Vicariously I am happy/envious because of course we know what a giant PEPINO it is for me to buy a car after the wreck. Mostly for being in the boonies. And the Chocolate gray area of this isn't really legal but you can drive it here but don't take it over this imaginary municipal line. But after driving for years perfectly legally and with tons of paperwork it seems a crap shoot either way. I've resigned to being on foot, looking for a "chofer" and moving to a town with a colectivo. But congrats! That's a nice looking CRV with or without hyphenation. I'm happy I was a gal who knew a guy who had a brother. Story of my matchmaking life. :-) Bon Voyage! And I support any animal transport of course!
Thanks, Lola, for the chatroulette that made it all possible. Although I'm sure a "chofer" is a better option - just make sure he has the appropriate attire, gloves and all. Enjoy the champagne!
I would like a fancy "chauffeur" but I think "chofer" is what they call driver in Mexico. Like even the bus driver. I could be wrong. (doubtful) But I like where you're taking my VisionBoard!! As long as it's a BIG Suburban with rear AC or a comfy Sprinter van for all these doggos, I don't care what we call him/her. I need a Church Bus for real. Do you think I could find Grey Poupon like at the bougie market...wassit called? Soriana Select? City Market? hahahahaha ChatRoulette. That's a good one.
Yeah, I was playing with the phonics of "chofer" because it's Wednesday and I don't have anything better to do. I would bet my (next door neighbor's) life that City Market has Grey Poupon. I'll send you a case next time I'm in SMA or Queretero or Mexico City or someplace else with fancy consumers. Did you want caviar too?
Back in the day, there used to be a much larger difference between car prices in the USA and Mexico. I knew a lot of Americans who bought their car in the US and used it down here, but they would always get pulled over. I always advised them to go ahead and take the financial hit and buy a used car in Mexico, knowing that it wouldn’t devaluate as quickly and they would get their money back at the end of the deal and avoid being hassled by the authorities.
The key as you mention is to know somebody you can trust who buys and sells used cars for a living. I have Martin for that and I also have a great mechanic, what more could I ask for?
Agreed - having a MX plated vehicle makes you less of a "let's see how many pesos I can get out of this guy" target, so yet another reason to buy a MX car. Good to hear you've got your own Luis there in the form of Martin!
Thank you for the thorough accounting of your logic on the various decisions involved! Glad it turned out painless and look forward to an article on how to drive safety in Mexico! I use Uber and it’s a crap shoot on driver quality 🤪
"Logic" is a generous term, but thanks for that anyway. Yes, Uber and Taxis (and buses and colectivos) can all be terror-inducing if done correctly. I'll see what kind of trouble I can get into owning my own white-knuckling behavior.
Probably might be a European thing, but I thought Ford Focuses or Fiestas would also be popular in Mexico too, given that a few years ago it was consider the top selling car in the world. As someone who also drives an SUV, I do get how handy it is for families and pet owners, so definitely was good that you kept it safe with a car model you know rather than some unknown car model.
Any Idea how car rental works in Mexico though (e.g. Hertz, Enterprise, etc.)?
Hi Fahim - yes, those Ford models are in Mexico too. I removed them from my list because I thought they were too small, especially with the dog.
Car rental works about the same as everywhere else, but the agencies can often be very scammy - tacking on hidden fees and requiring the purchase of unnecessary insurance coverage. Rental cars are easily identifiable by their license plate numbers, so they can sometimes be a target for dishonest police looking for a bribe. I might do an article on car rentals in Mexico - and thanks to your comment, I’ve now got a head start!
We resisted car ownership for around 12 years in Mexico. Several months ago we gave in. Here in the Lake Chapala area there are at least two well-known seminuevos lots that cater to gringos. Our vehicle was being sold basically on consignment. We now have a white 2015 Nissan X-Trail. While we paid more than we wanted, we didn't really have much choice as Residentes Permanentes and it only had around 50k km on it. The business did the same for us, handling all paperwork and an insurance referral. We then used the car for a long trip to Texas and Colorado after figuring out a temporary vehicle insurance that worked back in the states. Upon return it has proved quite handy in this extra-rainy rainy season.
Nice! Sounds like it worked out quite well for you, Glenn! And 50k km is a pretty good find for a 2015. I hope my vehicle does as well when I take it north of the border!
I had the same experience in the US, Kimberly! Not long ago I went to look at a used car that was advertised at 25K, and by the time they finished throwing in fees and what not, it was 35K! That is just crazy. I said "uh, yeah, no thanks" and never bothered with a car there again. Glad your experience in Portugal was easy! Maybe dealers in the US should look internationally and take note...
Hi Mike, thank you for relaying your experience in the US too! You were the smart one to walk away! I bought two new cars from dealers in the US over many years and one used, always by myself and it would take me years to write how abysmally they treat a solo female. Though, Subaru was the best experience and Nissan was the worst with Toyota a close second. I didn’t know they added an additional $10,000 (Nissan) because they lied to my face and I was financing it. I kept saying “so it’s still the price you promised, $21,000, yes?” And they kept saying “oh yes ma’am, $21,000, no hidden fees.” Mmmm hmmm.
Well anyway, I’m glad we’re both out of that nightmare!
US dealerships will never change because they can screw people and get away with it to put the extra $10k in their pockets. They have zero incentive to change.
For one new car I went through a broker and it was amazing. He charged $250 and did everything for me and got me the price and car I wanted but they only work with new cars, not used.
I agree - dealers in the US won't change because they lack any incentive to. I guess online dealers like Carvana are slowly disrupting those ingrained brick-and-morter models, which I think is a good thing.
Yes, you threw shade on cars back then, Mike, but I believe it was umbrella shade at the beach, so you're good. And courageous.
For buying a used car. I would never dare, unless maybe I too knew a friend with a brother and so on. Sans that, I’d probably wind up with something that had some odometer hidden problem. By the way, I used to work at a dealership where they did that sort of thing. Flipped em back a couple dozen thousand. Not me. I was merely a lowly washer without the requisite dashboard skills.
Your new CRV looks nice and it sounds you had a good experience. Now get out there and rattle it on those cobblestones!
Thanks Victor - I will rattle it around a bit, but I still walk or hop on a bus a lot. Less mental energy than driving, and I need to keep my brain cells dutifully unoccupied. Too bad you didn't flip the odometers, I would have hit you up when it's time to sell my car jajajaja. Take care, and thanks for reading/commenting/being there!
Oh man. But you did it! Felicidades! And that thing about having a car confiscated, that's such a weird law. Only know one person it happened to, but that's enough. Car stories in Mexico can be very interesting. Yours came out good though!!
Thanks Jeanine. Car stories go on and on. I hope I don't regret it. The whole foreign plated vehicles for Mexican nationals thing is weird. I know if I was ever pulled over, I could just show my US IDs and pretend not to be a Mexican national, but better safe than sorry, etc.
I'm saving up to buy a car in Mexico, so this has a lot of good information for me. haha I'll probably get a used car, so it's good to know those aren't marked down quite as much as they would be in the US.
Good luck, Michael! Not sure if the used car market is any different in Chiapas - my assumption would be that it might even be slightly more difficult there, because vehicles have to travel so far south - but who knows; maybe that means there is a marketplace for cars in Chiapas that is quite unique. In any event, looking forward to seeing what you find out!
I got through your story quickly because I held my breath a lot of the time like when I am reading a Tom Clancy novel. Thankfully, I did not pass out for lack of oxygen because of the occasional chuckles brought on by your humor. Happy for you. I think.
I'm glad the article didn't make you pass out. Other readers haven't been as fortunate, from what I hear. Thanks for reading, Elva! Now back to that Tom Clancy novel...
Vicariously I am happy/envious because of course we know what a giant PEPINO it is for me to buy a car after the wreck. Mostly for being in the boonies. And the Chocolate gray area of this isn't really legal but you can drive it here but don't take it over this imaginary municipal line. But after driving for years perfectly legally and with tons of paperwork it seems a crap shoot either way. I've resigned to being on foot, looking for a "chofer" and moving to a town with a colectivo. But congrats! That's a nice looking CRV with or without hyphenation. I'm happy I was a gal who knew a guy who had a brother. Story of my matchmaking life. :-) Bon Voyage! And I support any animal transport of course!
Thanks, Lola, for the chatroulette that made it all possible. Although I'm sure a "chofer" is a better option - just make sure he has the appropriate attire, gloves and all. Enjoy the champagne!
I would like a fancy "chauffeur" but I think "chofer" is what they call driver in Mexico. Like even the bus driver. I could be wrong. (doubtful) But I like where you're taking my VisionBoard!! As long as it's a BIG Suburban with rear AC or a comfy Sprinter van for all these doggos, I don't care what we call him/her. I need a Church Bus for real. Do you think I could find Grey Poupon like at the bougie market...wassit called? Soriana Select? City Market? hahahahaha ChatRoulette. That's a good one.
Yeah, I was playing with the phonics of "chofer" because it's Wednesday and I don't have anything better to do. I would bet my (next door neighbor's) life that City Market has Grey Poupon. I'll send you a case next time I'm in SMA or Queretero or Mexico City or someplace else with fancy consumers. Did you want caviar too?
fish eggs I got!
Back in the day, there used to be a much larger difference between car prices in the USA and Mexico. I knew a lot of Americans who bought their car in the US and used it down here, but they would always get pulled over. I always advised them to go ahead and take the financial hit and buy a used car in Mexico, knowing that it wouldn’t devaluate as quickly and they would get their money back at the end of the deal and avoid being hassled by the authorities.
The key as you mention is to know somebody you can trust who buys and sells used cars for a living. I have Martin for that and I also have a great mechanic, what more could I ask for?
Agreed - having a MX plated vehicle makes you less of a "let's see how many pesos I can get out of this guy" target, so yet another reason to buy a MX car. Good to hear you've got your own Luis there in the form of Martin!
Thank you for the thorough accounting of your logic on the various decisions involved! Glad it turned out painless and look forward to an article on how to drive safety in Mexico! I use Uber and it’s a crap shoot on driver quality 🤪
"Logic" is a generous term, but thanks for that anyway. Yes, Uber and Taxis (and buses and colectivos) can all be terror-inducing if done correctly. I'll see what kind of trouble I can get into owning my own white-knuckling behavior.
Probably might be a European thing, but I thought Ford Focuses or Fiestas would also be popular in Mexico too, given that a few years ago it was consider the top selling car in the world. As someone who also drives an SUV, I do get how handy it is for families and pet owners, so definitely was good that you kept it safe with a car model you know rather than some unknown car model.
Any Idea how car rental works in Mexico though (e.g. Hertz, Enterprise, etc.)?
Hi Fahim - yes, those Ford models are in Mexico too. I removed them from my list because I thought they were too small, especially with the dog.
Car rental works about the same as everywhere else, but the agencies can often be very scammy - tacking on hidden fees and requiring the purchase of unnecessary insurance coverage. Rental cars are easily identifiable by their license plate numbers, so they can sometimes be a target for dishonest police looking for a bribe. I might do an article on car rentals in Mexico - and thanks to your comment, I’ve now got a head start!
We resisted car ownership for around 12 years in Mexico. Several months ago we gave in. Here in the Lake Chapala area there are at least two well-known seminuevos lots that cater to gringos. Our vehicle was being sold basically on consignment. We now have a white 2015 Nissan X-Trail. While we paid more than we wanted, we didn't really have much choice as Residentes Permanentes and it only had around 50k km on it. The business did the same for us, handling all paperwork and an insurance referral. We then used the car for a long trip to Texas and Colorado after figuring out a temporary vehicle insurance that worked back in the states. Upon return it has proved quite handy in this extra-rainy rainy season.
Nice! Sounds like it worked out quite well for you, Glenn! And 50k km is a pretty good find for a 2015. I hope my vehicle does as well when I take it north of the border!
Yay! Thank you for sharing your experience! And I’m so glad it was easy!!
I had a similar easy experience buying a used car in Portugal. They even gave me a huge discount from the sticker price!!! It took under 10 minutes!!
The last used car I bought in the US took 5 hours of negotiations and they lied and underhandedly charged me $10,000 over the sticker price!!
I had the same experience in the US, Kimberly! Not long ago I went to look at a used car that was advertised at 25K, and by the time they finished throwing in fees and what not, it was 35K! That is just crazy. I said "uh, yeah, no thanks" and never bothered with a car there again. Glad your experience in Portugal was easy! Maybe dealers in the US should look internationally and take note...
Hi Mike, thank you for relaying your experience in the US too! You were the smart one to walk away! I bought two new cars from dealers in the US over many years and one used, always by myself and it would take me years to write how abysmally they treat a solo female. Though, Subaru was the best experience and Nissan was the worst with Toyota a close second. I didn’t know they added an additional $10,000 (Nissan) because they lied to my face and I was financing it. I kept saying “so it’s still the price you promised, $21,000, yes?” And they kept saying “oh yes ma’am, $21,000, no hidden fees.” Mmmm hmmm.
Well anyway, I’m glad we’re both out of that nightmare!
US dealerships will never change because they can screw people and get away with it to put the extra $10k in their pockets. They have zero incentive to change.
For one new car I went through a broker and it was amazing. He charged $250 and did everything for me and got me the price and car I wanted but they only work with new cars, not used.
I agree - dealers in the US won't change because they lack any incentive to. I guess online dealers like Carvana are slowly disrupting those ingrained brick-and-morter models, which I think is a good thing.
Ooo I haven't heard of Carvana or other online dealers, that's awesome! Oh actually yes, there was one years ago when I was selling my car.
Yes, you threw shade on cars back then, Mike, but I believe it was umbrella shade at the beach, so you're good. And courageous.
For buying a used car. I would never dare, unless maybe I too knew a friend with a brother and so on. Sans that, I’d probably wind up with something that had some odometer hidden problem. By the way, I used to work at a dealership where they did that sort of thing. Flipped em back a couple dozen thousand. Not me. I was merely a lowly washer without the requisite dashboard skills.
Your new CRV looks nice and it sounds you had a good experience. Now get out there and rattle it on those cobblestones!
Thanks Victor - I will rattle it around a bit, but I still walk or hop on a bus a lot. Less mental energy than driving, and I need to keep my brain cells dutifully unoccupied. Too bad you didn't flip the odometers, I would have hit you up when it's time to sell my car jajajaja. Take care, and thanks for reading/commenting/being there!
Oh man. But you did it! Felicidades! And that thing about having a car confiscated, that's such a weird law. Only know one person it happened to, but that's enough. Car stories in Mexico can be very interesting. Yours came out good though!!
Thanks Jeanine. Car stories go on and on. I hope I don't regret it. The whole foreign plated vehicles for Mexican nationals thing is weird. I know if I was ever pulled over, I could just show my US IDs and pretend not to be a Mexican national, but better safe than sorry, etc.
I’m sure you’ll be fine. Glad Lola had connections. It sounds like it worked out great. Yay.
I'm saving up to buy a car in Mexico, so this has a lot of good information for me. haha I'll probably get a used car, so it's good to know those aren't marked down quite as much as they would be in the US.
Good luck, Michael! Not sure if the used car market is any different in Chiapas - my assumption would be that it might even be slightly more difficult there, because vehicles have to travel so far south - but who knows; maybe that means there is a marketplace for cars in Chiapas that is quite unique. In any event, looking forward to seeing what you find out!
I got through your story quickly because I held my breath a lot of the time like when I am reading a Tom Clancy novel. Thankfully, I did not pass out for lack of oxygen because of the occasional chuckles brought on by your humor. Happy for you. I think.
I'm glad the article didn't make you pass out. Other readers haven't been as fortunate, from what I hear. Thanks for reading, Elva! Now back to that Tom Clancy novel...