Let's keep an updated list here of CDN/US model differences...

[Sport-Tech]

As most of you will know, one of the (oh-so-tired) arguments made by the car companies and their apologists for charging us fat premiums over US prices is all the extra goodies we get in our versions of their vehicles. So let's keep a running check on the validity of that vis-a-vis the FR-S and BRZ by keeping an updated list here of those differences as they become known. I'm willing to update the list in this first post if others contribute more confirmed information. (As to rumours - have at it, I just won't put them on the list until confirmed.)

Here's what I know to date:

FR-S:

- added: heated external side mirrors (approx. value: $100?)

BRZ:

[Jehuty77]

There should be very little difference between the models for the FR-S (Canadian & American).

We will get gouged just because they can.

There was a financial report issued by the Canadian Government recently that involved an investigation into why we get charged more then american's for products, they came to the conclusion its not the currency, its just because they can, even products built in Canada are sold for less in the US.

That being said, the markup on the Scion TC isn't really that bad, so I'm hoping its the same with the FR-S, however, expect Subaru to try to gouge you big time.

#Just Sayin

[ahausheer]

Maybe its because you guys can afford more? In southern california people pay nearly 50 percent of their wage to housing alone.

[TheJuggernaut]

Yeah, there's no reason for it, especially now that we got transport canada to harmonize the bumper laws. The cars are literally identical, other than DRLs (and pretty much all modern US market cars have KMs on the clusters too, which is compliant for import). The difference in import duty from Japan or Germany to US vs Canada is 2.5 vs 6%. So the cars should cost about 3% more here, not 30. I guess it's just the name of the game with a lower volume market - you need a higher markup to pay for the overhead. I'd be curious to know how the dealer costs differ US vs Canada.

[mankarn86]

Safety standards in Canada are more strict than the US. I heard there is a bit more overhead in deeming a car "safe" in Canada.

[Longhorn248]

I hear the FR-S runs on maple syrup in Canada...can anyone confirm?

[TheJuggernaut]

Originally Posted by mankarn86

Safety standards in Canada are more strict than the US. I heard there is a bit more overhead in deeming a car "safe" in Canada.

They are identical. After the bumper laws were harmonized, you can import any car from the US (with some specific exceptions for individual reasons). In 08 when we started the petition to harmonize the bumper laws, GM attempted to head off the Corvette imports by saying that the US cars couldn't be made compliant. Before, all you had to do was change the bumper foam and rebar. The cars remained unchanged in 08, but GM suddenly said nope, impossible to be compliant. According to them it was a safety concern and it had nothing to do with the fact that the dollar was well above parity and the US Z06s cost 76k US while the same car across the border was 106 (or even more in USD) [keep in mind this is a NAFTA car, so there is absolutely NO cost in bringing it here except the small RIV fee, well and the tax but you have to pay that anyway]. The law was changed and you can now bring this unsafe car here no problem, because it's the same as the one they sell here.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Longhorn248

I hear the FR-S runs on maple syrup in Canada...can anyone confirm?

LOL - have you priced maple syrup lately? I'll take $8/gal gas any day.

[Enemies]

#2 - Igloo parking assist.
#3 - Hockey Puck Protection (for those nasty dings from your neighbours boys who have horrible shots)
#4 - Beaver Avoidance Detection - They are everywhere!

Any other stereotype options available? :P You'd think with our beer being stronger we should also have better gas as well!

#5 - Toque Holders
#6 - Option to add a Maple Leaf to the hood of the car, and our Limited will be called the Tim Horton's Edition.
#7 - Replace tires with a snowmobile track.

[TheJuggernaut]

I think instead of the retainer in the grille of the BRZ, we'll get optional Moose Bars

[Sport-Tech]

Don't forget the front-end Moose Guard.

EDIT: Juggernaut beat me to it - nice photo!

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Enemies

#4 - Beaver Avoidance Detection - They are everywhere!

This would be very popular in a few neighbourhoods in downtown Toronto and Vancouver...

[Enemies]

Oh yeah, and if the car gets released before July 1 it will come with snow tires since Canada is covered with snow from September 1 to June 30... if it's a mild winter.

[Sport-Tech]

Originally Posted by Enemies

Oh yeah, and if the car gets released before July 1 it will come with snow tires since Canada is covered with snow from September 1 to June 30... if it's a mild winter.

Sorry, snow tires won't cut it - studded tires, with chains in the trunk as standard equipment.

I have yet to drive in ANY snow in Toronto this winter. Hoping this is climate change!