I want to import a '13 Fiat Panda. Am I crazy?

"TheBaron2112" (TheBaron2112) 08/05/2013 at 17:41 • Filed to: None

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So after reading Road and Track's review of the Fiat Panda, and being quite a James May type for a long while, I've been bitten by the bug.

I love the Fiat Panda.

I've never seen one. I've never touched one. I've never driven one. I don't know what I will hate. I don't know what will annoy me. All I know is that I want it.

And because of that, I've called my local Fiat dealer and inquired on how I would go about importing a Fiat Panda and preparing it for immigrant life in the US. I don't know how the process will go, I don't know what costs would be incurred. I don't even know if the distribution rep will be able to accommodate importing a Panda. So far I just asked for any info they were able to find out about this process and its feasibility.

So I guess I'm now appealing to you, Opponauts.

Have any of you ever imported a car <25 years old?
Is it possible?
Is the cost of importing and preparing it for US emission standards prohibitive, relative to the value of the car?

Help me. Talk me down from this very unreasonable lust I have for this quirky, Italian Slowmobile.

crown victor victoria > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:42

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You're crazy for wanting to import car that new, but not crazy for wanting to import a Fiat.

For Sweden > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:45

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You can import cars less than 25 years old to the USA, but only if they have great historical or technological significance. The current Panda has neither.

Anon > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:46

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Yes, even if you could import it, it
Would probobly cost you over 40k to bring it over here and legal to drive.

dinobot666 > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:46

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Wouldn't the Fiat L fit the bill nicely? You can already buy it at a Fiat dealer and not have to worry about trying to import a Panda via the gray market.

TheBaron2112 > dinobot666 08/05/2013 at 17:47

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Suggesting a 500L is heresy to the Panda's name.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:48

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Insanely cost prohibitive. Not US crash certified or emissions certified, so both of those would have to be done in order to import (if I'm remembering correctly), which would involve crashing a couple of them (which costs, you know, however much a couple of them costs). Then little random modifications have to be made, which will be cost prohibitive in and of itself, probably.

In short, insanely cost prohibitive to import anything >25 years old that isn't on the NHTSA's pre-approved list. If it is on the list, you still have a host of the stupid little modifications to make and you are subject to some mileage and usage restrictions.

TheBaron2112 > Anon 08/05/2013 at 17:48

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40k? That's insane. Surely that's car+import costs.

Could you expand a bit on what import procedures might be?

Decay buys too many beaters > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:49

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Just get a 500, it is based on the same "Fiat mini" platform right?

Satoshi "Zipang" Katsura > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 17:50

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It's similar to how you'd bring a Skyline GT-R here. Most of it's typically FMVSS/DOT standards, such as modifying the structure inside the door for better crash protection, head light assemblies, etc.

TheBaron2112 > Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney 08/05/2013 at 17:59

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This is terrible. :(

The way the EU is with safety and emissions, you'd think that if they were more strict about the crash tests, emissions, and fuel mileage, they'd be allowed in the country.

In short...

Cock.

Bob Loblaw Made Me Make a Phoney Phone Call to Edward Rooney > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 18:01

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In the NHTSA's defense, the standards are not always easy to translate to ours and over the years there have been significant disparities between the different standards.

That said, in the modern, global economy, there's no reason that we can't recognize their standards as comparable to ours. I think a lot of it has to do with potential tort litigation and mainly with US agencies feeling like their usefulness may be usurped if they recognize that of a foreign authority.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 18:02

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Isn't the 4 door 500 basically a Panda with different skin?

Anon > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 18:06

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Yeah I was adding the cost of the car in there. But yeah pretty much what Satoshi said. Also shipping a car over seas independently costs a lot!

TheBaron2112 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2013 at 18:09

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Don't quote me, but I think the 500L is a few inches shorter.

That said, it's uglier than the Panda. A normal 500 would be great, but there's no way I could carry more than 2 people.

TheBaron2112 > Anon 08/05/2013 at 18:10

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Well, then, cross your fingers for a dealer program car or something here in the States. R&T tested theirs in Michigan!

They exist! I know it!

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 18:16

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Yeah, I'm not a fan of the L, either.

davedave1111 > Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. 08/05/2013 at 18:28

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It's a little complicated. The 500 and the 500L are actually on two different platforms. The 500 is basically on the same platform as the Panda, but the 500L is on the Grande Punto platform. Everything I know on this subject I learned from Wikipedia, though.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fiat_Mini…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GM_Fiat_S…

davedave1111 > TheBaron2112 08/05/2013 at 18:30

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I'm really not sure I like the new Panda as much as the previous generation, but it's still a great car. Its greatness lies in the value for money, though, so if it costs a fortune to import one it's probably not worth it.

Why not come and live in Europe for a while instead? It'll be a hell of a lot easier to arrange the paperwork.

Mr. Ontop, No Strokes, No Smokes...Goes Fast. > davedave1111 08/05/2013 at 18:45

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As a 500 owner, I know that. It's a shame I really wanted to like the 500L but it's just too damn ugly to love.

hessen > TheBaron2112 08/06/2013 at 01:49

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You want the previous generation panda if you're going for that james may look.