BlueEyes

I never really knew the price of an S2000 in the US until today. It's 33700 according to the Honda website. In Canadian funds, that's a wee bit shy of 40,000 dollars. Now, the S2000 retails in Canada for just shy of 50,000 dollars. What is the deal? Anyone know if there is any reason one couldn't bring one in from the states? did Honda have to do some sort of safety upgrade for Canada? Just seems silly.

The Rx-8 isn't really like that. Doing the conversion, it's a couple grand cheaper in the states, but not 10k!!

ZoomZoomH

iTrader: (1)

different market, different pricing strategy is the simplest explanation

and i think there IS regulation of some sort regarding buying cars across the US/Canadian border, dunno exactly the details though :P

Tigster

Dont the canadian S2000 come with the headlight washers? If so that is worth 10K...

Maybe it is because they are considered summer cars there and they dont sell a bunch so they carry a premium on the price.

BlueEyes

I have been doing some searching. In order to meet canadian standards you would have to install day time running lights. I could do that for 100 bucks probably. So with duty, which is 6.5% I could get an S2000, on the road, for 6k cheaper from the US. Interesting.

moRotorMotor

The Canadian S2000 do not come with headlight washers.

Tigster

your right, that is the rx8 correct?

BlueEyes

yeah, the 8 has them up here.

GotBass

I was watching 5th gear a few weeks ago and they said that the S2K is more than the Elise in the UK. Over here the Elise is 45-50 grand.

BigOLundh

iTrader: (1)

i work for a popular US motorcycle company (which will remian nameless), and I handle our Canadian loans. It is very common for people to come accross the border, buy a bike, and take it home to Canada. If you can do it with a bike, i am sure you can do it with a car. If i were you, i would look into doing this as well.

Aoshi Shinomori

Going to the dark side BlueEyes? :p If you do decide to grab the S2000, great. That car is pure sex. Good luck, and you don't live too far from the border so it shouldn't be too difficult to get one and bring it back. Good luck sir

BlueEyes

haha, I don't know about that. I just knew they were out of my price range, well, until I found out they were in it if I got it from the US. As an only car I don't think it will do at all.

Redshift

iTrader: (2)

BlueEyes: As an FYI, Honda seems to be aware of this, and has taken steps to prevent it.

Talking to somebody I know who used to import CRXs by the truck-load (he converts most of them into race cars) and he had mention that "Honda America has stopped releasing the recall clearance letter as required by the Canadian Registry of Imported Vehicles. Honda Canada requested this to stop the thousands of Hondas being imported into Canada each year (impeding new Honda sales). Without this recall clearance letter, RIV will not allow the car into Canada.
So, what this means is now we cannot import any Honda/Acura into Canada unless its 15 years old."

Trust me, importing a car into Canada less then 15 years old is tough.
Not only do you need clearance information like that, you also need to make sure it is on the list of cars transport Canada allows into the country.
Some cars, Mitsubishi Evo's, for example, are specifically not allowed.

BlueEyes

Thanks for the info Redshift. That's interesting.

Redshift

iTrader: (2)

Happy to help.
I was investigating importing a car a little while back and found some usefull information in the process.
Might as well share it.

This would be the central point for most of the government regulations:

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm

The refusal to release the clearance letter appears to be a Honda thing at least.

BlueEyes

Thanks again. I found this site helpful too.
http://www.riv.ca/english/html/how_to_import.html

I am going to call Honda America and see what the deal is. Not really interested in the car, but I think it would be pretty stupid if they were being so petty. Certainly would turn me off of Honda for a while. Seems to me like they need to adjust their pricing for our dollars new found strength vs. the USD.

BlueEyes

I just wanted to say:

This is badass. Loose the stickers of course.

alderran

If you are not interested in the car then why the interest in the price?

gh0st

the man can dream.

its always nice to know you could afford something nice even though your not going to get it.

anybody know if the hard top makes a big difference in structual ridgity?

denward

BlueEyes

Well, it's out of my range if I buy it in Canada, but if I go to the US it's not. I thought that was interesting. I love the car, though I don't know that it would work for me right now. Now, I just want to find out if indeed Honda are being ****** about people importing them.

LiTTleRX-8

The s2000 was introduced when the USD was way stronger than it is now, so you cannot really say the current price is silly. Manufacturers generally tack on 100-200 bucks more every year, they aren't going to care if there is big differientiation between US and Canadian prices. Even with today's conversion rate, it is about 33700 -> 40065.28, the MSRP of an '05 s2000 is 49800. I think when the s2000 was introduced the USD was around 1.4 something (33700 -> 47180), so it does make sense that '05 s2000 is nearly 50k here.

Anyways, just to let you know, a friend of mine actually bought one brand new '05 3 days ago for 46K including freight. Current s2000 prices are very negotiable as they are being discontinued after '05 and have low sales.

BlueEyes

Thanks. I figured it was inflation based. I would have no problem going to the US to buy a car, I would do the same if the 8 was a lot more expensive here. I just didn't like the idea that Honda would try to stop it. I found out it can be done still though.

46K + tax ~ 53K. I could stand to save 5 more grand buying from the US.

MrJynx

buy it in Alberta no pst.. but they'll probaly still charge us the ontario PST regardles


MrJynx

Aseras

call honda tell them you are moving there and see if they'll give you the letter.

jlapp9

Not sure where you got your information from, but AFAIK the S2000 will still be around for '06:
http://www.s2ki.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=316943

LiTTleRX-8

Yeah I just realized that they will still be around for '06 after my friend told me, and it seems like it will get some changes like 2 extra speakers.