CALLOUT TO GM CANADA

[LOWDOWN]

Originally Posted by 2012ZL1

NOT GOOD ENOUGH AND NOT A LEGITIMATE REASON.
California sells way more cars than idaho too, so should they have to wait longer for ordering info, and pay more for their cars?
That reasoning means nothing to anyone.
Canada sells more cars than montana so should they wait till after us?
The Camaro is built in Canada, so shipping, and logistics are no excuse.

So I see no legitimate reasons or response from GM, and must assume it is simply a rip off until I am given LEGITIMATE reasons.

First of all, at this very moment, nothing would likely pass your "litmus test" for pricing, short of parity...and that's NOT likely to happen, today. Maybe next week...

Camaro is assembled by General Motors Corporation, who engage many facilities in many counties around the world. The fact the car happens to be assembled in Canada gives you as a Canadian NO SPECIAL RITES OR PRIVLEDGES. As an Aussie, would you have got special treatment in your search for a G8? Nope...as a matter of fact, as an Aussie, you couldn't buy a G8...PERIOD. You could, however, buy a Commodore...and HOLDEN ( a wholly-owned GM subsidiary) hopes you were satified with that.

Same deal...

When the Commodore first came to my attention, summer of '00, you could then buy an LS1-engined version for about $39,000 Australian...which, at that moment sold for about $.90 CANADIAN...which sold for about $.70 US... Doing the math, that would have been LESS THAN $25,000 US. "Why don't we have these in North America?", I asked a well-placed upper-level GM exec. I personally knew? "Not conceived/engineered/designed here", was his arrow-straight matter-of-fact answer. THAT, my friend was "old GM". Thanks to Bob Lutz, those cars arrived, in '08, via San Diego, fully 6 MONTHS before they arrived in Vancouver. And that BC-instead-of-CA boatride co$t $7,000!! G8 GTs, in Canada, were $37,995 and up...(they must have been whale-watching in Alaska, first). WHY?!

I already gave you the "answers"...

[HeatherR]

I have a feeling short of offering to sell you a car at US MSRP no answer(s) will be good enough for you.

But, like it or not, cars are all more in Canada...there are others built in Ontario as well (Ford, Lexus, etc.)and they cost more in Canada too...

The gas analogy is a good one, but the bottom line is almost everything costs more in Canada...That is just the way it is.

[brian-nicola]

This mornings response from GM Canada
Welcome to GM.ca’s Live Chat. Please wait while we locate a customer care ambassador to assist you.

Crystal H has joined this session!

You have been connected to Crystal H. Your session ID for this chat session is 24124.

Crystal H: Hi Brian! My name is Crystal. How can I help you today?

Brian: Good morning,

Brian: Any news on when GM will have a date that consumers can order the new ZL1 Camaro 2012 model? The dealer has no information and they are not getting information from their factory reps either.

Crystal H: One moment

Crystal H: I am sorry Brian, there is no specific date as to when they can be ordered at this time.

Crystal H: i can only recommend to keep checking back with us or your dealership.

Crystal H: It may be a late 2012 model year release date (winter of 2012).

Brian: Not your fault, I understand but this is not how GM should be operating. American customers have been able to order this vehicle for 2012 delivery for a week and US dealers have their allocations.

Brian: So this is pretty silly that a car made in Canada and Canadians can't order it?

Brian: You might want to send that comment up the chain of command

Crystal H: Yes I understand your frustration. The production for this vehicle is going to start in January 2012.

Crystal H: Ordering will be available around that time as well.

Brian: Thank you for your time and enjoy the w'end! TTFN

Crystal H: You as well Brian.

[brian-nicola]

This morning my dealer talked to the home office rep " Sounds like we will find out how many for Canada Late December or early January"

My guess is that if this is the case, we won't see any ZL1's until mid-summer time here in Canada. I guess GM thinks nobody buys muscle cars in the early spring here.

[Hylton]

Send a pm to member TOPLS1. He is product communication at GM of Canada.

[brian-nicola]

There's two ways to beat the US/Canada system
1. As my brother did with his Hummer (purchased in Southern California) the dealer said any warranty issues, take to a Hummer dealer in Canada and we'll pay the bill. Wasn't an issue for him though as he lived within 5 miles of the US Border.
2. Same as with Harley Davidsons, the dealer sells it to one of their in-house leasing companies and you buy it "used" from the leasing company.
Can't tell me today if there was a ZL1 on their lot, they wouldn't take your money just because you are from Canada. The logistics on importing to Canada is a snap for personal imports.

[29er]

they did the same thing in 93 with the f-models-camaro-firebirds- at the time,most of them were only for u.s consumers and no orders were taken from canadians buyers..even the shop employees couldn't order one!! it took a long time before they allowed some to "escape" and be sold to us canadians..
with the zl1 it's the same thing, u.s. market is served first, then if there's some leftovers maybe we'll have some..

[garfin]

Have a friend or relative who lives in a state where there is no sales tax on new vehicles, (i.e. Pennsylvania) buy the vehicle for you in his or her name. Then you buy the vehicle from your friend or relative and import it into Canada as a used vehicle. You will need to follow the process for importing used vehicles into Canada from the U.S. (fairly simple) and pay applicable taxes on the vehicle at the border when you bring it across.

Best regards,

Elie

[Slowyouroll]

Why even give anyone an option. Of course everyone should have the same chance to buy this great vehicle. I just checked no because I was given the option to do so.

[2012ZL1]

Originally Posted by Slowyouroll

Why even give anyone an option. Of course everyone should have the same chance to buy this great vehicle. I just checked no because I was given the option to do so.

Uh..you can't list a one question poll thats why, but thanks for the discriminatory vote pal.

And don't poke the bear....you'll be subjected to rant after rant.

[2012ZL1]

I don't know how other Canadian ZL1 prospective buyers feel at this point, but if I'm held out of the initial buy because of location, its &%#$@ you Chevrolet and ZL1.

I refuse to deal with a company that is that %$@& retarded and discriminatory. Its not like we are living in Sweden for crap sakes...its the same damn piece of real estate as the US.

I may be the only one that feels this way, but I have the power to reduce GM Canada's profit margin by that much and effectively double the loss by buying a Ford or a Chrysler. That is not meant in any way as a threat either, just a promise. I'm sure since GM Canada doesn't mind abusing their customers in general, that one customer's dissatisfaction is really completely un-noticable anyway.

It does surprise me however to hear how so many people are so quick to roll over on this subject.."Oh well thats the way it is" is not a reason, nor is it acceptable. Government is currently investigating the fuel cost disparity issue right now. Perhaps they need to investigate price fixing in the Canadian automotive marketplace also.

To even suggest that a car built in Canada can be sold cheaper to US customers than Canadian customers is simply ludicrous. And anyone who thinks this disparity is at all justified should go back to kindergarten and start over.

['StangBlaster5000]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

Is it possible for Canadians to order a vehicle from a U.S. dealership and have the vehicle drop shipped from Oshawa directly to your local Canadian dealer, similar to the way "courtesy deliveries" are performed quite often within the U.S.?

At the very least it will sit in customs for six months.

[garfin]

I realize that this may not be exactly on-topic, but since we're talking about GM Canada, this may provide a little insight as to what the Canadian GM customer sometimes has to deal with.
As much as I wish GM and GM Canada every success in the world, and as much as I feel that GM's products are among the best out there, there are times when one really has to scratch their head and wonder how a PR gaffe such as this, from GM Canada was allowed to take place:
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed...eciation-might

Somebody is really missing the boat here when the opportunity to avoid this kind of publicity could so easily have been taken advantage of and turned into something positive by the corporation...

Best regards,

Elie

[OUR72GTO]

Any one who wants to investigate how to import a motorized vehicle should read and FULLY UNDERSTAND the regulations AND REQUIREMENTS at RIV CANADA.

Is the ZL1 even on the approved list for entry into Canada?