.

This months “MyRide” newsletter has a section on current August deals. 

http://www.myride.com/content/shared/articles/templates/index.cfm/article_id_int/6545/id/30949 

So, we glanced thru it and found the U.S. Audi A3 with a dealer incentive discount of $2,500.  We decided to compare the features and pricing in both countries.  We even took some more time to call dealers in both countries.

In summary we found a difference of 4,000  or 10.39 percent. At par the difference will be $6712 or 17.57% More significanly though, we discovered that the webs sites were identical and the car features / options and descriptions were identical.   The main issue was availability.  There were no 2009’s in Canada and they were very scarce in the U.S.  Our U.S. reps could not locate any.  So another lesson learned …it is ethical  to offer really fantastic prices and discounts on a product that you don’t have?

Continue reading “ATaleofTwoPrices continues..Today’s Comparison …. Audi A3!”

With the dollar certain to rise closer to parity, it appears that purchasing the new 2010 Camaro 2SS in California, using Ebay, (see yesterday’s post) can save Canadians some big bucks.

It appears, that the Canadian wing of GM, now partially owned by the Canadian Govt, has decided to set Canadian prices using the equivalent of a 0.80 Loonie.  Using a 0.9079 loonie, as was the price this afternoon, CarsWithoutBorders achieves 12.23% difference or a $6,314.87 difference.

At Par Canadians will save over 20% or $10,452.93. 

Examining the features quickly we also had the feeling that the Canadian model lacked several features not included in the American model.  It would take a team like those folks working with Dougie Porter at BMO a couple of hours to really get a good feel of the differences, but we suspect the difference would be even greater. 

Here’s what we came up ewith in 30minutes of work. 

 As a side note the Canadian GM Website appears easier to use than the U.S. one.  I guess when you are gouging Canadians on price you can spend a bit more on IT.  Why not have just one big North American site … be the first GM … Why continue to waste your dollars on two sets of IT teams.  Lay off one and save some money for the things you do right!

 It appears that a retired GM employee and his wife could run this Company and make it profitable again!

Note: feel free to use the Price Comparison spreadsheet on the right (under the resources section) and experiment yourself with other models. Forward your analysis to us and we will post them.

2009-08-11camarocanadian.pdf     2009-08-11camarous.pdf 

 GM has initiated a move to sell their vehicles on EBAY.  Well welcome to the 21st Century.  It is about time.  Must be less overhead than going the delearship route.  I wonder if they will pass on the savings to consumers? 

I wonder if they will sell to Canadians?

2009-08-10gmebay.pdf 

The other day the Registrar of Imported Vehicles Launched a new  very Consumer Friendly Website. 

The site features easier access to information and a “Check-list” feature that new or first time importers will really like. Canadian Import Brokers will probably use it in order to demonstrate to their customers, a clear description of their services.

Try it out and let us know what you think. 

Maybe they should put out a media press release….

Kristian Klima, an astute well travelled reporter for World Business Press Online, has moved the Porter / CWB feud to an International Level!  

 Here’s the link for the piece as published on Pravda’s website (Pravda is the best-selling Slovak newspaper).  it’s all in Slovak, but we have a translation.

2009-08-05googletranslation.pdf

Continue reading “BMO’s Porter and CWB feud gets International Press!”

While most Canadians were out partying, relaxing and enjoying their August 1st holiday, investors around the world were making money; buying our loonies, oil stocks and anything else Canadian.

Parity is not far away, Canadian car Companies need to sharpen their pencils!

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Downloads 214

Here is the audio feed of the show if you missed it today.