Has anyone bought overseas and imported to US?
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Ok- good to know. I mean, if it is like 5k, not a huge deal and may be worth it. If like 10k, nah.
Now 09 451 Passion Cabriolet Met Blue & Silver First 08 451 Passion Cabriolet Yellow & Black
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European-spec vehicles must ship through a stateside certified independent commercial importer. A list is available from the EPA.
This, however, can be an expensive process because the vehicle must also conform to EPA and DOT safety requirements and would be subject to conversion to US specification at an EPA accredited Conversion Station. This process is not only costly$$$$ but could take 3-6 months to complete.
Good Luck
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Here’s 4 manual transmission one. US spec. For the extra $5k, Just add your the options you want.
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Looks like I will just keep looking for one that already has the factory options. If I can find a 2017 manual, I would add the stuff I want. I have yet to find a 2017 manual—I have only seen one.
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I own one of the last UK 453 petrol Cabrio's made, a 1.0... 5 speed manual, and I am curious what is the extra safety, and differences you guys get on a USA spec'ed 453?
I can see from Smart leaflets that you get six airbags, and we just get four. Anything else?
If its down to compliance paperwork meeting USA standards, I can see the problem, but physically there should not be that much of a difference between a LHD European car and a USA car.
PS....I have seen the opposite situation, where I wanted a new Honda Civic Coupe MK1, only made in Ohio USA to Japanese quality control, and importing them via Honda USA to Honda Europe to the UK was held up for 6 months with meeting European compliance. It took me a year on the waiting list till I got the car. Worth the wait, It was so reliable, I had it for 10 years. My only American made car LOL
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I can see from Smart leaflets that you get six airbags, and we just get four. Anything else?
If its down to compliance paperwork meeting USA standards, I can see the problem, but physically there should not be that much of a difference between a LHD European car and a USA car.
PS....I have seen the opposite situation, where I wanted a new Honda Civic Coupe MK1, only made in Ohio USA to Japanese quality control, and importing them via Honda USA to Honda Europe to the UK was held up for 6 months with meeting European compliance. It took me a year on the waiting list till I got the car. Worth the wait, It was so reliable, I had it for 10 years. My only American made car LOL
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US spec cars have different emission controls, DOT (Dept. of Transportation) glass, tailamp lenses, and headlamps. There are also side guard beams installed in the doors and side marker lights. The fuel system evaporative control is also different, I think.
Now 09 451 Passion Cabriolet Met Blue & Silver First 08 451 Passion Cabriolet Yellow & Black
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The only smarts currently being made are electric. No more gas models.
Now 09 451 Passion Cabriolet Met Blue & Silver First 08 451 Passion Cabriolet Yellow & Black
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If you have literally seen one. Then you have answered the first part of your question. That would be yes. The second part is going to be harder.
Good luck
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It is possible to do what you're looking to do, but you're looking in the wrong place. You aren't going to import a 453 from Europe anytime soon unless you have income like Jeff Bezos.
However, you can import a car from Canada! U.S. importation law has a "substantially similar" clause that allows you to import a car that's younger than 25 years old so long as it has the same equipment as the same make and model already sold here. Cars from Canada generally meet this clause because the country's car safety and emissions regulations are similar to ours. This exclusion was designed so that Canadian citizens could move to the U.S. and take their cars with them.
However, everyone from dealerships and regular people use the clause to buy cars from Canada. Most recently, some U.S. dealerships were found to be taking advantage of exchange rates by buying Audi RS6 Avants in Canada and flipping them for extra profit here.
Now, before you go off onto the Canadian equivalent of Craigslist, there is a caveat. Canadian VINs often don't show up in U.S. DMV systems and may not show up in the system of an auto parts store.
And before you pull the trigger on a Canadian car, contact an import broker here in the States. They'll guide you through the process. I had a lawyer assist me with my recent car imports. lol
However, you can import a car from Canada! U.S. importation law has a "substantially similar" clause that allows you to import a car that's younger than 25 years old so long as it has the same equipment as the same make and model already sold here. Cars from Canada generally meet this clause because the country's car safety and emissions regulations are similar to ours. This exclusion was designed so that Canadian citizens could move to the U.S. and take their cars with them.
However, everyone from dealerships and regular people use the clause to buy cars from Canada. Most recently, some U.S. dealerships were found to be taking advantage of exchange rates by buying Audi RS6 Avants in Canada and flipping them for extra profit here.
Now, before you go off onto the Canadian equivalent of Craigslist, there is a caveat. Canadian VINs often don't show up in U.S. DMV systems and may not show up in the system of an auto parts store.
And before you pull the trigger on a Canadian car, contact an import broker here in the States. They'll guide you through the process. I had a lawyer assist me with my recent car imports. lol
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Yep. You'll likely be stuck depending on shipping, which is surprisingly expensive, even for a smart!
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