American & Canada forgot about quiet neighbor Mexico

[Smartster]

Well I was shocked when I found out today that the new 451 smart's have been on sale in Mexico since 2007 and for the 2008 model year they even get the turbo models.

How did nobody look down at Mexico and see what was going on there? I've read so much about people coming up to Canada to buy the car and there's been so much talk about Canadian/American pricing but nobody has mentioned Mexico.

I did some looking and since the 451's have been around for a year there are some already been easily found on the Internet for sale/used, I even found a 2008 turbo model being sold for $14,500!

2008 Turbo $14,500:
http://www.adoos.com.mx/post/1636771..._300kilometros

2007 Cabriolet $15,300:
http://www.autos-usados.autoplaza.co...ida6802359.asp

Sure there are a lot more and with Mexico being far closer to California and Texas to of the biggest states that love cars I figure you should be looking down at Mexico rather then up at Canada?

Same goes for us here in Canada we need to look a little past American and find out what the hell is going on in Mexico a few searches and I found tons of aftermarket, clubs, and cars as they've had them for years in Mexico.

Anyone here have access to someone in Mexico that can find a dealership and get some official 2008 pricing, it would be nice to know what all it available there, maybe they'll even have easy access to the Brabus 2008?

[jwight]

Good input; we tend to be a little short sighted sometimes. Great prices but I'm not sure about importing them into the States or Canada. Anybody from Texas, NM or AZ care to weigh in on this?

[spdickey]

The 450 has also been available there for a while. Conversion to US specs were always the problem before. 451 conversion may be easier?

And I'd hate to drive one from Mexico City to the Rio Grande.

[propes]

My excuse is Canada is my neighbor. Maybe if I lived in Houston, where I saw the caravan of cars going south every day.

[Gortok]

Originally Posted by propes

... saw the caravan of cars going south every day.

You mean NORTH, of course...

[Fredvon4]

No Gortok

propes meant south

Since NAFTA effectively opened the southern boarder for free trade. There is a non stop day and night 365 day per year string of caravans towing used cars and trucks from interior USA to Mexico boarder crossings. Thousands per day every day. Now that Mexican OTR trucks are allowed deeper into the interior, there is a similar nonstop string of truck traffic north from the Mexican boarder crossings... Interstates 10, 35, and 45 are literally clogged by the traffic.

[Gortok]

Really! Wow. I hadn't heard this. Thanks for the enlightenment...

[gamernotwatcher]

Originally Posted by spdickey

The 450 has also been available there for a while. Conversion to US specs were always the problem before. 451 conversion may be easier?

And I'd hate to drive one from Mexico City to the Rio Grande.

Why start at Mexico D.F......stay in California (albiet Baja) and pick one up in Tijuana. Motto: AquÃ* empieza la patria, "Gateway to Mexico"

[SnakeFarm]

Originally Posted by gamernotwatcher

Why start at Mexico D.F......stay in California (albiet Baja) and pick one up in Tijuana. Motto: AquÃ* empieza la patria, "Gateway to Mexico"

You DO learn something every day. I thought "AquÃ* empieza la patria" meant "Don't drink the water".

[propes]

Originally Posted by Gortok

Really! Wow. I hadn't heard this. Thanks for the enlightenment...

Yeah - my parents lived in Houston for a few years. You'd seen convoys of towed cars all moving to Mexico.