S3 to canada?

I'v been looking at getting an S3 for a while now, just about bought one the other day but my financing fell through so now if i want one i need to pay cash. I'v noticed that these bikes are alot cheaper in the USA (even after the exchange rate i'd save about $2500). Just wondering if anyone knows anything about getting a bike shipped to Canada. Any costs at the border i should know about ect.?

Thanks

[hootieST]

Rush,

Have never imported a vehicle into Canada, but here is a place to start.

www.tc.gc.ca/ then enter through English or French. Scroll down and look for "Vehicle Importation" on the left side. You're on your own from there, but it is easy enough to navigate and should answer some or most of your questions.

Good luck.

PS: I think it sucks that new motorcycles are more expensive here considering how favourable the exchange rate is.

[realizations]

Did Canada enact a VAT when we weren't listening?
I would suggest half on a credit card at a promotional rate, and the other half your income tax refund. Then, you don't even need full coverage. Save enough in insurance alone to buy a new bike in five years. (That's what I do).

[hootieST]

Canada currently has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) and each province a Provincaila Sales Tax (PST). I think this system is based on the New Zealand system.

Two years ago I asked a manufacturers rep at a motorcycle show, why there is such a large discrepancy between Canadian and US pricing. He told me that our pricing was structured on or about 2000 / 2001 exchange rates, which at the time a US buck cost Cdn's about 1.60! Looking at current prices, I still see similar differences.

Perhaps there is more to it, I don't know. I'm sure if I were to ask the right people the answer would be political tongue in cheek.

[FelixLeiter]

I emailed a foreign auto mfgr a while back to ask the same question, "why are your cars so much cheaper in the states than in Canada being that they aren't manufactured in either country." They responded that pricing was dependent upon what that particular market will bear. It is not as simple as exchange rates. (this is also why the US gets longer warrantees than us. Kia and Hyundai warrantees are double in the US)

Sometimes it is in our favor:
If you recall, back when the "new" Ford T-bird was introduced US dealerships couldn't keep them in stock--they were selling for $10-15K over sticker price. Ford had priced them similarily in $Cda as in $USD, and quite a few people were buying them for $50K Canadian, driving them across the boarder and selling them to US dealers or buyers for $60USD! An easy $20K USD profit at the time (with exchange rate). Ford started making Canadian buyers sign contracts that they wouldn't resell their T-birds for 2 months. US dealers also stopped honouring warrantees from cars originating in Canada!

Back to the original topic... I don't know all the details but the importing of a "new" vehicle into Canada would make that vehicle succeptable to GST, PST (if your province has it) and duty (20% I believe). This is the reason everyone lies about the value of the goods they are bringing back from cross boarder shopping trips. Kinda hard to hide an S3 under the spare tire though...
I think that the rules on importing a "used" vehicle are much more lax...dunno how old it has to be though. I would guess 6mo.
check out Canadian Government