May 21
Did you know that….
We just discovered why not many folks are too interested in raising heck with Transport Canada to expedite the bumper law amendments. (Regulation 115)
Rumor has it that many successful import dealers simply stock a set of bumpers for the big sellers. They install them, and then once the vehicle has passed inspection, they take them off and put the old ones back on!
Only one set of “Canadian” bumpers is used to process many cars!
Now why should we be surprised, then again the average Canadian wanting to import a car by him/her self gets shafted!
May 21st, 2008 at 12:39 pm
I appreciate everything this site has done. My next auto will be a US import, unless Cdn manufactures pull up there boot straps! The information I’ve been able to get from CWB has been very helpful. I think this site also shows the industry that not every consumer will not sit back and take a punch in the ear from big business. None the less I am surpised by the strong retail growth in Canadian auto sales. I guess some are prepared to pay whatever is asked.
Congratulations and thanks.
May 21st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
This happens with imported cars from Japan as well. Vehicles are complied temporarily to pass an inspection, once the inspection is passed the compliance parts are removed. The compliance equipment is usually DOT lights or a daytime running light setup. But it’s not just dealers who are doing this, I’ve seen individuals practice this, some even rent out lights to other owners.
I agree that this practice by dealers without disclosure to the consumer is definitely shady, but it’s nice to see that even dealers think that government equipment requirements are silly.
May 21st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Whats the chances that RIV knows all about this practice if true????????? What would happen if someone would get hurt badly and they would find out the origianal bumper from the US cqar were put back on after the suppose modification???????? How about it RIV??????? Give us an answer as we know you all read this board!!!! Roger
May 21st, 2008 at 8:28 pm
With regard to swapping bumpers, after the federal inspection has been completed: There are no laws to prevent Canadians or Americans from making modifications to their vehicles. North Americans are famous for modifying cars and trucks, with after market wheels, after market exhaust systems and even after market high performance engines. If misrepresentation, resulting in injury to a subsequent owner can be proven, then a person who has modified a vehicle might at some point, be faced with legal repercussions. Unless however, someone is to suffer harm, or loss, due to the modifications, then there is absolutely nothing that the law will do to stop, or punish someone for modifying their own vehicle. That is one of the things that makes the Federal approval process so ridiculous. With regard to safety recalls: Once the vehicle has been approved by the RIV, the car can become the subject of unlimited very serious safety recalls and yet their is no legal requirement for the owner to have the safety defects corrected. A person can literally ignore the manufacturers safety recall letters and drive the car forever, in an unsafe condition, without fixing it. Once again, Transport Canada and the RIV demonstrate that they are not at all concerned with protecting the Canadian people from harm. They are only concerned with protecting the markets and the profits of American, Japanese and other foreign owned manufacturers.
May 27th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
The reality is that the bumper laws are total BS to begin with. Do you really think that 300 mil. Americans are in grave danger because their bumpers are rated at 5mph instead of 8mph (or whatever the case may be)? The Manufacturers are playing the gov’t and TC like a cheap flute and we’re the ones suffering the consequences. I call total BS on the bumper/immobilizer/etc issues as being total fabrication to impose barriers to Canadians.
Until TC and the gov’t don’t harmonize these standards, or moreover, people don’t keep opening their wallets endlessly in Canada, the rest of us will suffer.
Sadly, I blame the uneducated consumer more than the manufacturers or government. Keep up the great job with the site, hopefully more people will get educated.