SVT Focus

[SVT666]

Generally speaking, US customs doesn't have much of an issue with stuff going out of the country.  It's getting stuff into the country that becomes a PITA.  I suspect it's the same with Canada.

From what I've been told, Canadian Customs agents are being over worked with all the cars being imported and they're getting pissy about it, so they really inconvenince you when do import one to discourage you and your friends from doing it again.  I felt that what they did to me was way beyond what was needed to ensure that I wasn't smuggling anything or that I wasn't lying about how much I paid for it.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  I saved myself between $7000 and $9000 doing this.  Would I drive all the way from San Jose again?  Probably not.  That was a really long drive with few good driving roads along the way.  I found one road that was one of the best driving roads I've ever seen in Maryhill, WA though.  It took me 3 minutes to drive all the way down this road as fast I was willing to take a car I didn't know very well, and 3 minutes back up it.  It was a recently asphalted driveway for some rich dudes house.  I'm racing around the corners and then boom I'm in front of his house where he is loading his family into their Land Cruiser.  I stop and just look at his through the windshield and his whole family stopped and just stared at me.  I waved at them, they all waved back, I threw it into reverse, turned around, and screamed all the way back up to the highway.  

[SVT666]

Every hotel I've ever been too has someone at the front desk 24hours a day

The motels that I could have probably afforded on my tiny budget for the trip looked dark when I passed them by.  This was Salem, OR so it wasn't a big city like Portland.  Besides, I was so tired that I just wanted to find a parking lot and crash for a few hours and then get up and go.

[2o6]

From what I've been told, Canadian Customs agents are being over worked with all the cars being imported and they're getting pissy about it, so they really inconvenince you when do import one to discourage you and your friends from doing it again.  I felt that what they did to me was way beyond what was needed to ensure that I wasn't smuggling anything or that I wasn't lying about how much I paid for it.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  I saved myself between $7000 and $9000 doing this.  Would I drive all the way from San Jose again?  Probably not.  That was a really long drive with few good driving roads along the way.  I found one road that was one of the best driving roads I've ever seen in Maryhill, WA though.  It took me 3 minutes to drive all the way down this road as fast I was willing to take a car I didn't know very well, and 3 minutes back up it.  It was a recently asphalted driveway for some rich dudes house.  I'm racing around the corners and then boom I'm in front of his house where he is loading his family into their Land Cruiser.  I stop and just look at his through the windshield and his whole family stopped and just stared at me.  I waved at them, they all waved back, I threw it into reverse, turned around, and screamed all the way back up to the highway.  

I'll bet that was akward.

[SVT666]

congrats Hemi!

what color is the car?

Outside is silver, inside it Charcoal with red inserts on the seats.

[omicron]

From what I've been told, Canadian Customs agents are being over worked with all the cars being imported and they're getting pissy about it, so they really inconvenince you when do import one to discourage you and your friends from doing it again.  I felt that what they did to me was way beyond what was needed to ensure that I wasn't smuggling anything or that I wasn't lying about how much I paid for it.

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  I saved myself between $7000 and $9000 doing this.  Would I drive all the way from San Jose again?  Probably not.  That was a really long drive with few good driving roads along the way.  I found one road that was one of the best driving roads I've ever seen in Maryhill, WA though.  It took me 3 minutes to drive all the way down this road as fast I was willing to take a car I didn't know very well, and 3 minutes back up it.  It was a recently asphalted driveway for some rich dudes house.  I'm racing around the corners and then boom I'm in front of his house where he is loading his family into their Land Cruiser.  I stop and just look at his through the windshield and his whole family stopped and just stared at me.  I waved at them, they all waved back, I threw it into reverse, turned around, and screamed all the way back up to the highway.  

I like the sound of this, Mr Hemi!

[SVT666]

I like the sound of this, Mr Hemi!

It was awesome.  I saw the driveway on the other side of the valley I was driving along, and when the highway crossed over the other side, I thought, "What the hell, why not".  So I turned off the highway and drove his driveway.  Coming up on he and his family at the bottom was completely unexpected.  I was hoping they would be in the house.

[omicron]

It was awesome.  I saw the driveway on the other side of the valley I was driving along, and when the highway crossed over the other side, I thought, "What the hell, why not".  So I turned off the highway and drove his driveway.  Coming up on he and his family at the bottom was completely unexpected.  I was hoping they would be in the house.

The true measure of any Spinner.

[CALL_911]

Hemi, that sounds like a lot of fun.

[SVT666]

* THIS POST WAS THE PICTURES THAT ARE NOW IN THE FIRST POST OF THE THREAD *

[SVT666]

Those stupid window things on the doors are coming off.  I hate them.

[CALL_911]

Oh man, that thing looks awesome. I love the projectors, I was wondering if you got them or not.

[ifcar]

Those stupid window things on the doors are coming off.  I hate them.

That was to have been my first question. I'm also curious as to your wife's impressions of the car.

[CALL_911]

Oh, and you should have gotten an E46 325i.

[Champ]

I like the wheels!  Are they usually that dark or is it just a bunch of brake dust.  I like that powder coated look..

[sportyaccordy]

Whoa the 5 door? HIDs? Cool man. Those have 170HP right? Should be a fast ride!

[the Teuton]

Once again, I hope this silver compact treats you better than the last one, Mr. Hemispherical Combustion Chamber 666. 

[SVT666]

* THIS POST WAS THE REVIEW THAT IS NOW IN THE FIRST POST OF THE THREAD *

[SVT666]

I like the wheels!  Are they usually that dark or is it just a bunch of brake dust.  I like that powder coated look..

Brake dust, though I love the look of them.  Maybe I won't clean them.

[r0tor]

Those stupid window things on the doors are coming off.  I hate them.

you can't get those things off fast enough for my liking! eewwwww

Otherwise it looks in good shape and should be fun to drive 

[FlatBlackCaddy]

congrats

[FlatBlackCaddy]

http://www.superchargersonline.com/product_detail.asp?PartNumber=V4FJ218-020SQ

[SVT666]

http://www.superchargersonline.com/product_detail.asp?PartNumber=V4FJ218-020SQ

Unfortunately a supercharger is out of the question.  I can't justify that with a new baby coming.  I am getting a short throw shifter, custom tune, and intake for now.  Anything more then that has to wait for a while.

[Soup DeVille]

Would I do it again?  Absolutely.  I saved myself between $7000 and $9000 doing this.  

Sounds like a guy could make a decent sideline business out of doing this sort of thing.

[CALL_911]

Hemi, do you need to change the gauge cluster?

[SVT666]

Hemi, do you need to change the gauge cluster?

No.  Even though MPH is the primary number on the speedo, km/h is shown and that's all that matters.  The only modification that needs to take place is the DRL (Daytime Running Lights) relay.

[SVT666]

Sounds like a guy could make a decent sideline business out of doing this sort of thing.

I thought about it, but I don't have time.  In two weeks I start building my house and I'm the General Contractor, I have a full time job, and my wife is delivering in early May.  I won't have time to do it again until after we move into the new house in the fall/winter.

[Soup DeVille]

I thought about it, but I don't have time.  In two weeks I start building my house and I'm the General Contractor, I have a full time job, and my wife is delivering in early May.  I won't have time to do it again until after we move into the new house in the fall/winter.

Short timeline in getting the house up there.

[SVT666]

Short timeline in getting the house up there.

I'm allowing for 6-9 months.  I want to be in before Xmas.

[Cookie Monster]

Nice car!
Too bad it's the 5 door.

[CALL_911]

Nice car!
Too bad it's the 5 door.

IMO, it looks quite nice.