The RS4 thread below got me wondering.....
01-16-2005, 09:09 PM
#1
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The RS4 thread below got me wondering.....
What the hell is the big deal about these not being legal to drive without being "federalized"?
<img src="http://www.autobellausa.com/images/carsforsale/rs4_1.jpg">
<img src="http://www.autobellausa.com/images/carsforsale/rs4_1.jpg">
01-16-2005, 11:05 PM
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You can't register the car without getting it federalized.
And if you do some quasi legal method of getting it though, you'll be royally fvcked if you get caught (for instance, get in an accident. Insurace would not cover you).
01-17-2005, 06:05 AM
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The real deal is.... automotive importers specialize....
automotive importation is a BIG business. A little over a year ago I went 9/10ths of the way in hiring a broker to import a car. Their fees are steep, however, they handle tons of red tape and will get you the car no problems. Odometer certification was one of the hangups as I remember it. If the car had Metric gages and you imported it as Metric-- you'd obviously have to attach an "odometer disclosure" document with the car stating it was converted after the fact. No big deal to me. Some people hear "odom disclosure" and go running because they think the car was salvaged or has had the dash replaced, etc. Not a problem in my eyes if you know the car is high-end machinery.
Talk to a broker. You'll be amazed at what $$$ can get you... they meet the car at the port and walk it through the whole way... skip the "Federalized" term... there is no such thing unless you're going to be retailing a literal boatload of cars. Then you'd better know someone at the EPA too!
Talk to a broker. You'll be amazed at what $$$ can get you... they meet the car at the port and walk it through the whole way... skip the "Federalized" term... there is no such thing unless you're going to be retailing a literal boatload of cars. Then you'd better know someone at the EPA too!
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01-17-2005, 10:03 AM
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In order to go from Metric to English... it's a speciality
whiz bang conversion process. Only a certified Speedo/Odom place can do it. It's more complicated than connecting VAG to it...
01-17-2005, 01:06 PM
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from what i gather (josh and a few others, my father in law included)....
that you can fudge the paperwork, but i f you get caught, your facked. they can take your car and fine you. a few that are in the states are here on diplomatic plates, the two that i have seen in aspen colorado have military plates, and the one we were talking about last night has dealer plates. if you want to do it right, it takes time and money. josh is asking alot for his car, but if you bought that one from the guy in portland for 80k and then tried to register and insure it, the government or the dot catches wind, you have to spend the extra 30 k to get it out of customs and have it federalized. i am going to buy one, not sure whos though, my father in law has a car dealership license (lozanos brushless carwash in los gatos) and he said that i can put the car on his business name to eliminate some of the bs, but still having the government hanging over your head if you get into just a fenderbender is a nightmare. josh at achtuning sounds like he was the guinnie pig for all of this crap. feel bad for the guy, but not too bad he still has an real rs4 to tool around in.
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