Corvette Purchase?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener Ontario
Corvette Purchase?
Hi
I have been thinking about buying an 03 Vette from the US. Has anyone done this? What should I look out for? Is it worth it in the long run?
Thanks Barry
I have been thinking about buying an 03 Vette from the US. Has anyone done this? What should I look out for? Is it worth it in the long run?
Thanks Barry
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 8,077
Likes: 4
From: Scarborough ONTARIO
Many of us did, i myself bought last year from NJ, dont know its worth in future tho as economy is going bad to worse and god knows what in future.
Pm me ur contact #, dont feel like typing.
Its pretty easy process just needs lot of money for GST PST and small fee here n there.
In the meanwhile use search function.
sami
Pm me ur contact #, dont feel like typing.
Its pretty easy process just needs lot of money for GST PST and small fee here n there.
In the meanwhile use search function.
sami
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 15,324
Likes: 2,079
From: Guelph, Ontario
Unless you have already found a specific car in mind that you really want to bring up here, you are better off just finding one up here in Canada right now, with the price of our dollar now in the low 80s, you just won't save much money (if any) buying from the US.
Racer
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 476
Likes: 1
From: Ottawa Ontario
I agree with Patman; with the US dollar so high, you are better off going private here in Canada. If you buy a US car, you have both GST and PST, even if you buy privately. At least here in Ontario, you avoid the PST if you buy privately. And there are awesome deals out there right now. If you have been reading the forum, some of our members have been losing their jobs and unfortunately, they may need to dump their cars if they can't find work quickly. Just my $.02
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 4,986
Likes: 393
From: Stoney Creek Ontario
Compare total costs between buying here or in the U.S. ... the $$ isn't too attractive right now.... when I bought my '02 there 5 yrs ago, the exchange rate was .8501, but I still saved a sh#@!tload of $$.... the economy isn't the same now though...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 2,543
Likes: 5
From: Toronto Ontario
St. Jude Donor '08
not sure if you would be saving anything given the currency exchange at this time...factoring in any duties, taxes & transportation costs, you would be better off buying a Canadian car..maybe even out of province depending on the deal.. good luck with whatever you decide, but remember, spring is just around the corner!! 
Drifting
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 1,304
Likes: 1
From: Georgetown Ontario
I brought one up here last year as well.. Not a difficult thing to do just make sure all your duck are in a row(paperwork) be real carfull though with the buck.. tacking on 20% doesn't always help. And with the economy the way it is lots of deals all around.. Spring is almost here.. so all those cars will start coming our of the wood work.. (storage and up for sale ) Even this morning, saw a couple real nice Low milage .. local vettes on autotrader.. keep an eye out..
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,761
Likes: 28
From: ontario Ontario
www.riv.ca is probably what you want. everthing you need to know about bringing in a car from the States. Good luck.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Montreal QC
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener Ontario
Thanks for all the replies.
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,724
Likes: 2
From: Holland Landing Ontario
I would follow the advice of the others. Buy Canadian. If you buy a southern US car, its generally going to have a lot more milage. They can tend to be shabby when you see them up close. Do not buy sight unseen or you are setting yourself up to be disappointed.
Most Canadian Vettes never see winter. You can generally tell its condition just by looking at it and driving it. Try to get it on a lift to check undeneath. If the aluminum components are shabby and pitted, its probably seen salt. Decide on the body style you want and make a list of the "must have" and "like to have" options and then find the lowest milage and best condition car you can.
You are in for a pleasant surprise when you get to drive a C5.
Most Canadian Vettes never see winter. You can generally tell its condition just by looking at it and driving it. Try to get it on a lift to check undeneath. If the aluminum components are shabby and pitted, its probably seen salt. Decide on the body style you want and make a list of the "must have" and "like to have" options and then find the lowest milage and best condition car you can.
You are in for a pleasant surprise when you get to drive a C5.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 32
From: cruising between USA and Canada... SAVE THE WAVE!
Thanks for all the replies.
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
my '98 came over with no hassles at all.
late last summer was the time to buy as our dollar started taking a shiaat first week of september. The savings will be minimal right now primarily due to the exchange, but that's not to say there aren't deals down south. I think the next 6 months will be extremely unpredictable so I don't know what to say other than if you find a really good car that has no doubts, then go for it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,231
Likes: 0
From: edmonton ab
Thanks for all the replies.
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
Someone told me that the bumpers in the US cars had to be changed to Canadian specs, is this true?
Also I was thinking if I buy a southern US car than I will know for sure it never seen road salt, some Ontario cars are driven on nice days in the winter and I don't want one of those.
I probably should buy locally with the dollar down right now.
I sold my 89 Vette and I still have an 80, the one that I have my site on is a 03 triple black auto. Never drove a C5 yet really looking forward to it.
Thanks Barry
When you buy down south, the car could have spent time all over the country including the hurricane belt. If you buy from a hot state the leather and paint can have UV damage. It isn't a reason not to buy US (I have done it 5 times now)but there is no guarantee of a better car just because it is from a warm state.
With a used Vette I am more concerned with excessive interior wear or rattles and squeaks because they are hard to localize and fix. Good hunting, whichever way you go.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,200
Likes: 34
From: Kingsville Ontario Canada
Check out the Canasian for sale section. Page #30 ad #582
Zeeman28a has a nice Triple Black Vert for sale for $26,000.00.
Good luck with your hunt.
I was on the same hunt for a couple of months last fall. I put offers on a couple of cars in the US. Then I imported a perfect low mileage 2002 Mag Red Z51 coupe from Grimbsy.
As many have said already, by the time you take the hit with the dollar and importing cost the Canadian cars almost on par with the US cars.
Most of the Canadian cars are stored for 5 months so the mileage is quite low.
Zeeman28a has a nice Triple Black Vert for sale for $26,000.00.
Good luck with your hunt.
I was on the same hunt for a couple of months last fall. I put offers on a couple of cars in the US. Then I imported a perfect low mileage 2002 Mag Red Z51 coupe from Grimbsy.
As many have said already, by the time you take the hit with the dollar and importing cost the Canadian cars almost on par with the US cars.
Most of the Canadian cars are stored for 5 months so the mileage is quite low.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 110
Likes: 1
From: Kitchener Ontario
Thanks everyone.
I never expected so many good honest opinions on this subject!
I can see its not a bad thing to buy a US car but just not very practical right now given our dollar.There seems to be sooooo many more to choose from state side and I don't want to buy something just because I'm anxious, I know what I want and need to wait for it to come up.
Barry
I never expected so many good honest opinions on this subject!
I can see its not a bad thing to buy a US car but just not very practical right now given our dollar.There seems to be sooooo many more to choose from state side and I don't want to buy something just because I'm anxious, I know what I want and need to wait for it to come up.
Barry
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,747
Likes: 191
From: Toronto Ontario
I'm currently getting one of the wheels fixed. Nothing serious. Just a little curb rash that was there when I bought the car. Should be ready by next Friday. And I have the scratch on my right rear quarter getting repaired in March. I'll find that good spot in the underground parking lots one day.
Here's a link to pictures for anyone interested. It's broken down into several albums and they are posted on the left of the page.
Zeeman28a
aka Stan.
Last edited by Zeeman28a; Feb 14, 2009 at 02:12 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,333
Likes: 32
From: cruising between USA and Canada... SAVE THE WAVE!
to the OP
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/cto/1031461325.html
you simply CAN'T find a car like this for that money in Canada...and that's not even taking into consideration what kind of cash deal you can swing...
keep looking...if you're serious, you will find.
you simply CAN'T find a car like this for that money in Canada...and that's not even taking into consideration what kind of cash deal you can swing...
keep looking...if you're serious, you will find.