Well,
This will be my second Acura I've imported in the past 12 months. It's not for me but for a family friend. I know the numerous people who have voiced their disdain for Honda & Co for making their products inadmissible via the 'immobilizer' issue. Only 4 Honda products made the admissibility list (for now) -- Acura TL, TSX, RL and the Honda 2000. I'm not a fan of this 'immobilizer' issue ... this is a favour for someone who has helped me a lot along the way.
I will tell you that Acura has implemented the same policy as Honda -- new car sales CANNOT be done for Canadians any more. I have a US mailing address I can use so it will be first titled in Michigan, wait the 3 days for US Customs and then brought over to be plated in Ontario; a temporary Michigan plate (30 days) can be issued to ANYONE. Insurance agent in Ontario has been notified, and I was told that having a Michigan plate for the sake of taking it across the border will not be a problem. I will have to pay 6% Michigan sales tax, along with other minor administration fees. I will then have to pay RIV fee, 6% GST, 8% PST, A/C tax, gas tax. Also will pay to have DRLs to be retrofitted.
OK ... some are gonna ask me #s. Price for the car -- invoice + $715 destination (aka 'freight') + $500 profit for the dealer. Total before sales tax = $30,991+$715+$500 = US$32,206 + 6% MI sales tax = $34,138.36 + admin fees + temporary plate ... $34,300 (for argument's sake).
In Canada ... using acura.ca as a starting point ... the base TL with a 5-speed auto, no navigation = $42,700+$1825 (freight) = $44,525. I bet I could possibly haggle down $3000 off the car if I tried really hard ... $41,525. That is a savings of C$7000, assuming parity with the US$. No 6.1% import duty since the TL is built in Marysville, OH.
So to those who hate on Honda ... I hear you. But $7000, my friend will take his chances and forego the Acura Canada warranty and drive around with a nice car, with a good rating from Consumer's Report. And I have driven the 3rd generation TL many times when I get my Acura serviced at a Canadian dealership. (2 Acuras in my driveway ... one from Canada, the other from the US)
This will be my second Acura I've imported in the past 12 months. It's not for me but for a family friend. I know the numerous people who have voiced their disdain for Honda & Co for making their products inadmissible via the 'immobilizer' issue. Only 4 Honda products made the admissibility list (for now) -- Acura TL, TSX, RL and the Honda 2000. I'm not a fan of this 'immobilizer' issue ... this is a favour for someone who has helped me a lot along the way.
I will tell you that Acura has implemented the same policy as Honda -- new car sales CANNOT be done for Canadians any more. I have a US mailing address I can use so it will be first titled in Michigan, wait the 3 days for US Customs and then brought over to be plated in Ontario; a temporary Michigan plate (30 days) can be issued to ANYONE. Insurance agent in Ontario has been notified, and I was told that having a Michigan plate for the sake of taking it across the border will not be a problem. I will have to pay 6% Michigan sales tax, along with other minor administration fees. I will then have to pay RIV fee, 6% GST, 8% PST, A/C tax, gas tax. Also will pay to have DRLs to be retrofitted.
OK ... some are gonna ask me #s. Price for the car -- invoice + $715 destination (aka 'freight') + $500 profit for the dealer. Total before sales tax = $30,991+$715+$500 = US$32,206 + 6% MI sales tax = $34,138.36 + admin fees + temporary plate ... $34,300 (for argument's sake).
In Canada ... using acura.ca as a starting point ... the base TL with a 5-speed auto, no navigation = $42,700+$1825 (freight) = $44,525. I bet I could possibly haggle down $3000 off the car if I tried really hard ... $41,525. That is a savings of C$7000, assuming parity with the US$. No 6.1% import duty since the TL is built in Marysville, OH.
So to those who hate on Honda ... I hear you. But $7000, my friend will take his chances and forego the Acura Canada warranty and drive around with a nice car, with a good rating from Consumer's Report. And I have driven the 3rd generation TL many times when I get my Acura serviced at a Canadian dealership. (2 Acuras in my driveway ... one from Canada, the other from the US)
) so am not really interested in creative ways to get the low dealer financing US dealers might offer. I would rather use the money that I used for the car to pay down other debt if I could get a good rate to finance the car.
