Hello,

After lurking on this board for the past three or four months i finally registered, as i have finally made up my mind that i want to buy an S2k. I've owned a '97 itr for the last five years and have grown alot while owning it; from not knowing much about cars to researching to doing my first autocross to becoming pretty proficient and addicted to autocross and even getting my wife addicted to it. I have to say that i love my itr, but over the past six months or so i've been wanting for something different and rear-wheel drive. I've always loved the S2000's but didn't think i'd be able to afford one for at least a few more years from now. I also never thought i'd get rid of the Integra, but the car world has changed alot in the five years i've owned her. With the s2k's becoming ever more affordable i think the time is now to make the change.

I'll be looking to buy one likely just after Christmas (probably from the US) and will be selling the itr come spring and i guess i have a few questions for you guys.

Will buying in the winter months save me much if buying from the US? I know prices drop alot here in Canada, but since so much of the US doesn't really see snow do the prices really differ much between seasons?

Does anyone have any experience getting a car from the US and bringing it back to Canada?

Also, if anyone has any good advice/words of wisdom involving this purchase i'd welcome it.

Last, if anyone is interested in trading their car for the itr (i know it's not likely, it's an S2000 board after all) drop me a PM.

Thanks Guys! A few pics of the current/soon to be former car and a few words

1997 ITR, 4.785 final drive, ACT Prolite flywheel, Spoon N1 Coilovers, Enkei ES Tarmac with Toyo RA-1's - otherwise mostly stock.

 

Welcome newbie Canuck.!!!
Once you pay duties,taxes,and taking into account the exchange rate,importing will be as costly,if not more than buying local.
Good luck.

 

Well, maybe for you in Quebec. But Here in Alberta prices are alot higher than in the US. Duty and taxes and conversion to the Canadian equal about 1.25 times the price in US dollars. So a $16K US car will cost me about $20K plus the cost of shipping it back to Canada (i believe around $1500). For $21 500 CDN i won't find ANY S2000's locally, but can find a pretty nice one for $16K in the US. Of course a see some decent deals in Quebec and i will keep my eyes open all over Canada, as it's alot less pain to get one from here. My main worry with trying to buy from Quebec is i don't speak french and most of the ads i see are in french, which makes me think they may not speak English. Thanks for the words though, and if you know of any good deals wround you, let me know, if you don't mind

 

You guys in CAN pay an awful lot for your cars up there. I'm not sure whether Emil's advice is correct for you over in Alberta, undeRwhelmed, so you should talk with your local community there... Look for your local s2ki.com forum.

Welcome aboard, by the way.

 

Nice ITR that you have there!

But ya, definitely check and tally up the total cost of tax and shipping before making a decision to buy the car from the US. My brother once drove his 4-year old BMW from US (Oregon) to Canada (BC) in 2001, and ended up paying over CAD4.5K of duties (and a new pair of visors with French on them! and also add DRL) for a car that was wirth maybe USD20K ...

Anyway, good luck with your purchase!

 

A $16K US S2000 would be worth about $22-24 CDN. Importing only starts to make sense when you buy newer or new cars but since Honda will look at it as a grey market vehicle you'll assume the cost of warranty repairs they won't cover. You'd have to take it to the US to get it fixed under warranty. It starts to make sense when looking for an 05 or later car.

 

I was aware that Honda wouldn't honor the warranty on a US car that i bring to Canada; that may not be much of an issue since with my budget the car i buy may not have any warranty left. Buying a newer car certainly would save more on the purchase price, but as you said you also are not getting warranty on the newer car, which kinda offsets the price savings i guess.

I probably was a little too general in my first post regarding what i'm really looking for in my future S2k. I'm looking to buy one from anywhere in Canada or the US. Obviously buying from Canada would be more convenient, but as long as the price is good and within my budget and the car has been really well cared for i'll buy from anywhere. Unfortunately, finding one within my budget locally is going to be next to impossible. I'm looking to spend no more than about $24 CDN or $17K US, and i'd prefer to get one for $21-$22 CDN so i'll have a bit of money left for a front sway bar and maybe a spare set of wheels and R-compounds, as well as any maintenance that may need to be done. A stock car would be great, but minor mods are good too, especially if there are stock parts inluded with the car.

Anyway, i'm replying in the hopes that some fellow Canadians might be able to steer me in the direction of where to find a good car in my budget here in Canada. Obviously i'm searching here on the board and i've looked in Canada Trader and on local car message boards. Are there any other boards i should be looking on? Like say, some local boards for other larger cities in Canada (examples )

Thanks for any help, in advance

 

Make sure you also look in s2ki's own for sale area. There's a cars for sale section. Good luck.

 

You have an awesome S2K resource in Calgary (You in Clgy or Edmton?). His name is Dave and posted here as Xviper but sadly doesn't post here now. He would be able to help.

Unfortunately I don't have a contact.

 

I am also in Canada and am looking at purchasing one in the US.

There is a documented process to follow. You can go to the following link to get additional info.

http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

Couple of considerations:
- in addition to the exchange you would need to pay import duty (i believe 6.1%)
- GST on the purchase
- you then need to pay $224 to the Canadian Border Agency (if in Quebec)

There is also a procedure and timing that needs to be followed:
- title and paperwork needs to be sent to US customs 72 hours before crossing
- you have 45 days once the vehicle is in Canada to get it certified (modified)
- you will also need recall clearance letter from Honda

I am looking at a 2006 and feel that I can save around $10K by purchasing in the US. I will drive the car to the US for any major work (approx 60 minutes).

Hope this helps. Will post again if I complete the process.