U.S. Lemons becoming Canadian Lemonade

This is so wrong!

Car manufacturers in general are still ripping off Canadians on vehicle prices. As far as I am concerned there should be a uniform Canada/U.S. price in U.S. dollars, especially now that the Canadian dollar has risen above par with the U.S. dollar. Some Canadian-built vehicles are being sold at lower prices in the U.S. than in Canada -- is that not dumping? Or, does the auto pact allow dumping?

I plan to purchase my next vehicle largely on the basis of how cosely the Canadian price resembles the U.S price and, if I think there is some sort of conspiracy going on, I'll import my own and do the freaking paperwork. I have the time and skills to do it as I am retired and very good at dealing with red tape.

Canada should not have its own safety and emissions regulations. They are just non-tariff barriers. U.S. and E.U. regulations are good enough.

Car manufacturers should treat Canada and the U.S. as a single common market and should organize their zone offices accordingly. They cannot claim higher marketing costs in Canada as most advertising reaches Canada via U.S. magazines and U.S. television.

What your are saying is very true EnnNorak. But it just doesn't apply to the fact that cars (used ones) that are considered lemons in the States are being sent in Canada to be sold back. Those cars should not be sold again but stripped, crushed, burned, etc.

By the way, I am also a Canadian.

Canada is it's own country. Just becasue of its close proximity to the US shouldn't allow it to benefit from the US's current weak dollar. Come to the States and buy a car if you can. It is fairly common, just make sure the speedo is easily converted.

Also, Canada needs it's own crash tests, or needs to join a group of nations that test. Why should they get to free ride?

Regarding lemons passing to Canada, that is unfortunate. These vehicles regardless of where they are sold, should be noted as a reconditioned company buy-back. They should offer a strong warranty and be sold at a reasonable discount. As long as the buyer is aware of what they are purchasing and it is safe, there is no reason these vehicles can't be on the roads. As always, buyer beware.

The manufacturer who is stupid enough to get caught doing that in Canada will get a lot of unexpected and unwanted press coverage and my guess is that it ain't gonna help either their overall sales or reputation in Canada.

Shredmo, I'm not asking Canada to get a free ride. I'm promoting free trade among nations and not non-tariff barriers like red tape against individuals who want to import their own. There is no need to do any crash tests these days as they can all be simulated by computer. I believe that some safety and emissions regulations were originally conceived by the domestics to thwart foreign competition. Unfortunately, the Japanese and Europeans have been able to beat us at our own game. U.S. regulations are the doing of the U.S. government and if Canada imports cars that comply with those regulations, that is a trade benefit to the U.S. so don't talk about Canada getting a free ride. I do agree however that there should be global safety and emissions standards for the sake of economies of scale and the elimination of non-tariff barriers to free trade. I have no use for anarchists and others who oppose globalization with their silly demonstrations at every major international trade conference.

BTW, many of the expensive safety standards that have been imposed on the consumer are actually hurting families by forcing them to spend more money on vehicles that they need to get to work. 5 MPH or 8 MPH bumpers are a complete waste of money as collisions rarely occur below those speeds and the bumper gets destroyed internally upon impact even if little exterior damage is evident. That money would be better spent on nutrition and education for the children of affected families.

A safe car is one driven by a safe driver. The government needs to get out of the safety business and start building safer highways and bridges.

i fully agree with you.

i'm also wondering about some recent designs where there seems to be hardly ANY bumper at all to protect the grill! are these cars still subject to the 'bumper' crash standards?