New car cost of ownership.

Yeah, I sold a Toyota Rav4 when I came here. Loved that car. And my '89 Toyota Corolla with 4 WD is STILL tootling around St. Thomas. Sold it to a friend when I bought the Rav4 and it's still going doing fine.

Can't say enough about S & S. We bought a 2016 Fit last year but sold it as it was a bit small for our four footed daughter. We purchased a Honda CRV which has proved to be a good move. The Mex version has less options than the US... This applies to both Fit and CRV... They are less expensive here and that is reflected in the lesser number of whistles and bells.

Plating was $4000 pesos and the VAT was in the price... S & S has a great reputation and provide service after the sale...

I used S&S as well and love their service.

rvanparys wrote:Plating was $4000 pesos and the VAT was in the price...

Thank you! That was the information I was looking for. Any idea what subsequent tag renewals cost?

It is around $1500 pesos per year plus any fines/tickets you have accumulated throughout the year.

It is getting close with the cost of buying and operating a car, cheaper to go every where on the microbus or taxi. Maybe not a convenient, just cheaper.

CanuckBob wrote:It is around $1500 pesos per year plus any fines/tickets you have accumulated throughout the year.

Our renewal cost for 2016 was $458 pesos. (with early pay discount)

CanuckBob wrote:It is around $1500 pesos per year plus any fines/tickets you have accumulated throughout the year.

Explain, as refrendo is less than 500 and emission control 350, how do you come up to 1500.  Hope I haven't been missing something.

I guess I always have a lot of fines attached.

I chose a silver Honda Fit--it felt just a little dressier than white, without being so desirable as to require vigilance. After feeling conspicuous as a small elderly blonde gringa driving a large new desirable US van, I took the van to the US and sold it to a nice Mormon family who needed the space, and now I pedal the Honda Fit around without a worry--I mean, what thief with any pride would steal a Honda Fit??? Well, I know, it is amazing what gets stolen here, there and everywhere, but this is the next best thing to a cloak of invisibility IMHO!

RichD wrote:It is getting close with the cost of buying and operating a car, cheaper to go every where on the microbus or taxi. Maybe not a convenient, just cheaper.

When you get here give me a PM. I picked up a used old style Fit with 10K miles for 9600 USD. Also we tried not having a car and it didn't work at night as the Taxis get rare and the bus stops at 9pm. I will let you drive my old style fit so you can see if it will work for you. You have to be careful but you can find nice used cars here it just takes a little time to find one. Another very dependable car in large numbers here is called a Nissan March (micra in the rest of the world). Smaller and cheaper than the Fit and an excellent cobblestone car that can go to Guad. Fit is a better road car.

Good Luck

Zed