Oh god. There's a story in this one.

SO

I went to University in Ohio, driving a 2005 Pontiac Vibe my parents had bought for the kids to use (I being the last of said children). Because all the important parts are Toyota, It was a great car. In fact, when I figured out that insuring this Canadian car in the US when I didn't officially own it was going to be a total clusterfuck, my parents sold their late model Honda Accord and now STILL drive the same Vibe which is still running like a top after well over 140 000 miles and 6 years of my hard abuse. I bought myself a 2004 Pontiac Vibe while in Ohio, because I liked it so much. Being a double bassist, hatch backs are BAE, and it sips gas, as well as taking a licking and keeping on with its ticking.

So last April rolls around, and I move back home with my folks, and I'm doing my best to navigate the importing of American cars into Canada. I do alright, get it across the border, and get set up to do all the inspections necessary to have it registered and insured here in Ontario.

This is where the trouble begins, because of This load of horse hockey. It turns out, the RIV (the people paid by the Canadian government to handle Canadian vehicle imports) won't let me get inspected until the recall is fixed.

At that time (May), there was no fix. So I'm in legislative limbo. I get an extension on the 30 days they allow you to get inspections etc. and start waiting. I get into contact with my local GM dealer, and get some other things taken care of (another smaller recall), as well as just touching base and letting them know that I'm gonna need their help with this recall.

So i keep on keeping on, keep using the car to get to work etc. it starts to develop a bit of a.. chug? i guess you could say, when braking. I figure i'll get it taken care of when I put my snows on in november. So far, only 200 bucks or so into the import.

6 months later, this september, the fix for the recall FINALLY shows. Because I've been buddying up with the GM guys, I have a part there the day that the recall fix is announced, and it's taken care of quick-quick. I go to Canadian Tire, which of course is the authorized place to get inspections done for the government because Canada, and get the inspection done.

And I don't pass.

It turns out, Slick Nick, the fucker who sold me this car, took off the airbag warning stickers on the sun visors because they "spoiled the look". I have to have at least one of those stickers (in english AND french, because Canada - love the french though I do). I go to the GM guys - I can't just buy the sticker. I have to buy a whole new sun visor, and it'll be 200 bucks with the tax, and they have to ship it from wisconsin so it'll be a couple of days.

So I wait, get the part, fork out the cash, install it myself because even someone as utensil-inept as I am can change three phillips head screws. Go back. pass RIV inspection, and can now get insured.

I get what is frankly a great deal on insurance, at around 600 a year. Yay good driving record and rural area. Pay it lump sum, no interest. I go to Service Ontario (kind of like DMV, Gov't service office all in one) to get the car registered. Turns out i need ANOTHER inspection to get it registered. of course, Canadian Tire will be glad to help again.

and I don't pass.

Chugging brakes are a no go, need 2 new rotors and a new pad. Parts, labour and the inspection come to 400 and a bit. that's taken all day, so I go home, go back to Service Ontario the next day.

And by the next day, I mean Today, because that's how long this horse hockey has taken.

Go in today. Get all the paperwork done, and get my new Ontario Plates. 150 bucks.

So we're all told here at 1550 dollars to Import and get this thing up to inspection standards. Glad I've been saving up, because otherwise i'd have been SOOOO fuuucked.

Friends never let friends import cars, kids.