Importing Suzuki Swift to the USA - technical issues and where to get repairs/maintenance

Folks,
I am planning to import my brand new Suzuki Swift, bought in Europe,
into the United States. Now, Suzuki USA customer service could not
answer my questions, perhaps you guys know more?

- who / which company in MD/DC area could get my car technically ready
for use in the US:
- lower grade gasoline -> adjust something in the motor?
- how about emission standarts -> any adjustments needed?

- how would I get my maintenance done and how would I get hold of
spare parts?

Thanks!

wrote in news:1183542454.579183.13020
@q75g2000hsh.googlegroups.com:

> Folks,
> I am planning to import my brand new Suzuki Swift, bought in Europe,
> into the United States. Now, Suzuki USA customer service could not
> answer my questions, perhaps you guys know more?
>
> - who / which company in MD/DC area could get my car technically ready
> for use in the US:
> - lower grade gasoline -> adjust something in the motor?
> - how about emission standarts -> any adjustments needed?
>
> - how would I get my maintenance done and how would I get hold of
> spare parts?
>
> Thanks!
>
>



Try asking the NHTSA itself.
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/

Clicking the third item in the list on the home page will take you to a
page listing Registered Importers who carry out conversions.

--
Tegger

wrote:
> Folks,
> I am planning to import my brand new Suzuki Swift, bought in Europe,
> into the United States. Now, Suzuki USA customer service could not
> answer my questions, perhaps you guys know more? ...

Don't bother. It'll cost more than it's worth.

wrote:
> Folks,
> I am planning to import my brand new Suzuki Swift, bought in Europe,
> into the United States. Now, Suzuki USA customer service could not
> answer my questions, perhaps you guys know more?
>
> - who / which company in MD/DC area could get my car technically ready
> for use in the US:
> - lower grade gasoline -> adjust something in the motor?
> - how about emission standarts -> any adjustments needed?
>
> - how would I get my maintenance done and how would I get hold of
> spare parts?
>
> Thanks!
>

Hope you have LOT'S of money. The conversion is going to cost you as
much as a new car in the US. You would be MUCH better off selling it and
buying one in the US.
Also YOU cannot import it yourself. You have to use a registered
importer who will ask you for a bond of 150 percent of the value of the
vehicle.

Your going to need a new emission control system, new exhaust system
with all the proper hardware and a different engine computer to control
it. May also need safety items like air bags and US legal bumpers and
glass, US legal headlights and such.

--
Steve W.

Guys,
Thanks for the advice, but you're breaking my heart. It's my wife's
birthday gift (that was just yesterday) and she (and me) really loves
it! And it is nice, just look at it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/96459294@N00/

Why is Suzuki not selling this in the US ???? It's selling in Europe
like hot cakes!!! (They can't even catch up with production and you
have to wait months to get one.)

Tobias

On Jul 4, 1:30 pm, wrote:
> Guys,

> Why is Suzuki not selling this in the US ???? It's selling in Europe
> like hot cakes!!! (They can't even catch up with production and you
> have to wait months to get one.)
>
> Tobias

Whether or not your particular bodystyle sells here or there, the
point is that the national safety and emissions standards are
different in the US. Everything that bolts onto your car could
possibly be out of compliance to legally register it anywhere in the
US. Even if your country's (or is it all of Europe's?) standards were
technically better, safer, cleaner whatever, the nonconformities are
all that the US DOT and EPA care about.

IMHO,
Toyota MDT in MO

wrote:
> Guys,

> Why is Suzuki not selling this in the US ???? It's selling in Europe
> like hot cakes!!! (They can't even catch up with production and you
> have to wait months to get one.)
>
could be:
doesn't meet emissions
doesn't pass crash tests
incompatible with Suzuki NA's equipment
not profitable enough
would compete with a Suzuki NA product
etc...

I wanted a new GTO. I live in Canada. GM didn't feel it was worth it
to certify the car for Canada, so I'm SOL. Transport Canada has a list
of cars "allowed in", "allowed in with minor mods" and "NOT allowed."
The GTO is "NOT allowed" which means that no matter what I did to the
car, I'd never be able to drive it in Canada until it was 15 years old
when any kind of car is allowed.

Ray

Wrote:
> Guys,
> Thanks for the advice, but you're breaking my heart. It's my wife's
> birthday gift (that was just yesterday) and she (and me) really loves
> it! And it is nice, just look at it:
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/96459294@N00/
>
> Why is Suzuki not selling this in the US ???? It's selling in Europe
> like hot cakes!!! (They can't even catch up with production and you
> have to wait months to get one.)
>
> Tobias
As said above, it would cost you a fortune to import it. And don't even
ask about service or INSURANCE!

Suzuki is planning on bringing it to the US when it is refreshed.
Currently, Suzuki has the Reno/Forenza at the bottom end of their range
which is less expensive and larger.


--
Hudson
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View this thread: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...d.php?t=723228

http://www.automotiveforums.com

> wrote in message
ups.com...
> Folks,
> I am planning to import my brand new Suzuki Swift, bought in Europe,
> into the United States. Now, Suzuki USA customer service could not
> answer my questions, perhaps you guys know more?
>
> - who / which company in MD/DC area could get my car technically ready
> for use in the US:
> - lower grade gasoline -> adjust something in the motor?
> - how about emission standarts -> any adjustments needed?
>
> - how would I get my maintenance done and how would I get hold of
> spare parts?
>
> Thanks!
>

As others have said, don't bother! (& this applies even though you just
bought it & your wife loves it) You'll spend big bux on the conversion - if
it can be done at all - and you won't have the same car afterwards. It won't
perform the same, much like German beer in Germany isn't the same when it's
imported here.

Not only do you have to worry about emissions, but also crashworthiness,
headlights, glass, brake lights and so on. Your car has euro-spec
headlights. US-spec lights produce a different pattern of light. One
difference I know of is that euro-spec lights do not allow any light above
horizontal, or very little. US spec lights do, otherwise how would you see
the overhead signs on the interstate? (I suspect in Europe such signs are
lighted, which is impossible over here due to the sheer number of such
signs)

Since the Swift isn't sold here, you probably can't find drop-in
replacements for the headlights. The entire headlight assembly needs to be
replaced, not just the bulb. And that's just one item. There could be many
more.

The euro-spec catalytic converter will most likely have to be replaced -
will the US-spec replacement even fit in the same spot? If the US-spec
converter runs hotter, will it melt something that's not expecting such
heat?

How 'bout the speedometer/odometer? It's probably metric. If it's not
electronic, you'll have to convert km/h to MPH. Do you want to do that all
the time? That will get old pretty quick. Again, you probably can't find
a drop-in replacement since the Swift isn't sold here. if it is electronic
then there's probably a "US/Metric" switch or setting somewhere.

And, if you take the car on a trip to Florida or some place far from home,
what will you do if it breaks down & needs a part? Flatbed it back home?
Not likely.

Leave it in Europe. Buy something else when you get here.

Hudson wrote:
> Wrote:
>> Guys,
>> Thanks for the advice, but you're breaking my heart. It's my wife's
>> birthday gift (that was just yesterday) and she (and me) really loves
>> it! And it is nice, just look at it:
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/96459294@N00/
>>
>> Why is Suzuki not selling this in the US ???? It's selling in Europe
>> like hot cakes!!! (They can't even catch up with production and you
>> have to wait months to get one.)
>>
>> Tobias
> As said above, it would cost you a fortune to import it. And don't even
> ask about service or INSURANCE!

Heck, just have someone over there stick one in an envelope and mail it
here.

--
Postulate a group whose intent is to destroy the United States from within
via anarchy and bankruptcy. The actions of the United States Congress are
completely consistent with the actions one would predict from such a group.