Guadalajara - Post Report Question and Answers
What kind of car do you recommend bringing to post, given the terrain, availability of parts, burglary/carjacking risks, etc.? What kind of car do you advise not to bring?
Any car sufficient for the US will work here. - Jan 2023
Any car will do. - Aug 2018
Everything under the sun is at post. Small cars, sedans, large SUVs, small SUVs. The roads are pretty terrible and there are tons of speed bumps. Also GDL floods during rainy season. On the other hand, small cars are great for the small streets downtown and for parking. Car shops are fine and plentiful, as are dealerships (Honda, Toyota, you name it). - Feb 2017
All in GDL: Mercedes, BMW, Ferrari (yeah, i know.), Mazda, Honda, Volkswagen, etc. We have a high clearance car that is fairly common here and it's been great for the occasional flood or need to be higher up. People drive like lunatics here. Street laws are subjective and 'floating' from lane to lane (if you can even see the lines of the lane at all) is not uncommon. Accidents happen here all the time and you're going to see a lot of little kids in the front seat. A high clearance, safe, reliable car is best. - Feb 2015
Any car would really be fine. High clearance might be useful due to frequent and poorly designed speed bumps, but anything would do. Pretty much any kind of car can be serviced here. - Jan 2015
We brought a high-clearance car and are glad we did when we want to drive up a volcano, but it's not necessary to have one. Many people have minivans and all sorts of smaller cars. I think you can get just about anything serviced here. - Oct 2014
Anything but I'd recommend something with a bit of clearance like a RAV 4 or CRV. - May 2014
Any car is fine. A small SUV is nice for the high clearance to avoid potholes and the flash floods that happen a few times. - Apr 2014
High-clearance cars are good to have during the rainy season and for pot-holes and for driving on unpaved streets and roads. - Jun 2013
SUV. Mexico does not allow for the importation of a car older than five years. - Jan 2012
Any car is fine, but a higher clearance vehicle would be better for the speed bumps. - Jan 2011
Don't bring a new car if you are going to get bent out of shape if it gets dented or scratched. Bring an SUV if you can. During the rainy season there are flash floods, and it's much safer and easier to drive an SUV through what can look like rivers at times. Several people we know have had their cars broken into -- just don't leave anything at all that looks worth stealing in the car. - Jun 2010
If you are going to stay in the city, just about any car is fine. However, a higher clearance vehicle is preferable as Mexican speed bumps can be very high. The bottom of my Civic has been banged numerous times. It's just too low. Outside of the city, an SUV is recommended. You can get by on the toll roads with just about anything, but if you take the free roads or enter a smaller town, you better have high clearance and good shocks. - Feb 2008
Any kind. - Jan 2008
