Porsche ownership - a canadian perspective

twobone · twobone's Garage

I love my SC, but I keep getting the itch to upgrade all the time.

By the end of the summer I will have redone the suspension.

The next thing will be to do a full repaint....

If I lived in Califormia, I'd probably just sell her and buy someone else's completed restoration or 3.6 project.

What do you think fellow Canadians? Does the relatively low supply here in Canada lead us to spend too much on restoration instead of selling our cars and getting value from someone else's sweat and $$??

Also, who has imported a U.S. car and had a good experience?

speedracer · 05-29-2007, 07:32 PM

You are right about the limited supply here up north but that can work for you when you go to sell. I would have bought my car in Canada if I was to find one that I liked and it was priced reasonably comparatively to the US.

I ended up importing last year and it was an easy process but the shipping carrier was a nightmare to deal with. They caused $3000 damage to my rear suspension then denied the insurance claim saying the aren't responsible for undercarriage damage. Pm me if you want their name.. If I were to do it again I would either drive it back or take a trailer and bring it back myself..

Oracle · 05-29-2007, 07:47 PM

I think Canadians don't spend near as much as the US based cars, we just keep the cars in shape and nothing more.. why? (here comes my perspective) is because you will sell it and someone else will own it and fix it bit by bit and after a few cycles the car will be in a wreck and EOL for the car. In the US they resusitate cars from death because labour and parts is way cheaper there, here in Canada the prices are outregous and just a handful of qualified people can service Porsche so the supply/demand balance is way off...
I imported my car and for me it was a flawless process (couldn't be any easier) but at the end of the day I will break even if I sell it at market value so there is no real savings... (unless you drive the car and you found it dirt cheap) but as we know there are no cheap Porsche cars.

coldstart · 05-30-2007, 10:23 AM

Importing is a really really sweet deal-- especially now with a 93 cent CDN dollar. American cars IMHO are much cheaper and better kept. The Canadian prices I have seen are USUALLY higher, even though a buddy just got a fantastic car at a good price locally and I bought my car from Calgary and she's been terrific. I guess it depends on the particular model and year....

Christien · Christien's Garage

I'd never buy a Porsche in Canada again. Prices are lower in the US, the import process is daunting but not so bad once you do it, and you've got access to easily 10x the market, including lots of cars that have never seen lived in a road salt climate. Just always do a PPI, esp. looking for flood cars.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

The other factor is the cost of upgrading is also more expensive in Canada. 90% of the aftermarket parts originate in California & we get the 30 - 100% maple leaf tax.

As above re importing. The thing I learned about buying south was to see & drive the car before you invest in a PPI. I spent $800 USD + + (when it was 30%) before one passed. I passed on 3 cars I had checked. At the very least, have a local Pelican or Rennlister see it & take pics before you do anything. Of course, I even did that on a private sale in Houston (pre-Katrina) & it failed leakdown.

Ian

Porsche_monkey · 06-01-2007, 06:23 AM

At 90+cents I would definately buy from the US.

My 84 cab was cheap at 83 cents.

twobone · twobone's Garage

Anybody buy one in the USA without driving one, just based on a PPI?

Oracle · 06-01-2007, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twobone
Anybody buy one in the USA without driving one, just based on a PPI?

Yes, almost , well not really.. I mean I literally drove it around the block at 15 mph and that was like 1/2 mile (does that count?).
What made me feel good is that I did my homework and found the most reputable shop to do the PPI. These guys told me things the owner didn't even know..

Porsche_monkey · 06-01-2007, 01:45 PM

I had a local Pelican drive it and take pictures. He said if I didn't buy it he would. That re-assured me. I didn't get a PPI.

I still had the option of backing out when I got there, but a short drive in a Cabriolet on a nice day and 1/2 an hour later it was on my trailer.

Christien · Christien's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by twobone
Anybody buy one in the USA without driving one, just based on a PPI?

Yes, sight unseen, with a PPI at a local dealership. Seller was a Pelican with a good reputation, and I couldn't have been happier. If anything, it was nicer than described.

unclebilly · unclebilly's Garage

I bought my 77 sight unseen, no PPI, no independent evaluation, nothing. I was quite happy with the car when I picked it up - I had paid for it months before I actually got down to Columbus to get it and there was no getting out of the deal. I got the deal of the century on this car tho.

When I bought my 964, I looked at several cars over 2 days before settling (not really settling but I was shopping for a cab) on my 964 Targa. I drove it for 5 minutes and decided it was the one.

notfarnow · 06-02-2007, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twobone
Anybody buy one in the USA without driving one, just based on a PPI?

When dad was buying his 86 cab back in January, I got a local Pelican to have a look and then arranged a PPI through recommendations here and on dorkiphus.com.

Dad bought the car sight unseen, based on the opinion of the pelican who saw it, the shop that did the PPI and my advice... even though I hadn't seen it either. The car was as good or better than described.

The trick is finging a seller you feel comfortable with, and a shop you can really trust. If you can do that, buying from the US is a no-brainer... especially with a 93 cent dollar.

twobone · twobone's Garage

Did anyone use an importer who looked after the importing process?

If yes, how was the experience and how much was charged?

Oracle · 06-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twobone
Did anyone use an importer who looked after the importing process?

If yes, how was the experience and how much was charged?

Hi,
There was a thread some time ago with very good info:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?threadid=299189

In my case Hansen's was the perfect experience, absolutely trouble-free, and total shipping from Pennsilvania to Calgary $2800 US. (door to door)

I absolutely recommend them, not too long ago a buddy of mine in the office used them for his supra and he doesn't have a problem recommending Hansen's to others.

GWN7 · 06-02-2007, 08:05 PM

Why use a importer (broker) to do what you can do? All they would do is pay the RIV fee and the GST on your behalf and then charge you more for doing so.

Customs fills out all the paperwork you need. You would still have to get the clearance letter and have the RIV safety done yourself (and any conversions the car needs to pass the safety). If your having the car shipped, have it shipped to a drop point near the border. Drive down and get the car. Drive to the border. Have Customs fill out the paperwork. Pay the GST and then drive home.

Komenda Fan · Komenda Fan's Garage

I wouldn't totally discount Canadian cars. I just bought mine, and I am convinced I got it for cheaper than I would have if I had bought it in the US and imported it up. Just saving the GST is a big deal, plus the cost of flying down and/or having the vehicle shipped up, plus the guy is only on the other side of town and an active member of the Porsche club, and therefore probably less likely to misrepresent. I'm not saying don't buy in the States, but I don't think you have to discount Canadian cars.

Christien · Christien's Garage

GWN, for some people paying the $300 extra to the shipping co. for brokerage is well worth it, simply as a time saver. The border is 2-3 hours from Toronto, depending on traffic, plus the hour you spend at the border, then drive it all back home, you've lost an entire day pretty much. The last time I imported, I did it commercially through a dealership I work with. The commercial brokerage house wait is at least 2 hours - we sat there for the better part of 3 hours with all the truckers. No idea how they put up with it.

Personally, I think the $300 is worth saving the hassle.

GWN7 · 06-03-2007, 05:51 PM

Christien, as you did a commercial import you have to go thru the commercial side of customs. Commercial imports are for resale. When you import for personal use, the process is a lot simpler and faster. Stop at US customs first. Pull up to CDN customs window, tell them what you got, go in with the bills, they fill out the paperwork, pay them and your done. Every car that I have brought back has taken less than 15 min to clear customs.

The difference on just having the car shipped to a drop point in the USA and having it shipped here was $800 last time I had a quote. Add the $300 you mentioned and it starts to add up to a nice set of rims.

As to the traffic in and around Toronto....sorry it's to late to teach them how to drive

Christien · Christien's Garage

Yeah, you're definitely right - private import is much faster. I've done that twice now. Still takes the better part of an afternoon, though. The last quote I had for $300 for brokerage I believe was from Fedex, though I didn't end up using them. It was however much to ship to the border, $300 for brokerage and another $150 to ship to their depot in Mississauga, so an extra $450 to save me from driving to the border. $800 would definitely be too much - I value my time, but an afternoon is definitely worth $800!