| Author | Message | ||
| DONALD GRIESDALE (Griesdale)
New member Username: Griesdale Post Number: 47 Registered: 11-2001 |
Najib, welcome to Canada. In Vancouver, don't forget to look at North and West Vancouver for superb houses and views of the harbour and city. Buy a new or pre-owned Ferrari at Brian Jessel Ferrari-They are cheaper than in the USA. Also, forget about Toronto, as most of us have done!! Don. | ||
| Christian (Christiank)
Member Username: Christiank Post Number: 400 Registered: 1-2001 |
Najib: There are actually quite a few british citizen here in BC. I am thinking about getting a Canadian passport but would lose my German one(European Union), so I put it on hold right now. Jay is right about the 15 year old cars but duty is 6.1 % and taxes are about 14 to 15 % on top of that. The dealer in Vancouver has always reasonable priced cars (2 x 348 right now) as they don't sell to the US. They are fair and easy to talk to. No problem in bringing a car from BC to Ontario if you opt for that. | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 527 Registered: 10-2001 |
Najib, I know this doesn't apply to your car but just some helpful info...Any car that is 15 years or older can be imported into Canada regardless of bumbers and safety equipment, it doesn't even have to have seat belts. Most times all they are concerned with is the duty and weather or not it has A/C (for the a/c tax). | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 177 Registered: 4-2001 |
Christian I'm a British citizen but will be seeking Canadian nationality as well so no chance of that loophole. I know importing a Ferrari is fraught with all sorts of problems so I will either sell the car here in Saudi Arabia, where I'm currently working, or take it to the UK and sell it there. | ||
| Christian (Christiank)
Member Username: Christiank Post Number: 399 Registered: 1-2001 |
I tried to import a Ferrari from the US to Canada. The biggest problem is obviously the front and rear bumpers as they have to be changed. So what do you think the delivery time for a set of Canadian bumpers is? Price is about CAD 10,000 plus/minus, a real bargain. Another problem is that you need a letter of compliance from FNA. I imported both BMW and Porsche. No problem, although Porsche is charging USD 50 now but they are both fast with their service. Never heard a word from FNA. Hmmm. What you should also know is that as a Canadian resident you are not allowed to drive a US registered car on Canadian roads. In don't know what your status in Canada would be, but if you would keep your US resident status you could still drive the car in Canada. I see people here doing it all the time. They just make sure that they leave the country every 3 months (no problem as the US boarder is usually quite close). I am German but a landed immigrant in Canada, so no chance for me. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 176 Registered: 4-2001 |
Peter its a 348TS (April 1994)with a lot of challenge bits but I think its closer to the standard 348 than to the Challenge. I will have to do a bit more research closer to the time of importation. | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1977 Registered: 12-2000 |
If I remember correctly, Najib has a 348 Competizione (?). That version is not on that list you provided Gerrit. Cars that are as new as 348's can be imported into Canada, only if it has been manufactured to comply with U.S. reg's (which would make conversion to Cdn requirements easier). The Competizione Najib has is strictly European and wouldn't have the required additional structural supports for the bumpers, emissions equipment, proper seatbelts, etc... | ||
| Gerrit Visser (Gerritv)
Junior Member Username: Gerritv Post Number: 90 Registered: 6-2001 |
Najib, importing your 348 depends on its year and other factors. Check out http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importusa/english/imind_e.htm in all its lovely details. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 174 Registered: 4-2001 |
Thanks a lot for all the input and advice. I will let you know once I've put my money down and committed to a deal. Hope to see you all when I finally move to Canada - minus the 348 as I cannot import it. Might have to get one there as I'm hooked on these flawed but intoxicating automobiles - If you knew...etc. etc.thread. Kevin, hope you fulfil your dreams in the near future. I always said that for me it was "A red dot in the horizon rapidly driving away" and then one day it became a reality. Thanks once again. | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1976 Registered: 12-2000 |
Najib, I'd add another 20-30min to Kevin's travelling times to Downtown in the worst of traffic jams... As for the drug problem, its more of a nuisance than a problem. Even in neighborhoods with grow-op houses, have little to no crime. | ||
| Gerrit Visser (Gerritv)
Junior Member Username: Gerritv Post Number: 89 Registered: 6-2001 |
Toronto is great. I live 10 miles north of downtown on a ravine lot. Still in the city though. Been here since 1957, no desire to move elsewhere. Winter is not bad in the past few years. Only used the snow blower twice last winter! No snow tires for the past 15 years although a couple of times per winter I do miss them. Toronto is vibrant, multi cultural where you can always find something to do, often at low cost. E.g. Harbour Front has free concerts by well known artists. If you go north to Barrie (1+hour drive), where Paul N. lives, then you are into the snow belt area. Expect much more snow there. regarding real estate, I expect prices to keep going up. Houses in my area sell in less than a week and usually at asking price or higher. While RE is more expensive here, it also gets you a good return on your $ over a period of 5-7 years (even with downturns etc.) Unionvile is probably all new houses, built within last 10 or so years. The core of the old town still exists of course. Depends what you want, new or older, suburban living vs. downtown lifestyles. I prefer houses built in the late 50's, they are usually solid brick, not sticks covered with plywood. We love our location, on a ravine, quiet neighbourhood yet close to downtown for nightlife and interesting shops. Unionville has a GO Station for rail transit to the downtown core. You can check out maps at http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/map/southindexpdf.htm , just click on U for Unionville and then pick Toronto detail. | ||
| Kevin K (Kevink)
New member Username: Kevink Post Number: 1 Registered: 8-2002 |
Hi Najib! I don't own a Ferrari. I am a dreamer who likes to lurk the board. Anyways, I live 5 mins from the main promenade in White Rock. Typically, the drive takes about 30-40 mins to reach Vancouver. However the benefit to living in the South Surrey area is the peacefulness and near non-existence of crime in the area. If you are ever in the area again, I can give you a tour around and show you some of the nice neighbourhoods such as Morgan Creek, Chantrell Park, Elgin Park etc. Feel free to contact me at [email protected] If you have any more questions I'll try my best to help you out. Cheers! Kevin | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 173 Registered: 4-2001 |
Peter I didn't realise drugs were such a major problem in B.C. Is it a lot more than the other big cities? How long would it take to commute to downtown from White Rock? I will be buying a fairly expensive place and do want to make the right choice. Thanks for the advice. | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1971 Registered: 12-2000 |
P.S. If you stay out of Vancouver East-side, you won't have problems with drugs or gangs. And to tell the truth, drugs are everywhere in B.C. (best Mary Jane you can get. Not that I have any hands-on experience with that...) | ||
| '75 308 GT4 (Peter)
Intermediate Member Username: Peter Post Number: 1970 Registered: 12-2000 |
Paul, I will blast you about your comments!  . Without exaggeration, we haven't had rain for a couple of weeks now (here in the Lower Mainland) and a few days, out in the Valley saw temps into the 30's (Celsius for you American folks. Can't translate into °F off the top of my head, but it was hot...). When it rains though, it pours. But when its nice... Its God's Country... After living here for six years now, I wouldn't set a foot back in the East Coast... I see you've chosen White Rock, Najib. That is the dryest place in the Vancouver area (but would be a chore to commute to Downtown...). | ||
| Christian (Christiank)
Member Username: Christiank Post Number: 397 Registered: 1-2001 |
Jay: I have been in Toronto in 1982 and in 2001. I couldn't recognize the city anymore. I don't question what you are saying but I sure liked it a lot more in 82. Whenever you are in BC take some time to come by. Take care, Christian | ||
| James Dixon (Omnadren250)
Member Username: Omnadren250 Post Number: 274 Registered: 7-2001 |
I live in Calgary which is very nice, but very cold in the winter. I would have to second the opinion that Kelowna BC is a beautiful place to live, as well as Vancouver. | ||
| J. Grande (Jay)
Member Username: Jay Post Number: 524 Registered: 10-2001 |
I wouldn't live anywhere else but Toronto. I love it here. Yes it is expensive to buy property here, but I believe that Toronto is one of the best cities for standard of living and just plain things to do. Toronto is still a safe and relatively clean place to live. Winter is only bad from January to March and summer is great! | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 358 Registered: 12-2001 |
Christian, Ive been to Kelowna and would love to live there but family keeps me in toronto. Its hard to believe canada has cactus and scorpians. | ||
| Christian (Christiank)
Member Username: Christiank Post Number: 396 Registered: 1-2001 |
One of the most unknown places in Canada is Kelowna, BC where I live. We have everything, summer with temperatures over 100 degrees, a real nice spring, fall and winter with snow and lots of skiing (Big White, Silver Star, Apex Mountain) and other snow fun stuff. The area is called Okanagan, big lake, watersport, dozends of Golf courses with quality and rates hard to imagine for people from the US. Nice resorts too (Galaghers Canyon, Quail Ridge, Predator Ridge). If you think that the people are nice in other parts of Canada, come to the Okanagan. Try to avoid me, I am German and not typical for the nice and friendly people here - lol. | ||
| Paul Newman (Newman)
Member Username: Newman Post Number: 357 Registered: 12-2001 |
The only problem with vancouver is the ports bring drugs and asian gang problems. And it has one of the highest suicide rates attributed to the rain 6 out of 7 days a week. Ill probably get blasted by Peter on this comment, Im going by my sisters input who lives out that way. I live north of Toronto and prices are only going to get higher. I live in cottage country and you couldnt pay me enough to live in TO either. Sorry Nika. Lots of ferrari kind of roads by me too and no cops. | ||
| Nika (Racernika)
Member Username: Racernika Post Number: 670 Registered: 12-2001 |
I wouldn't consider Toronto an place for "vacation" property. I love it here in the summer - the winter can be painful (Not as bad as Buffalo). Vancouver seems to be more relaxed. | ||
| john (Johnwto)
New member Username: Johnwto Post Number: 9 Registered: 6-2002 |
toronto is still very expensive and probably an overpriced market. there does not seem to be a slow down in the re-sale's yet. | ||
| Najib Amanullah (Najib)
Junior Member Username: Najib Post Number: 169 Registered: 4-2001 |
Hi All I was in Canada this July (Toronto and Van.) and was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and polite the people were. Liked Toronto but am told its very cold in winter, at least for 3/4 months. Loved the natural beauty of Vancouver. Was looking at some property in both places during my holiday and shortlisted White Rock in Vancouver or Unionville in Toronto. Would you say it is a good time to buy or is the market expected to head down? For those who know the areas mentioned, please feel free to comment on them or suggest similar alternatives. Please bear in mind that I will be looking to rent the place out for a few years. I know people have criticised board members for seeking financial advice here but any comments will be most appreciated. |