Topic: No more new VW from the US....

[sailor723]

I had spoken to the sales manager at the Bangor, Me. VW store last June and was told they had no problem selling to Canadians. When I dropped in to look at a Passat last week I was told that word had come down from VW of America not to sell to Canadians. I wonder how long it will be before more manufacturers follow suit?

[RunsinLight]

Isn't there an easy way around this? Simply have some other person or organization buy the car for you
then you buy the car from them? It's like having an alarm system but leaving your window rolled down.

[Cord]

When the exchange rate was going the other way, manufacturers compiled large databases of known exporters and required cash purchasers of certain vehicles to jump through all kinds of hoops to prove they were legit buyers including signing documents that they would not export or sell to an exporter. Once the exporters who were buying and selling for profit became known and were denied buying more vehicles, they recruited their friends and neighbors to buy cars for them, often paying them $500-$1000 for doing it. Then these people went on the export list and were barred form buying vehicles. The manufacturers then analyzed the postal codes of potential buyers and often denied sales if they happened to be from an exporting hotspot.

The exporters burned lots of people this way and lots of people complained about being barred from buying vehicles. The manufacturers just proved their case by pointing out that the vehicle they had recently purchased was now registered in the U.S.

Many dealers were often burned as well. Manufacturers charged back any profits made on the sale of a vehicle found in the U.S. This led to a real chill among dealers and made them take their due diligence very seriously when selling to a cash buyer. Needless to say, Americans were denied outright.

I'd expect the same measures will now filter into American dealerships.

[mdxtasy]

I know of 3 people who have purchased new cars via a broker.  This was before the news (old news) that US dealers would not sell to Canadians....but I'm sure a quick call to one can clarify things.

[sirAQUAMAN64]

Good news for me trying to resell. I would hazzard to guess now that VW/Audi Canada are now operating as separate entities from VWoA they will be more competitive to defend the border.

Really, these letters advising not to sell are just that. You can likely find a dealer that will want to make the sale bad enough. OR you can find a dealer with a demo/lightly used with some kms (I think it's 7,000 or 11,000kms) where the rules don't apply.

The dealer runs the risk of getting caught, at which point they run the risk of their wrists being slapped (fine/reimbursement of difference between US and Cdn price/restriction of units shipped to the dealer). Where risks are involved, some will take them.

So long as US VIN vehicles are okay for warranty work at Cdn dealers, I'd try calling around. You may get the standard response initially - after all, they want to be sure you're ligit and not VWoA testing them or something, but I would bet you could find yourself something.

[Julie]

I know of 3 people who have purchased new cars via a broker.  This was before the news (old news) that US dealers would not sell to Canadians....but I'm sure a quick call to one can clarify things.

I've also heard about people easily buying new US cars through brokers, and there's this dealership that sells new and used cars from the US (of different brands) featured in a recent edition of the Toronto Star.

If what Cord described should be happening now, are they crazy to advertise themselves as such??, does it mean they just haven't been caught yet??, or is there some loophole they go through that hasn't been closed yet??

[Zombie]

Where does one find such a broker?

[Cord]

If what Cord described should be happening now, are they crazy to advertise themselves as such??, does it mean they just haven't been caught yet??, or is there some loophole they go through that hasn't been closed yet??

I would guess that the sheer size of the U.S. would mean it is much harder for manufacturers to control what the dealers do. Also, when the exchange rate went the other way it was basically specialty vehicles (e.g. 1 ton diesels) that were being exported. Nobody was coming to Canada to save money on a Taurus or Accord.

[FMJ]

does VW canada honour the warrenty thou?

i got check engine light all the time lol