Getting a foreign car to the US

[Shanteli]

Does anybody know what the laws/regulations are for registering a foreign car (not for the US market) in the states? For example...I want the Acura EL that is in Canada, but are there any weird procedures that I have to go through or do I just buy it up there and drive it accross the border.

 

[Kevin]

You can get it into the US, you just might not be able to register it unless it meets emissions requirements.

Is the EL a Civic with a VTEC?

 

[Heisenberg]

Yeah, the hard part will be getting it tagged.

 

[StageLeft]

It's like a pimped up civic if I remember correctly, at least in interior and carries the Acura badge. I was interested in them at one point.

You can definitely get some websites on this but AFAIK It's easier to bring to the US than the other way around. Plan on paying some taxes on it though.

 

[EvilYoda]

I thought that getting the car registered and everything was still incredibly difficult? I live right across the border from Windsor, and I know the deals on cars are much better over there...and I'm also looking to get a new car soon. Nothing new has changed with regulations, has it?

 

[Shanteli]

oh I see....so in a nutshell it would be more trouble than it is worth I guess...yeah I did see that it was just a souped up civic (intererior)...but I'm a sucker for leather and luxury Thx though

 

[ElFenix]

Horsepower, SAE net 127 hp @ 6300 rpm 127 hp @ 6300 rpm
Torque, SAE net 114 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm 114 lbs.-ft. @ 4800 rpm
Bore & Stroke 75 mm x 94.4 mm 75 mm x 94.4 mm
Displacement 1668 cc 1668 cc

that just ain't right

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: Shanteli
oh I see....so in a nutshell it would be more trouble than it is worth I guess...yeah I did see that it was just a souped up civic (intererior)...but I'm a sucker for leather and luxury Thx though

I know the 1.6ELs had the suspension from the Civic SiR combined with the luxury of an Acura (leather, etc..)

 

[The Stigenator]

I dont know how far the CA law goes but you need 7500 miles minimum to register a car / bike from out of state.

Not sure about a car from over the border.

 

[Kevin]

Originally posted by: The_good_guy
I dont know how far the CA law goes but you need 7500 miles minimum to register a car / bike from out of state.

Not sure about a car from over the border.

Thats stupid and weird...

 

[kami333]

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Seems to be much easier than trying to bring one from say Japan.

 

[WinkOsmosis]

Why would anyone import something so pointless?

 

[Pliablemoose]

Find a salvage title Acura, problem solved...

Not a 100% legal, but it's been done

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Why would anyone import something so pointless?

have you ever driven a EL? There's a reason they are so popular over here.

 

[flxnimprtmscl]

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Why would anyone import something so pointless?

have you ever driven a EL? There's a reason they are so popular over here.

What's so great about them? It still get's you 127 HP (at the crank) and displaces less than my 2 liter of soda. If you want a luxury car get a Lexus, Benz, BMW, etc. If you want a fast car get a Supra, 300ZX, FD, etc. Why get a car that's not really that great in either class? Just my opinion anyway. Everyone has different tastes though.

 

[mAdD INDIAN]

Originally posted by: flxnimprtmscl

Originally posted by: mAdD INDIAN

Originally posted by: WinkOsmosis
Why would anyone import something so pointless?

have you ever driven a EL? There's a reason they are so popular over here.

What's so great about them? It still get's you 127 HP (at the crank) and displaces less than my 2 liter of soda. If you want a luxury car get a Lexus, Benz, BMW, etc. If you want a fast car get a Supra, 300ZX, FD, etc. Why get a car that's not really that great in either class? Just my opinion anyway. Everyone has different tastes though.

Well not everyone can afford a Lexus, Benz, or BMW. But they can afford a EL, which gives them the some luxury appointments (such as woodgrain, leather seats, climate control, better suspension tuning) while the reliablitly/effiency of a Civic. Plus they have a better ride than the Civic. They aren't fast by any means nor do they intend to be fast.

 

[Shanteli]

Originally posted by: kami333
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Seems to be much easier than trying to bring one from say Japan.

Ok all of that stuff is crazy and pricy....doesn't the fvckin govt tax us enough already? Anyway...yeah I was only asking cuz I saw an EL with Washington State plates in Nevada and was so puzzled at what it was...but from what it seems like...it was an expensive venture to get that car to where it is. Sad...cuz I would probably want to get one of those instead of an EX or even Si.

 

[Pepsi90919]

my mom and ex-step dad used to run a car importation business that imported cars from the US to canada and vice-versa. basically there is a ton of paperwork involved with agencies like DOT, the MTO, EPA, there's border hassles, registration is a pain, of course the speedometer needs to be converted, of course the car must meet applicable EPA emissions requirements. and of course all the middlemen along the way want their cut of $...

they did all this like a well oiled machine since they did it in volume, but it takes a bit of manpower. try to look for a registered importer (RI) in your area.