Topic: Did you hear, cars are cheaper in the US!!!

[dorin]

I figure this is what this board is about.  Might as well get the ball rolling.

[rrocket]

No shizzle?  Really?  Where have I been?

Although with Canadian money at par.....why WOULDN'T you buy a car in the US?

[dorin]

I wasn't even planning on getting a new car, but with the dollar at par it's almost like they're giving cars away in the US. 

[Julie]

Too bad I'm not planning on getting a used car. Since new cars may not be possible to get (depending on manufacturer), but used cars are, slightly used cars will seem like a steal!

[mmret]

Yes, this exchange rate thing is making me antsy.

[Cord]

Too bad I'm not planning on getting a used car. Since new cars may not be possible to get (depending on manufacturer), but used cars are, slightly used cars will seem like a steal!

Yup. And people in Canada should get ready for some lower resale values.

[prufrock]

I was watching CTV newsnet at lunch and they had a long story on this.

They pimped a lady's company that provides information about importing cars.

Any guesses as to what lot they were sitting on as their prime example?

Bueller? Bueller?

Subaru in Bellingham, Washington. Showed a nice little $16K Impreza.

They also talked about how Toyota, GM, etc. have banned US dealers from selling to Canadians.

[Julie]

Yes, this exchange rate thing is making me antsy.

You're thinking about an E46 aren't you?

There are some nice E46s that come up on E46fanatics.com, etc.................  My eyes were going  ..........

[Julie]

Too bad I'm not planning on getting a used car. Since new cars may not be possible to get (depending on manufacturer), but used cars are, slightly used cars will seem like a steal!

Yup. And people in Canada should get ready for some lower resale values.

And then eventually lower retail prices for used cars?....

[mmret]

Yes, this exchange rate thing is making me antsy.

You're thinking about an E46 aren't you?

There are some nice E46s that come up on E46fanatics.com, etc.................  My eyes were going  ..........

Yes...but I can't remember if CPO warranty goes cross border. If it does, . Still, it would be a PITA to do it.

One thing about pics....its never as nice in real life.

[mdxtasy]

Remember boys and girls....the dollar is giving a good rate...so talk is cheap....but buying is even cheaper.  So no more arm chair buying and pitter patter. 

[Julie]

Remember boys and girls....the dollar is giving a good rate...so talk is cheap....but buying is even cheaper.  So no more arm chair buying and pitter patter. 

 

mmret, I suspect the process (to import) will get easier as more information gets out on how to do it due to interest/demand. Like prufrock mentioned, stories on the news dedicated to this topic, brokers you hear about more and more.

You probably already have, but you could perhaps find info about the CPO on E90POST. There's several Toronto members there and a few threads on it IIRC.

Yeah, my eyes were going  at the pics, but more at the prices. There are some owners selling their cars for an E92 or new M3, etc. If they are long-time members who fanatically maintain their cars and post everything about them (I imagine even the small nit-picky problems they experience), you've got a good proxy for their past history... In those circumstances, those prices seemed really good.

[mmret]

Nah. No buying Brief moment of weakness. 1:1 is psychological.

No time. Work, night school at Carleton U, and CSC right now.

[ovr50]

Yesterday bought US money for condo payment for vacation and paid 1.032 which includes banks fees or differential. Parity may exist at "official trading levels" but if you are buyin US $ at any financial institution, you will have to have the Cdn dollar a couple over parity to get even $ at the buy.

[airbalancer]

Is it not usually 4% service fees to change money, it is better then the 40% it was once

[ovr50]

Is it not usually 4% service fees to change money, it is better then the 40% it was once

I think the actual "spread" or service fee is more like 1 to 2 points but I could be low. For example, if you buy US from a bank, it might be 1.032 as mine was yesterday, but if I sold US to the bank yesterday, it would be (say) 1.012. They make money on that spread.

Bankers have to eat, too......

[pickles]

I sure would like to see you loonie go to 1.20 - 1.50 then the americans can experience the flip flop of whats like to pay more for a buck.

[airbalancer]

here a good site for conversion http://www.bankofcanada.ca/en/rates/exchform.html

[rrocket]

I sure would like to see you loonie go to 1.20 - 1.50 then the americans can experience the flip flop of whats like to pay more for a buck.

If you don't need the US instantaneous (like in your hand) I've purchased from www.xe.com and it was a good deal cheaper than a bank.....though being at par won't make a difference...

[barrie1]

Ovr the Fat Bankers made Billions of dollars in profits last year so they could stand to be on a diet with out grabbing my money at all. They are just like the Insurance Co.s with their fat bank accts from excessive profits.