San Diego to Ensenada, Mexico and points south

davidaf wrote:
Urban legend? I don't know. We broke down on the outskirts of Mexicali when coming back from San Felipe. We just made it to the Pemex before the Jeep died.

It was the scariest thing. This guy came up to us and was talking to us in Spanish. Criminals always speak in a language you can't understand. That was scary. Was he trying to kidnap us or something? It got worse, he crawled under my jeep and pulled a part off! WTH, who does that? He's trying to part out my jeep right there in a Pemex, right in front of me!

Next he tells me to get in his truck, oh no, this must be a kidnapping! He then proceeded to drive me all over Mexicali stopping at all these little parts shops and machine shops. Is he trying to sell my parts in front of me to mock me?

After 3 hours he returns me to my vehicle because nobody wants the part. He makes a phone call but only speaks in Spanish so I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then this tow truck arrives. He gave up on parting the Jeep out, he was going to steal the whole thing!

Now he makes me watch this tow truck drive away. He follows it to rub it in my face. He had them take it to a Chrysler dealer in town where I had to sign all these papers. Presumable signing title over or something.

Next thing I know he's taking all my personal belongings out of the vehicle and putting them in his. Then, he drove us to the border to expel us from his country.

I received a call from Chrysler in Mexicali two days later saying my Jeep was repaired and I could pick it up anytime. I estimate that stranger spent 5 hours with us. We shared maybe 50 common words between us. I had to force him to take some cash from me for his time and effort.

I've lived in So Cal all my life. I've never had a stranger try and help me with anything let alone give up 5 hours of their day for nothing.

Bad things happen on both sides of the border, good things do as well.

Wow that was scary.....glad you got out OK! Loved the story.

davidaf: Please provide us with a link to a news outlet confirming your wild story. Should have been reported in both LA and SD papers as well as on TV. I do know that Jeeps are the #1 stolen vehicle in Mexico.

????

Moisheh

Urban legend? I don't know. We broke down on the outskirts of Mexicali when coming back from San Felipe. We just made it to the Pemex before the Jeep died.

It was the scariest thing. This guy came up to us and was talking to us in Spanish. Criminals always speak in a language you can't understand. That was scary. Was he trying to kidnap us or something? It got worse, he crawled under my jeep and pulled a part off! WTH, who does that? He's trying to part out my jeep right there in a Pemex, right in front of me!

Next he tells me to get in his truck, oh no, this must be a kidnapping! He then proceeded to drive me all over Mexicali stopping at all these little parts shops and machine shops. Is he trying to sell my parts in front of me to mock me?

After 3 hours he returns me to my vehicle because nobody wants the part. He makes a phone call but only speaks in Spanish so I couldn't understand what he was saying. Then this tow truck arrives. He gave up on parting the Jeep out, he was going to steal the whole thing!

Now he makes me watch this tow truck drive away. He follows it to rub it in my face. He had them take it to a Chrysler dealer in town where I had to sign all these papers. Presumable signing title over or something.

Next thing I know he's taking all my personal belongings out of the vehicle and putting them in his. Then, he drove us to the border to expel us from his country.

I received a call from Chrysler in Mexicali two days later saying my Jeep was repaired and I could pick it up anytime. I estimate that stranger spent 5 hours with us. We shared maybe 50 common words between us. I had to force him to take some cash from me for his time and effort.

I've lived in So Cal all my life. I've never had a stranger try and help me with anything let alone give up 5 hours of their day for nothing.

Bad things happen on both sides of the border, good things do as well.

I just re wrote the post on crossing the border to travel to Ensenada from San Diego and back, hope it helps.

navegator

In no way would I suggest taking a newer diesel into Mexico is a great idea. I do suggest doing research into your specific vehicle to find out potential / possible problems and what can be done about it and what it might cost.

In recent weeks we have encountered two caravans of over 20 RVs each from Quebec. Many of the units were newer diesels including maybe a total of close to 20 big diesel pushers - about 8 of them from Tiffin Motorhomes with Cummins engines - a few tandem axles up to 45' long. There were also pickups of various makes pulling large 5th wheels.

I have no idea whether any of this is a good idea but it sure seems a lot of people are doing it. I suppose anything is possible.

I'll have to wait for ULSD before I can go. :(

navegator wrote:
Some time ago I posted how to cross in to Mexico through the new entry port and how to get to the toll road, also how to do the return with out having to make any turns on street corners, all in a basic straight line you stay on the same road, the border crossing at San Ysidro has improved a lot, the times are not as bad, it is only how fast or slow the CBP agents handle the lines.

Go down and enjoy the trip, it is all part of having a good time and do not pay attention to persons that have no knowledge or have never been there.

navegator

Too bad there is not a "like" button on this forum, that was a good post!

Some time ago I posted how to cross in to Mexico through the new entry port and how to get to the toll road, also how to do the return with out having to make any turns on street corners, all in a basic straight line you stay on the same road, the border crossing at San Ysidro has improved a lot, the times are not as bad, it is only how fast or slow the CBP agents handle the lines.

Go down and enjoy the trip, it is all part of having a good time and do not pay attention to persons that have no knowledge or have never been there.

navegator

Just to add to the story. In 2 weeks I and 15 others in 2 vans depart from Puerto Peñasco Sonora and travel up the coastal highway towards San Luis Sonora, then we head along the border road Highway 2 up the Rumerosa to Tecate Baja California. At Tecate we turn south and go through the beautiful wine country of Valle de Guadalupe where you will find over 57 places to try local wine (we only stop at 2 on the trip) Then we overnight in Ensenada. Then we go to Guerrero Negro for whales and Ignacio for history. Here's the cool part. On the return trip we make a right at Chapala and take the dirt road from the Pacific side of the Baja to the sea of Cortes' side, along the way we stop at a desert outpost known as Coco's corner to have a cold one and a short break, we sign the visitors log like people have been doing for over 50 years, then we carry on. We meet back up with pavement about 7 miles later and make our way to the sea so we can stay in Gonzaga Bay. We stay one night in Gonzaga and on our way home we stop in San Felipe for Breakfast then head up 5 North to 4 East which takes us through agricultural areas where we may stop on the side of the road to eat fresh cooked carnitas, or whatever we see that we want. Then the farm roads eventually tie us back into Highway 3 and the coastal highway and before we know it we are back in Peñasco. This is a 6 day, 2100 mile adventure that I have taken 4 years in a row now and it is fun and educational and absolutely beautiful.

I think that is the same story from 2008 retold and altered. It gets posted every year with some new variants.

Moisheh