There's lots of information about importing from the US into Canada, but not the other way around. Given the cool stuff offered on the Canuck Ralliart, I wonder what would be involved in bringing one here. I'm only 7 hours from Toronto, so I could drive it back no problem, but I'm sure when I try to title a canadian VIN, questions and huge fees will come up. Does anyone know the process/investment involved?

 

Typical US requirements include bringing the car up to US codes, which is usually just a large load of pointless bureaucratic rules and requirements -- for example, the Canadian car would meet emissions requirements in most US states, but you'd hit a real wall on that one in California, Maine, etc. Sometimes the US government just says no -- I have had friends move from Canada to the US and be told their car was not importable, which is an incredible pain.

Right now, with the premium model you'd get a reasonably good currency exchange (so roughly the same price as in the US) and would get heated leather-alcantara seats plus heated side mirrors that the US model doesn't have (and a sunroof/moonroof, or do some US models have that?) You really want to check the US border rules and the rules about temporary plates from the border to home, before you try to import a car. You also want to avoid Canadian sales taxes, some or all of which should be refundable at the border if you do things right -- you're not near Alberta, but that's one of the easiest places to avoid being stuck with Canadian sales taxes if you're an American.

You're also going to have to pay cash to buy a car in Canada (you generally can't borrow money in Canada if you reside in the US), though if your credit is really good, then some US banks would be willing to set up a loan in Canadian dollars and arrange to wire transfer the money for you. Borrowing unsecured money in foreign currency will mean that the interest rate will be significantly higher than what a dealer could offer, of course.

 

^ What a killjoy.

 

Sorry, but I get cranky when I'm sitting at the computer instead of in my heated leather-alcantara Recaros, but if it's any consolation, the Sirius reception is poorer here in Canada... and it's even colder than Detroit here, up north of Maine

 

not sure how it works with you being that close, but im currently in the process of importing a Evo X GSR-SST with sunroof from overseas but its pretty far away and im sure will require a lot more than what you will have to do.

 

I'd like to hear more about this. Is there a thread?

 

ive made a thread asking for advice about importing or experiences from other people and told my plans but not an official thread..when it gets here ill have the thread up

 

What exactly does the canadian Ralliart have that the U.S. one does not?

I just bought a premium RA up here in canada a few days ago, and i'm curious to know what the difference is.

 

Heated Seats, Rain Sensor Sunroof? Just to name a few. i could be wrong.

 

Heated mirrors, and Leather Recaros (can only get cloth recaros in USA I believe)

 

I think the Canadian version has various gadgets like machine guns and rocket launchers a la James Bond. heh.

 

recaro seats come standard no leather
premium comes wit sun/sound leather seats nav and i think thats about it for an extra $5000

and lots of machine guns and rocket lauchers madcows lol =D

 

The premium Ralliart in Canada includes heated leather-alcantara Recaros -- the seating surface is cloth (alcantara is very nice stuff to sit on), but the rest is leather. The back seats are also leather-alcantara. The premium package also includes the nav system and a sunroof/moonroof.

Ralliarts in Canada come with all-season Dunlop tires, heated side mirrors, and all the indicators are in metric, though the speedometer has a smaller set of indicators in miles per hour.

The price of crude oil is headed up again, apparently, so look for cars in Canada to get progressively more expensive (our dollar will almost certainly follow the price of oil upwards, while Mitsubishi will leave the Canadian pricing untouched, which works poorly if you're buying in US dollars, or euros for that matter).

 

Bump for new interest... I'm curious if anybody has experience bringing over a new or used car from Canada. The premium package on the Ralliart seems worth it to me. I'd like to know if the warranty is compromised as well? The manufacturer's warranty is longer for the CA Ralliart compared to the US model, which also makes it more attractive to me (should it be valid here too). Thanks everyone

 

Thank you for contacting Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada. We appreciate the opportunity to respond to customer comments and questions.



Vehicles registered in the United States, but temporarily traveling in Canada are covered by the terms of the Mitsubishi Motors Warranty and may be brought to Mitsubishi dealers in Canada for warranty repairs. However, vehicles operating outside of the U.S., its territories and possessions on a permanent basis, are not covered under the terms of this limited warranty. This is detailed in the Warranty and Maintenance Manual that is included in the vehicle at the time of sale.



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Thats the response I recieved from Mitsu Canada. She stated as far as she knows its the exact same way in reverse.. i can bring my ra down and travel.. and be covered but if i move or if i already live in the US and buy the car in canada..
your outa luck period. but call mitsu usa and findout for sure.

Base ralliart in Canada -
(not sure on some of the standard options differences but some are):
recaro's standard
heated mirrors and seats
rear defrost (who knows if all models in US have them)
HID lamps instead of halogen (as far as i know the us doenst come standard with HID)
- lack of bluetooth already installed standard vs US's already installed Bluetooth.
- lack of FastKey standard vs US's Fastkey standard.

---Prem package for 5K adds..
leather/fabric Recaro seats
power glass sunroof with sunshade
650w rockford-fosgate punch sound system
cd/mp3/dvd/am/fm head unit
sirius radio with 6 months service
fast-key entry system
bluetooth
auto rain sensing wipers
auto on/off headlamp control
30gb Navi
aux vidio input jack


and just for fun.. theres a site called Car cost canada - lists the supposed invoice/wholesale price and MSRP differences for almost any vehicle out there..
For the 09 ralliart base no premium
MSRP 32998
Invoice 30867
250 PDI is req'd so is freight, and about a 500 dealer admin fee aswell as 100 air cond tax and tire tax of 25? however do not let the dealer get you on a second PDI.. mitsu canada states its not required and have no idea what else it may involve other than perhaps refilling the tires with nitrogen instead of air, and placing some unwanted dealer stickers on the car. all fluid levels, bolts, etc etc were done via the 250 PDI charged by manufacturer.

Hope that helps if your planning on bringing one down from up here.