Buy Canadian or Import?

Crazy_pilot · #1 11-11-2006, 03:39 PM

So, for my inaugural post:

Ever since I first saw an SVX a few years ago I've been in love with it. I'm finally in a position where I can look at buying one. I do however have a problem there. I live in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. Winter is long and rough, and we use salt on the roads. Even after a few years cars can show rust damage from the salt. Now IF the car was well maintained, properly undercoated and rust proofed, it will escape most of that. But salt rust is insidious, and a 10+ year old car could only escape by a miracle. Plus there are only something on the order of 1000 SVX's of all years in Canada.

So my question is this: Is it smarter for me to find one locally in the best condition I can, or to head south and try to import one and pay all the fees associated with that (A process I'm not familiar with)?

Thanks for any help!

bcpianoman · #2 11-12-2006, 06:55 AM

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=33723

Good luck

Sr240sx · #3 11-12-2006, 11:53 AM

Go stateside and try to pick one up. It'd only be a couple days trip

Crazy_pilot · #4 11-12-2006, 05:07 PM

Thanks guys, I'll keep that in mind when I go looking. It'll be several months before I can seriously commit to buying, but that doesn't mean I can't window shop/drool in the meantime!

Earthworm · #5 11-13-2006, 08:27 AM

Not only are there more in the US but they are cheaper. You just have to go through the issues with importing. (import fees, DRL's, speedometer change)

Dza · #6 11-13-2006, 10:36 AM

I bought mine from the US and so did my Dad. Have you every looked in the Auto Trader up here? The price of an SVX in there is ridiculous.

Keep in mind, if you buy a 92 from the US it may have a manufacture date of more than 15 years ago so it won't be subject to RIV (www.riv.ca) requirements.

Crazy_pilot · #7 11-13-2006, 11:53 AM

Ya, I've looked in the Auto Trader a few times. I've seen prices from 6-12 grand. Going south is looking more and more appealling.

b3lha · #8 11-14-2006, 01:32 AM

I've seen a few JDM imports for sale in Canada.

http://www.terra2imports.ca/ab-listings.php?make=Subaru

Maybe that's worth looking into?

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34288

http://www.subaru-svx.net/forum/showthread.php?t=34156

rallyingrob · #9 11-15-2006, 06:51 PM

i must be living right

bought mine locally with bad tranny for 500$ and swapped in 4.44 tranny/rear diff for 550$ (installed) and just got the rad fixed today for 40$

picked up new (factory)front discs and pads for 280$
rears will be here next week price is about 200$

getting new take-off gold sti wheels with tires for 600$

replaced rusty rear brakes lines for about 40$ (includes flushing and bleeding system)

and next week i'm picking up another svx for parts for 500$ and the seller threw-in a 91 legacy L wagon auto that i drove home and can prob sell 500$ of parts off of(fingers crossed).........

my point is: why are so many of these cars so pricey?

and

there ARE canadian cars rust free (or close to it) out there.......both cars i have were sold and have lived in Nova Scotia for 15 years and have next to NO rust at all
.bearing in mind NS is a peninsula in the n atlantic and it is not physically possible to get even 50 miles from the ocean here.....and we use a LOT of road salt here.....

the svx is exceptionally rust resistant

the only rust spots i have seen are where the rear bumper cover rubs right behind the wheels(it chafes off the paint)
and in the centre of the doors where the clips for the side-cladding attach....