importing a car from UK to USA???

[steve_spackman]

Any specific regulations on importing a Ford Focus RS from the UK to USA?

[anthonyvop]

Any specific regulations on importing a Ford Focus RS from the UK to USA?

Very difficult and expensive.

You will have to have it Certified as to it meeting all US Safety and pollution Standards. There are specific "approved" technicians that do it and will cost over $10K at least.

You can import a car for 1 year. After that you have to return it to it's nation of origin or have it destroyed.

[Mark]

Very difficult and expensive.

You will have to have it Certified as to it meeting all US Safety and pollution Standards. There are specific "approved" technicians that do it and will cost over $10K at least.

You can import a car for 1 year. After that you have to return it to it's nation of origin or have it destroyed.

Do you mean you can import it for 1 year without having it certified? Or that even if it is certified you'll have to destroy it after 1 year?!

I would imagine if you presented US authorities with a RHD car, they may not know what to do with it!

[steve_spackman]

Very difficult and expensive.

You will have to have it Certified as to it meeting all US Safety and pollution Standards. There are specific "approved" technicians that do it and will cost over $10K at least.

You can import a car for 1 year. After that you have to return it to it's nation of origin or have it destroyed.

US Safety and pollution Standards?? From what ive seen, alot of cars on the roads in the US should NOT be on the roads....Also im thinking that the biggest difference is rear brake lights and "Idling Your Car"??

Im sure FORD UK will be able to help me out?

[veeten]

I believe what you're looking into is what's known as 'Grey Market', very well used back in the 70's thru early 2000's.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_import_vehicle#United_States

[anthonyvop]

Do you mean you can import it for 1 year without having it certified? Or that even if it is certified you'll have to destroy it after 1 year?!

Nope. if it is certified it can stay forever


I would imagine if you presented US authorities with a RHD car, they may not know what to do with it!
After they stop laughing they would treat it like any other car.

[MrJan]

That's crazy, I thought it was harsh having to pay VAT on imports but at least we can bring in cars from other countries.

How does it work through dealers though? Are there specialist import companies who bring in the cars and sort out the paperwork side?

[Rollo]

Any specific regulations on importing a Ford Focus RS from the UK to USA?

The short answer is forget it.

The long answer is that the Ford Focus is not on the "List of Non-Conforming Vehicle that are Elligible for Importation" and therefore probably not even be allowed in.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/elig060109.pdf

The scary thing is that if you were to do a side-by-side comparison of the USA's Dept of Transportation regulations and the various pollution regulations and compare them with the standards coming out of NCAP and European emission standards, then the European regulations are more stringent.
The DoT in the USA cares more about physical particulates than Europe but is more lenient in other matters like CO, Nitrous Oxides and other hydrocarbons.

The whole deal is such a hideously long adventure through regulations that unless you're a manufacturer, then importing a vehicle privately is utterly pointless.

[Daniel]

You can import a car for 1 year. After that you have to return it to it's nation of origin or have it destroyed.

Tony is right. I remember a few years ago Subaru imported a 22b into the US as a bit of a demonstration and I think it was crushed :bigcry:

How you could crush one of these I don't know -> http://www.ozcarsightings.com/updates/photoshoot22B/Subaru%20STi%2022B%20(20).jpg :(

[Daniel]

Also forgot to mention that this guy has taken a couple of Fiats to the US

http://www.littlefiatbigadventure.com/pandatoamerica2006.htm
http://www.littlefiatbigadventure.com/500usaadventure2008.htm

[Brown, Jon Brow]

Top Gear has shown us that the easiest thing to do when going to America is buy a car for $1000.

[Roamy]

spac - crush that piece of sh!t - the steering wheel is on the wrong side!!

[Brown, Jon Brow]

spac - crush that piece of sh!t - the steering wheel is on the wrong side!!

Right side ;) Literally.

However, if was going to be in a country for more than a year I'd want a car that conforms with the side of the road in that country.

[Rollo]

Right side ;) Literally.

Because all Roman soldiers were right handed (their Gladius was carried in their right hand and their shield in their left), Roman armies traveled down the left hand side of the road with their swords open to the enemy.

http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/right.cfm
Pennsylvania was the first state to adopt traveling down the right hand side of the road in 1792, and most American cars produced before about 1910 were right hand drive (curbside).

[anthonyvop]

There are companies that do the certification but it is so costly it is usually reserved for exotics and other high-end vehicles.

there is one loophole. Any car that is over 20 years old is exempt as a Classic/historic/antique vehicle.

[leopard]

Do I miss something, the question left me question mark, why would US need to import Ford from the UK or elsewhere?...

[Mark]

Do I miss something, the question left me question mark, why would US need to import Ford from the UK or elsewhere?...

There are certain types of vehicle which are not available in the USA. But are available elsewhere.

Plus since we are talking about Focus. Have you seen the US vs European focus? From the outside, it's not massively different, but the interior of the US version is hideous! It's no surprise someone would want to import a European version.

But in any case I suspect the reason here is that it's a Focus RS, no ordinary Focus at all, and I doubt they are easy to come by in the USA.

[anthonyvop]

The Focus for sale in the US is still the older version not the one available in Europe currently

Cars sold in the US are different for various reason. We have many long, wide highways, Gas is cheap and American's commute longer.

[Daniel]

The Focus for sale in the US is still the older version not the one available in Europe currently

Cars sold in the US are different for various reason. We have many long, wide highways, Gas is cheap and American's commute longer.
Some fool who watches Top Gear far too much will come on here and say that you don't have corners there either..... you have been warned!

[MrJan]

The Focus for sale in the US is still the older version not the one available in Europe currently

Cars sold in the US are different for various reason. We have many long, wide highways, Gas is cheap and American's commute longer.

You don't have corners there either.

[Mark in Oshawa]

I think Steve has a relative who wants the Euro Ford.

the safety regs are a lot of bs IMO but mainly are to do with crash testing and legalities. Because THAT model was not crash tested in a US Gov't test, it doesn't qualify. If you certified the safety of the occupants in US Gov't crash tests by wrecking 10 of them, then everyone could bring in a Euro Ford.

FORD doesn't want that. They have it in their head we people in North America wouldn't like the Focus RS. they would be wrong...but they do have the wheel on the wrong side.

[Daniel]

they make the RS in LHD Mark

[MrJan]

but they do have the wheel on the wrong side.

I think you'll find that it's you boys with the road on the wrong side that is causing the problem ;)

[Mark in Oshawa]

they make the RS in LHD Mark

Ok..but the car hasn't been crash tested to the US standard. typical gov't crap. This is what happens when a gov't gets stupid with regulation. If the car passes Euro crash test standards, it should be good enough for them....apparently not. That said, I suspect he could get the car into Canada. I have seen a few British and Japanese RHD cars and I know there is a little more leniency.

[Rollo]

Ford in the US have already been rumoured to want to import the Focus RS:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/06/rumormill-entry-no-3-256-north-america-could-get-next-gen-for/
Like the new Fiesta, the next Focus is being developed as a global product, with the North American market in mind as much as those overseas. And with the amalgamation of Ford's performance divisions in the United States and Europe – SVT and Team RS, respectively – an RS version could reach American shores in a few years' time.

If I was living in the US right now, I'd buy a Fiesta. That'd be a no-brainer. Quite frankly it's probably the best handling car to appear in North America since the '64 Stang.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Ford in the US have already been rumoured to want to import the Focus RS:
http://www.autoblog.com/2009/04/06/rumormill-entry-no-3-256-north-america-could-get-next-gen-for/
Like the new Fiesta, the next Focus is being developed as a global product, with the North American market in mind as much as those overseas. And with the amalgamation of Ford's performance divisions in the United States and Europe – SVT and Team RS, respectively – an RS version could reach American shores in a few years' time.

If I was living in the US right now, I'd buy a Fiesta. That'd be a no-brainer. Quite frankly it's probably the best handling car to appear in North America since the '64 Stang.

64 stang's didn't handle that well. No live axle American car of that era handled that well, but the Stingray would have been maybe a tad better.

[Rollo]

The "early 64" car had the 170cu in-line 6 up front, were as the "early 65" got the 200cu. There is a noticeable difference between them (especially the way the car sort of moves below your bum), and as the engine sizes grew bigger, because of the amount of weight that now had to sit over the front wheels, the car suffers.

Although I've never driven a 1964 Porsche 911, I suspect that it would probably be better than what came later for the same reasons.

[Mark in Oshawa]

The "early 64" car had the 170cu in-line 6 up front, were as the "early 65" got the 200cu. There is a noticeable difference between them (especially the way the car sort of moves below your bum), and as the engine sizes grew bigger, because of the amount of weight that now had to sit over the front wheels, the car suffers.

Although I've never driven a 1964 Porsche 911, I suspect that it would probably be better than what came later for the same reasons.

With the 911, it actually got better over time unlike the Mustangs. Porsche spent a lot of time trying to solve the tail happy tendencies of the 911, and they sort of have from what I have read. Never have driven a 911 at any serious speed.....

[anthonyvop]

FORD doesn't want that. They have it in their head we people in North America wouldn't like the Focus RS. they would be wrong...

Yes there are people in North America who would buy it......But not enough to make it worthwhile for Ford.
It isn't just shipping the cars over but parts, infrastructure and training of mechanics. Add that together and the fact that because of the exchange rate they would cost about $25K each and it doesn't make sense for them. After all how many people will spend $25K for a Focus?

[Jag_Warrior]

After watching this, I can see why it's popular in Europe.
pS6bhb1NxP8

I guess Ford looked into bringing it to the U.S. earlier this year, but then backed out. As for importing it (gray market), even if it was legal, seems like it would be cost prohibitive. I'd rather buy an Evo or an STI, use the extra money for engine and suspension upgrades... and have a serial killer of a car for about the same amount of money.


About a month ago WCF published a story about a Ford Focus RS spotted in Michigan. This raised some hopes of Ford taking some RS stock stateside. Further fueling this speculation was an interview done by Automotive News with Ford's director of advanced product creation and global performance, Hermann Salenbauch, in which the man was quoted as saying his company was looking for feedback (about the RS) from media and the public. "How much do they like it? Is it really what they want? We are pretty confident that it is," he said.

"We'd like to," said Capito, "but the base car isn't homologated for North America and that's too costly a job to carry out just for a niche vehicle like the RS."

US plans to receive Ford Focus RS Canceled (http://www.worldcarfans.com/109052719603/us-plans-to-receive-ford-focus-rs-canceled)

[Mark in Oshawa]

Yes there are people in North America who would buy it......But not enough to make it worthwhile for Ford.
It isn't just shipping the cars over but parts, infrastructure and training of mechanics. Add that together and the fact that because of the exchange rate they would cost about $25K each and it doesn't make sense for them. After all how many people will spend $25K for a Focus?

Tony, I get all that, but you know something? Why do all the cars that are sold in Europe by Ford are either not brought over, or we are given a Casper Milquetoast version. They keep assuming what is hot in Europe wont sell here, and I think it is a silly notion. When the Contour came out, they bragged about it being a "world car" and yet the Mondeo was on paper the same car, but the Contour flopped because it didn't do what the Mondeo did...that is it didn't have any performance to it.

Ditto the Escorts sold in The US vs Europe. The American version was a pretty lame car compared to the versions in Europe.

Dearborn keeps thinking Americans don't want sporty styling and high tech features in small cars. They then market them in such a way that almost guarntee's failure.

[Daniel]

I'd rather buy an Evo or an STI, use the extra money for engine and suspension upgrades... and have a serial killer of a car for about the same amount of money.

Yes, both are ultimately much more capable than an RS.

[Mark]

Ok..but the car hasn't been crash tested to the US standard. typical gov't crap. This is what happens when a gov't gets stupid with regulation. If the car passes Euro crash test standards, it should be good enough for them....apparently not. That said, I suspect he could get the car into Canada. I have seen a few British and Japanese RHD cars and I know there is a little more leniency.

Yes but you can understand that each government has it's own focus (no pun intended!) on what safety they wish to promote.

Logically EuroNCAP should get together with their equivalents all around the world and produce a set of standard tests that are applied to all models of car, which are then accepted worldwide.

Note I don't say that the regs should be the same worldwide, just the tests. So that a car which is for example, deemed to have 'failed' a particular test by US standards, may have passed it by European standards. What matters is that there's only one set of testing to be done.

[anthonyvop]

Tony, I get all that, but you know something? Why do all the cars that are sold in Europe by Ford are either not brought over, or we are given a Casper Milquetoast version. They keep assuming what is hot in Europe wont sell here, and I think it is a silly notion. When the Contour came out, they bragged about it being a "world car" and yet the Mondeo was on paper the same car, but the Contour flopped because it didn't do what the Mondeo did...that is it didn't have any performance to it.

Ditto the Escorts sold in The US vs Europe. The American version was a pretty lame car compared to the versions in Europe.

Dearborn keeps thinking Americans don't want sporty styling and high tech features in small cars. They then market them in such a way that almost guarntee's failure.

Ford doesn't make money by selling a few thousand of one model. They make money by selling 10's of thousands of one model. I owned a Focus SVT. Great car. Basically the same as a Focus RS but with the Cosworth Zetec. They sold it for 3 years then stopped because they were loosing money on each one.
So Ford decided to concentrate their Performance Image on the Mustang as they can sell GT's as fast as they can make them.

[Daniel]

Ford doesn't make money by selling a few thousand of one model. They make money by selling 10's of thousands of one model. I owned a Focus SVT. Great car. Basically the same as a Focus RS but with the Cosworth Zetec. They sold it for 3 years then stopped because they were loosing money on each one.
So Ford decided to concentrate their Performance Image on the Mustang as they can sell GT's as fast as they can make them.
Very true, performance models like the RS are usually only there as a halo model to try and lift the range and make people feel differently about the lower models in the range.

[Mark in Oshawa]

Ford doesn't make money by selling a few thousand of one model. They make money by selling 10's of thousands of one model. I owned a Focus SVT. Great car. Basically the same as a Focus RS but with the Cosworth Zetec. They sold it for 3 years then stopped because they were loosing money on each one.
So Ford decided to concentrate their Performance Image on the Mustang as they can sell GT's as fast as they can make them.

Well they lost money on the SVT Focus, but at some point, they should look at their marketing and cost analysis on building the car. The contention I have always had is the Big 3 think we don't want cars that handle or perform, yet Honda, VW,Toyota, Mazda and Nissan have always sold sporty subcompacts and made money doing it. I think the Big 3 just don't get that segment of the market, which might explain why there are in bad shape. Ford is strong based on some good business decisions made before things went south, but I still contend they are giving up on a large segment of the market.

[El Libertador]

Even if the RS goes to the US, it will have some hideous piece of crap chrome grille that totally ruins the appearance of the car. And a lot of unattractive cladding. The US spec Fiesta is awful compared to the European one.

It baffles me how Ford can make good cars for Europe and Australia but not for the United States. You would think a good car is a good car everywhere.

But perhaps most US Americans like their cars with no style?

[Daniel]

Even if the RS goes to the US, it will have some hideous piece of crap chrome grille that totally ruins the appearance of the car. And a lot of unattractive cladding. The US spec Fiesta is awful compared to the European one.

It baffles me how Ford can make good cars for Europe and Australia but not for the United States. You would think a good car is a good car everywhere.

But perhaps most US Americans like their cars with no style?
Well tastes are just different. I've got a Fiat 500 which over here is uber fashionable but I suspect if it went to the US wouldn't be quite as popular.

[Rollo]

Even if the RS goes to the US, it will have some hideous piece of crap chrome grille that totally ruins the appearance of the car. And a lot of unattractive cladding. The US spec Fiesta is awful compared to the European one.

It baffles me how Ford can make good cars for Europe and Australia but not for the United States. You would think a good car is a good car everywhere.

But perhaps most US Americans like their cars with no style?

I doesn't surprise me in the slightest. The cars produced for the US domestic market are deliberately built to a cheaper standard to lower sticker prices and thereby increase unit sales.

Admittedly Jalopnik isn't the most reliable source but of it's "10 Worst Cars of the Decade" all but 2 of them are from the big three.
http://jalopnik.com/5425680/jalopniks-worst10-cars-of-the-decade

Of the "10 Best Cars of the Decade" all but one of them are foreign cars, and quite telling is the Pontiac G8, is a Holden Commodore, which I guess further proves that the big three could produce decent cars... but they don't want to.
http://jalopnik.com/5426649/jalopniks-best10-cars-of-the-decade

[airshifter]

I doesn't surprise me in the slightest. The cars produced for the US domestic market are deliberately built to a cheaper standard to lower sticker prices and thereby increase unit sales.

Admittedly Jalopnik isn't the most reliable source but of it's "10 Worst Cars of the Decade" all but 2 of them are from the big three.
http://jalopnik.com/5425680/jalopniks-worst10-cars-of-the-decade

Of the "10 Best Cars of the Decade" all but one of them are foreign cars, and quite telling is the Pontiac G8, is a Holden Commodore, which I guess further proves that the big three could produce decent cars... but they don't want to.
http://jalopnik.com/5426649/jalopniks-best10-cars-of-the-decade

The F-150 and the Corvette certainly aren't imports to the US market. ;)

[Mark in Oshawa]

Well tastes are just different. I've got a Fiat 500 which over here is uber fashionable but I suspect if it went to the US wouldn't be quite as popular.

Rumour has it Chrysler will be bring them over. Fiat owns Chrysler. If gas prices go up, that car will sell. It isn't like we dont' have Fits and other little puddle jumpers on the roads in North America

[Mark]

Even if the RS goes to the US, it will have some hideous piece of crap chrome grille that totally ruins the appearance of the car. And a lot of unattractive cladding. The US spec Fiesta is awful compared to the European one.
?

Any pictures? I have a new style Fiesta (came out this time last year) and when it was pre-production they were talking about how it would be a 'world car' that they would make the same one for EU and other markets. So I would be interested to see if they've actually managed that.

[Daniel]

Any pictures? I have a new style Fiesta (came out this time last year) and when it was pre-production they were talking about how it would be a 'world car' that they would make the same one for EU and other markets. So I would be interested to see if they've actually managed that.
Even more horrible than the EU Fiesta :p

http://www.newcarpark.com/blog/images1/2010-Ford-Fiesta.jpg

[Mark]

I've been looking on the Ford.com website and they have it on there as the '2011 Fiesta', and it doesn't look much like your picture :p . It looks much more simlar to the car I have.

[Daniel]

I've been looking on the Ford.com website and they have it on there as the '2011 Fiesta', and it doesn't look much like your picture :p . It looks much more simlar to the car I have.
Ah :) Well I just went for the first likely picture I could find to be fair :p

They've done a decent job of making sure the impact bumpers aren't too bad :up:

[steve_spackman]

http://www.worldcarfans.com/109120223330/2011-ford-fiesta-officially-revealed--gets-40mpg

http://www.worldcarfans.com/109120123311/-2011-ford-fiesta-makes-an-early-appearance-online