# Perfect Used Car for Mexico

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 22, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174 "2008-04-22T23:32:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![maryinmexico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/67e7ee/32.png) [@maryinmexico](https://community.cartalk.com/u/maryinmexico)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 11:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/1 "2008-04-22T23:32:42Z")

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We live in Mexico 6 months a year and in Seattle the other 6. Currently we drive to and around Mex. in a 1988 VW Camper Van. Unfortunately it gets only 19 miles to the gallon but has the high clearance for the terrible roads (low taxes but bad roads). What would be a good car to give us decent mileage but enough clearance so that we can venture to our favorite estuary for bird watching?  
  
  
  
 Thanks.

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [April 22, 2008, 11:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/2 "2008-04-22T23:56:22Z")

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I think you will only improve at most maybe 4-5MPG with high clearance modern small SUV or station wagon(Subaru Outback). Not really worth the changeover.

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**Author:** ![pleasedodgevan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/51bf81/32.png) [@pleasedodgevan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/pleasedodgevan)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/3 "2008-04-23T04:08:51Z")

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I know people who had the same problem with a Civic so they changed to a Corolla and said it solved the problem.

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**Author:** ![rocketman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@rocketman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rocketman)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 11:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/4 "2008-04-23T11:57:02Z")

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What are the locals driving? Look around when you are in Mexico. Rocketman

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**Author:** ![jsutter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/8e8cbc/32.png) [@jsutter](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jsutter)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 2:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/5 "2008-04-23T14:03:51Z")

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I really like the little car-truck crossovers that GM and Ford sell down there. They look like the modern versions of the El Camino and Ranchero.

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [April 23, 2008, 2:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/perfect-used-car-for-mexico/13174/6 "2008-04-23T14:59:33Z")

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Your are probably driving the right vehicle already. As stated, you don’t gain much with a compact SUV in mileage, and in Mexico you can at least get the VW serviced if needed.