Month: June 2008

by

The Fun of Importing

I just got off the phone with the SAAQ (Quebec ‘DMV’). In order to bring the motorhome into Quebec, I need to have another safety inspection done. They will, of course, find things wrong with the vehicle even though Ontario didn’t, because this is Quebec and Quebec believes in nickel and dimeing its over taxed citizenry.

Once I meet the safety requirements, I can get a licence plate that will officially put the vehicle in my name. In order to do so, I need to pay the QST (Quebec sales tax). If I lived in Ontario, I could just give the guy a cheque and that would be that. But because I’m in another province, I need to pay 7.5% more than our agreed upon sales price.

Once I’ve ponied up that money (which will be at least a grand), I can then pay for the licence plate. The amount I was quoted was suspiciously low (482$ for a year, 326$ due now till February). If I only have to pay 500$ a year for plates for this thing, you will need to scrape me off the floor.

It’s too late now to make more calls, but tomorrow I will be calling the safety check places to find out how much that will cost, then an insurance company.

That done, I will investigate a ‘proper’ RV finance loan. I don’t technically need one, but I’d rather keep my other funds if I can.

by

One Door Wide Open

I was asked for an update on the bus situation. I’m really not convinced that a 1979 Wanderlodge is going to suit my needs. It’s a sturdy product, but it is 30 years old, with steel springs instead of an air ride suspensions (which brings back nasty memories of bouncing around in a school bus) and it has a cat 3208 engine that could make those BC mountains feel like Everest as I try climb them. There are so many cons that I’m not certain that ‘It’s a Wanderlodge!’ makes up for them. Add to that the dismal cosmetics and I’m getting less and less enchanted the more I think about it.

That said, I have another candidate in mind! This one’s not a bus, and it’s not even diesel, but it’s made by Tiffin motorcoaches, which also have a fabulous reputation. This coach is a ’94, is in near perfect mechanical condition (minor things need updating, but they could wait), and the interior is gorgeous and spacious. It even has a full size tub! The only things I’d want to upgrade immediately would be the flooring (replace carpet with laminate) and to install a bookcase in the livingroom. Soon as I saw this coach, I want ‘ah ha!’ It’s exactly the sort of space I see myself living in. The price is excellent, too, and I plan to make a rather lowball offer to see if I can knock even more money off. Yup, I think I’ve found my new home! I’ve contacted to seller to make arrangements to view it. The fact that it’s located in Ottawa and was just recently safety checked are huge bonuses. The first fact means that I don’t have to travel to see it (more $$$) and the latter means that I don’t need to have another mechanical inspection done in order to purchase.