[s-cars] Re: Mr. Hull bids adieu to the s//S2

[Taka Mizutani]

Chris-
Again, Austin Minis are way past the 25 yr. mark- the ones that are
being imported, that is.

If we had the regs. like Canada that offered unrestriction import of
15 yr. old cars, I'd want to get a FC Infini, a R-32 GT-R V-specII and
in a couple years, an early '90s Cedric with Junction Produce aero
bits.

Taka


On 6/17/05, Chris Hall <badcomrade at gmail.com> wrote:
> Well that's cool to know that it's slightly easier now.  No wonder why
> all those companies can import Austin and Rover Minis, pay for all the
> fees involved, etc and still sell them in the U.S. for $8,000 to
> $10,000, etc.  Even at 1 & 1/2 times the "cost" of the vehicle it's
> still pretty cheap.
> 
> It kills me every time I pass a car on the highway (or get passed by
> one) that has bald tires,  exhaust dragging on the ground, body parts
> hanging by the turning signal wires, mangled up body panels, etc.  To
> think that cars like that are "legal" on our roads, and a 959 isn't
> just reminds you what our Government is all about lol.
> 
> On 6/17/05, Jim Dupree <jdupree914 at sbcglobal.net> wrote:
> > This is all based on current regulations for
> > importation. These rules changed several years ago and
> > made it much simpler to import a vehicle to the US.
> > The feds had an attitude that some cars just did not
> > belong in the US regardless of what you were willing
> > to do to them.
> >
> >
> > --- Chris Hall <badcomrade at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> > > Apparently what you need is the following:
> > >
> > > An HS-7 Declaration form (available at ports of
> > > entry or online).
> > >
> > > Cars less than 25 years old must comply with all
> > > applicable Federal
> > > motor vehicle safety standards (FMVSS) to be
> > > imported on a permanent
> > > basis.
> > > (Vehicles manufactured to comply with the FMVSS will
> > > have a
> > > certification label affixed by the original
> > > manufacturer in the area
> > > of the driver-side door. )
> > >
> > > A vehicle without a certification label cannot be
> > > imported as a
> > > "conforming" vehicle.
> > > In this case, the importer must contract with a
> > > Registered Importer (RI) to
> > >
> > > ********  modify the vehicle and post a DOT
> > > Conformance Bond in an
> > > amount equivalent to one and a half times the
> > > vehicle's dutiable
> > > value. ********  (ouch!)
> > >
> > > This bond is in addition to the normal Customs entry
> > > bond (which is
> > > what... 3%?).  Copies of the DOT Conformance Bond
> > > and the contract
> > > with an RI must be attached to the HS-7.
> > >
> > > "If the petitioned vehicle is not similar to one
> > > sold in the U.S.,
> > > this process can become very complex and costly."
> > > Well, that S2 is
> > > "similar"... Doesn't say IDENTICAL... so who cares
> > > about the core
> > > support... lol.
> > >
> > >
> > > So that's pretty much it (other than the EPA part,
> > > and really... how
> > > hard is it for a car to pass emissions... my Coupe
> > > GT did it with no
> > > cat  lol.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On 6/17/05, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > Chris-
> > > > Have you tried to get Audi of America to send you
> > > an affidavit stating
> > > > that the S2 is significantly similar to a US-spec
> > > car (forget the
> > > > official name of the document)? Good luck.
> > > >
> > > > The rad support and some other parts are
> > > significantly different from the CQ.
> > > >
> > > > Cars older than 25 yrs. are now virtually
> > > unrestricted.
> > > >
> > > > Have you even ever talked to an RI about doing
> > > this? It's not as
> > > > simple as you make it out to be.
> > > >
> > > > Taka
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 6/17/05, Chris Hall <badcomrade at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > Well like I said, that car is pretty much the
> > > exact same body that was
> > > > > used on the U.S. Coupe Quattro, so as far as
> > > that part is concerned
> > > > > (which is a big part), that shouldn't have
> > > stopped it from coming in
> > > > > since they were approved for U.S. roads.
> > > > >
> > > > > The only other 3 things I can think of that can
> > > stop a car from being
> > > > > imported are: #1 the manufacturer decided they
> > > don't want to
> > > > > #2 something was on the car that didn't allow it
> > > to meet U.S.
> > > > > emissions specs (and could be modded / detuned
> > > to allow it to pass
> > > > > inspection...)
> > > > > #3 there were some DOT safety issues... type of
> > > headlights, and all
> > > > > the other minor stupid crap that has to be
> > > changed for the U.S. market
> > > > > which again, could probably also be taken care
> > > of for way way less
> > > > > than $30,000.
> > > > >
> > > > > I've seen TONS of cars here in the Chicago area
> > > that were never
> > > > > imported in to the US for one reason for
> > > another, so it's not like
> > > > > it's a wild idea...  I was behind a right hand
> > > drive E type today on
> > > > > Lake Shore Drive in fact lol.
> > > > >
> > > > > Plus like I said, every once in a while one of
> > > the Quattro Sports in
> > > > > this country go up for sale (usually around
> > > $90,000-$100,000) so that
> > > > > would have been easier (and waaay more of an
> > > investment) than paying
> > > > > someone to do all those mods he had done to make
> > > a "better than
> > > > > average" S2.  Not to mention it'd smoke the S2
> > > lol
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > On 6/17/05, Taka Mizutani <t44tqtro at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > If the car is not importable, then it really
> > > doesn't matter what the
> > > > > > car costs outside of the US (for people in the
> > > US, that is).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Taka
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On 6/17/05, Chris Hall <badcomrade at gmail.com>
> > > wrote:
> > > > > > > So he stopped counting at $60,000 to make a
> > > "fake" S2.  If the -real-
> > > > > > > S2's are going for $10,000 - $15,000 U.S.
> > > What would it cost to
> > > > > > > import it here and have it made DOT legal?
> > > Certainly not $60,000....
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > --
> > > > > Chris Hall
> > > > > badcomrade at gmail.com
> > > > > "making girls cry since 1974"
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Chris Hall
> > > badcomrade at gmail.com
> > > "making girls cry since 1974"
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > quattro mailing list
> > > quattro at audifans.com
> > > http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/quattro
> > >
> >
> >
> 
> 
> --
> Chris Hall
> badcomrade at gmail.com
> "making girls cry since 1974"
>