Which car to take to Mexico?

I'm likely to drive to Mexico from Colorado in December to meet some friends.  I own quite a few cars to chose from, but none of them seem like the right option.  I've done the trip twice in the past in a 2013 WRX, and learned a couple of things:

(1) The roads are terrible and you're pretty much guaranteed a flat with low profile tires.  I almost never get flat tires in the U.S., but suffered multiple flats and a sidewall bubble in Mexico with the WRX on both trips.  Fortunately, places that patch tires are the most common business in rural Mexico, but you need a spare to get there.

(2) The roads are terrible, yet terrible speed control devices are everywhere making low ride heights problematic.  There are speed bumps on major highways and turtles large enough that a Miata would high center on them.

A third consideration is that Colorado in December is very likely to have snow somewhere, and Mexico is very unlikely to have any.

Focus RS: The Focus RS is the WRX replacement (wife's car) and it'd be my first choice, but the stupid 19" wheels and rubber band tires are so much worse than the 17" wheels that were problematic on the WRX.  And, unlike the WRX, it doesn't have a spare tire.  I do have a set of winter tires on separate wheels and could just carry one of those to use as a spare, but I start to wonder how much of the trip might be taken up with tire repair.  Also the snow is oddly a problem because I have the choice of summer or winter tires.  This is an actual case where all seasons are the right answer because the Michelin PSS are scary on even the lightest dusting of snow, but winter tires would just disintegrate driving through northern Mexico.  Buying a set of all seasons for the trip seems expensive and silly.  Also would likely attract a lot of attention.

Miata: Probably not the answer here. Factor (2) pretty much rules out the Miata (slightly lowered), and the tire situation is the same, though a set of Miata-sized all seasons would be cheap.  But at least it has a spare tire.  I could also crank up the FM Vmaxx to maximum ride height to better my chances.

Audi A4: It's a 2005 with 130,000 miles and I have all seasons for it.  It's comfortable, gets great gas mileage and has terrible paint so it wouldn't stand out in Mexico.  Unfortunately, it's an Audi, which means that it would probably break a dozen times on the trip, and Audi parts aren't likely to be easy to find in Mexico.  I've had the car a few years, and after replacing the head gasket, it's been reliable, but I just don't trust it. 

Tacoma: At first seems like a no-brainer.  It's new, has 20,000 miles, all-season tires, 4WD and a full sized spare.  It won't break, it won't be bothered by anything Mexico can throw at it.  On the other hand, I don't really like it.  It's in my life to tow racecars, and I mostly don't drive it otherwise.  It's uncomfortable, the ride is terrible, and 18-20MPG is a significant downside on a trip like this.  When I inevitably find a great rural road, I'm going to be very disappointed to be driving a Tacoma.

Really dumb options: Buy something like this: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/449421770547593 (always buy a car from someone who can't even remove the trash before photographing!) Not a random choice: A Nissan Tsuru (Sentra of this vintage) is probably the most common car in Mexico.  It would blend right in, parts would be easily available should it break.  I wouldn't have to worry about it.  But I'd probably spend the purchase price on maintenance before even driving it, which would make it not at all an economical choice.  While probably more pleasant to drive than a Tacoma, it's not like it's exactly fun.

Even dumber: Fly down there and buy a Tsuru or a Mexi Beetle and import it for the next trip:)  Has the advantage of not being tempted to waste time/money on preventative maintenance...

Tacoma is your answer. 

You are worried about an Audi you had for two years, its worse with an unknown car. 

In reply to Slippery :

To be clear: I don't trust the Audi because it's an Audi.  But that's maybe because I also own an Audi 5000.  An unknown Mexi Beetle sounds less scary than an Audi I know, but I'm probably being silly.

The answer is the Tacoma. I know you don't like it (I don't like them, either), but as you said, it will get you there and back.  Any car that will be ideal for Mexico won't be that much fun to drive. 

Or just buy some older sled like you mentioned. I'd get something with decent ground clearance for when you notice the unpainted speed bump after it's too late - and with high-profile narrow tires.

Can you take rental cars to Mexico?  Buy the extra insurance and drive like hell.  

I used to drive a first gen Neon extensively  in Mexico.  To the point that we named it "Carrito".  Topes are murder.  With your choices it's Tacoma all the way.

The answer is Maserati bi turbo. 

Drive the Tacoma. Getting stuck on the road side in Mexico could be life threatening.

Do you need a Mexican Beetle to be 25 years old to import back to the USA ?

Toyota is the answer if that models engine is sold in Mexico , 

And they also have a Nissan factory.

We drove an old 1970s Aircooled VW bus down to Mexico City in my younger years.

Have fun 

Seems like the obvious answer is toss a Paco lift on the Miata with some a/t tires. 

I would do the Audi. The Taco will be a theft target there. I use to have an old (2003) pathfinder that I would drive there. It was the perfect Mexican vehicle. Handled the crap roads, not attractive enough for theft, and big enough to carry my crap. out of your fleet,that sounds the closest to my old nissan. 

Check your insurance too. I will be very surprised if you are covered in Mexico. I know I wasn't and they called it out in my policy. That's why I'd never take any of my good cars there. 

In reply to Berck :

I kind of want a Mexi Beetle now lol. 

What part of Mx are you visiting?

The Tacoma will be a theft target, but it's the no-drama easy-button choice otherwise. Maybe do some offroading so it feels like you're taking it for a reason?

If you really can't stand the Tacoma, the Audi's only problem is the elevated risk of a breakdown. Are there any mods you can do to improve reliability? Swap a plastic-tanked radiator for all-metal perhaps? Be sure to pack tools, spares, and improvisation supplies.

get a rust/patina wrap on the Taco before you go?

Drive to the border. Park your car and rent something. Get the insurance which allows you to travel across the border into Mexico. We were in San Diego and rented a car to drive to Ensenada down the "Tijuana Scenic Highway". 

Hah.  Is a patina wrap a thing?

Insurance is an issue, but only a minor one.  There are specific short term policies valid in Mexico just for this purpose and it's what I did in the past.  It's actually a legal requirement to do so, though I don't think anyone ever asked me for it. 

I like the rental car idea, but cars that are allowed across the border don't appear to be super easy to come by.  Only some rental agencies allow it and only from some rental locations.  Given the current state of car rental, it's probably not an option.

The theft target thing is also real.  There's a tick there in favor of the Tacoma--while it's probably a target, it's just an appliance to me and as long as it's insured, I'll just get another one and won't even be sad.  Figuring out how to get home/continue my trip would probably be the worst part?

I don't feel like I know enough about the Audi to be able to anticipate failures or know what problem parts might be.  When I did the head gasket, I replaced obvious things like the thermostat.  But it's an Audi, so the thermostat is buried in a plastic housing and has a built-in heating element so that the computer can artificially heat it up and open it faster if it thinks the car might get hot soon.  The cooling system has about 400 hoses and 3 loops for no discernable reason.  The amount of plastic under the hood in important areas wasn't exactly reassuring either.  I'd definitely carry a bunch of tools and things like special Audi coolant and power steering fluid, but I wouldn't even know which spare parts.

You guys are definitely pointing me toward what I guess I already know is the right answer--just drive the Tacoma.

Yeah, I'd need a Mexican Beetle to be 25 years old to import it.  Which is sad, because it'd be cool to buy a newer one.  I wonder if it's legal to bring a newer one into the country and wait until it's old enough to register it as long as I don't drive it on the road?  Or is even trying to cross the border with one on a trailer not allowed?

I thought "Tacoma" just from the thread title.  Then I opened the thread and read that you already have a Tacoma.  This is an open and shut case.  Check your air pressures, including the spare.  Bring a tire plug kit, headlight/flashlight, a real jack and lug wrench if you feel the need to over-prep.

I bet your insurance is not going to pay out for a stolen truck in Mexico , I would check that and have it in writing , 

I think you need to have import papers from the border to get the 25 year exception ,  Anyone know a company that does that paperwork ?
 

I really think if you wanted an old VW Aircooled bug you could find a better one in California , 

They are still around for not silly money.......like the 1971 my friend is selling......

Insurance for the Tacoma in Mexico is expensive, but easily available and includes theft.  First quote I looked at was $400 for 2 weeks, includes total theft coverage.

Take the Tacoma and pull the fuel pump fuse whenever you are going to be stopped for a while. 

You tow race cars with a Tacoma?  Here in Colorado?  Uhhh, are you towing karts?  Otherwise I'd think that's an awful tow rig for up here, what're they even rated to tow?  I also wouldn't bring any car to Mexico, honestly.  I grew up in San Diego and went to Baja frequently.  I have a friend who used to own a junkyard and his special "mexico" car was a Mk3 jetta glx that he literally built out of 5 or 6 different cars.  You really don't want anything of value there, if you get into an accident there, even with the Mexican insurance, expect a total nightmare.

Out of all of your cars, the Tacoma is the clear winner.

Chevy Nova

Man I thought this was going to be a "what car do I race in Mexico" post. :)

A 4WD Tacoma will get stolen or you will be hijacked. Stolen 4WD trucks in Houston end up in Mexico for the exact reason you want to take it. Bad roads, topos, and dirt roads.

Buy a ex cop car P71 with functional AC. 

In reply to docwyte :

My Tacoma, 2020 V6, manual transmission access cab is rated to tow 6,500lbs.  I tow an 800lb Formula Vee on a 10' landscaping trailer like it's not there.  Also tow my E30 rally car which probably weighs somewhere around 2,8000lbs on a dual axle 12' car hauler.  I'm sure it's well under 6,5000lbs and it's fine.  I don't know why people think you need an F950 with 1,200 ft/lb of torque to tow a race car on an open trailer.  My house is at 9,200ft, so I promise that my gutless Tacoma is extra gutless up here and it tows race cars just fine.  Can I pass uphill on a 2-lane road towing the E30?  Probably not, but I'm still going to get to the rally just fine.  Basically: I wanted the smallest thing possible that would safely tow the race cars, and the Tacoma does it fine.

Other than the flat tires, no real issues with a very nice WRX all the way to Mexico City with a couple weeks around central Mexico.  Maybe dumb luck, maybe the risks aren't that bad...  But it did attract attention and I'm thinking less attention would be good.  Not sure a newish Tacoma won't attract a ton of attention either, given how desirable they are down there...