CA buyers: Buying your BRZ or FR-S out-of-state

[PMok]

Congratulations! Sounds like you have excellent taste, getting the same car as me essentially. Can't wait to see what you do to make yours unique.

Even if your car isn't here yet you should consider joining us this weekend for the big NorCal meet/BBQ! Check the NorCal forum for info.

[HeubergerMotors]

I will do my best to calm your nerves

Ce

[996garage]

Yay, finally got my license plates today at the DMV. I wasn't sure if I would get the Certificate of Origin & DMV tax check from Heuberger before the 20 day DMV grace period, so I went to the DMV a week after getting my car to get a temporary registration. Heuberger appears to be on top of the necessary paperwork as they sent me all the stuff after 12 days.

So if you've bought a car from Heuberger, you will get a FedEx envelope a couple days after getting your car. You sign the papers and send back to Heuberger in the pre-paid FedEx envelope. Then about a week later you get the whole packet of stuff needed for the DMV visit. Then all you need to do is get a smog check.

I suggest just making a DMV appt for just under 20 days out after you get your car. That way you'll be sure to have all the paperwork in hand, and you'll be in and out of the DMV quickly. As others have already stated, don't park right away when you get to the DMV as you need to pull up to the "vehicle inspection" area first to get the VIN verified.

[japrechaun]

Originally Posted by PMok

Congratulations! Sounds like you have excellent taste, getting the same car as me essentially. Can't wait to see what you do to make yours unique.

Even if your car isn't here yet you should consider joining us this weekend for the big NorCal meet/BBQ! Check the NorCal forum for info.

PMok - thanks for the invite! Would love to but in-laws are in town this weekend so will have to wait until next time.

Defin planning to mod it a bit but will wait a couple months to 'feel out' the car first.

[Doborder]

Final got my car yesterday from Heuberger motors
Leo from Diamond express was excellent. Super careful in unloading the car. I'm happy to say not a scratch. Service was excellent from Heuberger and Diamond express. The only thing was I didn't get a hold the operator From Diamond because I called after 5pm on Friday. Also, Jennifer Bell at Heuberger motor was excellent to work with. So didn't know when the car was coming. They are closed over the weekend. Glad to finally join CO>CA cartel

[HeubergerMotors]

Please guys when calling in or putting an e quote mention Clint, or please call my cell 719-330-8006.

Clint

[PMok]

Originally Posted by Doborder

Final got my car yesterday from Heuberger motors
Leo from Diamond express was excellent. Super careful in unloading the car. I'm happy to say not a scratch. Service was excellent from Heuberger and Diamond express. The only thing was I didn't get a hold the operator From Diamond because I called after 5pm on Friday. Also, Jennifer Bell at Heuberger motor was excellent to work with. So didn't know when the car was coming. They are closed over the weekend. Glad to finally join CO>CA cartel

Nice, Leo delivered my car too! He was awesome-quick AND careful.

[MaximaZero]

Anyone else here have trouble with smog on the vehicle? I took mine in today and it passed all the tests, but the technician said that something in the computer wasn't "set" yet. He said I only have about 20 miles on the vehicle, and that the computer needs about 100 miles until it's "set", and told me to come back in for a free re-test after it hits 100 miles. Is this true or should I be looking for another test center?

[996garage]

I didn't have this problem because my BRZ had just over 100 miles when I got it. However, this can happen to any vehicle when the battery is disconnected, or when a car is brand new. There are several emissions related sensors in a vehicle that need to be operational for a given amount of drive time, otherwise the smog test cannot be completed.

The problem is that there's no exact science as to how many miles you need to put on until the sensors "set", so smog techs typically just say drive it another 50-100 miles. Some websites give you techniques on how to drive to re-enable the sensors faster, but I never found them to work.

On the WRX I recently sold I disconnected the battery to change back the radio. I didn't realize that doing this would reset my emissions sensors. Therefore I had to drive the car for nearly 200 miles before the sensors would "set" so that I could smog the car for resale. I went to 3 different smog shops, and they all said the same thing. I guess this requirement was enacted to keep guys from just resetting their ecu's to help them pass smog.

[MaximaZero]

Thanks! Didn't know that. I'll kill a tank of gas this weekend and give it another go next week then.

[MallardRider]

More than a year has passed since the initial rollout and Californians still trying to buy a BRZ out of state?

Curious if anyone is still trying to find a BRZ at sticker here in California, at least near L.A.

[PMok]

Originally Posted by MallardRider

More than a year has passed since the initial rollout and Californians still trying to buy a BRZ out of state?

Curious if anyone is still trying to find a BRZ at sticker here in California, at least near L.A.

Some CA dealers are starting to sell at MSRP, finally. My friend picked one up at Carlsen Subaru (NorCal) for MSRP.

Originally Posted by 996garage

I didn't have this problem because my BRZ had just over 100 miles when I got it. However, this can happen to any vehicle when the battery is disconnected, or when a car is brand new. There are several emissions related sensors in a vehicle that need to be operational for a given amount of drive time, otherwise the smog test cannot be completed.

The problem is that there's no exact science as to how many miles you need to put on until the sensors "set", so smog techs typically just say drive it another 50-100 miles. Some websites give you techniques on how to drive to re-enable the sensors faster, but I never found them to work.

On the WRX I recently sold I disconnected the battery to change back the radio. I didn't realize that doing this would reset my emissions sensors. Therefore I had to drive the car for nearly 200 miles before the sensors would "set" so that I could smog the car for resale. I went to 3 different smog shops, and they all said the same thing. I guess this requirement was enacted to keep guys from just resetting their ecu's to help them pass smog.

Not sure if every modern car is like this, but I've heard sometimes it also requires a certain number of start/warmup to operating temp/stops. So for instance you need the equivalent of a cold start, drive till it's warm, off till it's cold, then again before the sensor/ECU is happy with results.

[Doborder]

Originally Posted by MallardRider

More than a year has passed since the initial rollout and Californians still trying to buy a BRZ out of state?

Curious if anyone is still trying to find a BRZ at sticker here in California, at least near L.A.

But even with transportation cost and smog.. The price I paid is closer to invoice than MSRP... So if can put up with the hassle...

Good luck

[EricBRZ]

Thank you to everyone that posted in here. I just picked up my GBS BRZ from Heuberger Motors in Colorado and drove it back to SoCal. Special thanks to Clint for working things out for me.