Greetings from Lake Chapala

RVGRINGO · 05-31-2008, 11:57 AM

Congratulations to all you new Smart owners in the USA. May you enjoy your cars as much as we do. Of course, they have been around for some ten years now but the USA has resisted the need for such a vehicle until now. We were even slow in getting ours but were always curious when we drove by one of the Mercedes/Smart/Volvo showrooms in Guadalajara. One day, I got a chance to drive one and the rest is history. We have now had ours for 18 months and have passed the first 15,000 Km warranty service without ever using a drop of that very expensive synthetic oil. We will change our own, once out of warranty, but will have to get, or make, a suction pump. At least the 2008 engine has a drain plug, but it does consume more gasoline. I am glad that ours is a 2007 with the 698 cc turbo engine; although I do wish that the diesel model had been available in Mexico as it had been in Canada for years. I hear that it has been discontinued in diesel and that the engine was not a Mercedes product; rather a Mitsubishi. I think they made the entire For Four model until it was dropped. If I weren't so old and stiff in the joints, I would really like a Smart Roadster; dropped in 2005 and now a hot collectors item here in Mexico. There are several in Guadalajara among the young and the wealthy.
For those of you who contemplate long trips in your Smart; go for it. We drove from here to NC and return; some 5000 miles to visit family. Highway speed is right up there with the big boys and we had room for more baggage than we needed. Do have a list of sources for tires, in case of a need. They are very hard to find & you may be delayed while waiting for one to come from afar. I do wish Smarts had 'run-flat' tires.

bottlerocket · 05-31-2008, 02:23 PM

Hi there, thanks for dropping by the forum!

I assume you've retired at Chapala? I grew up in Guadalajara, had family in Michoacan so we drove through lots of times. Always loved the place.

wiloran · 05-31-2008, 11:50 PM

Good to hear from another Smart owner in Mexico, especially Jalisco. I'm in the states now, but in a little more than 1 year I'll be driving my Smart down for winters at my home in La Cruz de Huanacaxtle, about 20 miles from Puerto Vallarta. There's also a Smart owner on this board from Monterrey. My Smart is an '08 that I purchased in the US, so I have a few concerns about parts, tires, etc., but I get more confident all the time that it will work out just fine.

Sounds like we'll have to plan a Mexico meet-up.

**Dunerunner** · 06-01-2008, 12:57 AM

Greeting and Welcome!! wiloran, where you been man? Anyway RVGRINGO we wish we has the diesel too.

wiloran · 06-01-2008, 08:26 AM

Hey Dunerunner - I'll be making my move to Reno next weekend. With some reluctance, though. I sure do love the all the green here. I was hoping for a few more sunny weekends before leaving, but I guess that's not going to happen. Oh well, at least I'll be one day closer to Mexico. Yup, I'm poised for retirement. I've got the camper van, my little Smart and a winter home in the sunshine - let the fun begin!

RVGRINGO · 06-02-2008, 09:39 AM

A few months ago, we hosted a gathering of Smarts here at Lake Chapala. Most were from Guadalajara and we squeezed six of them into my front garage. It was quite a sight. We all went to a great seafood restaurant at lakeside and then took a launch out to Scorpion Island. After a parade through the town's usual crowd of Sunday tourists, we called it a day.
On another occasion, the annual International Chili Cook-off here in Ajijic, we gathered even more Smarts, including three then-new 2008 models from the dealership in Guadalajara. Corona was the main sponsor & there was lots of great food and entertainment.
If any of you want to drive to Mexico for a gathering, let me know and I can give you directions, border crossing requirements, etc. Besides, we always have perfect weather.

RVGRINGO · 06-02-2008, 09:42 AM

[quote=bottlerocket;
I assume you've retired at Chapala? I grew up in Guadalajara, had family in Michoacan so we drove through lots of times. Always loved the place.[/QUOTE]

Asi es, amigo. ¿De donde esta en Michoacan? Pienso que es el estado mas hermoso en el pais.

bottlerocket · 06-02-2008, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RVGRINGO

Asi es, amigo. ¿De donde esta en Michoacan? Pienso que es el estado mas hermoso en el pais.

My parents are from Zamora and Uruapan, Mich. Some of my favorite memories were of driving thourh the "rain forest" highways of Michoacan.

We live in LA now..

RVGRINGO · 06-02-2008, 02:00 PM

We go to Uruapan through Zamora and have good friends whose father (87) still lives in Zamora and visits them in Jocotopec by bus. When in Uruapan, we stay at Hotel Nueva Alameda and love the Semana Santa festivities. From there, we usually go to Patzcuaro via Tingumbatu, with a stop at Lake Zirahuen. I would love to live there but the winter is too cold compared to Chapala. We recently went to Sta. Clara del Cobre to pick up a hammered table top for our new domino room.

wiloran · 06-02-2008, 06:48 PM

RVGRINGO - I'll definitely have to keep tabs on the lakeside scene. Starting in Nov '09 I'll be spending winters in La Cruz and would love to drive to Chapala for a gathering of Smarts. It sounds like you guys have a blast. I have several short trips planned before then, but won't be driving the Smart down until I can finally chuck the job and start living the good life.

See you in '09...