Buying Canadian?

[flownosaj]

After searching high and low for a LDT V8 4X4 here in Texas and not finding much to choose from and dealers who didn' t drop prices, I figure I'd have to ship one in. Since I'm paying to ship it in, I might as well go as far north as possible....

I've found a place that legally imports diffferent in demand vehicles from Canada and sells them at discounted rates. The instruments are in miles and Fahrenheit for temperature and everyting is AOK with the Govt. Still has factory warranty and they arrange shipping.

They have a black and a gray new '03 LTD V8 4X4, both with side impact & overhead Air Bag, JBL Synthesis 6-disc in-dash changer and 10 speakers, Power tilt/slide moonroof, Rear spoiler, X-REAS Sport Enhancement Suspension.

I figure I'd save a few thousand (3-4), but do you think it's worth it. I could always find a place in Colorado that's got a few extra 4X4's lying around, but I'm getting tired of doing internet searches ony to find one that's got a nav system or won't come down in price.

So what do you think? Is a Canadian import and transport worth it?
What about the black vs gray? I've only ever seen LTD's in white, gold and silver, so I'm relying on your imput (plus my wife's better judgement).

 

[peter78]

Warranty

I wonder if you have the warranty? If your real serious, I would contact Toyota before you buy. This is a article I am posting about gray cars. The part about warranty is something you may want to read. Re-sale value is another point.

http://www.edmunds.com/advice/specialreports/articles/64615/article.html

 

[jharris2]

Good link, peter78.

The article reflects, but does not highlight, the fact that no company is truly international. Instead, they usually have a mixture of wholly-owned subsidiaries and partnerships in each country, which is what is required for them to operate legally in all these countries.

What that means is that warranty and service is difficult to do cross-border because of various revenue and taxation laws. It's the same problem I face daily with computer equipment manufactured by the company I work for.

So the prospect of losing the warranty is not a surprise.

In the computer biz, here is how it has been explained to me (I'm an engineer, not an accountant, so don't ask questions ): the Canadian subsidiary has to record an accrual for the warranty expenses for the vehicle; this is the money they use to pay the dealers for warranty service parts and labor. The car biz probably works the same way.

Now, your scenario is that you buy in Canada, then import to the US. The US subsidiary does not have an accounting accrual, and therefore no money to pay for repairs down here.

They may do it for customer service as an exception (like a 4Runner with Canadian plates that just happened to be here when it needed work), but they have absolutely no incentive to pay for work on vehicles they didn't sell.

That's probably the greatest risk you run if you were to import the vehicle -- aside from the possible theft issue the article mentions.

(And before anyone launches a flame on customer service, remember that all the people making these decisions are paid on how well the company does in their country, not around the world.)

 

[EDGE]

Have you heard of www.tundrasolutions.com in the 4Runner section their is a member who name is Dianne who works in fleet and internet sales.

I would try her, she works at/for Carson Toyota, you can probably drive their and get a V8 4wd Limited.

Would probably cost the same and you could drive it home not wait for it.

I don't think white LTD excist unless you have seen an SR5 with painted cladding.

Here is one of her threads

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=11549

Here is her website, 2nd page on the bottom is a V8 4wd LTD, she gives discounts to TS members

http://carsontoyota.com/html/special.html

The Silver 4Runners look good, only seen 2 black ones and black is hard to keep clean the blue 4Runners look bitchin, it is an awesome color on that truck, really suits it well

 

[EDGE]

If what I gave you does not work out for you I can give you my dealership salesman name and you can contact him, they have shipped 4runners out to colorado so Texas should be no different.

Are you buying the truck outright or paying it off, cause I got mine for 2400 under the sticker

 

[jharris2]

I called Dianne before I ordered my SR5, and she warned me that getting 4WD in southern CA is tough. They have good prices, and she is very helpful. Unfortunately for them they didn't have exactly what I was looking for so I bought elsewhere.

 

[Mindcore]

Keep in mind, the Canadian versions do not offer the Nav.

If the KM to MPH conversions are taken care of, then the only real differance would be the added Day time running lights..

also, as you mentioned the Xreas is included with the limited

 

[flownosaj]

Sorry it's taken a while to write my reply.

Thanks for the article. After I had read it, I emailed the guy asking about warranty info. He had been active in emailing me prior that but when I brought up concerns over the warranty, he never responded. Oh well, I figured you all just saved me a bit of hassle down the road. Thanks.

Thanks for the link to Carlson Toyota. If I decide to go ahead with soon, I'll call and see what they can do. From the pics, blue does look good. I've seen a few "painted" SR5 and sports around here. That could explain the wite...that and 75mph going the oposite way on my way home from work. 4Runners do catch my eye.

If you do truck in a vehicle from out of state, how do you go about taking care of paperwork? I also have to get rid of my current vehicle...I'd hate to curse someone else with my piece of junk

 

[jharris2]

Getting rid of an existing vehicle was one reason that I chose not to buy out of state. Figured that it was going to be a hassle -- I sold one vehicle, will be trading in another to go from 3 to 2.

The private sale, for a top-notch vehicle, has turned into a problem with the buyer's bank, but we're fixing it. It also takes a bit of your time -- I was lucky because my pickup sold in 2 days. Yours may take more or less time.

But that's the risk you take on when you choose to sell the vehicle, which brought $1K - $2K more than the dealer offered as a trade-in.

As far as bringing in a vehicle from out of state, that should be business-as-usual to register and get plates. Just take all of your paperwork to wherever you go to register. Expect that you will have to pay sales taxes when you register -- but make sure you don't get hit with taxes when you buy out of state and when you register.

A few phone calls to the state vehicle or revenue agency should give you all the information you need and save you time.

One hint -- if you can wait a few days, don't call right at the end or the very beginning of the month. That's when they are the busiest with people renewing registrations.

Having warranty service done should be normal, too. Check the policy where you will probably have warranty work done -- I have seen one dealership (not Toyota) that clearly stated their priority policy this way:

1. first priority to warranty work for customers who bought the vehicle from them,

2. second priority is post-warranty customers who bought from them,

3. third priority is people who bought their cars elsewhere.

You might not think it is fair, but it was on a huge sign where you took the car for service write-up, so at least you knew in advance.

Net - use the phone to make sure you have all the information before you make a decision.

 

[peter78]

Gray Market

It is too bad about the warranty. I was hoping things are on the up and up. I know a lot of cars are going across the border due to difference in price. If anyone decides to do this, I recommend contacting Toyota before you buy. If it is on the up and up, they should not have a problem.

I have also heard about the gray market in Europe and the problems over there, Countires are finally cracking down.

Good luck in your new SUV search. I hate the process of buying a new car/SUV.