46 replies to this topic

[knightowl]

Hey everyone;

I'm new to this site and recently found this Canadian page. I don't have a Shelby GT500 yet, but plan on purchasing within a year or so...I just want to do as much homework as possible before taking the leap and would love to hear your experiences regarding purchasing in Canada or the U.S.

Aside from the major cost difference between our countries, are there any pro's or con's you've come by?  At the moment, I plan on buying in the U.S. unless some of you know the best spot to buy in Canada? A friend of mine picked up his Shelby from Ontario a few yeas back only because there were good incentives at the time and a surplus I think, so his price wasn't worth going to the U.S.

Anyway, I'm all ears and would like to hear from anyone and any advice you can offer.

Also, has anyone ever used the I-5 Auto Group out of Washington to acquire a vehicle? They are a brokerage firm that essentially find and bring in the car you want and do the paper work involved to get across the border, etc. Just want to hear how things went if you dealt with them or similar company and is it worth the money?

If I've posted my questions in the wrong area, please let me know too.

Here's dreaming still! Thanks!

Edited by knightowl, 25 March 2011 - 08:42 AM.

[Jason1320]

Hey Knightowl

I picked up a new 2010 GT 500 last year from a now defunct dealership in LA. I had a few hiccups along the way but all in all a great experience especially with the cost savings. I did all the importing paper work my self and flew down and drove back (made a great road trip and gave the car a nice break in). If you’re thinking about having it hauled back you may want to look at a broker because I think the paperwork becomes more complex. If you go the Registrar of Imported Vehicles website riv.ca it has all the steps laid out and it’s relatively simple. Another thing to consider is the state taxes of the state of purchase, for example Cali has around 8% state tax and that has to be paid on new vehicles if “the tires touch the pavement” I was told, so I had to haul mine across to Nevada before I could drive it back to avoid the tax. Hope this helps, if you have any more questions I’d be happy to help you out.

J

[knightowl]

Jason1320, on 25 March 2011 - 09:05 AM, said:

Hey Knightowl

I picked up a new 2010 GT 500 last year from a now defunct dealership in LA. I had a few hiccups along the way but all in all a great experience especially with the cost savings. I did all the importing paper work my self and flew down and drove back (made a great road trip and gave the car a nice break in). If you’re thinking about having it hauled back you may want to look at a broker because I think the paperwork becomes more complex. If you go the Registrar of Imported Vehicles website riv.ca it has all the steps laid out and it’s relatively simple. Another thing to consider is the state taxes of the state of purchase, for example Cali has around 8% state tax and that has to be paid on new vehicles if “the tires touch the pavement” I was told, so I had to haul mine across to Nevada before I could drive it back to avoid the tax. Hope this helps, if you have any more questions I’d be happy to help you out.

J

Hey J.....That does help me a lot and as you mentioned, the process seems pretty straight forward especially when following the step by step instructions on the riv website.  As you mentioned, the state tax can be avoided as long as you look into how to do that, which you did. I guess having it hauled to a destination can bypass that, at a cost of course.

Well, I'm keeping my eyes open and will see what I find.  I imagine you saved quite a few bucks even after paying GST & PST?

Thanks again J.

[glroy]

Muscle car speedometers need to be in MPH not KPH  
Just my 2cents

[shelby001]

glroy, on 25 March 2011 - 09:35 AM, said:

Muscle car speedometers need to be in MPH not KPH  
Just my 2cents

Don`t forget the it has to have daytime running lights

[knightowl]

shelby001, on 25 March 2011 - 09:56 AM, said:

Don`t forget the it has to have daytime running lights

Thanks glroy.....I like the MPH too....At least the speedo comes in both with KPH in the smaller numbers if bought in the U.S. and don't have to worry about conversion.

Shelby001....Got the info on the daytimers too which I hear is just a simple command through the computer and have somebody lined up to do that when the time comes, unless it's more involved than what I've been told?

[knightowl]

Hey glroy...I see you're in Victoria and we'll moving to the Island in couple years...Just wondering how insurance has been through ICBC???? Or did you insure the basics through them and go another company / broker afterwards?

[glroy]

knightowl, on 25 March 2011 - 11:01 AM, said:

Hey glroy...I see you're in Victoria and we'll moving to the Island in couple years...Just wondering how insurance has been through ICBC???? Or did you insure the basics through them and go another company / broker afterwards?

ICBC with my 0 claims history 11 or 12 hundred a year but I only insure for a bout 6 months and store in SO-CAL for 6 months @ 100.00 per month ICBC for fire theft and ?? log as it is not moving. We can't afford to winter there yet so we go visit the Shelby 2or 3 times a winter. First year doing this; allowed us to drive it at the Bash (track time for the Shelby     )

Bring all of your ins documentation when you move here as you will need for discounts. Simple provincial inspection for car and no Smog if you live on the Island. You will need to find a good mechanic Both ford dealers in Victoria have screwed up my car.

Glen

[knightowl]

glroy, on 25 March 2011 - 12:42 PM, said:

ICBC with my 0 claims history 11 or 12 hundred a year but I only insure for a bout 6 months and store in SO-CAL for 6 months @ 100.00 per month ICBC for fire theft and ?? log as it is not moving. We can't afford to winter there yet so we go visit the Shelby 2or 3 times a winter. First year doing this; allowed us to drive it at the Bash (track time for the Shelby     )

Bring all of your ins documentation when you move here as you will need for discounts. Simple provincial inspection for car and no Smog if you live on the Island. You will need to find a good mechanic Both ford dealers in Victoria have screwed up my car.

Glen

Ok, that's really good to know; I heard that ICBC is pretty much all based on driving & collision history, but didn't know what to expect for rates so that's a great guideline; thanks so much. Also great to know to bring my Alberta insurance docs over for the discounts.

We're looking to possibly set up in Nanaimo so I'll have a look around for a good mechanic.  Sorry to hear about your experience; What did they do to your car??? No Smog? What does that entail?

Thanks Glen.

Edited by knightowl, 25 March 2011 - 01:19 PM.

[Jason1320]

knightowl, on 25 March 2011 - 09:19 AM, said:

Hey J.....That does help me a lot and as you mentioned, the process seems pretty straight forward especially when following the step by step instructions on the riv website.  As you mentioned, the state tax can be avoided as long as you look into how to do that, which you did. I guess having it hauled to a destination can bypass that, at a cost of course.

Well, I'm keeping my eyes open and will see what I find.  I imagine you saved quite a few bucks even after paying GST & PST?

Thanks again J.

Yeah I figure with all the costs including flights, rooms, gas, rental car, trucking, RIV fees and speeding tickets (just one) I'm still up 6-7K over buying in Canada.
As for the daytime running lights it is a computer reprogram (fog lights become DTR on HID equip cars) doesn't take too much time, but it is a full reprogram so don't make the same mistake I did, bring all the key fobs with you otherwise they can't do it.

[knightowl]

Jason1320, on 25 March 2011 - 01:44 PM, said:

Yeah I figure with all the costs including flights, rooms, gas, rental car, trucking, RIV fees and speeding tickets (just one) I'm still up 6-7K over buying in Canada.
As for the daytime running lights it is a computer reprogram (fog lights become DTR on HID equip cars) doesn't take too much time, but it is a full reprogram so don't make the same mistake I did, bring all the key fobs with you otherwise they can't do it.

One speeding ticket? Not too shabby considering the distance you travelled! Still worth the trip though as you saved a good chunk of change.
Really good info on the daytime running lights to see how they work with HID's and even better info to make sure and bring all the fobs.  I'm really glad that I posted my questions here as guys like yourself J are being really helpful.

Thanks

Rob

[Jason1320]

knightowl, on 25 March 2011 - 01:59 PM, said:

One speeding ticket? Not too shabby considering the distance you travelled! Still worth the trip though as you saved a good chunk of change.
Really good info on the daytime running lights to see how they work with HID's and even better info to make sure and bring all the fobs.  I'm really glad that I posted my questions here as guys like yourself J are being really helpful.

Thanks

Rob

Glad to help, I wish I would have known about this site last year there are a lot of great people with great info to share.

J

Edited by Jason1320, 25 March 2011 - 02:22 PM.

[SHELBYCS6]

knightowl, on 24 March 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

Hey everyone;

I'm new to this site and recently found this Canadian page. I don't have a Shelby GT500 yet, but plan on purchasing within a year or so...I just want to do as much homework as possible before taking the leap and would love to hear your experiences regarding purchasing in Canada or the U.S.

Aside from the major cost difference between our countries, are there any pro's or con's you've come by?  At the moment, I plan on buying in the U.S. unless some of you know the best spot to buy in Canada? A friend of mine picked up his Shelby from Ontario a few yeas back only because there were good incentives at the time and a surplus I think, so his price wasn't worth going to the U.S.

Anyway, I'm all ears and would like to hear from anyone and any advice you can offer.

Also, has anyone ever used the I-5 Auto Group out of Washington to acquire a vehicle? They are a brokerage firm that essentially find and bring in the car you want and do the paper work involved to get across the border, etc. Just want to hear how things went if you dealt with them or similar company and is it worth the money?

If I've posted my questions in the wrong area, please let me know too.

Here's dreaming still! Thanks!

I have a friend that works at an SVT dealer in Toronto and he keeps me in the loop when ever there is a deal in place and right now he has a Grabber Blue Vert 2011 with low km and the track pkg and nav for  which was an exec car
for $55k

[knightowl]

Jason1320, on 25 March 2011 - 02:21 PM, said:

Glad to help, I wish I would have known about this site last year there are a lot of great people with great info to share.

J

Yeah, I totally agree. Every little bit of info helps that's for sure.

[knightowl]

SHELBYCS6, on 25 March 2011 - 05:11 PM, said:

I have a friend that works at an SVT dealer in Toronto and he keeps me in the loop when ever there is a deal in place and right now he has a Grabber Blue Vert 2011 with low km and the track pkg and nav for  which was an exec car
for $55k

Wow, that's not too bad of a price especially for the vert....He's a good contact no doubt!

I'll be looking for a coupe and still trying to nail down the exact colour that I'll want, but hard to get too picky I guess. I was initially thinking of buying low km's on something within 2 years old, but as the new one's come out, I just keep teasing myself. Would still be saving a good amount of cash though if I went slightly used.

Thanks again.

[QuickSilverShelby]

knightowl, on 24 March 2011 - 09:08 PM, said:

Hey everyone;

I'm new to this site and recently found this Canadian page. I don't have a Shelby GT500 yet, but plan on purchasing within a year or so...I just want to do as much homework as possible before taking the leap and would love to hear your experiences regarding purchasing in Canada or the U.S.

Aside from the major cost difference between our countries, are there any pro's or con's you've come by?  At the moment, I plan on buying in the U.S. unless some of you know the best spot to buy in Canada? A friend of mine picked up his Shelby from Ontario a few yeas back only because there were good incentives at the time and a surplus I think, so his price wasn't worth going to the U.S.

Anyway, I'm all ears and would like to hear from anyone and any advice you can offer.

Also, has anyone ever used the I-5 Auto Group out of Washington to acquire a vehicle? They are a brokerage firm that essentially find and bring in the car you want and do the paper work involved to get across the border, etc. Just want to hear how things went if you dealt with them or similar company and is it worth the money?

If I've posted my questions in the wrong area, please let me know too.

Here's dreaming still! Thanks!

Hey knightowl,

binging a car from the US to Canada is "easy as pie".  I doesn't matter if you drive it or if you ship it.  The main thing is to check the RIV site and make sure it is OK to bring back.  Some Shelby's are OK to bring into the country and some Shelby's are not.

I have bought 4 cars in the past 7 or 8 years and as long as the RIV says they are ok to bring into the country, then it is no problem.

I had one shipped to me from Colorado and picked it up in Calgary, had one shipped from South Carolina and picked it up in Montana and drove it across the border, bought one in Oklahoma and bought one in Tacoma, Washington and these two cars will come to Canada this year.

My point is it's super easy to bring these cars into Canada as long as they are allowed by the RIV.  It only takes a little bit of paperwork, you need to notify US customs 72 hours before you export the car from the US, then you bring it across the border to the Canadian side, fill out one more form, pay your GST and BOOM, the car is yours, legally brought into Canada.  

You still have to do a couple of things to register it in your province but it is not too difficult.  Day time running lights are a must for newer cars but there are even "alternatives" to having these.

If you can save a bunch of money buying in the US, go for it !!!!!!!!!   Don't let anyone tell you that your car can't be warrantied in Canada if it is a US car cause that just a bunch of scare tactics that they dealers use to put fear into your heart to try to keep you from buying outside the country.  In the end it is a free market system.  Why not take advantage of it.

Buy where ever you get the best deal.

QSS

[knightowl]

[quote name='QuickSilverShelby' timestamp='1301110547' post='1132978']
Hey knightowl,

binging a car from the US to Canada is "easy as pie".  I doesn't matter if you drive it or if you ship it.  The main thing is to check the RIV site and make sure it is OK to bring back.  Some Shelby's are OK to bring into the country and some Shelby's are not.

I have bought 4 cars in the past 7 or 8 years and as long as the RIV says they are ok to bring into the country, then it is no problem.

I had one shipped to me from Colorado and picked it up in Calgary, had one shipped from South Carolina and picked it up in Montana and drove it across the border, bought one in Oklahoma and bought one in Tacoma, Washington and these two cars will come to Canada this year.

My point is it's super easy to bring these cars into Canada as long as they are allowed by the RIV.  It only takes a little bit of paperwork, you need to notify US customs 72 hours before you export the car from the US, then you bring it across the border to the Canadian side, fill out one more form, pay your GST and BOOM, the car is yours, legally brought into Canada.  

You still have to do a couple of things to register it in your province but it is not too difficult.  Day time running lights are a must for newer cars but there are even "alternatives" to having these.




More great info QSS! I really appreciate everyone's input and shared experiences here.

I've been looking at the RIV periodically and by the looks of things, it should be no problem to bring this car across the border. The exception seems to be the Shelby's that have been modified / customized  such as the Saleens and Supersnake I believe. As long as I find it pretty much stock, all should be good but when it comes down to buy time, I'll be reading the most current information on the RIV site.

Good point on the warranty too as I've heard similar scare ploys, but the reality is that quite a few auto makers will honor the warranty in Canada & U.S., but like some buddies have done, they say to call Ford Canada before making the sale and they will confirm, so just an extra safeguard. I'm reassured that the process to import is straight forward and just have to get my ducks in a row.

Thanks for the advice QSS; I quite enjoy looking at the comments and of course checking for my future ride.

Edited by knightowl, 25 March 2011 - 09:45 PM.

[glroy]

knightowl, on 25 March 2011 - 01:19 PM, said:

Ok, that's really good to know; I heard that ICBC is pretty much all based on driving & collision history, but didn't know what to expect for rates so that's a great guideline; thanks so much. Also great to know to bring my Alberta insurance docs over for the discounts.

We're looking to possibly set up in Nanaimo so I'll have a look around for a good mechanic.  Sorry to hear about your experience; What did they do to your car??? No Smog? What does that entail?

Thanks Glen.

IN BC you are only tested for smog if you live in the lower mainland. No testing required on the Island.

In Greater Victoria you have 3 Ford location 1 suburban 2 Glenoak 3 Glenoak ( western communities). All three are owned by the Same Corporation.
1 Suburban did my TSB back in 08 Screwed it up the first time lied to me as to what went wrong, chipped paint on drivers door when they alined the door. I talked to another Shelby owner who was getting his oil changed at the dealer early in 08. He was told he would have to wait a bit for  the job to be done as they were out of oil and had to go to Lordco to get more. The only warranty approved oil for our cars at the time was FORD oil and I know Lordco does not carry Ford oil. Who knows what they put in his car.  Have not been back there!!!

2 Radio warranty from hell. http://www.teamshelb...-warranty-help/ and at the end of the day they had to replace my air bag cover because they had damaged it. The service writer at the end of the day finally said your car is not a standard ford product and we really don't know how to work on it.
During one of my many visits to the service area during this job. I over heard on of the service writers looking for a Super Snake computer. i asked the guy about it and he said a customer got a Super Snake blower and they needed a Super Snake computer to make it run. he told me who the customer was and I recalled meeting him a couple of years back at a car show, he talked a good mod and was good at selling his mustang mod shop, glad I didn't go there.  

3 The dealer I bought my Shelby from Steve Marshall ford Nanaimo. They had imported the car from California. I had a hell of a time getting the DRL turned on and the proper customs paper work. The also installed my front plate bracket using fence hardware just destroyed the bumper under the bracket.  

hope this helps
Glen

[knightowl]

glroy, on 26 March 2011 - 09:10 AM, said:

IN BC you are only tested for smog if you live in the lower mainland. No testing required on the Island.

In Greater Victoria you have 3 Ford location 1 suburban 2 Glenoak 3 Glenoak ( western communities). All three are owned by the Same Corporation.
1 Suburban did my TSB back in 08 Screwed it up the first time lied to me as to what went wrong, chipped paint on drivers door when they alined the door. I talked to another Shelby owner who was getting his oil changed at the dealer early in 08. He was told he would have to wait a bit for  the job to be done as they were out of oil and had to go to Lordco to get more. The only warranty approved oil for our cars at the time was FORD oil and I know Lordco does not carry Ford oil. Who knows what they put in his car.  Have not been back there!!!

2 Radio warranty from hell. http://www.teamshelb...-warranty-help/ and at the end of the day they had to replace my air bag cover because they had damaged it. The service writer at the end of the day finally said your car is not a standard ford product and we really don't know how to work on it.
During one of my many visits to the service area during this job. I over heard on of the service writers looking for a Super Snake computer. i asked the guy about it and he said a customer got a Super Snake blower and they needed a Super Snake computer to make it run. he told me who the customer was and I recalled meeting him a couple of years back at a car show, he talked a good mod and was good at selling his mustang mod shop, glad I didn't go there.  

3 The dealer I bought my Shelby from Steve Marshall ford Nanaimo. They had imported the car from California. I had a hell of a time getting the DRL turned on and the proper customs paper work. The also installed my front plate bracket using fence hardware just destroyed the bumper under the bracket.


hope this helps
Glen

Glen;

That does help a lot! These are things that come down to the finer details and good to watch out for; in the end, they could cause a lot of grief like the mounting hardware for the front plate! I'm sure that they figured nobody would check that! I'll have to make sure I get it done right since I know I'll need it in BC.

Also thanks for filling me in on the smog issue too and would definitely make sense for the Vancouver area for sure.

If I get a bad vibe from any shop and they seemed puzzled as to how to work on a Shelby, I'll walk away. What about the authorized SVT Ford dealers? I know their shop rate is probably expensive, but you would think if they sell the product, they would know how to do work on it.

I'm sure there may be a few bumps along the way, but I can understand that and hopefully I'm that much more prepared with everyone's help here. Thanks again for taking the time to put your thoughts down Glen.

Rob

[knightowl]

Now I just have to decide on colour too as so many of the combinations look really good, even the stripe deletes too.  So far I'm favouring towards either flat black stripes on black, which I don't see too many of and the Kona blue with white stripes....Well, I have lots of time to make up my mind anyway as I really can't commit for about a year or so, but we'll see what happens.

If anyone else wants to throw their two cents worth in here, please feel free.....I'm learning tons.

Edited by knightowl, 29 March 2011 - 12:02 PM.