Juggernaut1064

'll take a picture of it and send it so you can say if it is ? roflmhao

SchnookoLoly

Well played.

OffToOntario

Thanks for all of your responses - and an interesting diversion on block heaters!

I've done a bit more looking into it and found out that leasing is likely to cost a lot more than the extra insurance and car transport. (I was quoted around $800 plus tax for a ford fusion per month (25000 km per year), plus the excess mileage, which I guess could add up as I expect to drive around 40,000km per year. I'd also save on fuel if I took my own car as it uses about half the amount of fuel of the fusion. Parts should be ok as the same basic car and engine are available in Canada. The only extra cost I'll have apart from insurance (which I expect to be eye watering) is the extra depreciation for the mileage when I come to sell my car (which when it has so many miles anyway probably won't make a huge difference), plus I save on car storage while I'm away.

Does anyone have any experience with insuring a right hand drive car in Ontario? Which companies will cover them please?

Thanks again!

colchar

The cost of doing so would be too high to make it worthwhile. Why not just store your car while here? Storage fess likely wouldn't be much.

colchar

A block heater isn't necessary in Toronto. A block heater came stock with my car and I've never once plugged it in.



Why bother plugging it in if it isn't necessary? My car sits outside overnight all winter and I've never had a problem, not even during last year's horrendous winter. And depending on where the OP ends up living it could be even less necessary (ie. underground parking garage in a condo) or impractical (ie. a townhouse without a garage in which to plug in the electrical cord). Toronto is not Saskatchewan or northern Alberta and one does not need to treat their car as if they were living in those areas.

colchar

I just checked Ford's website and calculated a lease (with $1500 down payment) that didn't come anywhere near $800 before taxes, it came in at $680 with taxes. And leasing isn't your only option as you could just buy a used car here for a few grand and sell it before you leave thus getting a chunk of your money back.

Importing a car for a two year visit seems like a big hassle when it is incredibly easy to get a car here. Then there is the issue that RHD vehicles aren't exactly practical in a LHD country (ie. how are you going to see to make a left hand turn if there are cars coming from the opposite direction who are also making left hand turns...you are going to have a nasty blind spot there).

SchnookoLoly

Drive-thrus will be impossible to operate without a passenger!

iaink

Just reverse through


Toll booths could be tricky though, and forget about driving over to the states

SchnookoLoly

No accidents, guaranteed!

...

dbd33

Only the Facility Association will cover a RHD drive car of a model type not offered in Canada that is being driven 25,000 miles a year in Ontario by a driver new to the Province. They are the insurer of last resort.

Almost Canadian

Mine does, but I always forget to plug it in. It starts OK, but using the front end loader requires lots of patience until the fluids start to run properly.

Juggernaut1064

With modern oil etc they don't need block heaters. But I use mine now as it's an inline coolant heater. I get heat much more quickly.

Shirtback

@offtoontario: I assume you have included the cost of shipping vehicle back to the UK & getting it back in through customs/red tape in your calculations?

My opinion: KISS; leave/sell car in UK. Buy used clunker in Canada.

S

dbd33

Oh yes. There was a winter when I didn't have a blower and cleared just with the bucket. I'd start the tractor then go and feed the animals so it would have time to get flowing.

sharkus

I'd suggest having a look at unhaggle or carcostcanada. They can save you a bit on a car, plus they show you various schemes that the dealerships have, and from memory I do recall most having schemes for newcomers. You could also talk to a couple of banks and ask them about their newcomer packages, and see if they have any affiliation with certain car makers and could also get favourable interest rates for finance / leasing.

As others have said, have you factored in the costs surrounding getting your car here?

Parts might be ok, but there can be differences between UK spec cars and Canadian ones. You'd certainly want to check on that if not already done so.
In addition parts prices might be more expensive in Canada than in the UK, so that's another factor.

Are you able to change parts yourself, and service the car yourself? I ask as you'd likely want to also check with a local dealer / auto shop if they'll work on an RHD car.

Insurance will be expensive for a newcomer regardless, but newcomer plus imported car, that's really going to sting, and I really don't believe that a new, or even used Canadian spec car, is going to be more expensive than the RHD.

I did consider wether to import my car (1994 Subaru Impreza WRX Wagon - was grey imported to the UK from Japan) with me when I came in 2003. It would certainly have been unique, but it would have cost a lot to ship, insure, and maintain, and it was getting on for 10 years old at that point. In the end it was easier and cheaper to simply purchase a used car here (1992 VW Jetta GL). I did pay more for insurance on it than my Impreza, which did irk me, as it was neither younger, quicker, nor modified.