[s-cars] The truth about "admissibility" importing to Canada

[Dave Forgie]

For some reason, I have decided that I like C4 Audi 100 or A6 avants.
S4 or S6 avants would be wonderful too.  However, no S4 avants made it
to North America and the S6 avants were imported to the US but not
Canada.  In fact, the Audi 100, A6 and S6 avants are all deemed to be
"inadmissible" into Canada, at least while they are younger than 15
years (we can import almost any vehicle that is older than 15 years).
Check "Audi" listings under Volkswagen-Audi on the Transport Canada the
website at:

http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf

I figured the problem was bumpers or child seat tethers or day-time
running lights.  All things that could be "fixed" so I phoned Transport
Canada in Ottawa yesterday.  Left a message (after hours in Ottawa
relative to Vancouver).  A gentlemen phoned back today (Friday).

I told him the story and suggested that there can't much different
between the two countries model specifications because there are Audi
100 and A6 wagons here in Canada already.  I can see a 100 wagon across
the street from me and my mechanic drives an A6 wagon.  The Transport
Canada guy and I talked bumpers and DRL, etc. but at the end of the day,
the guy says, "Well, in any event, we don't actually put the cars on the
inadmissible list.  The whole thing is self-administered by the
manufacturers and THEY put the cars on the inadmissible list".
(WTF!!!)  (I was, as the Brits say, gobsmacked)

So what it comes down to is Audi, in its wisdom (NOT), must have decided
(for reasons not clear to me) that they wanted to restrict the movement
of avants/wagons across the border.  If you check the list, they have
also restricted newer models like the 2004-2005 RS6 from being imported
into Canada.

Since there is very little difference, if any, in the bumpers and the
crash testing protocols are probably pretty close, in my opinion, the
list is BS.  Its just Audi protecting their markets and Transport Canada
doesn't want to get involved.

D*mn.  And there is a lovely avant on Audifans too.

There is no justice.

Dave F.