Driving hwy 200

Its been 12 years since I last did this trip. Ferry from LA Paz to Mazatlan. Roadtrip along the coastal highway. This time my destination is Oaxaca City to meet friends on Oct 29.

I just arrived in Mazatlan.

I talk to a lot of people before and during a trip about safety and road conditions.

I've been given a lot of conflicting advice. Before I left it was trending towards this being a reasonable plan if I take precautions (drive during the day, avoid the area north of Mazatlan, etc).

But the truck drivers on the ferry were pretty consistently concerned about robbery and petty theft as a gringo in a truck (even a 30 year old one) from the states. A mala onda sees me drive through town and calls his friends. That sort of thing.

So I pose the question to you guys.

Does anyone here have any recent experience driving hwy 200 from Puerto Vallarta to Puerto Escondido?

I may end up taking 15d and going north around mexico city if I can't get a better read on the coastal route.