[Resident]

I wasn't able to find any posts on this topic, or sorry if this has been discussed already.

This is for those of you in the States and Canada.
What is the availablity of the MINI in Canada? Better then in the States? Also has anyone gotten one in Canada and then imported it to the States? If so what is involved?

Thanks

[thegrommit]

I vaguely remember someone here buying one in Vancouver and importing it. Be warned though - my July 02 build only had the speedo marked in kilometres.

Most Canadian dealers seem to be selling at MSRP, and availability is fair.

[paulmon]

All Canadian Mini dealers make every buyer sign two pieces of paper. First, all Canadian buyers give MINI Canada first right of refusal in the event they decide to sell their Mini (This applies only to the first year you own your car). Second, we sign a paper saying we will not export to the US.

That's it. It's a no go. MINI is being very strict on this one.

Paul

[thegrommit]

Quote:

Originally posted by paulmon
All Canadian Mini dealers make every buyer sign two pieces of paper. First, all Canadian buyers give MINI Canada first right of refusal in the event they decide to sell their Mini (This applies only to the first year you own your car). Second, we sign a paper saying we will not export to the US.

The only pieces of paper I signed were the vehicle purchase agreement and delivery receipt. This was ten days ago. Neither had restrictions on sale or export.

[paulmon]

Quote:

Originally posted by thegrommit


The only pieces of paper I signed were the vehicle purchase agreement and delivery receipt. This was ten days ago. Neither had restrictions on sale or export.

When did you put your name on the list? Every MINI dealer in the Toronto area was doing this when I got on the list back in April. (My S is only 1-2 weeks away! )

Paul

[thegrommit]

Quote:

Originally posted by paulmon
When did you put your name on the list?

I didn't - took one that the dealer had specced and was already on the boat. This was with Mini Oakville.

Impulse buying is a terrible thing

[HarryHBMCC]

I too had to sign those papers when I got my car in April but they may have changed their tune. My dealer has at least ten Coopers sitting on their lot and their future allotments are probably fairly good too (maybe a 2-3 month wait which is really the build and transport time, no empty waiting). Go to www.miniwaterloo.ca and click on the showroom link to see what they have, a couple of demos and 11 new ones last I looked! With the 2003's coming out soon they may not care about the export issue so much anymore, who knows?

Harry

[Al in Ottawa]

I picked up my MCS three weeks ago today and I signed both documents for resale and export to the USA.

[arabinow]

I signed a piece of paper.. wait i thikn it was paper... with my own blood.

Simply put

The dealer advised me on selling my car to Sucker Americans who cant wait for theirs to arrive across the border.. He then encouraged me to come back to the dealer and buy another car for myself...

All in all the dealer sold the car and didnt give a rats ass

Adam

[paulmon]

Is it possible they are only making people sign this stuff for MCS?

Paul

[HarryHBMCC]

No, mine is 'just' a Cooper and I signed for it. Picked it up off the lot too, didn't order it.

Harry

[noahe]

Quite possible. I think my dealer has a small surplus of Cooper's, but a backlog of MCS's. They are making people sign for MCS's, and personally spec'd Cooper's, but if you want one off the lot, anything goes.

[dukesantos]

The general answer is yes, you can import a car from Canada into the USA, however is it worth it? You must demonstrate compliance with DOT/EPA standards, which includes changing the speedometer. The paperwork involved with the importation is quite involved, there are brokers that will do this work and faciltiies that will do the physical conversion. Then there is the warranty issue, first I don't think you will have free roadside assistance in the USA with an imported used car, and the general warranty in Canada is 2 or 3 years, not 4? The cost of this depends on where you are and how much work you can/want to do vs. paying others to do it. Given the relatively low price of a MINI, the fixed fees and costs of conversion parts, documentation, shipping, etc. it probably means less savings compared to importing a Porsche, for example.

[HarryHBMCC]

Same warranty, 4 years or 80000km (pretty close to 50000 miles), whatever comes first. No 3 year free service though.

Some people here on mini2 have Canadian MINIs in USA so it can be done. I don't know what they did about the speedo but some have complained about them showing things in metric. Surprised none of them have added to this thread.

Harry

[dukesantos]

Thanks for the clarification on the warranty in Canada ( 4 yr./49,680 miles, no free service). I agree it can be done, just don't know if its worth the hassle.

[Resident]

Thanks for all the info. I think I will end up waiting seeing as I'm not right on the border or anything. It would be interesting to hear from people that have done this though.