Zihuatanejo-Ixtapa Message Board - vehicles in zihua, best to purchase in Zihua or bring fom?

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I am contemplating either bringing a vehicle with US plates to Zihua this winter to keep at my house in colonia las mesas and would like opinions on the pros and cons versus just buying one in Zihua/Guerrero. I have good secured storage space and may getting my 10 yr FM3 in Jan 16. John

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It is my understanding if you don't have Mexican plates, a Mexican can't drive your car. That was one of the main reasons we chose to buy a car with Mexican plates.

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Once you become a Temporary or Permanent resident in Mexico you can not have a foreign vehicle.

I bought a Mexican vehicle to avoid all the hassles and have never been sorry I did.

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I believe, LadyM, that with a temp res. you can still have a foreign vehicle. Definitely once you have a perm res you cannot have a foreign vehicle.
To the original poster- there is no FM3 any more, temp res are for 1,2 or 4 yrs, so please check to see what it is you will be getting- I don't know of anything for "10 years".

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Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

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I believe, LadyM, that with a temp res. you can still have a foreign vehicle. Definitely once you have a perm res you cannot have a foreign vehicle.
To the original poster- there is no FM3 any more, temp res are for 1,2 or 4 yrs, so please check to see what it is you will be getting- I don't know of anything for "10 years".

That is right, Linda. I just got carried away for a minute. B-)

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Only a Minute ?

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Put in any number you want, Ernesto. Lots of men do anyway. B-)

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Touché Carol!

(Note to self: DO NOT DIS LADYM!)

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OK! OK! guys. I am laughing. By the way. I guess I should have stated it does not matter what the vehicle is. What matters is the license plate. I stand by my original post in I would buy a Mexican vehicle and eliminate all the hassles that you have to go through to change the license to a Mexican one. We all like to do it "our way" so my opinion or others are not really that important. Check out all the options and then choose one.

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I highly recommend buying a car in Mexico! I drove my car down from the USA in 2009. I became a permanent resident so could no longer have a Foreign plated car it took me 9 months and $2,000.00 USD to get it nationalized. It was from Arizona and they only issue one plate I was continously stopped because I didn't have a front plate, Arizona requires annual emmision tests to renew your plate, I had to go to the local police dept every year and have them sign an affidavit that the car was in Mexico. No easy task having them sign a form that is in english only. I could not renew my plate unless I had insurance in Arizona so I had to pay double insurance for Arizona and Mexico. Believe me it is not worth the hassle and extra money to bring the car from the USA buy 0ne in Mexico in the long run it is a lot less expensive.

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I stand corrected Garry answered the question for me. Thank you. J

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Something to consider: will you only be in Zihua for a limited time each year? We had a car for a couple of years, but chose to sell it because, in spite of putting gasoline preservative into the tank when we left, the fuel still went bad and plugged up the injectors. It's much less hassle to use public transportation or a cab.

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Not if you plan to live in Z full time as we do. That is not a limited time.

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Thanks for the comments but no one really explained what the problem is to convert a US or Canadian titled vehicle to Guerrero plates.

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That would mean permanently importing your US or Canadian vehicle. There are only certain vehicles that are allowed to be perm imported, and there are costs involved. But the main thing is that Mexico has put a stop to all importations (for quite a few months now) while they overhaul the customs system and replace lots of officials, etc. My advice would be to check with aduana (customs) and get up to date info- of course as with most inquiries of substance almost everywhere, you will get different info from almost everyone you speak to. Perhaps you can find out if there is an accepted broker at the moment- all brokers were released with the stop in importations- perhaps they have reinstated some by now. To import, you must use a broker.
I hope I haven't confused the already confusing issue!

--
Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

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To nationalize the car you must become a temporary resident first get a Mexican drivers license work through a broker at the border. Right now they are not nationalizing any vehicles. The car must be made in the USA, CAnada or Mexico.
The cost depends on the value of the vehicle

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On the Aduana site it states cars nine years old and newer can be imported and nationalized BY a Mexican living abroad or living in Mexico. NO WHERE can I find that a non-Mexican (US or Canadian citizen) can import and legalize a car when crossing the border. Temporary permit only.

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Thanks for the helpful comments, they encourage another question: What is the best way to purchase a used vehicle in zihua?

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As a followup question, is it better to buy used or new? Is buying a used car in Mexico a crap shoot?

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We bought ours at a dealership in Mexico City. We wanted a specific make and model, and found that the dealerships do not stock many used cars. For us, wanting something specific, it would mean just waiting for someone to trade in....could be a long wait. If you don't want anything specific, then the selection in Zihua might be sufficient for you. At least when you buy from a dealership, (same in Canada), the check has been done for accidents and also to make sure the car is not stolen. The paperwork is done for you also- just sign and pay (same in Canada). If you buy from an individual, be sure to check with the police for theft, and have it checked by a mechanic (same in Canada), and hopefully either the buyer or the seller will know what paperwork you need to do.

--
Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

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I have done both. There IMO is not one way better than the other. Like any vehicle used you need to have it checked out by a mechanic you know and trust. With a new one you need to do all the proper service requirements. I had a fairly new at the time (forgot the year) Dodge Neon that I bought off the side of the road from the original owner for about 8 years. Now I have a 2008 Chevrolet Captiva that I bought from the dealership. I have had problems with them both. I prefer the Captiva but not because it is a better vehicle but because the type suits what I do better.

You pay your money...you take your chances. Good luck.

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Thanks for your comments, one more question at the risk of exceeding the limit here on the site, how often generally does one need to start a gas engine say 4 or 6 cylinder (non turbo ) vehicle to avoid problems with the fuel injectors while not being used over a 5 to 6 month absence ? Thanks John

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There are several condo owners in my complex who have cars, and who are gone for 6-8 months. Some have their managers start their car every month, some just a couple of times, some just the day before their arrival, and some none at all. I personally am never gone long, so mine just sits and it goes when I want it to.

--
Linda from Canada
check out my books at www.livingthedreaminmexico.com AND please have a look at www.cookingwithclaudiainzihuatanejo.blogspot.com as well as www.albertoinzihuatanejo.blogspot.com

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There is a gas treatment named "Stabil". It prevents the gas from clogging, and it is made for vehicles that do not run for extended periods. It is available at most auto parts stores in the US, and do not know if it available in Mexico.

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