swap the VIN.

The last step for an RS2 is a stretch as there were never any 80/90
Avants.  However for a CQ it should be no problem.

Cheers,
Keith