Stump The Best And Brightest: How Did This Opel Vivaro End Up In Illinois?

by Luke42

July 26th, 2011 7:49 PM

stump the best and brightest how did this opel vivaro end up in illinois

I spotted this Opel Vivaro CDTI on the University of Illinois campus.

How did this apparently-European vehicle end up in Illinois? Opel’s website suggests that they don’t do business in Canada, but this Vivaro has Quebec license plates, and a stuffed animal in the window that suggests it is a personal vehicle.

Does anyone have any idea how such a vehicle could end up legally touring the American Midwest with Canadian plates? What say you, readers of TTAC?

#Europe #Export #Opel #StumpTheBestAndBrightest #Vivaro #WhiskeyTangoFoxtrot

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 67 comments

Pete Zaitcev on Jul 27, 2011

There is a bunch of Mexican rolling stock in southern states, e.g. Nissan X-trail and the like.

Like Reply
BTEFan on Jul 27, 2011

My educated guess is that someone from overseas is living and working in Quebec for a few years and brought their van over. I am guessing they are of the 'Jon an Kate Plus 8' types with lots of kids or something. There is a Peugeot 406 coupe that has been running around Vancouver for a few years. We tracked the driver down and he said they were here on a work visa for 2 years and ICBC allows them to register it as long as they take the car back when they return to thier home country. I have seen a few Chevy Joy and Swings (Opel Corsas) with BC plates on them for the same reason - ex Mexico. We have a lot of RHD cars that are more than 15 years old that are brought in. I have seen a few Mercedes A-Class Fuel Cell cars running around near Ballard Power in Burnaby and BC Hydro has a fleet of RHD 2011 Mitsubishi iMEVs running around for evaluation. They definitely spice up the sea of silver Civics and Corollas that is the norm here...

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Azfelix From certain angles the bonnet appears oversized with respect to the rest of the car - like a skinny teenager wearing a bulky sweater nicked from her older sister's wardrobe.
Tassos This is way too god damned OLD, 21 years old to have all the necessary options you need TODAY. You need a 10 year old or less car. AND if you give us THIS POS, a 21 year old model, that is not even a LUXURY car, whoever pays $10k for a Golf, And I Do NOT care what anniversary it is (they are all UTTERLY INSIGNIFICANT) deserves to get this MOST UNRELIABLE AND COSTLY TO REPAIR OF ALL LOUSY ECONOBOXES< EVEN THE DOMESTICS AND THE KOREANS.
Tassos As you say, Toyota confirmed this on TUESDAY. Today is WEDNESDAY. Why is everything on TTAC held back one or more days before you tell us the NEWS when it is NO MORE THE NEWS?
MRF 95 T-Bird You can find a decent and far more stylish Audi TT or an S4 of a similar vintage for under $10k.
RHD "In all situations, the grip of the tires (225/40R18 front, 225/35R18 rear) brings with it road noise."Are the rear tires actually smaller than the fronts??!! Adding just a bit of sidewall would take care of the bumps and rough ride. I'm not a fan of BMWs, personally, but this is a very enjoyable car. There are times when driving a convertible is pure bliss, and with a bit of power it's fun as well. (And certainly a better drive than a gussied-up, overpriced German taxicab!)