Puerto Vallarta – Do You Need A Car?

What Car is best for Puerto Vallarta?
There are a lot of opinions about what car to buy to get around Puerto Vallarta and from whom to purchase. We’ve done a bit of research on this and remind you this is a blog and not professional advice or promotional services.
We’ve driven many vehicles in Puerto Vallarta, originally a Chrysler Le Baron convertible; not a car we would recommend driving in any country. The Le Baron was pretty to look at, got a lot of attention but it was horrible on gas mileage, had basically no shocks and the suspension was terribly lacking. In spite of its looks, it was a real rattle-trap.
Our combi was probably our best car all around, and what we would recommend for anyone looking for a vehicle to haul everything from groceries to topsoil. A Jeep is good for this, too but we found the combi was much better on gas, among other qualities. What is a combi? We jokingly referred to it as a combination paper weight/boat anchor when we had problems but realistically speaking, it gave us every little trouble. It’s the quintessential VW Van. Once we lost our keys in a river and were able to hotwire it; when the fan belt broke on a long trip, we made a new one from polypropylene cord that got us back home again before it fell apart. With removable seats, we could turn it from a touring auto to a working facility in a matter of minutes. And it was easier to sweep out than a Jeep.
For a regular car, a vehicle we utilized for driving around town, picking up friends at the airport, grocery shopping, etc, our favorite was our Jetta. The abundance of storage room in the trunk is amazing and we could fit an enormous amount of suitcases, along with a bag of lemons, bottle of tequila and a few cold beers. It was fantastic on gas and the maintenance was very low.
Speaking of maintenance, have a good mechanic; always carry his card and store his number in your cell phone. When planning to purchase a vehicle, take him along and pay him for his time. Do some shopping ahead of time, know what you want and let him help you, once you’ve narrowed down your decision to a couple or three choices.
Mano a Mano is a good place to shop for used cars; it’s a small magazine found about town and also available online at manoamano.com. There’s an English section and bi-lingual ads. Used (semi-nuevo) and new car dealers are willing to work with you and, as anywhere, love to wheel and deal. Good luck!
Que es cómo es.


Thanks to our guest blogger Adam Garcia for this article!  (opinions expressed are his own)


Do You Want To Live The Ultimate Villa Experience? Thinking Of Renting a Puerto Vallarta Luxury Vacation Villa or Condo? Let Our Beston Properties Team Find You The Perfect Luxury Vacation Villa Rental in Puerto Vallarta or Riviera Nayarit, Mexico. Try Our ‘Perfect Villa Finder’ Tool Here.

For more information about Puerto Vallarta, Mexico or a Villa for rent contact Beston Properties offers the finest Luxury Villa Vacation Rental Accommodations in the Puerto Vallarta and Punta Mita area.  Our private rental homes and Condos offer a full range of services from a full staff including chef and a concierge to organize any tours, spa services in the home or Car Rental.    We have offices located in Puerto Vallarta and have all the local information from Vallarta weather and maps.  All of their agents are personally familiar with each of the accommodations, amenities and staff to help you find the best rental property in Puerto Vallarta.   Our concierge services will be happy to give you information on the best restaurants for dining out in Puerto Vallarta we can make reservations and give you directions. We have all the most current information to guide you for your holiday in Puerto Vallarta from our daily weather report to maps and directions..   WE can arrange activities with any tour company including Vallarta Adventures, one of the most popular companies in Banderas Bay.  We represent the best quality of homes for rent by owners who care about your comfort and hope you return for many years of unforgettable Mexican holidays.  For more information check out our luxury accommodations.


Let's Plan Your Next Vacation