Looking for a C4

[steam_mill]

My wife has provided me with the Purchase Order for a Corvette! Here is what I'm looking for: C4 Not red or yellow 6 speed '92 or later Service history etc. Canadian Car Everything works (like a/c, radio etc.) Prefer certified and etested Prefer glass top or both Please PM me if you have one for sale! The intent of this car is for a weekend toy for the drive to the cottage. Thank-you. Joe

[88BlackZ-51]

sent u a pm. my car is older then u want, but its cleaner then most 92's and up.

[steam_mill]

Bump.

[Glass Act]

Here's a place in Cambridge, I have no connection to this place except I do stop by every so often to see whats new there. All cars are kept in doors year round at this place.

http://www.ucansales.com/

[4GTABODT]

have you tried looking in the US? Given the ol' supply and demand theory, Vette prices down there tend to be a bit cheaper sometimes and with the exchange the way it is, might not be a bad option to consider. At the very least, you get to see a lot of cars by just surfing and may give you a better idea of what you want to get. I bought my C5 down in Florida last year and really came out a winner $ wise. Here are few websites to get you started:

http://www.corvettetrader.com/corvettes1984.htm

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/index.jsp

And bringing a car over from the states isn't all that hard. This website will give a general feel of what you'd be up against

http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/menu.htm

Good luck with your search...life as you know it will never be the same

[steam_mill]

4GTABODT:

I've been thinking about going south too! When I go to the U.S. based dealer sites there is certainly inventory and the prices seem better.

I've reviewed the importation rules and am wondering how you deal with insuring a vehicle out of province or did you ship the car back?

Also, what did you do about DRL's etc. Did you go to Canadian Tire for the requisite inspections?

I would apprecicate (as others probably would) the details of importing the car.

Tx.

Joe

[4GTABODT]

Originally Posted by steam_mill

4GTABODT:

I've been thinking about going south too! When I go to the U.S. based dealer sites there is certainly inventory and the prices seem better.

I've reviewed the importation rules and am wondering how you deal with insuring a vehicle out of province or did you ship the car back?

Also, what did you do about DRL's etc. Did you go to Canadian Tire for the requisite inspections?

I would apprecicate (as others probably would) the details of importing the car.

Tx.

Joe

Joe, I will try and summarize the best I can the process:

First, you need to check the gov't website I posted above to see if there are any restrictions on the car you are bringing in.
http://www.riv.ca/english/US_vehicle_admissibility.pdf
I rechecked it and the only vettes that need retrofitting (ie bumpers) are the 2003 to 2006 Vettes. Given you want a late model C4, it looks like you're OK

Second, I drove my car back. The cost of shipping was actually slightly higher than the Florida sales tax i paid and I had to pay the sales tax if I wanted a "30-day tag" to drive the car off the lot. Besides, I wanted to drive that new puppy!! Now depending on the state you buy your car in, some require you to pay the state sales tax to get the tag (ie Florida) and some don't (ie Missouri). you will have to contact the DOT in the state you're buying from if its a private sale otherwise the dealer can fill you in on that. Also, I didn't want to ship the car sight unseen so the flight down there was worth it.

Third, insurance. Here's where it gets a little tricky. I actually had to argue (albeit ever so gently) with my carrier. I am fortunate I have a 5 star rating with them (that just means I didn't get caught ) and have 18 years with them. Finally, they agreed on the provision that if I caught snow on the way home, I had to wait it out (I bought the car in December) Lucky for me, the roads were bone dry all the way home. An hour before I left, I called them and faxed them a bill of sale showing the car in my name and that was that)

3b - financing. As i work for a bank, you should be aware of the following. If you are financing the purchase, you have to work it out with your bank somehow because usually we like to get a chattel on the car when you pick it up. That's impossible to do if the car is not registered in Ontario. I didn't face that issue (which is another reason I think the insurance company bought in) but you may want to talk to them before hand

4 - Recall letters. You have to bring the car to a GM dealership and they run the VIN through their system to verify that all recalls on that car have been taken care of. I was lucky in that the Lexus dealership I bought my car from had a sister dealership that sold GM. If there are no o/s recalls, you need the GM dealership to issue a letter on their letterhead confirming that. They just addressed mine "To whom it may concern" Make sure its dated and you get the business card of the person you signs it

Once I got it home, I brought it to Canadian Tire and they saftied the car and signed off on the import papers I got at the Canadian border. O, I almost forgot. You need to provide the US border where you're bringing the car across 72 hours notice that you're coming through. That is usually done by faxing them a copy of the sales invoice so they check out the VIN and make sure the car's not stolen, wanted for anything, etc. I crossed at the Lewistown bridge as it tends to be less hectic Their number is 716-282-1500 and I spoke Officer Zacowitz (a lady) Their fax number is 716-282-2414

Other things to think about:

Get a Carfax on the car. Tells if you there have been any major insurance claims on the car. $19.95 well spent
Contact a local vette club in the area and see if a member will check the car out for you before you get serious. I did
Get details how the buyer wants to be paid. i brough travellers cheques as I wasn't about to wire the money down there before I saw the car.
As i said, talk to your insurance comany and bank (if applicable) before hand

If you have any specific questions, PM me and I'd be glad to help out any way I can

Good Luck

Mo

[steam_mill]

4GTABODT:

Thank-you for the info. I thought I would post more questions on the forum directly so others can benefit from your experience.

I hate to say this on this forum, but a C4 was my second choice for a 'toy' car. My first choice was an eighties 911. I searched for 6 months for a canadian car. Saw only one that was acceptable and it sold before I could get a mechanic to look at it.

Decided that for all out performance per dollar, nothing beats 'vettes. In addition my motorhead friends (I'm white collar like yourself) know smallblocks so servicing will be cheaper than any Porsche and air conditioning actually works on 'vettes.

Another reason for a 'vette was inventory. Well, really I'm checking autotrader and forums and really C4 M6's are a rare breed. I saw one '95 polo M6 just before x-mas. Arranged to have my 'mechanic/'vette expert' ('00 'vette, now with z06 brakes! in addition to his '67 chevelle and 11 second mustang)look at it and it was sold. It was a clean used 110K car for $16K.

As with the porsche's, inventory and price seems much better in the U.S.

How much money you figure you saved? Would you do it again?

[4GTABODT]

Taking into account the airfare down there, the state tax/shipping costs (as you have to pay the PST/GST anyways), 2 nights accommodations, food and gas, I can honestly say I am easily $4-5 grand ahead of the game. The US exchange at the time of 1.17 didn't hurt either (and we're there again) Would I do it again...absolutely.

But remember, when it starts to get around early March, Vettes have a funny little habit of going up in price so shopping around now is a good thing

As far as having a 911 as a first choice, hey, thats cool too. pretty awsome car in its own right. I've always been a vette fan as my older cousins had them when I was younger, but hey, everybody has their own good reason why they want what they want. Not sure how the Porsche prices compare in the US with Canada but the supply and demand thing has to affect them too.