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

[Chris Hall]

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"