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aliibike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 49
Registered: 2-2-2006
Location: BCS
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Buying a new car
Hola,
I'm ready to buy a car, I was going to the states and buy a used truck then drive it back down here (BCS) but I just started looking at prices on a
Ford Mexican website. They seem to be not only competitive, but cheaper than US prices. Anyone have any experience with new car dealers down here?
Thanks,
Rick
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aliibike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 49
Registered: 2-2-2006
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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Nobody bought a new car down here? I'll let you know how it works if I end up doing it.
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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Wow. You sat here all day and nobody answered. Sorry about that. Usually, somebody would say something whether it addressed your question or not.
Just like me.
Anyway, keep in mind that Made In Mexico vehicles probably won't have smog devices so you won't be able to import it to the states should the desire
arise. Never say never.
Let us know how your experience goes.
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oxxo
Banned
Posts: 2347
Registered: 5-17-2006
Location: Wherever I am, I'm there
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Mood: If I was feeling any better, I'd be twins!
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My next door neighbor purchased a new car (Honda) in Los Cabos. He did a lot of research and foung that some prices for some models are higher in the
US and some lower. It depends on the demand for any particular model. The model he wanted was cheaper in Mexico.
Here are some other factors you will need to consider, but not necessary all inclusive. The tax in Mexico is 10% while the tax in California is going
to be around 8%. Annual license fee is less in Mexico than in the US. If you purchase in California, you are required to have US auto insurance even
though the vehicle may never leave Mexico. A mexican vehicle is easier to sell in Mexico to a Mexican than a US plated car because you can avoid the
re-licensing fee which runs around $1000. There may be other issues too which someone else can help you with.
I am not certain, but I think all new vehicles sold in Mexico do have smog devices. I'm going to have to check on this.
I am about due for a newer car. I am going to check both sides of the border to see what works out better for me when I decide on the exact model.
Suerte.
One more thing. It has been reported that some new car dealers in Mexico will not honor new car warranties on cars purchased in the US. Look before
you leap.
[Edited on 7-8-2007 by oxxo]
[Edited on 7-8-2007 by oxxo]
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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I always thought buying cars here was a lot more expen$ive, though I never priced one. The big dealer in Ensenada is FEMA Ford, and I guess I would
have a huge problem with ANY outfit named FEMA. Ya know, cherie?
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline
Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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b'amigo....do they have a lot of RV trailers for sale????
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bajamigo
Super Nomad
Posts: 1218
Registered: 6-17-2006
Location: Punta Banda, BC
Member Is Offline
Mood: hubimos llegado
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Thousands! Gently used! Step up! (be careful of the mud)
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Barry A.
Select Nomad
Posts: 10007
Registered: 11-30-2003
Location: Redding, Northern CA
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Mood: optimistic
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I just paid about $250 for a 2007 X-Terra.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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Yup!! Finally I bought locally here in La Paz. I got tired of the licensing/smogging/insurance/etc., hassles on USA plated vehicles, so decided to
buy locally to avoid all that. It was mostly a good experience, EXCEPT...what "WE" consider to be standard or optional equipment ain't necessarily so
on Mexican manufactured cars. I ordered cruise control (which is very nice to have on my infrequent, but loooong drives to the states!). I bought a
VW Bora & compared prices online. The model I chose is not available in the USA, but is in other parts of the world & was comparably priced
here...but alas, the cruise I THOUGHT I was getting simply isn't available on cars in the $20K price range...when I went back & spoke with the
General Manager of the dealership, he basically informed me that it was a language problem because his people don't speak English! It wasn't a
language problem, it was a veracity problem! I countered with the fact that I'd
had a Mexican friend with me to translate each time I went in & when I took delivery, the salesman confirmed "Yes, this is the cruise control
button". It turns out that cruise is NOT even an option on the car I bought...it WAS on the 2006, but not on the 2007!
TWO of his sales people confirmed to him that each time I spoke with them, cruise was a "hard or mandatory" requirement for me. He informed me that
if I wanted cruise I could only get it in a $35K top of the line luxury model which is turbo charged! Why would I want a turbo charged car in a
country where the top speed limit is around 60 mph??  
Alas, it's MY problem!! In hindsight...would I have bought this car knowing that it didn't have cruise??? NO!!!! A new car here
yes, this one...NO!!!! Would I buy from the VW dealership in La Paz again...NO!!!!
And it is true that the La Paz NIssan dealer will NOT HONOR warranties on new cars bought outside of Mexico, even though they sell
the exact same models imported from the USA here!!
There is currently a higher annual tax rate on new cars purchased here, I believe it's for 3 years & payable with the annual license fees, which
inflates that fee. I've been told that there is a change of that law in the works to stop penalizing people who chose to buy new cars, but it hasn't
been passed yet.
DANG!!!!! Not sure HOW/WHY the entire top of this post is bold when I only bolded selectively...but I'm not taking any more time to figure it out!
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jimgrms
Senior Nomad
Posts: 664
Registered: 9-30-2005
Location: oceanside ca
Member Is Offline
Mood: its always good
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Longlegs cruise control can be installed aftermarket of course it may be a problem there, good luck on your vw
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aliibike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 49
Registered: 2-2-2006
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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Just got back from the beach. Someone finally wrote back! Thanks everyone. I'm going into Cabo tomorrow and try to nail all the fees/taxes/bs down.
Report tomorrow.
Rick
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mikeintj
Junior Nomad
Posts: 45
Registered: 8-27-2006
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Just to clarify something, if you buy a car with Mexican plates you need to have a Mexican drivers license - that is correct isn't it?
And I think it is relatively straightforward to get a Mexican drivers license for FM3 holders - there is no driving test required but there is a
health examination - is that correct?
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
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| Quote: | Originally posted by jimgrms
Longlegs cruise control can be installed aftermarket of course it may be a problem there, good luck on your vw |
jimgrms: Had after-market cruise ONCE in the states...NEVER AGAIN...that puppy went from 40 to 90 in less than 60
seconds after I'd locked in the cruise at 40 mph! It only did it every other time I started the car! Nissan could not resolve that problem...Lemon lawed that vehicle! Nissan changed their corporate policy &
refused to add after-market cruise from that time forward! And VW here in La Paz does not & will not add after-market cruise; which based on my
personal experience, is a very wise decision for them to have made! Which still doesn't solve my problem!
mikeintj: Yes, a Mexican DL is required to purchase a new car here. And I think if your bought privately, you'd still need it to
get title in your name on a used vehicle. There's no driving test as long as you have a current U.S. DL, but there is a written test comprised 100% of
road signs & it's multiple choice answers, so very easy to pass. No medical exam, but you do have to provide proof of your blood type, which they
show on your license in case you're in an accident & can't tell them. I used old blood donation cards. A letter from a doc or a lab report
showing your blood type would work. All my info is based on experience in La Paz.
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aliibike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 49
Registered: 2-2-2006
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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Just got back from San Jose. Talked with the manager at Ford. I showed him a printout of the 4x4 Ranger I wanted from their website. He said they
don't import any 4x4 Rangers to Mexico. He did give me an out the door price on one of those Lobo's you see all the Mexican ranchers tooling around
in, $370000. So much for poverty! License and registration was another $1500. I'm going to try the Nissan and Dodge places next. Re: drivers
license.....I went to get one for the novelty of it in Todos Santos, I could tell they didn't really want to hassle with it, but they told me that the
license expired every time my FM3 was due for renewall. At $420 a shot, that was too much of a spendy novelty to have. I have heard lots of different
stories about drivers' licenses though. Another one of those things that can drive you nuts living down here.
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cabobaja
Nomad
Posts: 363
Registered: 9-19-2006
Location: South \"O\", Elias Calles, BCS
Member Is Offline
Mood: Smiling
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aliibike,
Not true. Your license is good for 3 years. Just renewed mine in Todos last week. If you need assistance U2U me. My wife is the Delagada in Elias
Calles she will help you.
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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| Quote: | Originally posted by aliibike
Re: drivers license.....I went to get one for the novelty of it in Todos Santos, I could tell they didn't really want to hassle with it, but they told
me that the license expired every time my FM3 was due for renewall. |
I was prepared to bite the bullet with the October purchase of my car & expected to have to renew my DL the first of December when my FM3 expired.
At the counter at the Police Department watching the guy assign a 3-year renewal date to my soon-to-be Mexican DL, I pointed to the expiration date
of my FM3 & the guy looked me straight in the eye & uttered the first, last & only words he spoke to me in English...."SHUT
UP!" He said it clearly, succinctly & with great authority! Who am I to question authority?? I took his advice!  
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aliibike
Junior Nomad
Posts: 49
Registered: 2-2-2006
Location: BCS
Member Is Offline
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That's what I heard about La Ribera as well. It would be nice if the laws actually made sense and were enforced. But I guess it makes sense to
someone! Do you know if a Mexican citizen or a nationalized Mexican citizen have to renew at all?
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longlegsinlapaz
Super Nomad
Posts: 1685
Registered: 11-18-2005
Location: La Paz
Member Is Offline
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DL????? Yes!
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tim40
Senior Nomad
Posts: 574
Registered: 3-29-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: There yet?
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As a recap please:
1. Must you have an FM3 to obtain a MX drivers license?
2. Must you have a MX drivers license to purchase a new vehicle in MX?
3. What would be the source to confirm, definitively, if a car purchased new in MX could at a later undetermined date be imported into the US?
Costs and hurdles associated with this?
4. Does anyone have any knowledge on the VW CrossFire; we are thinking of purchasing one.
5. Can a US citizen 16 year old obtain a MX drivers license?
Thank you for all of the information. Tim
When searching for the end of your rainbow you only have until dusk....
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tim40
Senior Nomad
Posts: 574
Registered: 3-29-2004
Location: Manhattan Beach
Member Is Offline
Mood: There yet?
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Really, none of the locals know the current rules/requriements?
When searching for the end of your rainbow you only have until dusk....
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