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

[Edward]

Hello Dave and all,
I was searching the s-car archives for information about importing my '95 S6
(sedan) when I move to Vancouver later this month (from Massachusetts). I
was wondering if you could share your experience with the US to Canada
import. I read on that linked US Vehicle Admisibility PDF that my S6 sedan
*IS* admissable (and is more than 15 years old). Does this mean I can just
drive up to the border, show them my door-jam sticker, cough up some $$ and
drive on? Somehow I imagine there's more to this!

Is there an agency in Vancouver I can chat with about the details?

Thanks!

Ed


On 5/21/05, Dave Forgie <forgied at direct.ca> wrote:
>
> 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.
>
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