Due to changes in my personal situation, I'm moving back to Canada (Windsor) after living in the US for the last 7 years.

I've had my 94 Silver R2 for most of those 7 years and now I can't decide what to do with it. If I bring it into Canada I can bring it back tax and duty free since I have owned it for a long time, but I will still have to convert it to Canadian specs. I would then have to keep it for 1 year before I could sell it (unless I back-pay the duties and taxes).

Of course there are many emotional considerations in selling the car, but I'm asking for specific financial details here. What is the cost of converting the car to Canadian specs? Does anyone have the part numbers for the required bumpers? I'm currently able to buy the parts in either country, assuming I can find them.

Now what about resale value? With the exchange rate the way it is, it looks like most used cars in Canada are actually more expensive than in the US, thus it seems likely that I could get more for the car in Canada. Is the difference greater than the cost of conversion? Is the fact that it is an R-package of any value to Canadian shoppers? There seem to be so few FDs for sale in Canada it's tough to get a feel for the market.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

I can lend you the parts you need for canadian specs, since I've got a canadian FD and it's parked for the winter, and I live in windsor. They only need to be on the car for the inspection, they could care less afterwards.

Royal oak to windsor isn't that far of a move - and FD's are tough to find here in canada. I'd keep the car.

 

Keep the car man.......it shouldnt even b a question.........all u need for canadian safety is the front bumper reinforcement...........and daytime running lights........the clear front marker lights (beside the front signals) can be used for this.......all u need to do is wire in a relay.......then like Terrh said...........u can change it back after the inspection........i know this because a buddy of mine just finished importing a car from virginia...........good luck.....

 

I did exactly what are proposing last year. Here is the experience:

To get the car out of the US you need:
- a letter from Mazda USA saying the car meets US federal safety standards.
- a bill of sale and/or the car's title showing that you own it free and clear.
- you must notify US border/customs authorities at the crossing you intend to drive over 3 days in advance your arrival with the car telling them you intend to export the car.

To get the car registered in Canada you must:
- Pay $180 to register the car with the Registar of Imported vehicles.
- Pay $100 excise tax on the AC.
- Pay duty on any portion of the car's blue book value that exceeds $10,000. If the car blue book value is $12,000, then you pay duty on $2,000. There is a form you fill out for Canada customs where you give them the blue book value. For some reason they accepted the value I provided for the RX7 ($9,000) but not for my 2003 Honda Accord. I reported $16,000, they would not accept anything less than$25,000.
- Once in Canada you need to convert the vehicle to meet Canadian safety standards. An FD requires daytime running lights, a Canadian spec front bumper reinforcement bar and a child seat restraint bolt. All mods cost about $1,200 (parts and labor). There are various ways to do it more cheaply... thats up to you.
Then you need to pass the Canadian Federal safety inspection which costs another $100-180. Canadian Tire is the place you can get it done most easily. They check to make sure you did the mods. Then you need to pass provincial safety requirements. They check for the things provinces usually check for such as tire wear, windshield cracks etc. I can't remember what that costs but its somewhere around $100.
Then there is some paper work that must be filed with RIV and then you get a sticker or two for the door jam indicating the car is legal in Canada.

 

When I looked into importing an fd from the states a few years ago I got a quote for approx. $1,500 for the mods (drl and front re-bar) from Mazda.

 

Thanks for the info. I think I'm going to leave the FD in the states until next spring. As long as it's on my "list" when I move back, I can bring it back over at anytime. I'm going to be too busy bringing back my Miata, my Focus, my wifes new car (which isn't bought yet) and all my other stuff!

Incidentally the same stuff for my 94 Miata is only going to cost about $400.

 

Double.