US VS Canadian Highlander

[edwardlican]

Hi,

I would like to have your expert opinion about the difference between the US and Canada version of Highlander.

I plan to buy the Highlander 4x4 Limited in Canada, and with all the options loaded (with just the GPS but without the DVD rear entertainment system) cost $53,700 CAD (since now the CAD is a bit higher than USD) it means it is about $54,000 US. The same configuration in US is around $40,000 (with the Toyota suggest list price). From the spec. they seems to be the same, is there any major difference that is not noted? (I know the Canadian version included a remote opening of the tail-gate by remote control in the key, I am not sure whether the US version has the same function or is it an option).

If there is no major difference, I think I will go to the US to buy the Highlander there. Does anyone know about the rating of the "Wilson Toyota" in Bellingham WA, for I plan to get my Highlander there. Thanks for any information.

Edward

[summerwind]

Speedo is in Miles per Hour and not Kilometers. As the US HL has DLR's that Canadian requirement should be met but there may be other requirements you would have to met before licensing it in Canada.

Washington has an odorous 9.2% sales tax on price of the vehicle minus trade value. I don't know if this gets waived as you live in Canada or you have to file for a refund or you just get stuck with it. The dealer should be able to tell you

I don't know what the Canadian duty/import tax would be

Wilson Toyota is a member of the Better Business Bureau and has a "satisfactory" rating with only 2 complaints in the last 36 months. Sounds like they would be ok to deal with

As the Canadian dollar is worth more than the US dollar, I would think Wilson Toyota has the procedure down pat for buying a car in the US and taking it back to Canada

Good Luck, eh

[edwardlican]

thank you Summerwind for your answer. You are right about the speedo, we need to change it to Km per hour in order to be licensed in Canada. We also need to pay 6.1% duty for vehicle not manufactured in North America (for the Highlander is made in Japan). Since the car is export to Canada, we do not need to pay for the state tax in US, but we need to pay for GST and PST which is 13% for B.C. Canada. Thanks again for the help.

Do you know the HL limited has the remote Tail-gate (open and close) feature? Is is operate by the remote in the key?

Edward

[mmmd5]

If you can get them to sell you a new vehicle you'll have had better success than me. I couldn't get any US dealer to sell a new Toyota to a CDN. Said Toyota doesn't allow it.

You can use the key fob to trigger the power lift gate function. All CDN vehicles except the base model have this feature.

[FrankMtl]

Originally Posted by edwardlican

thank you Summerwind for your answer. You are right about the speedo, we need to change it to Km per hour in order to be licensed in Canada. We also need to pay 6.1% duty for vehicle not manufactured in North America (for the Highlander is made in Japan). Since the car is export to Canada, we do not need to pay for the state tax in US, but we need to pay for GST and PST which is 13% for B.C. Canada. Thanks again for the help.

Do you know the HL limited has the remote Tail-gate (open and close) feature? Is is operate by the remote in the key?

Edward

Hey there Edward,
According to the features section ( http://www.toyota.com/highlander/models.html ) the power back door is offered as an Option on the Limited model. Here in Canada, only the SR5 and the Limited have this feature as standard. I find it odd that the pricier (compared to the SR5) Sports version doesn't have it.
Are you a member of the APA? They have a service whereby they'll do all the leg/paperwork if you're interested in purchasing from the US. I just bought a 2008 SR5 Highlander but alas the extra 6.1%, when added to the service fees and Quebec's idiotic provincial tax (tax on tax) erased any advantage of getting it from the US. You may see a better value from BC.

Cheers,
Frank

[edwardlican]

Hi Frank,

thanks for your input. how much do they charge for the extra service for importing your Highlander ?

Edward

[FrankMtl]

Originally Posted by edwardlican

Hi Frank,

thanks for your input. how much do they charge for the extra service for importing your Highlander ?

Edward

From what he told me they don't reveal their fee (which includes payment for paperwork, importing the car etc etc) as they don't want it to be a negotiating factor if you go elsewhere. After he told me what it would cost the difference between an SR5 here and an equivalent Highlander in the US came to less than 2000$. At this point it became less attractive so i purchased it at a Montreal dealership.

Have a look at the APA site here to see if this is still a path that may be of interest. perhaps on the Limited the difference is still advantageous for you to get it in the US.

APA

Frank

[summerwind]

Seems Canadian's get to choose from Base, SR5, Sport and Limited.

What is the difference between the SR5 the Base and Sport models???

[FrankMtl]

Originally Posted by summerwind

Seems Canadian's get to choose from Base, SR5, Sport and Limited.

What is the difference between the SR5 the Base and Sport models???

Too many to list, here's the HL's spec page from Toyota Canada:

Specs

[summerwind]

Seems the SR5 is an option upgrade for the Base Highlander

The SR5 is enhanced with a series of upgraded features, including: a Power Rear Door with Flip-up Hatch Glass, Premium Cloth Seats, an 8-way Power Adjustable Driver's Seat, Leather-wrapped Steering Wheel and Fog Lamps.

[FrankMtl]

Originally Posted by summerwind

Seems the SR5 is an option upgrade for the Base Highlander

There's a few more differences but in essence you're correct. The power adjustable seating, power back door and available leather seating are the features I truly needed. The rest are a bonus