Haha, yeah I've always been a bit biased myself when it comes to cars. No offence to Jetta owners. I know it's a great car. It just doesn't fit me and the persona I like to pretend I project.

edit Oak, I still need you to cast an actual vote.

David, I just chatted with my friend regarding importing new cars, and you are definitely right. It is getting very tricky. He thinks the two Toyota's he just got will be last new cars he imports. The Canadian gov't is insisting all '08 and newer vehicles be equipped with an "immobilizer" which is a pain in the ass (and wallet) and the US dealers are being threatened by the big bosses if they sell new to Canadians. Canadian dealers do not want to drop their prices so the only way they can compete with US retail prices is to prohibit Canadians from buying in the States. So, it does look like I will be buying used. Even that gets sticky though. Each manufacturer has different rules about what "used" means. GM requires a car to be registered in the States for 6 months and/or some mileage criteria in order for it to be sold to a Canuck. Long story short, I will be aiming for a gently used model.

Free trade, my ass.

Ah this is were the real benefits of and good exchange rate come in.
You get reamed no matter what!

I have a feeling I'll save a few grand, plus the idea of buying something down in the States and driving it up to Canada appeals to me. Anyone can go down to the local lot and pick something up. It's the chase that excites me!

Rick, how long have you been out of Canada for? You might want to check if you can qualify as a returning emigree. I don't know if they still run the scheme in Canada and if they do run it what the requirements are but I do know that it was possible when moving back to Canada after a few years away to import a car entirely free of taxes. Any car, no limits at all, and no taxes of any kind. A friend of mine bought a new Mini Cooper S convertible when he went back to Canada after a few years here in Poland: no taxes here and no taxes in Canada, he saved a packet!


If your crowd like cars and would laugh at you for driving an Evo, they know nothing about cars. An Evo or a Scooby will piss all over every one of those 11 cars on your list and will do so under any conditions. Some of those 11 cars might not be too badly embarassed when quarter-miling or 0-60 but round corners it wouldn't even be close.

My "crowd" knows a lot about cars. They just would get a kick out of me in an EVO. I have been known to them since I was 16 as the dude who loves the big boats.

The EVO is a great car, I never disputed that fact. I happen to believe a car is an extension of your personality and nothing about an EVO says "Rick" to me. Truth is, every car mentioned in this thread is a great car (for someone). I couldn't really give a shit if any car could "piss all over me" to be quite honest. I never set out to buy the best car in the world. Some dude wants to buy an EVO, I respect that. Some guy wants to roll in a '83 Omega, he's got my respect. If that is what he likes, that is what he likes.

What has always sat wrong with me is when people make these statements as you are making with no regard for a person's right to like what they like. I don't have to justify why I like these cars to anyone. I simply want to open a discussion and see which ones (if any) people liked the best. You don't like my list - you'd rather own a Saab. I get it.

Obviously, when talking about cars, the discussion is quite subjective. Rick, your list of 11 cars are the ones that you've narrowed the search to and the ones that you feel are best suited to your needs, taste, etc.

Every single person would have a different list of cars. If we all had the same taste, there'd only be a few cars in production. Look at it this way, for every "ugly" car you see on the road, somebody liked it enough to buy it when it was brand new! Somebody liked the Lime Green Pacer enough to shell out the bucks and drive it off the new car lot! Somebody decided one day the Chevette was the car for him/her and financed one! So selecting a car is very, very subjective. IMO, each car on Rick's list has the merits of satisfying his automotive needs. He just needs us to help narrow the list down, the list of 11. I still vote for the Charger.

Rick, are there any cars you can definitively mark off the list?

Oak, I still need you to cast an actual vote.

I'm more of a Japanese car lover rather than a American one, but I must admit that the Cadillac CTS gets my vote from the ones on your list.

I'm more of a Japanese car lover rather than a American one, but I must admit that the Cadillac CTS gets my vote from the ones on your list.

I respect that! Thanks.

And, thanks David. Indeed, the cars on my Top 10 (I put the 300C and Charger R/T down as 1a since they are essentially the same as their SRT8 cousins, just not as pumped up) are all fully capable of meeting my personal criteria. I have stricken the Ford Explorer off the list. It just ain't making the cut.

I'm not a good "chooser" if you know what I mean. This is a pretty tough choice.

Oh, and I loved your analogy there. I have been saying since I was a kid that every car on the road was an exciting purchase for someone at some point in time. I remember my Dad sitting behind the wheel of a Ford Granada and saying something like "Beautiful". A stretch for sure, but every car was sold to someone who wanted it!

Own a Saab? Me? Never! My girlfriend loves them but I can think of many cars I'd prefer. Perhaps a pre-GM Saab but if we're talking classic cars, then there are also many I'd have over a Saab.

Personally I drive a Mini Cooper. Not the fastest or most luxurious car I've ever driven but certainly the best balance of fun and every-day useability.


Have you looked into the possibilities of tax-free import as a returning emigree? I think my friend saved something along the lines of 30% of list price (and none of that was dealer discount, this was back when there were no discounts anywhere for Mini convertibles because the waiting list was more than six months long).

rick, your dad was right - according to my friend's dad -
the ford granada was great


when i was young, my dad owned a peugeot 404 , and up untill this day , i tell myself that, one day , i will own one too


brings back memories

back to the present, it seems that you have some homework to do , before you move back to the land of celine dion

The 404 is a superb car! A friend of mine had a convertible (about 15 years ago). I understand that production of the 404 continued until 1989 in Africa (Nigeria I think).

before you move back to the land of celine dion

Hehehe.. nice

He who mentions Celine Dion in my Car Thread needs to watch himself!

Harry, I think our move home will be complicated enough. I will have to pay 5% GST plus an administrative fee of a couple hundered bucks to import a used car. If I had a car here with me in Japan I'm sure I could take it back to Canada, tax free, but I can't see that happening.

If I buy an import you can add 6% duty to the 5% GST. Given the way cheaper prices down in the States, I'll come out on the winning end. Even if I break even, it's still worth it since the selection of used vehicles is soooo much bigger down South.

Fred, our Ford Granada was different:


I remember my parents were about to pull the trigger on the Hyundai Stellar when it dubuted. At the last minute my Dad brought home a Camaro Z28. Phew.

Put me down for the 300C.

I will Iggy.

Mhm if it comes down to magnum/300C I just want to throw in that I think the magnum front looks.... more aggressiv. Ähm I meant - I'ld prefer the Magnum ;)

I'd vote caddy if the price is OK with you, Charger otherwise (I only assume the Charger is pretty significantly more affordable than the caddy). A new Ford Festiva is bound to be on the horizon, though - so don't make any rash decisions.

Harry, I think our move home will be complicated enough. I will have to pay 5% GST plus an administrative fee of a couple hundered bucks to import a used car. If I had a car here with me in Japan I'm sure I could take it back to Canada, tax free, but I can't see that happening.

Rick, I've moved international four times (plus two more when my parents were taking care of everything) and know that it is a real b*tch at best, so I understand you wanting to minimise the pain.

But with that said, if you are a returning resident, you could save big on taxes and import duties when you go back to Canada. My friend (OK, he was somebody that I knew and really didn't like) saved about 40,000 Polish zloty (about US$15,000) off the list price when he imported a car when he went back. And the car had certainly never been to Poland. It was made in UK and then sent direct to Canada. Although now I think about it again, that guy was a lying bastard as the best of times, so the 40,000zl he claimed to have saved might well have turned out in reality to actually be 40zl or 4zl or even 0.40zl...


One more thing Rick: sorry if you thought I was calling you out on your choice of car. I really wasn't (or at least didn't mean to). I myself have very specific taste in cars (which explains my own car history and future goals when it comes to four wheels).

Julien, I agree with you totally. The new Magnum for '08 with the hood scoop does have a very aggressive look. The '07 is killer too. The 300 SRT8 has a more understated look to it - but there are some subtle clues that it has a fire-breathing dragon under the hood. I love the 20" rims with the 4-piston Brembo brakes.

Oogie, which Caddy do you prefer out of the CTS and STS? The newly-designed CTS is getting a lot of press and definitley has a lot of goodies, but the STS has that classy, sophisticated thing going on. Very tough choice. A slightly used STS with the V8 can be had for just a few grand more than a fully loaded, slightly-used Charger SRT8 so it's a pretty close race in that regard. If I had $70-80k to spend, I'd probably wait for the CTS-V with 550 bhp due out next year.

Harry, I appreciate the advice for sure. Like PennyMad was saying, everyone has a different set of criteria with cars, (as they do with Oakleys), mine is probably very different than yours. No big deal. As for the importing process, I am going to wait for a month or so once I am home in Canada to get some finances together and then head down to the States with my buddy to buy something. A big part of the fun for me will be actually making the trip. There's a dealership down in Roswell, GA that I have been speaking with and they seem like real good guys and I am confident they will give me a great deal. There's a Caddy dealer in CA that I've been in touch with too. So, paying the 5% GST isn't so much of a concern as hitting the open roads of North America.

edit Oh, and how else could I justify the Oakley racing boots I'm going to buy. Can't drive all the way from Georgia with normal shoes!

Honestly Rick, this is the only car I can ever see you in.


It'd match the Diamond TT perfectly...

My next car's probably gonna be the new TDI VW Tiguan.

My next car's probably gonna be the new TDI VW Tiguan.

I'm thinking the exact same car Bill. Just Love VW diesels.

Yeah Bill, I was thinking of a Dropnose but I didn't care for the spare tire placement. So, I kept my $32-grand and walked right out the door.

Rick, if you're thinking of going to GA anyway, I know a dealer in Alabama that will sell you any new Dodge for invoice price plus any rebates still go to you. I buy all Dodges and Jeeps from this dealer. Let me know if you want his contact info. Good luck!!

Thanks David.