OK, I've completed the search on the site, and I can't find any info from someone who has done it.

In order to import it, you need to do the RIV thing, pay Duty, PST, GST and then have the car inspected and modified if needed.

Having the car inspected and modified is where the info runs out. I know you need to add DRL, but not sure if anything else needs to be done.
Has anyone actually imported a car?
Is there a Mazda DRL module (or computer flash) that can be done?
Can you change the speedo from mph to kph?
Can you also change the odometer from miles to km?

I'm looking at an 05 from the US, but the savings after all the taxes and travel is getting pretty small. Does anyone have actual info on the modifications required (and cost of having them done)?

 

why not just buy one in canada? do you really save that much money?

 

I did a quick calculation, and there is some savings. The main reason is it also opens up some other options for me. There are only a few available locally, so my choice is pretty limited. I don't like buying a car from far away without seeing it first, and my brother is in the US, so he could look at it for me. I just haven't seen any info from anyone who has actually done it, so I'm trying to figure out what it actually takes.

 

You can likely find some '07's for $8000 off of the $41000 CND MSRP on cash deals, if previous years experience repeats itself. Thats a GT with leather/moonroof and no nav.

Are you sure you'd save enough for it to be worth the trouble?

 

The Canadian dollar is almost equal with the US Dollar, outside of the extra costs for importing, you can save a ton of money buying the same car in the US.

To the OP, I'm sorry, but I don't know the answers to your question.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the DRL is covered in the DIY section of this site somewhere. It's something really simple like plugging in a fuse if I'm not mistaken.

 

go to a ued car dealership that strictly deals with importing cars over. since they do this with multiple vehicles there costs associated with this are much smaller than trying to import just one car. You can get a good deal on a used car this way. I bought my 05 a year and half ago and i made out alright.

 

Check with Mazda for warranty honouring.

 

No need to check with mazda for warranty honouring, i've had mine in to the dealership here twice for warranty issues, they honour everything.

 

you can change the speedo to km...i dont think you can change the odometer though...i think thats one of the things you have to deal with when importing a car. i saw a lot of skylines in canada....

 

Kilometers Miles
50,000.00 31,068.55
60,000.00 37,282.26
70,000.00 43,495.97
80,000.00 49,709.68
90,000.00 55,923.39
100,000.00 62,137.10
110,000.00 68,350.81
120,000.00 74,564.52
130,000.00 80,778.23
140,000.00 86,991.94
150,000.00 93,205.65

http://www.teaching-english-in-japan...ion/kilometers

 

Live rates at 2007.08.31 16:50:16 UTC
15,000.00 CAD = 14,222.05 USD
Canada Dollars United States Dollars
1 CAD = 0.948137 USD 1 USD = 1.05470

http://www.xe.com/ucc/convert.cgi

 

that's good news! I heard that like Audi, Mazda do not allow dealerships close to the border to sell to Canajuns. There are some trim differences b/t US models and CDM. We get headlight washers, heated seats, xenons, bose amongst others std in GT trim. Also Mazda CDN is giving away free Mazdaspeed parts on 07 models.

 

Spoke to Mazda Can. and US and the warranty is transferable. You get the 4ry/50k mi warranty. Any extended warranty does not transfer to Canada (the extended pwrtrian on some models does not come over). There are no issues with the bumpers, seatbelts, etc. The only thing that has to be added is the DRL.

If I end up going through with it, I'll re-post any details so there is at least one actual case posted on the site.

 

If I'm not mistaken, the button on the left (red arrow) changes the displays to their metric brothers!

 

^Correct. Sure came in handy when I drove to Indy for the USGP.

The main issues one deals with in importing cars from the US seem to be bumpers and child seat tethers. Based on my reading, neither of these apply to the 8, so you should be good to go.

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

http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf

 

^ Yup, that button changes the Speedo AND odo from KM to Miles and back. I've used it driving down to "the States". Quite handy! Hold the button for about 2-3 seconds to toggle between displays.

Chris...

 

Ended up getting a car locally. So I won't have any actual info for anyone who is looking at doing this. Here is what I have found so far, maybe it will help someone else start easier.

-Check with RIV to see if your car is importable, the RX-8 is
-Check if there are any special requirements, for the RX-8 the only one I was told I would need was daytime running lights.
-Make sure a copy of the title is faxed to the border where you intend to cross 72hrs ahead of time. They will do a title check and make sure the car can be exported.
-In order to get insurance (at least in Manitoba) you will need the bill of sale, and a copy of the title transfer. You complete the request by fax and it shouldn't take more than an hour or two if everything is in order (make sure you have a number where they can contact you).
-Call Mazda USA and Mazda Canada and have them record the transfer of ownership (not sure if this is actually required, but the person I talked to at Mazda USA said I should do this once I bought the car)
-Once you get to the border, you go to customs, pay your RIV fees, duty, GST, PST and you are allowed in, assuming a copy of the title was there ahead of time for them to verify its' export status.
-Once in Canada, you get the vehicle inspected for importation (Canadian Tire) and get a report on what needs to be changed (should only be DRLs).
-Get the modifications done and re-inspected.
-Obtain any required Provincial safety inspection papers
-Insure the car.

That is what I expected to happen, since I never went through with it YMMV.

 

I moved to Canada back in 2000 from the US and had no problem importing my Mitsubishi Montero and Volvo 850.

The costs weren't that much.

No modifications were necessary, maybe due to their age, I don't know.

I've since moved back, but did take my RX8 up there a few years ago and just punched a button to change to KM and left it there the whole time I was in Canada. Just pushed it again when I crossed the border.

Good Luck,

Gary Eaves

 

I just bought an RX8 from the states. It's going on the truck tomorrow to be shipped to buffalo and I pick it up from there. Yup you pretty much covered everything in your posting, except you pay PST when you license the vehicle. You don't even have to get plates for 90 days hehe so use the 407 all you want As for DRL Canadian tire can turn them on for you and they do the inspection and that's it. RX8 are accepted here from the states.

People talking about cost...the dollar at where it is today 1.05CAD basically after tax it has saved me 6-7k. The exact same RX8 I bought in the states up here is going for 10k more $22,000 with 90,000km on it. Luv our dollar, sorry for the americans tho!

 

PM...prospectjtaz...

He imported his car...a few things need to be changed so he can tell you all about it..

 

yea you gotta press the button that changes it from miles to kms

 

the only thing that I would worry about is that Mazda Canada may not provide warranty or you may get hassled from the local dealership because they ask for your VIN and it will not appear in Mazda Canada's database. But we all know our RX-8s are a poster child for reliability.....

 

importing from US to canada is kinda lame.. lots available in canada... just search in quebec, i flew there to get mine and saved like 4grand on the sticker price compared to locally.