hopeful Mex Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Good fuel mileage, easy and reasonable to repair in Mexico, good going over topes, decent-sized payload, reliable and affordable? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Honda CRV hands down. Over 70 cubic feel of load capacity, handles topes with ease, very reliable, made in Mexico and many places to get them serviced. They are not flashy and don't attract unwanted attention. Look around and you'll see them all over the place here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeful Mex Posted January 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 What would a second choice be? Preferrably one a bit less expensive? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Honda Fit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sm1mex Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 We have a Toyota Rav 4. You don't have to buy them new, but have them checked out with a mechanic before purchase. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcstroker Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 15 minutes ago, Mainecoons said: Honda Fit +1 We're in the process of getting one now. I've checked out all the reviews and videos on the internet and consistently the Honda Fit comes out on top for safety, room inside, mpg, and on and on. The only knock I had on getting one is that they are so popular in the lakeside area you can't go anywhere without seeing one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gringal Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 21 minutes ago, Mainecoons said: Honda Fit Bought one in 2008 from S&S auto. Runs like new, thanks to local mechanics; the Rivas family. Major advantages: Being super maneuverable on these narrow streets in the villages around the lake; easy on gas usage, roomy enough with four passengers, easy to park in the difficult spots. Disadvantages: Like all inexpensive small cars, you feel the potholes and bumps. You need to be slow and careful going over topes. We love our FIT. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dcstroker Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Forgot to mention if you don't want to go as small as the Fit or as expensive as the CRV there is also the Honda HRV. It's based on the Fit drive train, has more ground clearance a little nicer interior. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeful Mex Posted January 10, 2017 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 The Rav 4 looks pretty good. Is an older Volvo wagon a feasible choice? Or would repairs/maintenance be difficult? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHILLIN Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Can you drive a stick shift? Automatic transmissions are expensive to repair and are often the death of older vehicles. Don't get a vehicle with lots of exterior plastic panels - easy to damage and the intense sun here eats them up. Also the plastic parts are very expensive - even used. Metal work can be banged out by very skilled and inexpensive local body shops. Toyota Rav4 would be a good choice. Another expensive car killer are the computers, again expensive to replace and nobody knows how to fix them. 31 inch or higher all terrain tires are a good choice here - but not great for extensive highway travel. Bull bars on the front are also a good idea in case you have to hit an animal to avoid an accident. I'm a big fan of diesels, but more difficult to find in Mexico If a diesel engine cannot get 250,000 miles on it, someone screwed up. Also, with diesel, if you are running low on fuel, most farmers will have tractor tank or a drum you can buy from. Diesel does not go "bad" (losing oxygen) like gasoline and will not catch on fire in a serious crash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvanparys Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 Purchased a Fit early last year.... Sold it before its first oil change... Bought a CRV... The Fit was a bit small and the quality was not the same as NOB... Very happy with the CRV...Certainly worth the extra pesos... Purchased both cars using my credit card which cost 3% more but the exchange rate given by my CC company more than made up the difference ... plus there was a tidy air mile bonus... Suggest you see Spencer at S&S Auto... Best service in the area... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ezzie Posted January 10, 2017 Report Share Posted January 10, 2017 My vote is the Ford Explorer 4th generation (2006-2010). Full frame, rear wheel drive, independent rear suspension (rides and handles very well), good ground clearance, easy to fix and very common here. Will carry a decent load and can pull small trailers safely. Ask yourself why so many local Mexicans have them. Lots of decent used ones at dealers in Guadalajara. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Nissan Versa. Very inexpensive, roomy 4-door sedan, with seats that fold forward for carrying lots of stuff. Roomy trunk even when sets in normal position. I haul 75 kg of dog food and 20 kg of cat food PLUS other stuff from Abastos in it with ease. Comes in std. and automatic. I have std. --- prefer it, and think I can maintain speed a little better going up hill (it's only fault -- a little gutless in that area). Gets really good mileage so I can give up a little speed on the few hills I drive for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mhopkins2 Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Our Fit is a perfect size for the narrow village streets, parking AND the mirrors fold in which is a must here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 5 hours ago, hopeful Mex said: The Rav 4 looks pretty good. Is an older Volvo wagon a feasible choice? Or would repairs/maintenance be difficult? Expensive to maintain compared to others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Saltos Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Toyota Rav4, Mazda MX3 or 5, Honda CRV. All excellent vehicles for this area and all of Mexico IMHO. For my needs the Fit is too small and the Explorer too large. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colliju Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 Ford Ecosport, a small SUV. Has a good amount of interior room. The spare tire is mounted to the back hatch, making it more convenient to open. Has a back up sensor. One of the higher ground clearances in its class. Mirrors fold, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lcscats Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 . 17 hours ago, Mainecoons said: Honda Fit I love my Fit but it does hit on the topes with four people in car. One learns to go across Topes at an angle in a Fit or many other small cars. Fits are expensive. Nissan March (Micra same car in Canada) or Nissan Note are worth looking at and are cheaper than Fit. March/Note is better on Coblestones as it has a very nice soft suspension. Fit is a better highway car. Nissan Versa is a nice more conventional four door sedan and priced right. Nissan Tiida are nice also. All these Nissans are related to each other and all are good cars. Lots of other good cars also but I only will comment on what I own. I have a Fit and a old Micra (march in mexico). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jarmen01 Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 I would also recommend the Honda Fit although if a standard is not a problem, you may also want to look into Hyundai i10. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bontekoe Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 7 hours ago, jarmen01 said: I would also recommend the Honda Fit although if a standard is not a problem, you may also want to look into Hyundai i10. Land Rover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pappysmarket Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 1 hour ago, Bontekoe said: Land Rover But stay away from any that you might look at if it has Minnesota plates, LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainecoons Posted January 11, 2017 Report Share Posted January 11, 2017 On 1/10/2017 at 1:10 PM, hopeful Mex said: Good fuel mileage, easy and reasonable to repair in Mexico, good going over topes, decent-sized payload, reliable and affordable? Also, Rafa at Car Wash Moyoyo in Riberas has a nice RAV4 and equally nice Honda CRV. You may want to go look at them and see what kind of a deal you can make on one or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natasha Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 I considered the Ford Ecosport before buying the Nissan Versa, and I can guarantee you, the Versa holds LOT more than the Ecosport would have, and cost less to boot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Cartero Posted January 12, 2017 Report Share Posted January 12, 2017 When you make the plunge to actually go out and buy a car I would suggest you go to S&S Auto. He will take you to Guad, show you the vehicles which meet your requirements and then you can test drive to seek your level of comfort. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuphel Posted January 13, 2017 Report Share Posted January 13, 2017 We are happy with our Kia Sol. We drove it down from Canada, and find it great for driving around here. High enough to deal with the topes, but doesn't require climbing into. Good size trunk with the back seats down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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