Going on a Road Trip | Chattanooga TN | Puebla MX

[kornjd]

Living in Phoenix practically my entire life I've grown up with Mexico having gone from that cool party country south of us to that crazy decapitation capital of the world south of us. It's actually quite sad things have gone as they have. I'm interested to hear the OPs experience, especially given that he's from Canada. I especially liked the "I don't get it, what do you mean green lights don't mean go?" comment. That made me laugh.... Canadians.

I guess I'll find out! I'll be extra cautious when driving there. Shoulda bought run-flats. LOL


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[kornjd]

Maybe I missed it above but I used to live in Chattanooga and my wifes family is there so we go there a decent amount. How did you get a tour arranged?

Also, you have Mexican car insurance? If so how do you arrange it before going? I drove my company car across the border and it seemed like a pretty big issue since I believe most insurance companies don't cover you down there.

You can request a public tour at tours@vw.com (for Chattanooga). Getting the tour at Puebla was much more difficult, but I had a friend at VW Canada assist me with that.

Also, I purchased insurance through AXA when I applied for my temp vehicle importation permit. It wasn't very expensive ($70?). I have since received that documentation from Mexico.

My Canadian car insurance only covered me in Canada and the US so it was a necessity.

I found mexpro.com to be very useful in my preparation of documentation for crossing the border.

[kornjd]

Do not travel at night. Don't forget your Mexican Auto Insurance.

Yes, I have acquired insurance for Mexico through AXA. Thanks!

[pho]

Yes, I have acquired insurance for Mexico through AXA. Thanks!

I guess I'll find out! I'll be extra cautious when driving there. Shoulda bought run-flats.

Naw, just buy some Slime tire spray at Walmart.

Spray half a can in every tire, and have a nice day.
Slime advertises that their formula is formulated to go into the tire before or after, and that the Slime formula doesn't react with aluminum, rubber or steel.

Prevention fixes most headaches before the problem is allowed to happen.

[kornjd]

Naw, just buy some Slime tire spray at Walmart.

Spray half a can in every tire, and have a nice day.
Slime advertises that their formula is formulated to go into the tire before or after, and that the Slime formula doesn't react with aluminum, rubber or steel.

Prevention fixes most headaches before the problem is allowed to happen.

Thank you, PHO! I will consider this!

Sent you a PM.

[Robski92]

Please stay safe OP.

[stevegolf]

I have to stay in Nuevo Laredo a couple times a year for work. It is dangerous but not a warzone. Things have been getting better. That said I wouldn't walk around the neighborhoods at night. Stop at the el-rancho for some amazing food. http://www.elranchosumajestad.com/indexingles.html . Crossing the border sometimes sucks but as long as your car doesn't look like a drug dealer's you should be fine. I agree with the guy who said not to wash it. The crappier your car looks the better.

I would also keep your ATM card somewhere safe off your person. Oftentimes when getting robbed they'll take you to an ATM and make you withdraw all of your money. If you don't have it on you they can't do that. Also keep a little cash on you to pay of the cops.

[Rice Rice Baby]

Be aware of series of check points, if possible follow buses or a group of cars. Keep your distance just in case there is trouble ahead. Do not bring any firearms it is illegal. Bring money checks preferably american express, cc and a small amount of cash. Make sure you have pesos on hand. Let your embassy know, family and friends. Bring 2 doughnut spare tire to save wt. Believe me 2 spare will give you piece of mind. Have a safe and wonderful trip!

[FissionMailed]

My fellow Chattanoogans will agree with me on this point: don't drive to Mexico, just drive to Dalton, ~30 miles south of Chattanooga.

Same food, same number of Mexicans, just as safe as Mexico.

[ATL_Av8r]

1 word of advice: fly

[Rice Rice Baby]

1 word of advice: fly

X2. Park your car in Tucson, AZ $1.50/day and fly from there.

[VW...vw...wv...WV]

When traveling through Monterrey, just take Libremiento Monterrey towards Saltillo. That is the most direct route.

Two quick comments I would like to add are the following:
1. When driving in Northern Mexico, fill up on gasoline whenever the tank is around 1/2, and stop at the first Pemex that looks busy, and safe.
2. Think about taking someone for the trip, two is always safer than one, it would be great for you, and the lucky sob thst gets to tag along.

that could be the most direct route, but as i said, its full of truckers, not maintained, no cop dares to go there...
i would take an hour more and drive thru the city...

[adrew]

I've driven from Corpus Christi down through the mountains/SLP then back up the coast. It was great, but I wouldn't have taken my own vehicle on the trip. We rented a Ford E-350 SuperDuty van and by the time we gave it back it was much more tired feeling, with a squeaky suspension and a sliding door that didn't want to shut right.

Getting a car through the border checkpoint is a pain and can take several hours. I would just cross the border and rent a car or park at a US airport and fly into the first major Mexican airport and rent a car that the locals drive. I haven't been to the middle of Mexico in several years -- but the last couple of times we went we just rented local-looking cars like Chevy C2s and VW SpaceFoxes and never had any issues.

Whatever you do, I wouldn't take anything with wheels/tires that look like this. Get some 15-inch steelies and some 60- or 70-series bubble tires.

[ZEBLOR]

Godspeed sir!

Please take lots of pics while in Mexico!

[MidnightSpecial]

The toll road between MTY-Saltillo is awesome. Buy a radar detector in the US... Lots of newish toll roads in MX that are smoother than silk. Enjoy!

[KahviVW]

Good luck kornjd, take lots of pictures.

[uncleho]

Hopefully my Garmin will take me that way. Any experience with this?



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I hope you have the Garmin Mexico flash card? That helps a lot in the cities and this is coming from a person who lived in the DF for 3 years. My card didn't have all of the streets of the smaller towns, but it had enough to get me through.

Lots of good advice already... except the paranoia. My biggest advice is to map your turns, exits, etc. Along the way with Google Earth. Then take those coordinates and program them into you Garmin in a manner that allows you to follow them numerically along the way. This is where a navigator would be helpful. When my family would road trip down there that is what I did and there were no surpises, which made the trip relaxing... like it should be. My wife would drive and I would track the progress and call out the turns like a copilot. And the best part is when I tracked the path originally on Google Earth it allowed me to become preaquainted with the actual route such that as the turns came... I was able to recognize them (because I viewed it from satellite view). I would draft a route plan with coordinates and print it out such that I could program in the Garmin as I went along. Yeah, it is busy work, but I was driving a lot off the toll roads and didn't want to guess.

Cool places to visit if you can:
1) La Media Luna - Geothermal spring/lake 1 hour east of SLP city. Day trip from SLP. Gorgeous waters. No sulfur. Highly recommended.

2) La Huasteca Potosina - if you have more time... this is 3 hours east of SLP. Beautiful rivers, water falls, etc. Stay in Ciudad Valles or at Hotel Taninel (sp?) East of CV.

3) Las Grutas Tolantongo - Geothermal caves feeding non sulfur gorgeous waters to river and 30 odd infinity pools over looking a gorgeous valley. One of my favorite spots in Mexico unknown to gringos.

If you want info, pics etc. about these places, PM me.

Having fun in Mexico is easy when you play it smart and use common sense.

If you drive alone the inevitable military/police stops from MTY to DF will be very curious about a lone gringo. I would travel with kids and a MIL so they never felt the need to question me long.

[pho]

Cool places to visit if you can:
1) La Media Luna - Geothermal spring/lake 1 hour east of SLP city. Day trip from SLP. Gorgeous waters. No sulfur. Highly recommended.

2) La Huasteca Potosina - if you have more time... this is 3 hours east of SLP. Beautiful rivers, water falls, etc. Stay in Ciudad Valles or at Hotel Taninel (sp?) East of CV.

3) Las Grutas Tolantongo - Geothermal caves feeding non sulfur gorgeous waters to river and 30 odd infinity pools over looking a gorgeous valley. One of my favorite spots in Mexico unknown to gringos.

If you want info, pics etc. about these places, PM me.

Having fun in Mexico is easy when you play it smart and use common sense.

If you drive alone the inevitable military/police stops from MTY to DF will be very curious about a lone gringo. I would travel with kids and a MIL so they never felt the need to question me long.

This is really good advice.
Uncleho is one of several TCL Mexico gurus.
I actually got to meet Uncleho in Polanco in the Spring of 2010.

Car Lounge MEX DF: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ht=Mexico+city

The cascadas de SLP are fantastic.

[RollingInDubs]

[classicjetta]

[video]

I had a US border guard make me shut off the car and give him the keys once. Gringo traveling alone=looks like trouble.

[kornjd]

Thanks for all of your replies. Not sure if you're following the video blog on YouTube, but it's been fun so far.

YouTube.com/user/ianNeumeyer

Yes, my Garmin has the maps for Mexico. I've already mapped my route to SLP.

Leaving in the morning!

I appreciate the advice. Thank you!!


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[classicjetta]

Just went through all the videos; looks like its been a fun trip so far. Best of luck crossing the border, stay safe.

[mhjett]

He also has some photos on his twitter feed, as linked in the first post -

http://twitter.com/i_neu

Almost to MEX!

[classicjetta]

[pho]

You can request a public tour at tours@vw.com (for Chattanooga). Getting the tour at Puebla was much more difficult, but I had a friend at VW Canada assist me with that.

Any more info on how to get factory tours at VW Puebla?
I have a connect, but I literally have to exchange sexxual favors, for an invite.
Would appreciate a hookup because whoring yourself out is sooo 1999.

[mhjett]

Any more info on how to get factory tours at VW Puebla?
I have a connect, but I literally have to exchange sexxual favors, for an invite.
Would appreciate a hookup because whoring yourself out is sooo 1999.

Fantastic. Why does that sound entirely appropriate for Mexico.

[kornjd]

This is really good advice.
Uncleho is one of several TCL Mexico gurus.
I actually got to meet Uncleho in Polanco in the Spring of 2010.

Car Lounge MEX DF: http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...ht=Mexico+city

The cascadas de SLP are fantastic.

Just read that whole thread. LOL

If there is anyone in Puebla/Mexico City that would like to get together for a quick meet and video/photo shoot, I would be open to that. I'll be in Puebla in the evening of the 14th. My factory tour isn't until the morning of the 16th.

[kornjd]

Any more info on how to get factory tours at VW Puebla?
I have a connect, but I literally have to exchange sexxual favors, for an invite.
Would appreciate a hookup because whoring yourself out is sooo 1999.

Hey Pho,

Well, I work for VW in Canada, and it was difficult even for me. In Chattanooga, they run public tours every day, but in Puebla, it's a different story.

[pho]

Well, I work for VW in Canada, and it was difficult even for me. In Chattanooga, they run public tours every day, but in Puebla, it's a different story.

Yea, I know.
VW Puebla only gives tours by invite only, or in the month of December for VW employee family members that are considering employment at the plant, and they still have to be pre-screened.

Make sure you go to the gift stop.
The factory tour does not include a visit to the gift shop.
This is what I did. I asked to use the mens room, which happens to be next to the gift shop.
Used the mens room, slipped into the gift shop, bought @ 2500 pesos in goods, and as soon as I paid the cashier, my VW tour guide discovered me, and promptly called security to escort me out of the plant.

I went, I conquered, I bought souvenirs, then they 86'd me out of the factory.

[kornjd]

Updates?

Best place to find updates is on my YouTube channel at:

www.youtube.com/user/ianNeumeyer

I'm in Puebla now!

[pho]

I'm in Puebla now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EGn-nqcBw&feature=plcp

Puebla FTW !!!!

[vwconejo]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9EGn-nqcBw&feature=plcp

Puebla FTW !!!!

The MOTHERLAND

[KahviVW]

I'm in Puebla now!

Well done. The chicken sandwich looks good.

[pho]

Fantastic. Why does that sound entirely appropriate for Mexico.

Well done. The chicken sandwich looks good.

This is where the chipotle pepper on a sandwich originated.
The sandwich is called a Cemita, pronounced SAY-MEE-TUH.
The most popular Cemita is the vegetarian version, that replaces the meat with several thick pieces of fresh cheese. Quite tasty.

[mhjett]

Just watched some of your videos, thanks for sharing. Sounds like a really cool trip.

Your vid #37 - how to drive your car into Mexico - is really well done, I see you certainly did your homework. Could be a great resource for anyone else looking to drive across the border.