The S is around $31000 USD and $49000 CDN. If we are comparing apples to apples and earning power = earning power, the S isn't really expensive down there in the US. However at ~$49000 Cdn, it is out of reach for most sane people in Canada land. Just to give you an idea the RSX-Type S is ~$32000 up here in Canada. Would it be fair to say that the US S2000 is equal to a Cdn. RSX type S monetarily as it relates to earning power?

Any geeky economists out there?

 

Yep, that's exactly true. Cars in general are less affordable in Canada because salaries are roughly the same (give or take 5%, generally) but your cars are roughly 40% cheaper on average. If I was in the USA, I'd have an S2000 within three years, guaranteed. Here in Canada, I'll be lucky to have an RSX-S or something by then.

 

49,000.00 Canada Dollars = 31,612.52 USD

 

True, but on a salary parity level, Canadians make (earn) less than Americans - a rough stab would be about 10 - 15% less than we do here in the states... So the point is very valid; that is, Canadians are paying more than we are here for an S2000 b/c their earnings are not on the smale scale as ours. I deal with this situation all day long at work with respect to utilizing our company resources (staff) in the US and Canada and how much I have to pay them.

Bottom line is: would you have bought your S if it was $37,000 American dollars vs. $33,000 ?

 

Forgot one other major point...

Canadians pay a lot more in taxes than we do, so they have less disretionary money to work with than we do here in the US...

So let me revise my previous statement.

Bottom line is: would you have bought your S if it was $40,000 American dollars vs. $33,000 ?
.... (that is what it would feel like at least)

 

dunno know about that.......

a friend just moved from toronto to n.y.

he had to take a pay cut.....for the same job (he now "works" out of the US office as opposed to the canadian office)

another friend moved from toronto to N.C......he took a pay cut as well......

having said that, yes, your guys cost of living is much less than ours......

what is the going mortagage rate down there?? i've been in and around 4% for the last 3 years (currently 3.75%)......

 

Interesting examples... I only say otherwise b/c I work for a company that employs 360,000 around the world, about 150,000 in the US, and about 30,000 in Canada, and I get to see the deltas between average compensations between the 2 countries.

Another reason I think this way is because every time I go to Canada for either business or pleasure, my dollar goes very far, due to the the advatanges of a strong conversion ratio and my aforementioned opinion.

 

This whole Can/US price differential on cars has always been a bit mysterious and sometimes dubious to me. It is not always a direct conversion from one dollar to the other. For example, when we bought our PT Cruiser a year ago, it was considerably cheaper than if you took the same car and what it was selling for in the States and converted it to Can. $$. And yet, when we buy Benz or BMW, the dealers stick it to us with a direct dollar conversion. This goes for many other car lines BUT not consistent across the board. Personally, I think Canadians get the dirty end of the stick when buying new cars in general and it would interesting to see who's making the extra money.

 

ummm, i disagree with that.....

example: base 2003 C32 AMG (figures rounded)

Can MSRP = 67000
US MSRP = 51000

convert US to CAN @ 1.6 (going rate) = 81600

Can MSRP = 67000
US normalized MSRP = 81600

that's a fifteen grand difference!!!! as you can see, our dollar goes a lot further...

i have the same example for an audi as well....

the S2000 is a lot closer....about a 4 grand difference.

 

TKG, this is encouraging to see. Your numbers don't lie. The last time I was looking at these cars, maybe 3-4 years ago, I had the distinct recollection that the dealers around here were quoting list prices that were direct dollar conversions.