Dougs951

Has anyone done it?

I am looking to bring a 1990 S2 into the states from Canada but don't know where to start.

87 944 C

i know the 90 s2 is an ROW car,so i doesn't meet USA emissions laws and the speedometer is in kph not mph.

google, automotive imports in Maryland. i think there's one i baltimore. if memory serves right, they'll import the car and check to see what has to be done to make it legal.

because there's no chassis difference between USA and CA s2's no crash testing will be needed.

one thing to watch for though, and i know of this from nissan silvia's(240sx), the company may not be allowed to import it because a 1990 s2 is a readily available Porsche model in the USA market. however, due to rarity they may allow it to come in due to the small selection of vehicles for sale in the lower 48.

you'll pay import taxes, whatever they are now. again from japan it's 1.5x. so if the car came from japan and cost me 10g, to import it'd be another 15g on top, so 25 in total. for some reason i doubt CA to USA will be that much, probably a few hundred+transport

this info is based most know about importing grey market cars, i've done a bit of research for cars like skyline's and silvia's as well as 959's...which doesn't fit grey market anymore as they're legal to own now

Fintro11

you would probably be able to find them cheaper in the states ....

Dougs951

I have found a few super clean low miles examples up north that I cant find here.

MB968

I bought my 968 in BC 18 mos ago. It had been in BC for a few years. But, it was originally imported from Germany into California so duties, etc. were paid when it was originally imported into the US. When I brought it back into the US I had to have a copy of the Calif. title from the past showing it had been in the US previously. This kept me from having to pay any fees, making it a fairly simple import. So, if you could find one that was originally a US car it would make it an easy import.

goatfarmerdave

Go on google and punch in Importing cars from Canada to US and such.I know bringing a car up to Canada there is different rules for different cars.

for instance,I believe older cars get a break,Imported cars get a better break because they are not American made(gm,ford,etc).When we bring cars up from the States we have to pay duty at the border and out sales tax(gst).Our dollar is almost even right now so that is good.The government websites will give you step by step info on exactly how to do this.In Canada we send all the info to the border 3 to 5 days before you cross.When you get there you give them the info,they look it up,you pay your taxes,and your are good to go! Bottom line,check the government border website.Cheers.

pontifex4

Doug, you'll need a Canadian to give you a high-five when you actually pick the car up. That's in the rules.

I would be happy to help.

goatfarmerdave

Is that the
Charlie who used to own the turbo and sold it to a lady friend this summer?

pontifex4

Indeed! I understand from her columns that she's doing very well with it.

Dougs951

A lot of the information I have been finding is rather old and incredibly confusing.

pontifex4

I'm not surprised. Virtually no one buys a vehicle from Canada -- but there's a whole industry supporting people who want cars to go the other way. I just did it last month, in fact.

I imagine that you've found this NHTSA link already, but if not:
http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/

MB968

I don't recall all the details except for the few comments posted above. Sometime before I brought mine in from Canada, I called the US Customs office at the boarder where I was going to cross. And, I also got info off the US Customs site; there was a list of things you had to have when you get to the border. Check with Canadian customs too. Although in my case I don't even recall there being a stop as I left Canada. And, don't forget to take temp. tags for the car.

Richierich

Doug,
Can u tell us a bit about the car? I am concerned u found the same '90 S2 that's been floating around Vancouver for past 18 months. It is silver over burgundy with low miles but a questionable history.

Richierich
'87 951 cobalt blue, 89km

Dougs951

That was the car that gave me the idea. The car is nonspecific, juat looking for more info I am looking for another late S2 but want an all stock lower miles car. My S2 is rapidly closing in on 200k miles.

87 944 C

^as long as maintenance is done, that's not really an issue