Spark

[the_yellow_dart]

Saw a Chevy Spark yesterday, driving down the QEW in Burlington. It was silver, and had damage to the driver's side front quarter panel. Plates had very small writing on them that I could not read, and I did not recognize the plates as any of the normal Ontario or Michigan plate types.

What's going on with this??

[Robert Hall]

Saw a Chevy Spark yesterday, driving down the QEW in Burlington. It was silver, and had damage to the driver's side front quarter panel. Plates had very small writing on them that I could not read, and I did not recognize the plates as any of the normal Ontario or Michigan plate types.

What's going on with this??

Hmmm...prototype w/ plates from somewhere else? Is the Spark onsale yet in Canada? Or maybe it was a Mexican Spark, I think they are onsale there now...

[daves87rs]

Interesting.....maybe somebody took it?

[SAmadei]

Saw a Chevy Spark yesterday, driving down the QEW in Burlington. It was silver, and had damage to the driver's side front quarter panel. Plates had very small writing on them that I could not read, and I did not recognize the plates as any of the normal Ontario or Michigan plate types.

What's going on with this??

Hmmm...prototype w/ plates from somewhere else? Is the Spark onsale yet in Canada? Or maybe it was a Mexican Spark, I think they are onsale there now...

I thought Mexican origin vehicles were not allowed more than 50 miles into the US.

[Robert Hall]

I thought Mexican origin vehicles were not allowed more than 50 miles into the US.

No, I see them here in Phoenix often. Don't know about in Canada.

[Satty]

50 miles is just commercial vehicles so they don't have to unload cargo at the border. And even that may not be the current law. Passenger vehicles can go anywhere, I've seen cars with Mexican plates in Missouri.

[the_yellow_dart]

The guy driving was a 20-something pasty white guy with a beard. Definately not Mexican.

[SAmadei]

50 miles is just commercial vehicles so they don't have to unload cargo at the border. And even that may not be the current law. Passenger vehicles can go anywhere, I've seen cars with Mexican plates in Missouri.

Ah, OK. Being in NJ, I've NEVER seen a Mexican plate and I've seen pretty much every other... Puerto Rico, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, NWT, etc. We definitely have our share of Mexican people.

Of course, after seeing those Mexican registered cars at the border, I imagine a lot of them couldn't venture very far into the US without being plastered with equipment violations... or would just fall apart.

I had thought there was some sort of restriction on ownership of Mexican origin cars... so that certain Mexican-only vehicles (like the '99-'01 Ramcharger) were problematic bringing into this country, except in areas fairly close to the border.

Some of the AMC guys wanted to bring in Mexican-specific VAM automobiles in, and were thwarted. But I forget the exact reason.

[Robert Hall]

50 miles is just commercial vehicles so they don't have to unload cargo at the border. And even that may not be the current law. Passenger vehicles can go anywhere, I've seen cars with Mexican plates in Missouri.

Ah, OK. Being in NJ, I've NEVER seen a Mexican plate and I've seen pretty much every other... Puerto Rico, Guam, Hawaii, Alaska, NWT, etc. We definitely have our share of Mexican people.

Of course, after seeing those Mexican registered cars at the border, I imagine a lot of them couldn't venture very far into the US without being plastered with equipment violations... or would just fall apart.

I had thought there was some sort of restriction on ownership of Mexican origin cars... so that certain Mexican-only vehicles (like the '99-'01 Ramcharger) were problematic bringing into this country, except in areas fairly close to the border.

Some of the AMC guys wanted to bring in Mexican-specific VAM automobiles in, and were thwarted. But I forget the exact reason.

There is a big difference between buying a car in Mexico and trying to import it as compared to Mexicans traveling in the US... the Mexican-reg cars I see around Phoenix tend to be late model Ford trucks (Lobos, F250s, etc) Chevy trucks and SUVs, and some not-sold-in-the-US models like a VW Pointer, Ford Mondeos, Chevy Chevys, Renault Meganes, Renault vans, Dodge Attitudes, Pontiac G2s....not junkers that are 'falling apart' (though I've seen a few well worn MX-plated old Caprices/etc once i a while). I saw them occasionally in Colorado as well.

Edited July 7, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar

[ZL-1]

The guy driving was a 20-something pasty white guy with a beard. Definately not Mexican.

GM engineer, the car being in some internal evaluation program, perhaps?

[the_yellow_dart]

Yeah, that was my thought. However, GM doesn't do any of that type of engineering in Ontario that I'm aware of.

[SAmadei]

There is a big difference between buying a car in Mexico and trying to import it as compared to Mexicans traveling in the US... the Mexican-reg cars I see around Phoenix tend to be late model Ford trucks (Lobos, F250s, etc) Chevy trucks and SUVs, and some not-sold-in-the-US models like a VW Pointer, Ford Mondeos, Chevy Chevys, Renault Meganes, Renault vans, Dodge Attitudes, Pontiac G2s....not junkers that are 'falling apart' (though I've seen a few well worn MX-plated old Caprices/etc once i a while). I saw them occasionally in Colorado as well.

I understand there is a big difference. But I know that SOME Mexican-only car/trucks can be sold to people in the US... such as the aforementioned '99-'01 Ramcharger. My next leap of logic here is that someone has successfully brought a Spark here secondhand.

As for my comment about "falling apart" Mexican cars... for my "Great Mexican Vacation" I walked to Cuidad Jaurez and (quickly) back to El Paso. The condition of 75% the Mexican-plated cars waiting to come into this country was abysmal. One Cavalier convertible had a convertible top made out of tarp and aluminum poles. It had no outer front fenders. Most cars had massive damage, smashed suspension, no exhaust. And the line barely moved... it was 100+, the cars were over packed with passengers with A/C... and the peddlers on the bridge were selling Cinnamon sticks, velvet Elvis's and Viagra. It was like hell on earth.

[Robert Hall]

I understand there is a big difference. But I know that SOME Mexican-only car/trucks can be sold to people in the US... such as the aforementioned '99-'01 Ramcharger. My next leap of logic here is that someone has successfully brought a Spark here secondhand.

As for my comment about "falling apart" Mexican cars... for my "Great Mexican Vacation" I walked to Cuidad Jaurez and (quickly) back to El Paso. The condition of 75% the Mexican-plated cars waiting to come into this country was abysmal. One Cavalier convertible had a convertible top made out of tarp and aluminum poles. It had no outer front fenders. Most cars had massive damage, smashed suspension, no exhaust. And the line barely moved... it was 100+, the cars were over packed with passengers with A/C... and the peddlers on the bridge were selling Cinnamon sticks, velvet Elvis's and Viagra. It was like hell on earth.

No doubt..lots of poverty in Mexico. My vacations in Mexico have been limited to a few trips to resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo San Lucas, and Cancun..fly in, cab to the resort, and that's it..don't see much 'local color'..

Anyhoo, back on topic..probably just a GM employee doing some evaluation w/ a Canada-market Spark mule (isn't it going on sale there soon?).

Edited July 7, 2011 by Cubical-aka-Moltar