POE-installed equipment should satisfy the letter, as well as the intent of
the rules. Nearly all such manufacturing and assembly activities take place
in special customs-free zones. These are not necessarily near a seaport,
either -- for instance, Sacramento CA has such an area, even though most of
the goods (electronics, in this case) are shipped overland from the Port of
San Francisco. I'm willing to bet that the equipment installed on the WRX
is installed in a Subaru facility within such a zone -- which as far as U.S.
Customs is concerned, is part of the Subaru factory system in Japan. The
car "enters" the U.S. with all the WRX options attached, and import duties
are levied based on that configuration, just as if it had left Japan that
way.
Jamie (knew that course on international transportation would prove useful
someday....)
'92 Prelude Si
Speed Demon Racing
http://www.mindspring.com/~jsculerati/sdr
----- Original Message -----
From: Mike Smith <msmith2@columbus.rr.com>
> The port of entry is NOT a dealer. You cannot buy the car from them. Since
> it's an official part of Subaru's network, it's still the "factory". It
> remains the "factory" until it arrives at the point of sale. THAT is the
> dealer.
>
> I think the intent of that rule was to keep limited edition, dealer
> specific, options from being legal. Port installed options are available
to
> anyone who orders the car, so the intent of that rule doesn't apply here.
>
> Mike
>
> > As I understand it, all of the normal options for the WRX are "Port
> Installed Options". The cars are built only one way in Japan, once they
> hit the docks things are added on at that Subaru Of America distribution
> point.
> > I do not know how that fits in with our Stock rule against any "dealer
> installed, no matter how common". But we will find out won't we :)
> > There aren't many "functional" options anyway, the short shifter is the
> only one that comes to mind that should cause any concern. The 17x7 BBS
> wheels are $3038 a set, NOT including tires, so you shouldn't see any of
> those...
> > See all the details at www.new-impreza.com.
> > (Any one who wants to protest the rear differential protector plate can
> just jump onto my list of Candy-Assed Wussies, right now.)
> > The rest are upgraded audio and security systems, the rear wing, carbon
> fiber trim, etc.
> > All the Subaru Performance brand components are sold pretty much as-is,
no
> warranty, you can put it the car if you want-we won't...
> >
> > Kimball Ayer
> > MY2K2 WRX 4ME2
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