I am looking at the Porsche prices in US, and notice that the MSRP for a Cayanne Base is only USD 42,200, and we, canadians are already paying CAD 45,000 for a RDX.

Just wondering, assuming shipping across the border does not cost a lot money or hassle. Would you purchase a Cayenne Base instead of the RDX ?

 

A Cayenne S starts at $50k invoice, $57k MSRP USD. And have you looked at the options list for the Cayenne. Most of the options are VERY expensive. Moonroof $1150, rear view camera $1680, spare 19" rear mounted wheel $1980.

A typically equppied cayenne s is over $60k. Sweet ride, but a totally different class than the RDX.

 

I'd bet that you'd have to deal with customs and other things of that nature. Also, the Cayenne is more comparable to a MDX than an RDX.


sasair is right, Porsche options are crazy expensive.


Good luck, I think however, if prices were similar...most people would get a 340hp V8 Porsche over a 240hp I4 Acura.

Just my $0.02

 

Sorry, my fault, I meant Cayanne (not the S), sasair can you please revise the topic subject and the my first post content for me ? Thanks

 

Even still, the base cayenne being $42200, normally equipped would sell for over $45k USD easy. Compare that to what the RDX would sell for in USD around $34-35k. I'd choose the Acura any day.

Plus if you buy a vehicle in the US and bring it into canada I think it voids all warranties. Maybe Porsche is different, but I know this to be true for Acura.

 

I know, that's why I said on the subject: For canadians since exchange rate applied by different manufacturers is the main price difference factor for us.

For the folks in US, these two cars are of course at two different price range.

Warranty: Yes, for Honda/Acura, for sure they will void warranty. But Toyota/Lexus are ok. Not sure Porsche yet, net to find out.

In a local canadian forum, there is a long thread with almost 200 posts, discussing how canadians can import a car from US and which models and which manufacturers are worth to do so. Very detail and useful. Basically, the higher the MSRP of that vehicle, the higher the savings for us. Other factor is the exchange rate used by each particular manufacturers for each models e.g. RDX, Acura Canada uses 1.24 but Cayanne, Porshe Canada uses 1.42. Comparing the current rate, 1.18 now, we are talking about 25-30% difference on a USD 40K car !!!

 

As mentioned by others you must check into a lot of info before making any decisions in this regard. US price, plus exchange, plus all duties, cdn taxes, brokerage costs between $500.00 to $1,000.00, provincial inspection, transportation costs, federal inspection (free) and you must do most of the paperwork and legwork.

Driving Television had an interesting bit on their show a week or so ago as they too notice the discrepancy in US vs Cdn costs. Some are very drastic but they did a check on 3 vehicles this last show.

Toyota Prius - no benefit to bring in from the US, in fact would be more. Toyota will not honour warranty in Canada

Bmw 330i - about $60.00 cheaper to bring in from US, warranty in Canada I believe would be honoured

Corvette - a savings of about $13,000.00 Cdn. Warranty would be honoured. The only one of the 3 they looked at to make it worthwhile.

 

On the forum I mentioned on the above post, people there said one of the popular car they import is Subura Tribecca, they said they easily save over CAD10K from purchasing in US. In facts, customs are so familiar with it, and said to one of the importers "Not another Tribecca today !" So funny.

I remember 5 yrs ago when our exchange rate was 1 to 1.5** , it was cheaper to buy the MDX (first came out that yr) in Canada than US. In facts, people here had to sign a contract agreeing not to sell back to US . Anyhow, I prefer to have strong currency like right now.

 

The Cayenne is a 5300 lb vehicle. While it accelerates well with the V-8, it is downright ponderous in the Base with the VW supplied V-6. The VR6's 280 hp is simply not enough to motivate that much mass in a Porsche-like manner.

It would be the height of embarrassment to have your Porsche dusted at a light by Mom's minivan.

Beyond that, the reliability is in the basement.

 

Yes, talking about reliability, not an European car can beat Japanese cars, especially Acura/Lexus. Even a Honda/Toyota can easily beat any Euro cars in terms of reliability. So, if that is the main factor, forget about the Porsche. I think one of the major reasons most people considering it is purely for a prestige image we get on the street especially for the base model (unless we get the top of the line)

 

Even worse, the current V6 porsche cayenne base only has 247HP. The 2008 model will get the jump up to 290HP....

 

I stand corrected, Sir.

280 or so is what they're getting from the V6 in the AWD Passat. I didn't realize the Cayenne was still a pitiful 247.

One does wonder why someone would buy a $60000 Porsche with all the performance that implies and then opt for the V-6. (0-60 in 8.5 seconds @ porsche.com)

 

Take THe Rdx Is Way Better Than Porche Cuz' Its The First Suv That Porsche Made..So Maybe IT Hasnt Good Quality Or Something Else..

 

Man there is much wrong with these 'facts'. Lexi and Toyota warrenties are fully valid in Canada. Mich lexi dealers have their own border broker to do the paperwork to import your car to Canada - you just pick it out, pick it up and licence it in Canada. The will not sell brand new but will sell you 2006 with miles right now. e.g. Lexi GS300 AWD in Detroit right now for 35K - that is a 2006 with 9K miles. Price in Canada would be 2x that. Jeffery Acura in Detroit will sell you a brand new Acura - Acura will cancel your warrenty but Jeffery will self-warrenty the car. Only makes sense if you live along the border, but that represents a lot of savings too. Only delaer who is not screwing Cnadians right now is Mitsu - their prices are in line with or better than exchange rates. Let Acura Canada eat they gas swilling RDX till they drop prices.

 

DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT buy a current Cayenne V6. The V6 is gutless and the Cayenne is so heavy its almost unsafe. Throttle response is horrible. You'd be much better off with an RDX, or an MDX which would be more comparable to a Cayenne V6. If you want a Cayenne, step up and get at least an S, or wait and see how the performance is on the 2008 V6 that will be out in the next couple months.

 

Thanks for the info. Do you know if US dealers would take care of trade-in as well ?

 

good question. Lots of yanks would probably be confused by km as the larger dial, so you may have a hard time doing a trade. These deals (USA purchase) are probably best for people without current rides, but maybe you could unload a Can car down there. Lexi 2006 RX350 with 20K or less go for about 35-36US, and you could probably negotiate 1-2K off. That is a good deal for a car that starts at 52 in Canada and maybe 55 comparably equipped. Many are built in Ontario. A friend of mine bought a lexi GS300 and had 4 other Canadians doing exports at the same time he visited US customs when leaving the country. Lots to be saved on lux cars in states - probably the most would be Porsche.

 

I was even looking at the Cayenne/Touareg before I settled on the acura. I found they had a lot of issues and they were way over priced for what you get. Also the resale wasn't that good. Overall, the Cayenne didn't seem that practical to me.

 

Nice to see such an expert bring forth this information, so I guess I am to take from that obviously the TV program, the car brokers, custom brokers, car dealers in Vancouver, knew nothing about what they were talking about.

Regardless of whether the dealer has a broker available changes nothing on the costs and government inspections that need to be cleared. The information regarding the Toyota Warranty was supplied by Toyota in a letter to the show when responding to the query to them regarding why the difference in US vs Cdn pricing, same response from Honda and Hyundai if memory serves me. None of the other companies would even respond.

Also fyi the op was talking about a new car not a used car.

 

Here is the popular thread for importing car from US

How to import car from US to Canada

Warning: Prepare to spend hours to read all those posts

 

I stand corrected re the Toyota warranty, I watched it again and they did say that the Toyota warranty would be honoured in Canada assuming all parts were as supplied on Canadian sold vehicles. Regardless the Toyota model they picked in this segment was no cheaper to buy in the US does not mean others couldn't be but you have to do the research for the vehicle you may be interested in.

In the responses they received back querying manufacturers re higher prices in Canada vs the US were few and basically they the prices are set by the manufacturers not the dealers and they charge what the market will bear.

I guess if we all stopped buying new vehicles until the prices were corrected that may change them but I wouldn't hold my breath.

 

I will assume it wasn't intended as a flame, but the simple fact is that the majority of automakers are now conspiring to screw Canadians, beginning with outrageous exchange rates and ending with between double and triple the shipping charge as for a US sold car. There is enormous pressure to keep Canadians ignorant of possible savings - Dennis Derosiers auto company highlighted the screw job last year in the Globe and Mail, and he then quickly revised his comments, no doubt having being warned by his customers (auto companies). Nothing I said was inaccurate - lots of Canadians who buy high price cars now get them in the states. In some cases they are brand new, in others they are slightly or moderately used. Most of these vehicles can be imported with little or no modification (bumper, child retention locks, daytime lights). Check before you buy to make sure. If the tv show said anything other than what i have said, they are full of shi_. I live on the border and am over in the states frequently (2x last week). I also price vehicles on web sites with as close to identical equipment. Why is a loaded CRV 39K in Canada grand 26 in the states? I would not buy new Honda/Acura over in the states unless at the location whose rep told me they would warranty the car directly. Acura will let you buy used with applicable warranty, so buy a dealer demo in the states and save yourself thousands.

 

I don't flame and I try and refrain from insults unless one exhibits that trait in their response.

"Why is a loaded CRV 39K in Canada grand 26 in the states?"

Probably lots of reasons. Should it be that big a disparity of course not.

"I would not buy new Honda/Acura over in the states unless at the location whose rep told me they would warranty the car directly. Acura will let you buy used with applicable warranty, so buy a dealer demo in the states and save yourself thousands."

Of course you can and if you are sure that they will never reneg on it then do it be happy. If you are at all unsure then think twice.

As I said above if you were to read my posts the comments from the few maufacturers who responded to Driving Television was

"In the responses they received back querying manufacturers re higher prices in Canada vs the US were few and basically they confirmed the prices are set by the manufacturers not the dealers and they charge what the market will bear."

This has continually widened with the change in the Cdn vs US dollar and they are obviously taking advantage of what they feel is our ignorance and putting it in their pockets. I though am pretty sure a lot of people have no real idea of the disparity in the pricing.

I seriously doubt that the show was full of a sh_t as you like to put it anymore than you are an expert because you live close to the border and cross over 2x a week, check pricing on the net what have you. They have been investigating this situation for awhile now as they too are aware of the disparity in pricing and are looking for answers themselves. As they showed by the examples they checked on all is not the same on all vehicles or models. Cars are their business.

I live in Vancouver and do the same but I would never think that it makes me an expert and I investigate many more things than just cars and accessories.

Lots of people buy a lot of different things from the US because things are cheaper and in the long run sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't. If you know the playing field and have the knowledge then it most certainly can be. Still "a lot of people" probably is really a very small percentage of Canadians overall.

Yes we as Canadians are getting screwed on car pricing on various makes and models so yes look for different avenues but it is not as simple as just deciding to buy brand x model y. You have to investigate quite thoroughly as to exactly what the processes, costs and avenues are.

I posted to give some insight as to what this car show had covered in their last episode and ongoing investigation into the pricing difference not to have you jump all over my post.


Anyway enough of this as imo the bigger conspiracy other than the automakers are the gas companies. There we have no other options. The gas companies jerk the pricing up and down at a whim. There is no competition and no driving across the border is not an option for filling up. I laugh at people who think they save a lot of money doing this but fail to take into account their time and the cost per kilometer for running their vehicle back and forth to make this saving.

Many also don't seem to realize that a 1 cent per litre increase is actually 4.56 cents a gallon increase. So the price increase from yesterday here was 3.5 cents/litre or just under 16 cents/gallon. Will it be up tomorrow or down tomorrow who knows, only the gas companies for sure and when one changes they all change, my what a coincidence.

At least buying a car, truck, motorcycle, boat, plasma/lcd tv, digital camera, stereo receiver, cd player, tires, clothes, cell phones there are lots of different makes and suppliers to go to and get the best bang for your dollar.

But not with gasoline.

 

agree with most of your post, especially 'know what you're doing' and 'gas company conspiracy'. My tsx (as well as rdx) takes premium, and in southern Ont it typically is 11-13 c/L more than premium. I love Americans telling us it costs 15-20c/gallon more; in Canada that differential is more than double. why?