For Canucks who are looking to import from the States you may want to check
out http://www.riv.com/indexE.htm it is easier than you'd think as long as
the vehicle meets US saftey standards.

Thanks,
Chris

----- Original Message -----
From: "Keith Adams" <keith_adams@transcanada.com>
To: "Christopher Michael Gronski" <chrisgronski@hotmail.com>
Cc: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Wednesday, July 12, 2000 9:55 AM
Subject: Re: 93 EV Diesel Westie FS in Canada

> A guy I work with had a friend who tried to take his car with him when he
moved
> to the States.  He had to post a $10,000 bond and then get the car set-up
to DOT
> standards, which can include changing all the glass, I believe changing
over the
> instrument cluster to read in those funny units they use down there, the
bumpers
> may also be different (the reason we don't have an Audi A4 1.8T Avant
here), an
> extra funniness with the camper is that the regulations about RVs are
different,
> and the big nasty - emissions (which is totally state dependent, I guess).
If
> they didn't sell a diesel EV in the States, there's probably a good reason
and
> to import it may be financially challenging.  As Chris said, it is
dependent on
> the age and the regulations in effect when that vehicle was originally
> manufactured.
>
> Importing U.S. to Canada I think is (somewhat) easier, but no cakewalk.
Canada
> Customs publishes a list of which cars are and aren't admissible (those
which
> are newer than 15 years old)
>
> Aside from that, I didn't even know they made diesel EVs... that's my new
> knowledge for the day.
> Cheers!
> Keith Adams
> Calgary, Alberta, Canada
> 1986 Vanagon GL Westfalia
>
> Christopher Michael Gronski wrote:
>
> > I'd caution you to really investigate importing a vehicle to the states.
I
> > live in Canada and the rules are great for US to Canada importation but
are
> > aparently very strict for Canada to US. A few weeks ago myself and a guy
> > from Michigan were both looking at the same '80 Westy, he ended up out
> > bidding me and got the van, then proceeded to struggle for days to try
to
> > export it from Canada to the States. He tried phone calls, e-mail, etc.
and
> > I'm told he even drove the vehicle to the border but no dice... he
couldn't
> > bring it in. His loss was my gain. Since he wasn't able to export it to
the
> > States, I ended up getting the van. It may have had something to do with
the
> > age of the vehicle but be VERY careful.
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Chris
>
>