I've been investigating the new Ford EcoSport that will be produced exclusively for South America and I have a qustion. The EcoSport is an awesome mid-range SUV that is nicely equipped at $11,350. What I wanna do is take a plane down to a city and purchase one with the help of my dad who knows Portuguese very well. Then I drive off to the states! I'm pretty sure I can register it here with the DMV. But can I do it?!?
Can I: Buy car in Brazil, drive it to California?
- Thread starter NokiaDude
- Start date
i know fo someone who drove from california to brazil. it can be done, if that's your main question
The Stigenator
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
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the only thing i know about the CA auto import rules is that its got to have 7500 miles before it can be registered in CA.
However this assumes that the federal rules for EPA and NHTSA are passed. I remember reading about something that it needs to pass federal crash worthyness.
However one thing I do know your car has to have.. AIR BAGS.. it has to have Airbags or it cant be technically registered, and Side Markers for the rear (if the rear tail light isnt visible from teh side).
Anyway there are loop holes.. I just dont know them. I have seen the Audi A3 and Fiat Multipla in Los Angeles, if they can be brought here why not that car from Brazil.
Edit:
Why not ask ford if they can import it for you. I know ford execs can import cars for personal use in the USofA. I am sure it will cost a bit more but you can have ford ship it here for you. It wont be CA registered though.. unless you can get past 7500 miles..
However this assumes that the federal rules for EPA and NHTSA are passed. I remember reading about something that it needs to pass federal crash worthyness.
However one thing I do know your car has to have.. AIR BAGS.. it has to have Airbags or it cant be technically registered, and Side Markers for the rear (if the rear tail light isnt visible from teh side).
Anyway there are loop holes.. I just dont know them. I have seen the Audi A3 and Fiat Multipla in Los Angeles, if they can be brought here why not that car from Brazil.
Edit:
Why not ask ford if they can import it for you. I know ford execs can import cars for personal use in the USofA. I am sure it will cost a bit more but you can have ford ship it here for you. It wont be CA registered though.. unless you can get past 7500 miles..
I think the laws on USED cars are a little more lax.
My Step brother bought a Turbo T/A when they first came out, put X amount of miles on it THEN drove it to Ca. and sold it. You couldn't BUY them NEW in Ca. at that time.
My Step brother bought a Turbo T/A when they first came out, put X amount of miles on it THEN drove it to Ca. and sold it. You couldn't BUY them NEW in Ca. at that time.
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Not to mention that the roads the go from panama to columbia are almost impenatrable due to the dense Darien Jungle - there are no gov't maintained roads that connect the two, just trails. An Ecosport isn't going to make that trek
I guess you can always boat it across. ^_^
I was thinking about importing an Audi A3/S3 from Mexico but the cost = $$$$$$$$$
Plus you could get your ass killed or kidnapped by the banditos down there when they see your nice shiny new SUV, beloved patriot.
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Not to mention that the roads the go from panama to columbia are almost impenatrable due to the dense Darien Jungle - there are no gov't maintained roads that connect the two, just trails. An Ecosport isn't going to make that trek
Whatever happened to that Pan American highway that was supposedly in place?
Also, maybe an Ecosport might not make it, but a Maibahtsu Monstrosity surely will.
Never gonna happen. Not safety tested, not getting on road legally. Emissions might be an issue too. You could register it as an offroad vehicle only and take your chances on the road, but if you get caught driving it on the road it's as good as impounded.
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Which costs THOUSANDS of dollars. It might be possible, but it's gonna cost ya
Safety testing alone, requires that you crash 10 of them!!!
You know they have to crash Porches, Ferraris and McLarens just to sell them here
The Stigenator
Lifer
- Oct 9, 1999
- 15,216
- 3
- 81
I thoguht it was 3 tests.. not 10..
One head on, one side and one off set.
Edit: I Believe this is for a manufacturer not an private individual.
Do one thing.. there are speciality Car Importers who maybe able to help you with this by answering some questions.. when you get the answers put them here.. (also who you asked) .. because I want to get a bike from Europe. I plan to go Backpacking thru Europe on a bike (i will buy it there) and then bring it back to the US for my use.
One head on, one side and one off set.
Edit: I Believe this is for a manufacturer not an private individual.
Do one thing.. there are speciality Car Importers who maybe able to help you with this by answering some questions.. when you get the answers put them here.. (also who you asked) .. because I want to get a bike from Europe. I plan to go Backpacking thru Europe on a bike (i will buy it there) and then bring it back to the US for my use.
I read somewhere that the govt. purposely makes the importing of vehicles (by individuals) difficult, to reduce competition with the domestic car industry.
Originally posted by: Atrail
Originally posted by: rbloedow
Which costs THOUSANDS of dollars. It might be possible, but it's gonna cost ya
Safety testing alone, requires that you crash 10 of them!!!
You know they have to crash Porches, Ferraris and McLarens just to sell them here
Didn't Mr. Gates, I think it was, import some really expensive car that sat at the docks because it wasn't safety tested and testing group couldn't afford to buy one or 3 or what ever to crash test.
Driving from Brazil to US is a myth. Some years ago, I drove south from Panama City, Panama, just to see if I could reach Columbia. I was very surprised to find the Pan-American highway turns into a dirt road, then into impassable jungle.
The biggest surprise was that I had passed the airport only four or five miles back. After my adventure, I asked some Panamanian friends about it, and they said they did not want a road joining them to Columbia.
Best bet is to ship car to Panama, and drive from there.
Apparently, this has not changed.
Be sure to stop and have dinner at La Cascada in Panama City.
The biggest surprise was that I had passed the airport only four or five miles back. After my adventure, I asked some Panamanian friends about it, and they said they did not want a road joining them to Columbia.
Best bet is to ship car to Panama, and drive from there.
Apparently, this has not changed.
Be sure to stop and have dinner at La Cascada in Panama City.
Ryan
Lifer
- Oct 31, 2000
- 27,519
- 2
- 81
Yep, when I lived in Panama, I found that out too. My family wanted to see a total eclipse, but the are that would reciegve 100% totality was by the Darien provence, and we my excellent compatriot found out that there was no way to get there in a normal car.
Panamanians do not want a road uniting them to columbia because all of columbia's drug/Gurilla (sp?) problems wqould spill over into their country. The Darien is one of the thickest jungles in the world, and currently is enought to separate the two countries.
Had to chuckle when I saw Clear and Present Danger. Had eaten lunch many times in the restaurant where bad CIA guy Ritter meets William Dafoe's character.
Started to watch Tailor of Panama to see some other familiar sights, but the movie was so awful, coudn't make it to the end.
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